Effect of coronavirus shutdown on cognition and behavior

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As a retired person, I am not furloughed from work, so the main difference for me is cancellation of support programs and having to purchase supplies differently.

One thing I've noticed about myself is greatly increased difficulty tackling projects and new tasks. I'd be interested in hearing from others about how they are coping/not coping in this area. My hope is that with greater understanding, I might be able to approach tasks more effectively.

Some mechanisms I have considered are the following:

1. Learned helplessness: when I attempt to do something I find myself stymied, say by a business being closed or a social program being cancelled, so I develop a "why bother?" attitude.

2. Loss of routines: As an autistic, I have heavily relied on routines for helping with executive dysfunction. But now many of my routines are broken. I try to keep mealtimes and bedtimes fairly regular, but by now, I expected to have gone on a cruise (cancelled), had carpal tunnel surgery, helped my husband get cataract surgery (both surgeries cancelled), met with my doctor about an ongoing health issue (cancelled), and a few other accomplishments or milestones.

3. Is this a loss of dopamine? I have relatively few sources of reward or pleasure these days. We are watching a load of streaming TV comedies and staying mellow, and I am cooking many really good, well balanced meals, but having trouble with certain things: (a) bills and paperwork, (b) resuming an embroidery project, (c) starting some crafts projects for which I have more-than-adequate supplies, (d) mucking out my car, (e) finishing my tax return, (f) responding to correspondence, and (g) putting away my winter clothes and taking out my summer ones.

Another factor besides coronavirus is that my cat was determined in March to have a type of cancer, and I am medicating her daily, which is an unpleasant but must-do chore. It's a new routine and not a happy one. (So far, she seems to be doing a little better.) In addition to that, my husband has a slowly progressing dementia and gradually I am taking on more responsibilities and limitations due to his status - another fairly depressing scenario, but one I feel I am handling OK.

I just wish I could use my time more profitably. Less binge-watching of tv, and more exercise (yes, I know about online videos, yet can't bring myself to start).

Any suggestions or personal observations, anyone?

Welcome back, Bea!!

1. Yes, I have an "Oh Well!" attitude now about many things.

2. I've had much of my to-do list sidetracked including several missed / cancelled / postponed appointments, my mother's (major) surgery being rescheduled, and things I needed to do brought to a halt. (Oh Well).

3. Loss of dopamine is a good point. It's true, because we thrive on task completion if and when it's possible, so this situation is just a quagmire of confusion for autistic people (and everyone). The reward system has changed considerably. It's important to find personal goals and personal rewards (e.g., time to read a book), to avoid a dopamine crash. I'm on ADHD meds now for executive function but I started in March so this is a very trying time to analyse their efficacy. I have no idea if they're helping because these circumstances aren't normal at all. My biggest problem now is worry about others who are compromised. I can't help them at the best of times because of distancing but now I also have pneumonia, and I'm doubly-quarantined.

Sorry about your kitty cat.

I'm glad to hear your husband is doing well with your support.

I thought I'd pass this along for anyone who needs it.

Welcome back, Bea!

My most key routines have been obliterated as well. I'm trying to replace them with lesser routines that are at least some sort of substitute. I'm also cooking healthy meals like you and I'm occupying my mind by getting creative and using foods in the pantry and freezer that I wouldn't otherwise have used.

Again, I'm glad you're back.

Thanks, @IsabellaLinton. I'm sorry to hear about your pneumonia. Take good care of yourself during that, and don't rush your recovery, as pneumonia can persist a long, long time after nominally cured.

That was a helpful graphic you posted, too. "Lowered expectations" and "just doing OK" are important to remember, and at least I'm not beating myself for not starting things, but I would still like to use the time more effectively.

Thanks, Magna!

Welcome back Bea! Like you, I’m retired so some things haven’t changed much. But without my usual scheduled activities I’m finding it difficult to remember what day of the week it is. I find that a bit scarey. I have a lot of things I could be doing inside, like putting winter clothes away but I haven’t been doing it. I don’t know if it’s good or not, but now the weather has changed I’m out in the yard tidying up winter debris. Are you gardening yet? For years I looked forward to having time to do different crafts and now that I have the time I’m not doing them.

I read an article in the New York Times recently that ascribed this phenomenon to grieving: Grieving the Losses of Coronavirus. That didn't entirely fit me, but maybe I'm just out of touch with my feelings. In addition to my sick cat, an old friend is dying of cancer, and I can't visit him. I feel bad for all the people who have died, lost loved ones, or must go to work without adequate protection. My daughter has a birthday tomorrow, and although I bought her a cake and gave her money and a small gift, I would rather celebrate with her.

I have begun to garden some. Normally I hire someone to carry the largest loads (large pots with roses etc.) from the garage to the yard. I had no response to my ad this year, and got a volunteer from a list of people who will help the old and infirm with necessities. (I tried to pay her but she refused to accept any.) So now we are in early spring and my plants are getting me very excited, the prospect of lilies, peonies, roses, and of course my herbs is motivating somewhat. But I am getting more decrepit every year (mobility impairment) and can foresee a spring when I can't garden at all.

Wait! this is the NYT article I meant to post:

nytimes.com/2020/04/09/opinion/sunday/coronavirus-grief-mental-health.html
Trouble Focusing? Not Sleeping? You May Be Grieving

This article DID fit me. If you can only read one (because of paywall), this was the one I actually had in mind.

Good to see you back Bea

My own experience so far is, frankly, that nothing much has changed. I feel much the same as before the epidemic. I feel somewhat apprehensive from time to time about what might happen next, and I can think of a number of things that could go wrong sooner or later, but it's a case of so far, so good, and I don't really worry about it. Thing is, my lifestyle before wasn't a lot different.

I do miss those occasional meetings with friends for jam sessions, and performing at open mic events, but they were pretty rare anyway and it won't be like this forever. My wife and I have got each other for company, we're good at coping with being walled up alive together for long stretches of time, our relationship doesn't seem to be deteriorating and I'm rather enjoying the privacy. Just like before, only more so, I've got email and social media to stay in touch with my friends. And with the loss of "real life" social contact comes the loss of social anxiety and social fatigue. I feel less stressed. Long, tedious journeys to distant doctors and various bureaucrats have been cut back to the bare minimum. I can spend hours cheerfully glued to a computer, so no problem finding things to pass the time, as usual. Mercifully none of my friends or family have gone down with the virus, and apart from worms even our cats are well.

The outdoor environment here gets way too hot and too infested with dangerous insects for me to enjoy it much, so I never did spend much time in it. I take a daily walk for a bit of exercise and fresh air, and just like before I use an exercise bike to keep reasonably fit. I didn't like shopping in crowded stores anyway, so that was just a necessary evil that I don't miss. Kerbside pickups are much easier. I was already discovering that mail order was better for practically everything than going to physical shops. We were having counselling sessions and I kind of miss those, but so far our experiences suggest that we can stand on our own feet without them.

I don't really think about the misfortunes of others much, if I don't know them personally or don't identify with them well, and I never did identify much with mainstream society. I'm sorry for them of course, but there have been many humanitarian disasters, wars and massacres, every bit as bad as this in the world, and just because this one is affecting "us" doesn't make it a lot harder to bear. If there's nothing I can do about it, I try not to think about it. Dwelling on these things won't do any good. Every one of us will die of something eventually, often in pain.

So, thus far I've been very lucky, and I don't think I'm grieving consciously or otherwise. I'm more relieved that I happened to be with my wife when the lockdowns began and that my autistic, stick-at-home nature has so far dovetailed so smoothly with these new, bizarre circumstances. I'm not feeling complacent, I know things could take a serious turn for the worse. But I'll worry about that if and when it's here, not now.

I think this an important topic raised that many of us can relate to.
Me and my wife had both of our cats have problems a week or two before the lockdown and our just thankful they are currently ok.
Without routine I think it's very hard to keep motivated and to concentrate.
I'm an artist aswell as a part time cleaner and a gardener and having lots of time on my hands I thought I could do lots of art but have really struggled.
I can relate to being too hard on one's self as being a perfectionist, it's easy to think of everything you haven't done. The quote previously I thought was very good about coping with trauma.
I found gardening at home therapeutic for me which I saw mentioned earlier.
Also binge watching Netflix box sets is great as I think we all need escapism right now and should be content in just enjoying that.
I also find making a weekly planner helps with trying to get some sort of routine going.

Thanks, ToughDiamond!

Thanks for mentioning that! I know it has proved useful for me in the past, but has fallen by the wayside, especially since we are lacking any scheduled events. It might help me to do an exercise session once a day if I put it in black and white. I have a large whiteboard for that but stopped using it.

All the days run together with no differentiation, so that I often have to check what day of the week it is.

B E A ! !

Welcome Back!

Thank you, Fnord! How've you been?

You know, in addition to the items you mentioned, there is another source of stress for autistic people: More time with their family. Which can be pretty hard if your family doesn’t understand or support autism.

My husband is able to work from home now, but he’s still going to work. He would go crazy if he had to spend longer than a weekend with our son and me. Especially since he can’t wander around in public or do many of his special interests.

People have to find new ways of entertainment and self care.

Personally, I have been doing much better. Not having to drive around and go in places makes my neurological symptoms lighter. And now I have an excuse not to expend effort on social things.

I've noticed that I'm doing a lot more housework than usual and that gives me a sense of accomplishment. Welcome back! I miss you.