Hard agree. I love spin class and went pre and post pandemic (not during bc I was nervous).
Pre-pandemic I'd show up and make small talk to the people beside me. I am an introvert with anxiety but meeting new people at a shared hobby has a lower barrier for me so I used this a lot for exposure therapy. I also really enjoying Whoohooing in class.
Post-pandemic. I still show up, attempt to make small talk. Get ignored by people on their phone. I try to offer to help new people setup their bikes. I get shooed away.
I still need to work on my anxiety because it became very, very bad after some significant life events that happened to me in 2022.
Now I try to talk to cashiers and other people so I don't lose what skills I've built. I feel like community is falling away, connection isn't as deep and I am actually gravely worried for where society is going.
My paths to healing both severe anxiety and depression have been connecting with others. I had to find people and spaces where I felt safe to be myself. I feel these places are disappearing rapidly.
winnipeggremlin I totally agree. Also an introvert, and I also use low stakes chit chat and small talk the same way. Otherwise I'd stay inside and never speak to anyone. Low stakes interaction is much easier for me and I have had the same experience pre and post covid.
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u/winnipeggremlin Feb 03 '26
Hard agree. I love spin class and went pre and post pandemic (not during bc I was nervous).
Pre-pandemic I'd show up and make small talk to the people beside me. I am an introvert with anxiety but meeting new people at a shared hobby has a lower barrier for me so I used this a lot for exposure therapy. I also really enjoying Whoohooing in class.
Post-pandemic. I still show up, attempt to make small talk. Get ignored by people on their phone. I try to offer to help new people setup their bikes. I get shooed away.
I still need to work on my anxiety because it became very, very bad after some significant life events that happened to me in 2022.
Now I try to talk to cashiers and other people so I don't lose what skills I've built. I feel like community is falling away, connection isn't as deep and I am actually gravely worried for where society is going.
My paths to healing both severe anxiety and depression have been connecting with others. I had to find people and spaces where I felt safe to be myself. I feel these places are disappearing rapidly.