In the early days of the pandemic , a group of my friends was getting together for Zoom game nights every week. But as time passed, these virtual hangouts became less and less frequent until they stopped altogether. I wasnt sad to see them go I was relieved actually. What had started as a fun way to catch up and see each others faces soon became another task on my to-do list that I didnt have the energy to complete.

Since then, Ive managed to stay connected to a few of my closest friends and family, but have struggled to maintain the other friendships in my life and thats something I feel guilty about.

As a person with anxiety , I get drained easily under normal circumstances; 2020 has taken that exhaustion to another level. When Im running on fumes, even basic tasks like texting a friend I havent talked to in a while seem daunting.

Its not unusual to feel depleted right now, said Los Angeles marriage and family therapist Abigail Makepeace . This kind of mental and emotional fatigue is extremely common and very normal, considering the state of the world. Much of our energies are focused on how to best deal with the very unfamiliar experiences of the pandemic, she said.