Hi, it's been a while

Hi everyone, I joined this forum around 3 years ago, but have not posted in a while. Time flies! I'm not sure if this is the right space to post this discussion thread, so please re-direct me if necessary.

It has been a challenging 5 or so years for my family. I have been carer for my eldest two children who have experienced mental health issues including ptsd, eating disorders and gender dysphoria. The issues are ongoing, but we have seen some improvement. It can get easier so hang in there.

The reason I am posting is I would like to hear from others who have felt their own mental health slide due to a caring role, and have experienced changes, in particular with social and personal relationships.

For a long time now, our family have not gone out or done much (due to anxiety/panic attacks etc of the older kids) and I have found that I stopped talking to friends because I did not want to answer questions about my life challenges, and that if I did, I felt worse because the responses I received were well meaning, but unhelpful because people couldn't truly understand how things really were for us.

I recognise that I have let things go and that although I now experience my own (relatively milder) mental health issues, I would like to work on friendships and relationships. The problem is, I don't know how to start. I feel like I have forgotten how to makes friends and be social. I still feel that when the day comes to a close, all I want to do is lay under my blankets away from everything. Not very social of me. I tend to be able to do everything I need to do for everyone else, I do a good job at work and I keep an ordered (not spotless, but tidy) house. I just have little left for me. Basically, I feel alone sometimes, but a bit stuck to know how to go about fixing it. Does anyone feel the same way? Has anyone been able to get past this? Thanks for listening. Sending you all care. Oh, and I like being active, animals, coffee, and reading.