Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

How is lockdown affecting your mental health?

69 replies

Rainbowb · 25/04/2020 07:24

I’m normally a pretty chirpy person but I am starting to wonder if I have depression now. I’m over eating, crying a lot and losing my temper. I wake up feeling utterly exhausted and just wonder how to get through the day having to put on a smiling face for everyone.

OP posts:
Frompcat · 25/04/2020 07:26

Have been in a very dark place tbh but saw my mum and sister yesterday (they live together, we've all been self isolating including no supermarket trips and none of us are vulnerable) and it did a world of good. Wish we'd joined households earlier.

beebeedandelion · 25/04/2020 07:57

It's improved, there is no longer the pressure of not being able to afford days out, holidays and cinema trips. The playing field has levelled.

Sadie789 · 25/04/2020 08:04

I had depression in my 20s which I took anti depressants for. It improved and I haven’t felt it in the last 15 years. However since lockdown I feel some of the markers creeping back.

Struggling to get out of bed in the morning. Not seeing the point of doing things. Not getting dressed or showered. Worrying about the future. Loneliness and resentful emotions.

I can imagine there are very many people suffering badly just now. We will look back on this time in history and see the human damage caused by the lockdown and associated hysteria to be far greater than the deaths caused directly by COVID.

Birdsong20 · 25/04/2020 08:07

My mental health is so much better. I am a teacher and my mental health has been bad for several years as conditions are so stressful in teaching. It's so physically and emotionally draining. I know I'll get a bashing with people saying it's not as bad as other jobs etc especially the front line workers at the moment (which must be off the scale right now) but it's not a competition. I can only speak from my experience. I'm now working from home and although teaching from home is more time consuming in a way, it is far less stressful even trying to juggle that with my own kids learning.

So my mental health is much better since lock down. Also I am with my family so I guess I don't have the loneliness to deal with. It must be so hard for those living on their own.

Sosounhappy · 25/04/2020 08:07

I had a panic when lockdown was started but now feel very relaxed and safe. I am on my own

KatnissMellark · 25/04/2020 08:08

I'm fine. Luckily have always been quite resilient despite some really challenging times. Also 34 weeks pregnant and have a three year old so keeping him busy and prepping for the baby is giving me some purpose. Am also still working (albeit from home),which I think helps.

Birdsong20 · 25/04/2020 08:10

Mentally draining not physically!

Drivingdownthe101 · 25/04/2020 08:11

I’m ok, lockdown isn’t too bad for us. Desperate for a bit of ‘me time’ away from the three very young children and missing my mum a lot, but coping.

The playing field has levelled

Has it though? Some people are locked down in massive houses with loads of land, hot tubs, quad bikes, trampolines etc. Some are locked down in 1 bed flats with no outside space at all. Some are SAHP’s or furloghed and have all day to play with and educate their children, some are trying to work full time from home while keeping children amused with screens and with limited ability to help with school work.
It’ll never be a level playing field.

Drivingdownthe101 · 25/04/2020 08:12

Sounds like it’s time for a career change Birdsong20

Mucklowe · 25/04/2020 08:15

I'm happy as a pig in shite, as nobody is bothering me or mithering me to meet up.

redeyetonowheregood · 25/04/2020 08:15

Better. I am still working out of the house three days a week and working at home two days. My work is still very very busy and if anything more stressful as the pressure is even greater in my sector, but...my children are much happier, so our home overall is calmer...the children still go to school for what is essentially holiday club on the three days I am out at work (NHS) but there are none of the friendship issues or pressure that there normally is. So, overall we are all doing better. I am craving time on my own but that can wait.

Fishlegs · 25/04/2020 08:17

I’m really struggling. I’ve spent a lot of the last week in tears. I also can’t see the point of doing anything. I’m still going out to work, but I feel like I have no purpose in life atm. It’s shit.

lazylinguist · 25/04/2020 08:20

Mine is normally fine these days (had anxiety in the past) but it's now better than fine. I'm not working, dh is doing a little bit of work from home but on full pay. Dc chilled out not being at school. Beautiful weather, lovely long walks, house tidy and clean, lots of time to knit, sit in the garden, hang out with the dc etc. I can't remember the last time I was this relaxed tbh.

TeenPlusTwenties · 25/04/2020 08:24

My DD2's has gone to pot and it's dragging me down too.
I've had 4 years of stress with DD1 and my resilience was low before this all kicked off.

Sadie789 · 25/04/2020 08:28

I wonder if all of you chilling in the garden on full pay will feel the same in a month when the furlough runs out and your employer goes into administration....

Drivingdownthe101 · 25/04/2020 08:29

I think most people would enjoy it if they were just chilling in the garden on full pay. Not the reality for most though.

StrictlyAFemaleFemale · 25/04/2020 08:30

Most of the time Im fine. When I moved to Denmark I had to stay home because there was no where for me to go and I couldnt talk to anyone because 1 I didnt come into contact with anyone and 2 I couldnt speak Danish. It was awful. 12 years on being at home with DH and DC, and understanding what the pm says is a doddle.

I am struggling with wfh. I cant do the same tasks and rang a colleague almost in tears.

HollyBollyBooBoo · 25/04/2020 08:31

Highs and lows. Yesterday was a low, very teary and angry. Dd and I did some meditation for anxiety last night and I do feel brighter this morning.

Clinging onto the hope that lockdown will lift a little soon and we can see my Mum.

TimeForChange123 · 25/04/2020 08:32

Mines deteriorating by the day.

Gingaaarghpussy · 25/04/2020 08:33

My mental health fluctuates. My head has been fucked for a long time. To start with, I was anxious about the panic buying because I go out daily to get what I need from a local shop. That was sorted by upping my antidepressants.
Now I'm struggling because there are very few people out and about. I live in a flat above a shop, so there was always a certain amount of noise, plus my street is usually busy with people talking. I miss the shrieking kids as they come and to school, I miss the weird conversations people have.
Being on my own and being inside hasn't changed it's how I've always been. I hate this new normal.Sad

3luckystars · 25/04/2020 08:36

I feel great and any anxiety I had is completely gone.
I have had time to think about things and I feel like a huge weight has been lifted.

In the beginning (about 2 months ago) I was very scared but once that lifted, the lockdown life has done me a lot of good.

bigcatlittlecatcardboardbox · 25/04/2020 08:40

@Sadie789 there's no need to be so bitter when people are answering a question honestly.

OP, I'm not okay. I've got no reason to not be okay (still working full time, locked down with wonderful DH, we don't have a garden but there is a huge green space to exercise in very close) but I've suffered with an eating disorder on and off since my early teens and it's come back in full force in the last few weeks. I've never really had it under control as such, but the way it's taken hold the last few weeks is quite scary. It's all linked to feeling out of control and helpless, of course.

LynetteScavo · 25/04/2020 08:41

I'm so much calmer. No rushing around. I have had time to plant seeds and watch them start to grow. I've had time to contact family I wouldn't normally. I can see I'm so much luckier than many other people, rather than feeling jealous I can't afford to go to Barbados on holiday like Carol at work.

I sometimes wish this could go on forever, then feel really bad for even thinking that Blush

happypotamus · 25/04/2020 08:41

Things aren't great, but, to be fair, I don't know how much of that is to do with lockdown, because things weren't great before and tend to come and go. My life hasn't changed as much as most people's because I am still going out to work and get to see and talk to other people outside my family and I didn't have much social life anyway. But, I had only recently come to accept the cliche 'it's ok not to be ok,' and now I don't believe that applies to me anymore (I still think it is ok for other people not to be ok), because everyone's life has changed much more than mine and so many people are ill and dying. My coping mechanisms involved having some space and peace and quiet on my own, and that is not possible now. I was supposed to start counselling the week lockdown began, so it has happened over the phone, and I really struggle with talking on the phone. Next week is the last session, it hasn't gone well, it was too hard to tell him stuff and things now feel worse and I hate that I didn't try harder to make it work. My maladaptive coping mechanisms are taking over.

Retirednurse · 25/04/2020 08:44

I'm tired of it all now... Missing my family, the grandchildren that I help care for. All our breaks have been cancelled. Yes been busy and still work very p/t as Reablement Support Worker since retiring from NHS. But life is on hold... I'm very, very grateful that all my family are well... But mentally and emotionally I'm deteriorating (:

Swipe left for the next trending thread