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Original poster

Does anyone NOT feel like it's the end of times and everything is going to be shit forever right now?

130 replies

norunningwithscizzuhz · 20/10/2020 20:11

I mean according to MN I might as well drive off a bridge right now because a) i live in a London flat so no one will ever want to buy it and I will be in negative equity this time next year b) I work in the arts so I'll never be able to work again and I should retrain as a plumber instead c) there will never be a covid 19 vaccine and even if there is one it won't work properly d) brexit means that everything will basically be shit in the UK forever

Don't get me wrong, everything is pretty rubbish right now but could we maybe dispense with the relentless doom and gloom? Otherwise what's to live for, seriously?

OP posts:
Staffy1 · 21/10/2020 00:54

I don't feel like it's going to be crap for ever more. I don't see why brexit has to be a bad thing. Several countries that are not part of the EU thrive and have decent deals with the EU, so if the EU would stop being so pratty in it's attitude to us, it would be fine. I have also read that even if a covid vaccine doesn't work 100% it will at least help in making what would have been a bad case into a milder case, which is something.

FlorentineAz · 21/10/2020 00:55

Is the comment about our children not living to old age a joke? Or have I missed something?

Harleyflynn · 21/10/2020 01:03

Things will get much worse because of Brexit.

And what do you think any of us are able to do about that? How is scaring myself shirtless about it going to help? The outcome will be the same.

jessstan1 · 21/10/2020 01:06

I think things will be OK in time. You will always be able to sell a flat in London! I can't comment about Brexit, it is yet to happen and I still retain a faint hope that it will not.

My son works in the arts so I am in sympathy with you about that; he does have another string to his bow (no pun intended!), which he is using at the moment.

Defenbaker · 21/10/2020 01:08

I suffer from SAD, so this time of year is not great for me. I've been on furlough for months, and am about to be made redundant from a job I enjoyed and was good at. Covid is a nasty virus and as I'm in my fifties I don't fancy my chances. I'm also terrified that my DH will catch it, as I think he may not survive it and he's all I've got (no close friends or family nearby). So, I'm feeling very gloomy, but no, I don't believe this is the end of times, it's just a really dark period that we have to endure, in the hope that things will improve.

Many people are experiencing loss right now, from bereavement and job loss, to restricted social life and limited education. Then we have a hard Brexit looming on the horizon. It's totally understandable that people are depressed, anxious and fed up, and some come on here to vent. Maybe in real life those people are putting on a brave face for their loved ones, but they feel the need to vent somewhere, and this is a safe place to do so.

I do think that this winter will be very hard for many people in the world, but the vaccine(s) may well be here by spring next year, and that will enable much of life to return to normal(ish). People will be keen to get out and about, socialising and spending money (those lucky enough to have any spare), and the entertainment and hospitality industries will have a resurgance, and start to employ again, in large numbers. People will be more appreciative of all these things, and some will party like there's no tomorrow. Those happy days will come again. Meanwhile, I'm boosting my immune sysyem with Vitamin D3, taking long walks each day, and planning on starting some online courses.

zigazee · 21/10/2020 01:20

I'm pretty relaxed and content with how things are at the moment. I'm in London and I'm enjoying quiet museum and gallery visits with my toddler, and I've started booking up Christmas events already. Lockdown was a bit frustrating when they closed the playgrounds and indoor venues, but I don't think they'd do that again even if we moved to Tier 3. Not bothered about restaurants or pubs being shut as it's not something we did much with a young child. I'm an introvert and happy just doing days out with DH and DD, we've never mixed with other families much.

We're living in a flat too, and we'll have to think about selling in the next couple of years. I've been expecting prices to drop, but then they'll also drop for the property we'll buy, so it'll all even out.

I think there's quite a lot of bitterness about though. Lots of people I know who have dealt with unemployment and health issues/disability struggles in the past, now feeling like the tables have turned as so many more people are going through the same. I don't blame them in some ways, but it leads to a more divided society.

Inkpaperstars · 21/10/2020 01:22

It's human nature to be optimistic, it is an evolutionary thing since too much realism, let alone pessimism, about possible future problems actually hampers our success in surviving and thriving. As you say OP, if we all focused solely on the negative we would become so depressed and dysfunctional that we would bring major problems upon ourselves just as a result of that outlook. I have suffered major mental health problems myself so I know only too well.

I completely understand why people feel hopeless, why the current situation is daunting, and I really sympathise, and share a lot of the worry. I am not super positive or resilient at all.

I do agree we should try to resist the doom though, it is a good coping strategy to not think too far ahead, to try and focus on the positive. There is a purpose in venting your feelings and acknowledging difficulties, but continuing to do so endlessly won't get any of us anywhere.

Never underestimate the power of human ingenuity and resilience, we have come through some appalling things and even in the aftermath of disaster people go out to rebuild.

By the way, i am fairly confident there will be a vaccine. It may not give total immunity, it may need boosters, and it may be some time after we get it that measures can significantly ease, but it will come and it will change things a lot. Imo of course, but my opinion is based on listening to multiple experts so Grin.

I think there will be huge appetite for returning to normal as much as possible and we will see so much new enterprise spring up, including in the arts.

Shodan · 21/10/2020 01:25

I don't feel like it's the end of times, for several reasons:

None of my friends and family feel this way.

I have more immediate things to deal with; real end of times stuff: My mother, who was admitted to hospital in August, and subsequently had a massive stroke and now is paralysed, doubly incontinent and is unable to communicate or even know what is going on. That is a far more pressing and important matter to me.

My mentality/personality has always been to deal with the immediate problem first, without worrying too much about what will come after. Catastrophising helps no-one.

And finally- I've been through a lot, generally, so nothing really holds that much fear for me. I've done it, and survived and thrived, and I have no doubt that I, and the rest of us, will do too.

thaegumathteth · 21/10/2020 01:29

Some people just absolutely love drama and love the prospect of being able to say I told you so.

I'm quite an anxious person and I refuse to believe most of the people pedalling the doom and gloom actually believe it because if they did how can they keep on functioning?

Humans are adaptable. Today we took the kids to a zip wire park, then had a takeaway and watched bake off. It's not the end of days. It's utterly shit and I've had times where I have struggled; like really genuinely struggled, but I don't deal with that by making other people feel worse!

Also @SunshineCake hoping that means a second referendum for us in Scotland then!

Ilady · 21/10/2020 02:14

I think that some people have the glass is half full attitude and others have the glass is almost empty. This has not been an easy year for people due to all that's happened because of covid. Even in a normal year people would go through hard times but they could have friends/family support, attend support groups ect unlike this year these were not always available.
Then you have some people who seem to look for misery and thrive on this.
I live in Ireland and from Thursday we are going into a 6 week lockdown. I have spent the past few days getting things sorted out to make my life easier over the next few weeks. I have things to do in my home at this time and I have plans made for after this.
Their is a lady living here in Ireland who turned 107 recently and she is still living on her own home. She wrote a letter to people here in Ireland. I will see if I can find it and post it here.

PracticingPerson · 21/10/2020 02:29

it is an evolutionary thing since too much realism, let alone pessimism, about possible future problems actually hampers our success in surviving and thriving pessimists have been shown to be very successful as they predict and therefore avoid issues/problems, whereas optimists don't think things could go wrong, so they sometimes walk head long into obvious pitfalls.

On the subject of the op, if you feel optimistic that's good but you won't change other people. My personal view is the UK is in a very bad place politically and economically, Brexit was a mistake and we are currently led by people not up to the job. I am not overly panicked but we are facing real problems.

Ilady · 21/10/2020 02:35

The letter I mentioned in my previous post was written by Nancy Stewart and it can be found online.

Iflyaway · 21/10/2020 02:37

Calm down dear......

Buy some Rescue Remedy Spray or drops and start taking them several times a day.

turnitonagain · 21/10/2020 03:05

The British love to moan, have you only just realised this?

Inkpaperstars · 21/10/2020 04:37

pessimists have been shown to be very successful as they predict and therefore avoid issues/problems, whereas optimists don't think things could go wrong, so they sometimes walk head long into obvious pitfalls

True, I suppose what I meant was that the advantage was not so much being optimistic as not being despairing. In fact even pessimists tend to be optimistic in not focusing on the worst that might happen...studies have shown that humans generally overestimate the chances of things going well. Which doesn't sound as cheering as it is meant to Grin

Waxonwaxoff0 · 21/10/2020 05:08

I don't think that being an optimist means not thinking anything can go wrong. I'm an optimist and I don't think this, I just think that you have to make the best of it if things DO go wrong.

Oblomov20 · 21/10/2020 05:57

It won't be like this forever. It won't go back to what it was before, but slowly, next year once there's a vaccine, hopefully by spring? Then a few people will go back to work in London, within 2 years young people will go to uni again. We will adapt. We already are. I don't believe it's all gloom.

Afonavon · 21/10/2020 07:35

@SunshineCake

Apparently an astrologer who predicted a virus has also predicted that the UK will be no more in a year. That makes me sadder than other things at the moment.
That would be fantastic for us, independence is a good thing surely!
Harleyflynn · 21/10/2020 08:48

jeez the brexit threads are another level of doom aren't they

and I'm a remainer.

Meruem · 21/10/2020 10:16

I agree OP. It’s fine for people to vent about feeling shit if it helps them. But there seems to be a frenzy of doom on here at the moment. I’m not sure coming on here and saying “I feel crap” to then be told “it’s going to get worse” is actually helpful to anyone.

My mantra in life has always been “it is what it is”. So you adapt to deal with the situation. I find pleasure in the small things. Reading a good book, cuddling my cats, watching an interesting series on TV. I just live in the moment and if something negative happens in my life I’ll cross that bridge when I come to it.

Oliversmumsarmy · 21/10/2020 10:30

Apparently an astrologer who predicted a virus has also predicted that the UK will be no more in a year. That makes me sadder than other things at the moment

Was their name Nicola by any chance😀

Horrible76 · 21/10/2020 10:37

I'm a believer in the Boserup 'necessity is the mother of invention'. Yes, things are shit and short term Brexit is likely to be shit too. But long term, things like this need to happen for progress to happen.

Pollynextdoor · 21/10/2020 11:07

Amen to this thread

Dowser · 21/10/2020 11:09

Well I’m one who believes till it actually lands at my door..just get in with it.
I’ve had plenty land at my door over my lifetime and thankfully still standing.
We are here on holiday in Tenerife at the moment and it is just wonderful.
You cannot put a price on sunshine, blue skies, warm seas, friendly people, good food served at reasonable prices...a real good soul tonic.

My motto is we are here for a good time not a long time..so I intend to squeeze every drop of joy out of life that I can.

My mum was widowed by the time she was my age, but still got one or two trips to Vegas each year With friends, then came to florida with me a couple of times A year , France , spain wherever.
She didn’t let the fact that she missed my dad stop her
I know, it was different time then but we’ve all got to keep life as normal as possible