Anyone else feeling overwhelmed?

[MrsKingfisher]

I am so fortunate, I am in tier 2 and am able to spend Christmas Day with my dad. So many are really struggling and I count my lucky stars I have muddled through this year as well as I have.

The last few days though I've sort of unraveled, Christmas is hard for me anyway as my mum died 3 years ago and I miss her terribly so I do feel more emotional this time of year but the inability to hug people I love and have proper human contact has today really got to me. My oldest friend dropped off a Christmas present and left it on my doorstep and I burst into tears.

I feel overwhelmed and I'm trying so hard not to give in the the anxiety and fear that I feel is being drummed into us daily.

It's just all got a bit much today. I know probably everyone is feeling the same to some degree.

Hand holding and just putting a voice to the fact you're not alone OP

My anxiety peaks around this time of year (I'm a perfectionist with OCD health anxiety and how
I've survived so far is beyond me) and every little thing is making me hyper vigilant. I'm so desperate for my DS (4) to have a good day as he's so excited that I've burnt myself out. I'm taking five minutes just now outside as I feel shaky and panicky. I'll be okay so long as everything goes swimmingly but with kids and Covid and god knows what else who knows.

Hello you aren’t alone. I’m tier two as well and have held it together well until this week. For me it’s the constant drip drip of info and waiting for govt press conferences and then trying to work out what they mean. I know the best thing is to live in the moment but their decisions have a big impact on my family and work so it’s very hard not to always think ‘what if’

Thank you @PollyDarton1 virtual handhold to you also. I know we all have our own struggles, 5 mins outside sounds like a good idea. I might do the same. I keep telling myself I'm just doing the best I can, you are too.

I agree @Helpmyhair2019 the constant drip feed from the gov isn't helpful and although I've stopped watching the news obviously I still read it and it's all just so depressing.

Me to, felt really positive with the vaccine roll out and even started looking at holidays for next year...then this shit storm happened (new strains, dover shut etc) and now my DB has covid, DM is in his bubble and i live 100 miles away so shes on her own for xmas and MIL is about to be admitted to hospital and probably won't come out again.....I feel totally broken and overwhelmed.

Yeah I’ve felt overwhelmed all year, it’s just been too much. I was heavily pregnant throughout the first lockdown and had a toddler and three primary aged DC who needed homeschooling every day. DH was WFH so also had the pressure of trying to keep everyone quiet when he had to take a call. Tried to keep on top of the house too. It was a total nightmare. Then DS was born in late July and my c-section wound opened a few days later, started gushing and spraying blood and got infected so I was readmitted for 3 days.

Started to feel better about life in august and September when things seemed to be getting back to normal- DC at school, recovered from c-section, cases and deaths were a lot lower. Now it’s all peaked again- the government advice keeps chopping and changing, they’ve pretty move removed all freedom and spontaneity from life and it’s Christmas! Trying to make it happy and wonderful for DC but I’m struggling to keep it together. The news is just miserable all of the time, I’m trying not to read it. I’ve had to stop listening to radio 4 unless it’s the Archers because all they seem to discuss is covid or Brexit.

We still have some gifts to wrap. I know I’ve bought too much, I just wanted to make it perfect for the DC. Have a lot to be grateful for but still difficult to feel positive.

Yes. I agree it's the constant drip drip of information, the crumbs they throw and the undercurrent of blame, the worry over covid ,the isolation, but also the worry of when we'll ever get our freedoms back. I was fine until they said they're closing schools and nurseries. So long as the kids were fine, I'm fine. But this has pushed me over the edge. I am so anxious with the uncertainly of when they'll go back. I agree with the office of national statistics that lockdown could very well cause more deaths than covid. And there's not a thing we can do about it. I feel like I'm in a domestically abusive relationship with the government, telling me I can't work, can't see my friends, making me feel like it's all my fault etc. A very oppressed feeling. In some ways I just feel like I'd rather take my chances of getting covid then live like this any longer.

Completely agree. ‘Overwhelmed’ is the only way to describe how I’m feeling at the moment.

Earlier in the year it at least felt like there was some light at the end of the tunnel. Now, despite the vaccine news, this just feels completely never-ending.

I hope 2021 is much brighter for all