What has your 'Pandemic experience' been like?

[steakandcheeseplease]

After catching up with some friends I'd not seen for ages it was interesting to hear the different experiences they had. From being in the first strictest lockdown and giving birth to totally locking themselves away to it not really having any impact. No one hardly seen my friend baby till it was a year old

My experience.

My school was one of the first to close. Was on the news. That was scary and I was frightened.

The shops scared me, it was apocalyptic. A woman shouted at me outside Asda because I had my children with me ( no one else to have them)

Im very lucky I live semi rurally so was never trapped in the house, we went out as much as we could. No one could see us. I even did open water swimming in the lake near us and paddle boarded.

I visited my DGM nearly daily. She was 88 and living by herself. I'd sit at the end of the path with a flask of tea and id see how she was or bring shopping. I could see her legs were getting weaker as she couldn't leave the house. She gave me a hug once as I was crying about something.

My marriage ended due to us having issues and being holed up together escalated it.

I realised how bad my anxiety had got when I started retching for no reason

My kids ruined my house.

I stopped outside high rise flats in my car and seen a toddler up in the last flat (about 8 floors up) on a tiny tricycle on a tiny balcony just still looking through the gaps. That was a defining moment for me.

School work went out the window. But my kids were eventually allowed back in school as I'm a key worker.

I met up with several good friends and had socially distanced walks where no one could see us when one of us were really struggling.

I'm shocked at how many of my friends have had or still have mental health issues due to this period of time.

I feel like I've checked out of covid now, I'm more worried about the wave of debt and financial crisis that will come from this.

What was your experience like?

HI OP I was wondering about this too today, read that a lot of mothers found it harder than fathers

www.theguardian.com/society/2021/may/31/covid-lockdown-school-closures-hit-mothers-mental-health-but-left-fathers-unaffected

I struggled with it, still have an anxious feeling over it,. And my two are older.

We live in a flat and getting out swimming etc helps me a lot.

@Orangesandlemons77

HI OP I was wondering about this too today, read that a lot of mothers found it harder than fathers

www.theguardian.com/society/2021/may/31/covid-lockdown-school-closures-hit-mothers-mental-health-but-left-fathers-unaffected

I struggled with it, still have an anxious feeling over it,. And my two are older.

We live in a flat and getting out swimming etc helps me a lot.

I totally get that article orange. The pandemic had zero effect on my ex.

I've managed fine and am aware I've been very fortunate. I have no kids and a lot of my social life is online within various gaming communities, which of course have continued exactly as before. Work has been catastrophic (I'm a Primary Headteacher) but I've had the time and mental headspace to deal with most of what has been thrown my way. Many colleagues have been affected significantly, however, and that has been the hardest thing to deal with. Some are still suffering with their health and devastated that they aren't getting better. It's meant we've had to make massive adjustments to people working condition, hours, duties, etc. but it's worth it to see how relieved and appreciative people are.

Mine was fine, I have worked all the way through and was one of the first lot to be vaccinated and have mandatory PCR tests weekly.
My DD on the other hand, started university in the pandemic and finished today. She caught COVID in the first week and has had one face to face teaching session.
Not the best introduction to living independently she could have had,
Unfortunately I was due to fly out to Portugal next week to look for a retirement property.
DH is going alone

oh gosh. Mine was really mixed. Hard hard hard due to single parenting alone, working in a full time, very busy job, home educating. That caused me so much stress (the article resonates with me). Exhausting, relentless, very boring at times - god the box sets.

But also very rewarding. Really good relationship with my children. Loved my job through the period. Connected with my close friends. Redecorated my whole house.

As the first lockdown happened my Dad was admitted to a hospice and died 5 weeks later. I sat with him for 5 hours every single day for 5 weeks and was able to be with him when he died. I was apprehensive about driving there every day as it was 'stay at home, minimise travel' etc

During those 5 weeks the pandemic was the least of my worries.

I moved house last July, so that kept my mind off things.

I have been furloughed since March 2020. It gave me the time to be with my Dad without work in the equation and also to settle into my new house. On the other hand I am growing increasingly worried about my industry (airline)

DH went to work on the Wednesday before lockdown and was turned round and told to work from home for three weeks. He’s still working from home now. I had to work throughout. We got letters from head office stating we were key workers and had to attend work, to show the police if we were stopped. There was no government guidelines so I spent my days figuring out the best way to protect our staff. Marking out two meter gaps and fashioning screens from cling wrap. I tried to buy our usual hand sanitiser and soap from our usual suppliers and was told no. It was for “essential workers” I pointed out that food manufacture was pretty fucking essential only to be told as long as our staff weren’t touching the product and therefore potentially sending covid into the homes of customers, it was fine. I lost my shit over that.

The motorway going to work was eerily quiet. My usual 45 minute journey took 20.

DH was terrified and refused to set foot out of the house, so I did the shopping which had always been his job. I went three times a week at least as I also had to shop for my parents and DD. More often than not there were things I couldn’t get, and when I could it was limited, couldn’t buy three packs of toilet roll, one for each household for example, so I’d have to go back a fourth time. I’d drop the shopping on DPSs/DDs doorstep then stand at the end of the garden shouting down to them. I’d often queue for 30 plus minutes to get into the supermarket.

DH insisted on sanitising all our shopping. He was carefully wiping stuff before putting it away, I just pretended. He also insisted that I sprayed my shoes and phone every day. I pretended to do that too.

After about six weeks, I persuaded him out for a walk. We had an argument because I’d passed a person closer than two meters. DH had crossed the road when he saw them coming, but just kept going. When we got home he insisted on spraying his shoes and phone, putting his clothes in the wash, and getting showered. After that he tried to get me to shower/change when I got home each night. I refused.

DD was pregnant, I had planned to go to a scan with her, and we were looking forward so much to baby shopping. None of that happened.

Despite all this I was only scared twice, once when they said pregnant women were more susceptible because DD was already clinically extremely vulnerable, and the second time was when Boris went into intensive care.

Thank you for this thread op, it’s been good to write all that down. I’ve meant to do it for a long time.

Its been liberating. I feel awful saying it as so many have died or had a crap time but ive had my dh around for the first time really to help. he normally travelled a lot. Our son has complex needs and i found it hard to leave the house before. He didnt have a school space so i was hanging on to my pt my job by my finger tips. Then my dh started to work from home and i could just say 'im heading for a walk'. I could be flexible at work rather than be the one who had to leave. Everywhere was quiet so my son ventured out more. I was less locked down than before.

But i have enough empathy to realise how shit others have had it.

I've never been scared of Covid at any stage of the pandemic.

March 2020 I was furloughed. First lockdown was hell, we lived in a flat with no garden. I'm a single parent. Stuck indoors day in day out with a bored 6 year old. Was like groundhog day.

Went back to work in August. I work in furniture manufacturing and all of a sudden it just went INSANELY busy and still is. I guess that with foreign travel off the cards and a lot more WFH everyone has decided to do up their houses.

DS attended school on a KW place during the second school closures as I can't WFH and his dad is a KW. So it felt a lot more normal. Also we had moved into a house with a garden so I found the second lockdown much easier to cope with.

Thankfully all my friends and family are healthy and no one has lost their jobs. My mum caught Covid early on, she is NHS working in a hospital. She recovered fine. I haven't had it that I know of, I'm doing the ONS study. We had a large outbreak at work back in January.

I've been WFH since early March 2020.

At first it was great as I had PND with my youngest who was 8 months old at the time and it helped me get back into work without the daily commute and I liked not having to see people, put on a happy face etc.

In the long run though, I think it has been awful for my MH. I hate having to go out anywhere now where I will have to speak to people as I am so used to being at home. Ive put on a load of weight and cant get motivated to lose it cos I know people rarely see what I look like anyway.

I was always most worried about the wave of debt and financial crisis that will come from Lockdown measures. And scared of the diverse health crises that will happen from Lockdown measures. And scared of the crazy thinking now that all germs must be stopped at all costs.

Personally, day to day, things have gone ok, much better than I expected.

My elderly parents were terrified and still extremely cautious. DH's parents have scoffed & thought the measures OTT. I don't get out much so am very confused by the constant (since March 2020) "No one is social distancing at all any more ever!" comments I read on MN.

I've "obeyed" most the rules most the time -- just trying to keep my head down. My radical granny killing was all linked to exercise: going for walk with one friend when that wasn't allowed, driving to exercise when that wasn't allowed, doing types of exercise that weren't prohibited but police would try to fine you if you did it (like surfing).

I got pregnant and the first lockdown was quite enjoyable as I slept and ate a lot.

Went back to work in September and it was horrible. Was signed off sick then started maternity leave. Slept and ate a lot

Having my baby in the third lockdown wasn’t enjoyable though and I did get depressed as a result.

Negatives

1. I'd just started a new job when we went into the first lockdown. We were massively effected by the pandemic and it was chaos. To be honest I felt way out of my depth but couldn't tell anyone as was scared of losing my job. I almost wanted to lose my job too.
2. The isolation hit harder than I thought. Especially not being able to get into the supermarket.
3. I put on weight.

Postives/neutral

1. I had a milestone birthday.
2. I discovered online yoga and that was great.
3. I paid off all my debts
4. Closer to family

I'd say on balance I've made positives from it. I just want to lose weight now.

Completely pissed off at a lot of people's selfishness tbh.
Staff basically running out the door at the first hint of being CEV claiming they wish they could stay to help and didn't want to go, but then dragging heels about coming back when allowed to. Having no staff to replace the over 70s (hi scrapping of the mandatory retirement age) as age is a factor in who has to isolate. The patronizing virtue signaling clap every Thursday for da nursez. Yes there were very busy ones but a lot had fuck all to do once outpatient clinics stopped. Goady staff posting pics of themselves drinking G&T in the garden when on isolation and the same staff getting pissed off when asked not to. Boris telling everyone if you can work from home you must cue key departments like IT walking out overnight. Every sodding person suddenly decided they were a key worker. "Gotta get my lottery tickets because I'm a key worker". The lack of recognition for ALL NHS staff that didn't isolate or WFM and put up with a boiling summer last year working head to toe in PPE with no A/C or fans because - covid. The narrative now being "those that did put the effort in last year and ran themselves ragged now need to jolly well pull their finger out and get operating lists down, work 24 hours a day if needs be, oh and the general public don't think you need a pay rise or any recognition for what you have done so go fuck yourself"

I found the first lockdown a novelty, and quite enjoyed the walks, spending time with the kids, the quietness, the weirdness. I spent a day crying because I was worried about work but after the self employment grants were announced that was fine. I counted my blessings because we were in a much better position than many, kids not too young or too old etc. Towards end of school year however started to feel anxious about oldest son who wasn’t engaging with his friends or going outside and really missed school.
Was glad kids went back to school in September. Didn’t mind second lockdown because schools were still open. Then restrictions over Christmas hit me like a brick to the head. I had been sure it would all be OK by Christmas. Was very sad. Worried about kids.
Third lockdown was awful. DS1 mental health plummeted. I had no motivation for work. Lots of anxiety. Drank too much. Actually I find it hard to remember Jan to April this year, it is like I have blanked it out.

I opted in as a final year mental health student nurse to work on wards from the start of the pandemic, homeschooling the dc on my days off (after night shift that was brutal!) whilst dh worked from home and managed to somehow find time to study and qualified as a mental health nurse with a first. Was quite worried about catching covid at the time but have more concerns about staff wellbeing and burnout nowadays. I had to take some time off between graduating and qualifying as I was drained. It's opened my eyes to how important social networks are and the impact of isolating has had on people's mental health. I think it's been a positive learning experience and certainly helped me build a lot of resilience I wouldn't have otherwise. And despite the stress of nursing, I feel blessed having job security throughout all this. I managed to secure a new nursing job earlier this year which I'm really enjoying. Moved house too.

Ordinarily I see my parents everyday I can see their house from mine, they do the school run for me etc. For the first 6 weeks we didn't go in each others house but I'm a single parent so we socialised in the garden a few weeks before the govt said we could have support bubbles. The only point I was a bit scared was my DBro had covid symptoms he lives with my parents and I had the awful thought that it could wipe all three of them out and they are my entire family so could be left all alone.

Work wise as a teacherc I had no concerns of losing my job but the first lockdown was easier than the winter one and a local one we had. I was able to help Dd with her school work in the am then give feedback and set the next day's work after lunch. With Teams lessons I had to put up with the screen freezing all the time and other technical issues and leave Dd to her own devices. Going back with all students in corridors etc was worrying and all of the new hygiene procedures we had to keep to.

We are fortunate that we have a garden and are within walking distance of a large beach and woodland where it is very easy to socially distance. Family members work for a supermarket which held staff shopping hours so never had to worry about not being able to access basics.

I managed to buy Dd a laptop the day before lockdown which was a real lifesaver for her and she was able to socialise with her friends. She was an absolute trooper with school work completing it with no fuss everyday. DDs dad was furloughed so she got to see him alot more than normal which was nice for them.

I know I'm incredibly lucky though, many of the children I teach did not have a nice time and their parents and families have really struggled and several of my colleagues suffer from long covid.

Apart from me and DP having covid which was truly terrible and which has made my long term health problems worse it was mostly fine for me but then I dont have kids and could work from home.

It has made me a hard, angry person

I will come back and do a full post but marking my place for now!

My partner having no PPE whilst working with covid positive patients. Us both having covid. Me getting silent, serious side effects.

Us both having a steady wage and fewer outgoings. Missing socialising, but also settling into a gentle and quiet routine.

Swings and roundabouts.

I was furloughed for 12 months and was constantly worried about my job.
Dp worked through it so was on my own a lot.
Dd1 is a nurse so she was at work, my neighbour attempted suicide,a friend lost their homes .
It's left me just feeling empty.
I have nothing else to give to it

I hate the way so much time has passed us by with very little to show for it , really sad for elderly who maybe haven't got that much time left anyway .
I feel such hatred to the government , their mishandling , lies , arrogance, realise this is very negative so avoiding news as much as i can.
My biggest fear throughout has been the fact that we are being run by the Muppet show and the civil liberties we have lost that may not be returned.
I have isolated twice and lost out financially , i very much doubt that i will do that again, angry that there is no instant financial support that clicks in automatically when told to isolate by law.
I have worked very hard throughout with my wonderful colleagues in the veterinary trade ,already strong bonds made stronger, no claps for us on thursday nights , not heard us mentioned throughout !
I have mild anxiety which i have never had before , think i am close to had enough now , same as most .
Felt very grateful last year and now for my peaceful -at times ! garden.
Wishing another year over quick so that hopefully we can be free again in 2022 , but won't hold my breath.

Both dh and I were furloughed so both at home with the dc. I'm a supply teacher so educating/teaching them wasn't too bad. Dh and I get on really well so there was no arguing or difficulties between us. We had financial support from our parents so money wasn't too much of an issue. We spent a lot of time in the garden and just pottering. We had it easy really.

Two of my siblings have started divorce proceedings with their respective spouses so I know it could have been worse.

Stressful working whilst having a four year old at home as the school was shut.
Not afraid of the virus just fed up. Didn’t mind not going to the pub, but missed taking my DM to the shops.
She’s 80 and feels she’s lost a year of her life!

Basically 14 months of going almost nowhere, and seeing almost no-one, to try to stay safe, then going out for a meal with Dh and ds3, catching Covid, and ending up in hospital, on oxygen, because my oxygen saturation was around 88%, so the paramedics took me in.

In hospital for only five days, thankfully, and now home trying to recover - breathless if I do anything, and exhausted a lot of the time.