Has the pandemic ruined the hope of a new year for you?

[GinandGobbledegook]

I will start by saying that I suffer with anxiety which is probably why I feel this way.

I used to love the hope of a new year. A fresh new year. Looking forward to what could be ahead. What lovely things you would do and reflecting on the year before.

Jan 2020 new year was no different. Everyone saying it will be the best year yet. I left 2019 genuinely happy and settled in my life.
I feel so foolish now.

The shock of how things dramatically changed our lives has left me feeling fearful this new year. (not just the pandemic, there was a lot of upheaval that year for me)
I'm scared of what 2022 will bring. Not because of anything specific. I'm just scared it will bring something bad or unknown and it will knock me for 6 again. I feel overwhelmed thinking forward and have this sinking feeling that something bad is going to happen (the biggest ones is being financially ruined but on no particular basis, or someone close to me dying)

I don't know what I want from typing this. Just to know I'm not alone I suppose.

I really think we're on the home straight now.

While I'm by no means an eternal optimist, I'm left with a feeling that if I can get through the last two years, I can get through anything. Can you try and manage your anxiety that way?

It feels to me like the early part of 2022 will be us moving forward out of the darkness and leaving it far behind.

It can feel scary that we now know the whole world can change in an instant. But that also means it can change again to something good just as quickly

I am feeling more flat than anything else to be honest.

I have reached a state of permanent “what will be will be”.

I just try to keep my head down and deal with whatever comes my way.

I see no point in making too many plans or setting goals.

I also see no point in worrying about what could happen.

I’ve felt flat for a while.
I usually enjoy a new year, but I can’t see it being any different to the last two.

I'm kind of mixed about it. Personally, I'm in much better health than I was a year ago, and hope to stay well through 2022. But I do feel quite pessimistic about the state of the world: wars, refugees in desperate situations, famine, Covid, mad conspiracy theorists, social divisions, Brexit etc. And the staggering cost of the pandemic - I don't see how economies will recover.

Totally agree bloodybridget.