To think this is torturing single people?

[VirtualHugsAllRound]

Even if it's intermittent lockdown and social distancing... Both mean you're not supposed to meet with family and friends.
If you live alone this is torture. Isolation is used as torture/punishment fgs!
We're always being shown that families are more important, that we've failed by not having a partner and reproducing. Now we are expected to live in isolation for months on end.
And at the end of it, no one is going to say "well done for undergoing months of torture to protect others" or support us with healing from the trauma this will cause. As usual, just expected to suck it up.

I cant do this.

[IntermittentParps]

I hadn't realised how anti social I was till this. I'm loving the isolation.
Yeah, me too

I do miss mini-interactions with people like the staff in coffee shops etc though. That's much less hard work than trying to sustain relationships with family and friends IME.

[unhappyclap]

I'm single and very introverted, I actually don't mind this isolation period

[Sugarpea123]

Firstly it must be hard and I have complete sympathy for you. I have a partner and a 3 month old baby. My anxiety has never been worse since I've had a baby, before this. This has added to that tenfold (Obviously). I can honestly say I wish I'd waited to have a baby because for me, coping with a new baby at this time is extremely difficult. My partner is also a key worker and I worry about them both all day, every day. If I only had to worry about myself, my mental health would be alot better.
I'm not minimising your experience, just trying to show you that we all have our struggles, and circumstances may vary but for some, like me, I would actually rather be single and child free at this time.

[TinglyFeets]

Ok probably get flamed for this, but I went for a walk yesterday and saw one of my neighbours in her front garden. So we had a ten minute conversation across the road. We had to shout a bit, but it was nice to have the interaction.

No flaming. I actually think it's a nice suggestion to call out hello to people you see when out exerising. Obviously not grouping together to chat but sometimes even a hello can help people feel connected.

OP, I am sorry you're having such a tough time with this. I don't really have much good advice but you can have some .

[willdoitinaminute]

I have taken steps to de isolate myself on social media on a temporary basis. I have opened up my FB account and although not a big fan of Instagram I have opened this too. I tended to use them for close family and friends but if someone is on their own I would like to think that looking through my old posts and current interactions may encourage them to make contact if they are feeling isolated. Obviously I can hide stuff I don’t think is appropriate but any contact is better than nothing.
I am on a couple of What’s app groups which have become far more active this week, and chat in the evening is entertaining and comforting.
We have fallen into a routine at home which helps structure the day. I am using FaceTime and Skype with family and friends which has helped.
Even though I am holed up with DH & DS it is still very lonely. But if we stick to the plan it will hopefully be short lived.
Now is not the time to exclude people from your virtual social scene. If you know people who are on their own invite them into your online life.

[PurpleDaisies]

You can't moan about it, we just have to make the best and stay in.

Why can’t the op moan about it? Would you tell a mum to stop moaning about how hard they were finding things?

[amber763]

I'm not single, but we do live apart and now won't see each other for the foreseeable future. It really sucks but come on. We need to be positive and thankful that we're probably in one of the safest positions out there. We're only days in for goodness sake. You need to be positive as you can for your mental health. Sitting dwelling on how you "can't do this" is selfish. I'm sorry but it is. Men and women are out there in hospitals and supermarkets and don't have a choice.

[maddening]

If it were me I would probably move in with a friend / relative (or have them in with me) once we had both been isolated 2 weeks

[tinytemper66]

My mum is on her own and I am dropping h off supplies by the door and talking to her through a window.
My disabled son is on his own in a flat as he cant come home and Inam supporting him daily with his needs. He wouldn't see a soul without me but we are trying to get him to understand there may be a time when we want come over and none of his needs will be met. He can survive on rubbish and not showering and shaving but he is lovely and vulnerable.
He can't come home to live so we make do. Nothing is ideal.

[Amotherof6]

It's no doubt difficult … but torture! That's a bit over the top IMO.

People are working hard in keyworker roles to keep things going so perhaps we all need to put up with a bit more at the moment.

This too will pass.... that you can get back to meeting up with people again. Let's face it - this will save lives ...

[ginghamstarfish]

It may be difficult but you should not be using the word torture to describe it. Maybe look up the word and some examples of it - I'm sure it doesn't include 'being in a comfortable home with internet/phone access etc'.

[Oakmaiden]

It is shit.

But it isn't forever. You just have to keep plodding and get through it.

[UnfinishedSymphon]

@IntermittentParps as my post above, you cannot meet people from other households - this is from the gov website

[motheroftwoboys]

Presumably if you have mental health issues you are supported by your local Trust? If so then you can still have phone appointments with your normal services so it is really important to keep those us. My DH is a peer support worker and is now working from home in this way.

[UnfinishedSymphon]

@IntermittentParps

When are people allowed to leave their homes?

Mr Johnson said everybody should stay at home and would only be allowed to leave for specific reasons:
◾Shopping for "basic necessities", as infrequently as possible. People should use delivery services, where they can
◾Medical reasons, to provide care, or to help a vulnerable person
◾Travelling to and from work, but only if it is "absolutely necessary"

People should not meet friends or family members who do not live with them.

[penisbeakers]

Tough shit. Everyone else has to deal with it, some are in awful situations and have much more than being single to worry about. Get a hold of yourself.

[pudcat]

I miss my family but I would sooner be alone than die a painful death and pass it on to my family.

[JoshArcherStoleMyTractor]

Stay in and watch Netflix face time friends, read what you want, listen to what you want, have long lie ins, WFH without distraction. This is not hard. Try two adults both working frontline keyworker jobs, a poorly toddler and no access to childcare.

[Ted27]

@VirtualHugsAllRound I'm single but with a stroppy teen at home. I think its difficult for many people for different reasons

I am missing my friends, the gym, getting out to my workplace but we all have to knuckle down.

One thing I have found very helpful is that I've set up a daily date with my next door neighbour. We just go into the garden at 5 every day and talk over the fence. Could you do something like that ?

[TheStuffedPenguin]

Join the volunteers !

[TinglyFeets]

Tough shit. Everyone else has to deal with it, some are in awful situations and have much more than being single to worry about. Get a hold of yourself.

Deeply inappropriate. I presume you have never ever moaned about anything in your own life because someone, somewhere has it worse?

Mr Johnson said everybody should stay at home and would only be allowed to leave for specific reasons:
◾Shopping for "basic necessities", as infrequently as possible. People should use delivery services, where they can
◾Medical reasons, to provide care, or to help a vulnerable person
◾Travelling to and from work, but only if it is "absolutely necessary"

And exercise.

[HairyHoraceHaggis]

It won’t save lives if people die through suicide, after being isolated and alone and being unable to access the support they need for their mental health.

There are people who need support who are currently locking themselves in their homes and refusing medication that is being delivered. Because they are scared and confused.

People who could really benefit from getting out for a walk - who are frightened of breaking “the rules” - the very ‘rules’ that some people on MN are making up themselves and using to berate others

If people are overdosing and calling ambulances then that is also a strain on the NHS.

We need to support each other, not pile on someone who is struggle and call them “selfish”.

Lots of love to you OP. I hope you can find on activity for yourself that feels like self care today - whether it is a walk in the sunshine, an Netflix binge, a long bath or a phone call to a friend - anything that seems nice to you

[stayathomer]

I always thought being in a happy relationship was best, being single second, and stuck in a shitty relationship third.
This. The thought of being stuck with the wrong person is scary, they say domestic violence will go up As a result of this but flowers to you OP. In all fairness at the end of this none of us are going to get claps on the backs, it's just something th ast has to be done. And it's torture for everyone, my youngest started coughing the other night and the ball of dread that settled in my stomach listening out for it over the night and imagining driving into one of those hangars and trying to keep everyone positive nearly broke me. Thankfully the next day all was fine. Make sure you keep in virtual contact with people OP