How many of you have broken lockdown rules?

[vulvic]

I'm just wondering. I thought the vast majority had stuck to it but seeing more threads and hearing more stories, it seems there is a lot of people still seeing close family.

Anyway, I'm in the Channel Isles. Still in lockdown but slightly easing.

I'm not interested in shopping, garden centres or more exercise. I'm not even interested in socialising or catching up with friends.
I just want to see my mum.

I think it's badly affecting her mental health now as she was depressive anyway, and my DS is struggling having not seen her for 2 months.

So, I'm just wondering, have any of you still been seeing close family? Or were you sticking to it and now given up and started visiting? Or are you encouraging to stick firmly to it for as long as possible?

I've been a firm sticker to the rules but now starting to feel the negatives are outweighing the positives but still completely paranoid.

Chatted from a distance with family members, but that's it.

@PineappleDanish

I wasn't being smug. I'm seeing it hoe it is right now at the hospital.

I'm sat here maybe dying. The right side of my face has dropped. The right side of my body has almost stopped working. I'm struggling to speak

Being smug isn't on my agenda right now. Nor is passive aggressive.

Life is shit for all of us. Some more than others.

I think what people need to understand is that this virus isn't going anywhere. There is no way it will be possible to maintain these restrictions until the virus has been killed off. Not happening. It's here to stay.

The point of the lockdown is that we slow the spread of the virus so that the healthcare system isn't overwhelmed. If you are still popping out to see your mum because otherwise she'd be really lonely, or you're exercising more than once a day because otherwise you'd go mad, or you're dropping off a birthday present at someone's house, but you're not going to work or school or gigs or parties, you're still helping to slow the spread of the virus.

Let's respect the rules as much as possible, but not beat ourselves up about the occasional infringement. We're only human.

Someone being a bit lonely is not the same as someone who feels suicidal.

But it is not up to you or anyone else on this thread to tell people that all they feel is a bit lonely. There is a huge spectrum of things in between being a bit lonely and being suicidal. If seeing a low risk family member who has also been isolating is what it takes to stop yourself from tipping over from depressed to suicidal, I don't see how anyone would justify telling that person they can't do that.

Speaking on behalf of the women I work with, the majority of them are much more at risk of suicide or of death from domestic violence than they are from covid 19.

It is also completely untrue to say that if you do one thing you might as well just do all of it. If I go and see my mum that doesn't mean I might as well go coughing into a supermarket or go to a rave with 500 strangers.

@Dotty1970

Absolute of the highest standard...... I hope you don't clap for the NHS

No, I don't clap. Clapping proves nothing at all as far as I'm concerned.

• Your vertually all a bunch of thick selfish wankers. No wonder or country vertually has the most deaths. Well done 👏*

Before calling people thick, could you double check what you've written and reconsider your statement.

Chokabloc
I'm completely resigned to catching it and I don't care

Do you have back up childcare? Because my DH has had it and for 2 weeks there is no way he would have been able to look after 2 kids.

I’m not judging, I’m here with a lockdown-breaking admission, but I was shocked at how very incapacitated DH was, even without the breathing difficulties.

It’s something to think about .

I just spent a couple of hours in my friends garden. I have not had any live social contact outside our house for 8 weeks. I shop once a fortnight, no popping to the shops in between. She and her household have been similarly isolating.

We sat 3m apart, I did not go into her house, I do not think we put ourselves, or anyone else, at risk.

I'm a mh professional, currently working on phone/video, but there would be times when I would think it would be totally appropriate for the rules to be broken so that friends and family to support someone who was really struggling. Not necessarily feeling fed up or lonely, but if someone was really struggling to cope/feeling suicidal etc, but then that would fall under the rules of caring for someone who was vulnerable so I wouldn't even see it as breaking the rules.

I have been shopping more than once a week as i do my mums shopping and can't fit it all in one trolley with mine as I have a full trolley every week for my family.

I went to my parents on their 50th wedding anniversary with my kids and stood in garden and talked to them. That's the only time my kids have been anywhere in the car!

I also had a 20min chat in the garden with my parents one time I did their shopping. Obv very far apart. Had to shout as they're both a bit deaf!

Took my bro a bday present over and sat on my car bonnet while he sat on his doorstep and chatted for 30 mins. He lives alone so I'll prob go again as it's starting to get to him!

Has a street bbq yesterday. Just 5 houses. All over 2 n apart but my neighbour is a chef so cooked it all. obv had to all go to bbq in turn and use the tongs etc so not perfect!

I’ve walked the dog twice a day once a week as my DP does the shopping, normally one does morning and one does evening. But getting to the field involves crossing the street my house is on and then I’m on grass and can easily keep well over 5m from anyone I see, which is maybe 2-3 people, often none. Originally we were trying to do longer and more varied walks but we saw a lot more people and on pavements it was quite stressful, so laps of the field only now.

Your vertually all a bunch of thick selfish wankers.

😬 Did you even read that back before hitting send and accusing others of being thick?

But yes I do know my own mother is not at risk of suicide right now - she’s just a bit lonely. But she is safe, well and I am able to contact her. I am not prepared to use MH as an excuse to break the rules - I absolutely would if I had an indication she was going to harm herself or was mentally unwell and seriously struggling.

No one is detracting from intervening in serious or worrying circumstances but to absolutely not keep harping on about mental health as if they are all Dr Phil, out and about doing their good deeds for the day (and feeling smug about it) telling themselves they are saving someone’s sanity by enjoying a chat in the garden when they know they could do the same thing on a video. Want to really help people with mental health problems or severe loneliness? Volunteer to befriend people and phone them up in your spare time. Help the overloaded NHS staff’s mental health (many of whom will have PTSD) by not increasing their workload. Donate money to charities who work with DV victims.

Lots of people didnt seem to follow it when it was in place, grandparents visiting relatives, girlfriends and boyfriends staying over at peoples houses, group picnics in secluded spots.

At least now it's over they can continue to do what they like.

Depends whose rules your referring to! The Actual Guidelines set out by the Government - No/ The made up Rules by everybody who think they know better - Yes indeed!!!

@nevergoingoutagain

Sorry your user name is very funny

I've taken shopping to my elderly and vulnerable shielding mum every 10 days or so and stay for an hour for a chat, but only when she needs food and the weather has been nice, she sits on the kitchen step while I sit on a bench 4 metres away and we shout at each other. She is starting to get distressed by the isolation and it helps her to see someone in person now and again.

I probably shouldn't have stayed but it was done very sensibly.

Other than visiting mum for longer than I should we've followed the guidance in Scotland to the letter, no paint from b&q or non essential drive thrus etc.

Only a couple of people I know have broken the rules and it was for non essential shopping (paint),

Yes I think so. I'm the only one in my house hold that goes out for shopping. I drive to supermarket once a week - not the closest one but most affordable! - and shop for my family, my mum and my elderly neighbour. I take kids out for a walk once a day, that walk includes stopping in my mum's garden while she stays inside the house and chats to us from at least 2m away. She has a heart condition and recently changed her meds so i need to physucally see her and hear her talking to check she's ok as she has a tendency to pretend she's fine on the phone but if I see her I can tell if she's struggling.

@YinMnBlue

Yeah definitely something to think about!

I have a "childcare pact" with a close relative who we have no contact with at all (to minimise as much as possible chances of us both getting it at the same time). DH in that family is a key worker too (with no social distancing) so the plan is for kids to go there, or their kids here, if adults are badly affected.

But we're all under 40 (most under 30), slim and healthy with no pre-existing conditions, all been taking Vit D etc. I know some people can still get it bad, but I don't think the risk is that high.

Still, sensible to plan!

We've all stuck to all the rules, my three kids are experts in social distancing when walking and not allowed to,touch gates etc...

The only thing I'm not totally sure about is some days I walk the dog (10 mins vv early), walk the kids, (20-30 mins lunch time), and the occasional run in the eve. Not sure if okay or not?

Yes. I did. I called my mum last Saturday, she came and had a cuppa and we went for a walk with the dog.
I am a HCP, I work in CAMHS, I’m not an idiot, we’ve plenty of covid on our wards, but I also have a long history of bipolar with psychotic symptoms, well managed but I’m a hormonal mess and can’t take regular medications as I’m six months pregnant. I’ve been having reduced movements, bleeding and loss of fluid and things have been really stressful. About ten days ago I began to experience delusions and hallucinations that became more fixed and more terrifying.
I’ve not had a relapse since I lived with my mum and dad. And whilst DP is amazing he is recovering from his own long term health issues which rendered him housebound for around 2 years.
I was frightened so I called my mum.
She was worried so she came.

Rising covid deaths and extended lockdown aren’t my fault for that.
I could’ve driven myself to A&E and asked for a psychiatric liaison or crisis assessment. And then maybe I would’ve taken resources from someone else.

It was the less of two evils.

To all thouse who attended VE parties yesterday I hope you enjoyed them. Whilst you were drinking I was holding the hand of a gentleman dying with covid. At the end of my 12 hour day I came back to an empty room as I have moved out of home to protect my family.
I dont want to preach but I no lockdown is hard but really meeting up for a drink even with social distancing makes me angry.
Come on dont think it's ok because you only go out once a week. Lucky you I have to go to work and shop.
Use social media to catch up I had dinner with my husband tonight on zoom.
We are all in this together. Just feels like some people are trying harder than others

I went to say goodbye to my dying grandmother (not Covid related). I’m glad I did.

My neighbours had their son and grandchildren round in the garden today. They usually have their grandchildren several times a week and I think they just cracked. I’m not going to judge them.