Is this year the worst year of your life?

[AbsentmindedWoman]

It's a shit year, I think virtually everyone would agree. But is it the worst you have lived through?

I'm bored, frustrated, and because I am chronically ill and depend heavily on access to specialist doctors for time-sensitive treatments, have a constant level of background anxiety in case SHTF and my doctors are forced to cancel. However, for me it's not the worst period of my life to date.

What about you? I'm interested in different perspectives on this, as we all are coming to the situation from very different places.

No, 2016 aI had mental health issues, went through a traumatic rape and hostage experience, suffered homeless and addiction due to both of those factors and got very ill, this year thought has been the first year I had planned to overcome my anxieties by going on holiday abroad, so it's sad I couldn't get to do that. But I am finishing my degree which I started in 2017, I am in work, have a great relationship and family bonds and its been 2 full years since I quit all substances so I think this year had been OK for myself

Not even close.

No. 2020 has been difficult in so many ways and has taken a toll on me and DS2. But it is not the worst year of my life.

I have a secure, safe home for me and the DC. I can eat. I am not afraid. I am stronger and more able than I have been before. DS1 is living his best life and that helps.

Yes, but not really due to COVID, though that's been the shitty arse cherry on top tbf. Work for both of us is going well, even for dh who is self-employed, there's been no effects from COVID at all really. Lockdown with dc was stressful, but I could have managed that on its own. But it's definitely been the worst year because I've had to go NC with my entire family (found out my stepdad is a convicted paedophile and apparently everyone else is cool with that). I will likely never speak to my mum again and I've had to explain to my dc why they won't ever see their grandma again. It's been awful. The worst thing I've ever been through. It's just ironic it's all happened at the same time as the rest of the world falling apart. Sorry you're also going through a hard time.

So difficult I lost my mum who was my best friend in the world ) weeks before I had my first baby ... but I had my baby girl

Fuck, not even close. I’ve had a good 20 years that were more far worse.

Not even 11th worst.

1979 - 1997 - abusive parents, beat me daily

1991 - 1995 - war, I was a refugee for a year, lived most of the time in cold without water and electricity, warm clothes, with limited food supply (apple, what apple?). We didn't go to school for more then two years and it wasn't that bad for my mental health. I read a lot.

2003 - 2004 - epileptic seizures all the time, I woke up in some funny places

2004 - brain tumor, long and painful recovery from operation

2016 - 2019 - one traumatic birth and three operations (minor like kidney stone removal)

2019 - my child almost died during birth (actually she was born dead and then was brought back to life) and I spent the first year of her life in hospitals and therapy hoping she will be well

I must say and I'm still waiting for THE pandemic. This doesn't feel like that. But despite that we're isolating and doing everything we can to protect our grandparents and the most vulnerable in sociaty

Probably but I imagine there will be worse in the future. Both my elderly parents have had nasty fall that have taken several weeks to recover from. They are both barely managing and are refusing community carers. I live near by and do shopping housework etc and my sibling is a health care worker so they help them to bath.

They are a constant worry and trying to keep my small business going in these days is getting harder by the day. I have hardly seen one of my adult children this year due to covid restrictions. Plus I had to have my elderly cat out to sleep.

No. I haven't lost anyone to Covid and I'm lucky at the moment to still have a job and be earning. I've had worse times.

Not even close.
I am lucky enough to have a stable (if not terribly well paid) job, which is recession proof, pretty much. (if not in current role, then I can pretty easily enough get another in same field). I am a lot more fortunate than others. I still have my health and my family are still here.
10 years ago, I was suicidal and life was much, much worse.

No way. Loss of income has been a challenge this year, but loss of my husband and a dozen other things have made other times much worse.

Yes. Not because of COVID but because my Dad died (of Cancer)

No, but I know others are suffering terribly.

On a personal level this year has been great. No complaints at all. Love my job, not bored, kids are doing well and generally good kids. Family are doing ok. My brother isn't well but he's having treatment and we're hopeful he'll be ok. I do worry about the wider world,; mostly the environment, climate change, trump, the frickin Tories buggering up social care to line their own pockets. That side of things seems to get worse year on year.

I think the worst year of my life so far (touch wood) was the year I went to university (1999).

I hated it, I was very lonely and depressed, holed myself up in my room. Didn't leave, speak to anyone, gained loads of weight and was just very miserable.

Or in 2010 I had a massive breakdown because I ended a long term relationship, massively regretted it and he wouldn't take me back. I lived in a bedsit, slept on the floor and was massively skint and again was just very, very low.

This year hasn't been great of course but my mental health has largely been OK (apart from the boredom) so it doesn't compare.

@Absentmindedwoman honestly, one of the worst years to date! Quick rundown for me-
January- husband made redundant from job just 7 weeks before wedding. No redundancy package as agency.
February- husband's grandfather passed away 7, and just 7 days before wedding. My first ever grandparent figure and we were all really close, he was also excited to see his first grandchild get married.
March- got married during first week (best part of the year!). On honeymoon husband was taken ill with a hernia, mum told me she's got kidney cancer.
April- husband had found new position with agency; made redundant due to low business. I was attacked at work and hospitalised for a couple of days.
May- family funeral, limited to 10 people. Funerals are grim already, but this just ruined me.
June- honestly not a bad month. I quit my job (where I was attacked) and got a really good job elsewhere.
July- mum found lumps in breasts- told it was possibility cancer had spread. Thankfully not, but such a trying time.
August- waited almost two years for fertility appointment with NHS, called up and was told won't be seen until at least 2022 due to covid backlog. Been trying to start a family for two years.
September- Mum's cancer possibly spread to ovaries.
October- paid to see doctor in private hospital. Told I have PCOS and food intolerances which is why I've gained so much weight, despite not actually eating much.

Here's hoping the next two months are just peaceful. But here's hoping, hey? I feel like such a moaning minnie but this year has honestly taken it out of me.. and that's without Covid and lockdown etc.

No not for me.
Retired now and great to be away from work.
Bit bored with no travel -managed to see family when I could . Quite happy really. Avoid the news.

No, this year has seen positive improvement on the miserable situation i was in before. Lockdown hasnt changed my life much, the only fly in my ointment is the job market getting that much harder.

No, this year wouldn't even make the top 5 worst tbh. There have been some shitty times but nothing absolutely horrendous. 2004 and 2005 was the absolute worst time of my life. Mental breakdown due to abusive relationship, worried about losing my children. Finally leaving relationship and then having him stalk and harrass me for nearly a year. Also 2013 was dire and several years of my teens.

No. I had a shit childhood - the year I was 13 really stands out as an incredibly shit year, for numerous reasons. My worst year as an adult was the year my dd was in and out of hospital with an unknown condition that made her very poorly every time she got a cold. She was eventually diagnosed with a heart condition and had surgery. It was strangely a lovely year too, because when she was well it was amazing (also had fabulous toddler ds1).

No - it's boring and frustrating but it's nothing compared to 2014 losing my son aged 18 after a 2 and half year fight with brain cancer. Those years were unbearable.

No - my daughter was born in September and I found out I was pregnant on 4th January. Despite everything going on, it has been my best year to date.

No! My DD was born this year (under lockdown in fact) and she's INCREDIBLE We've also bought our dream house, and my DH landed the biggest contract of his career. The pandemic stuff has been rough at times obviously

I'm so sorry for those who have lost loved ones, especially losing children.

Not the worst year at all. I have had much worse.

No, not even close. It's miserable from a wider outlook. But I was severely ill before for several years, that was far worse.