Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Is this year the worst year of your life?

744 replies

AbsentmindedWoman · 03/11/2020 21:17

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.

OP posts:
Willyoujustbequiet · 03/11/2020 22:18

No chance.

I've previously lost my mum, dad and only sibling at a young age all suddenly and one tragically.

I'm a single mum raising kids with special needs without any support.

Lockdown is a walk in the park. Some people have no fucking clue.

BatleyTownswomensGuild · 03/11/2020 22:18

It's been shit. I've been bored and lonely, trying to work and homeschool simultaneously was hell. This month we've all had effing COVID, so that was shit.

However (big however) all of this pales into insignificance against 2017, which was my worst year. Watching my Mum slowly and painfully fade away from cancer was 1000 times worse. So perspective is a useful thing.

wirldsgonemad · 03/11/2020 22:18

It's not a bad year for me, I'm happy at work, and have LTB. So the pandemic is just not having a bad impact on me but I secretly think life is giving me a break after giving me several years of hell.

IcedLimes · 03/11/2020 22:19

No. The worst time of my life by far was the first 18 years due to home life. Had a good life for 19 years with lovely dh who died. That was awful but i still have my lovely dds.

Willyoujustbequiet · 03/11/2020 22:20

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Willyoujustbequiet · 03/11/2020 22:21

No chance.

I've lost my mum, dad and only sibling at a young age all suddenly and one tragically.

I'm a single mum raising kids with special needs without any support.

Lockdown is a walk in the park. Some people have no fucking clue.

nanbread · 03/11/2020 22:21

I've been mostly very lucky with my year.

Probably improved relationships with some friends, didn't see friends much before Covid
Have met more neighbours
Didn't get to see family much anyway so haven't really missed that
DH and I have weathered the storms ok
Was on furlough for a while so didn't have to juggle childcare and work too much
Got to spend lots more time with DC, not all sunshine and roses but not all bad either
Got to spend lots of time outside
DH not commuting loads so was at home more
Financially ok, health wise all ok, kids ok, still got our jobs and our house.

I do appreciate how lucky I am to be able to say all this.

A relative died too young, that was hard and very sad, but they weren't suffering too awfully for too long. It could have been much more drawn out. Small mercies...

Newpuppymummy · 03/11/2020 22:21

No way. The year my dad died and 2018/beginning of 2019 much worse here

SpeckledyHen · 03/11/2020 22:21

Nope . When my best friend died from breast cancer aged 35 leaving a baby 11 months and a 3 and 5 year old . Then my dad died in his sleep a few months later .

Enchantmentz · 03/11/2020 22:21

No, definitely had worse can't pin point when but probably around 2012. Pretty chill about current goings on compared to the emotional internalised wreckage I was then and the following years trying to feel/be normal.

nanbread · 03/11/2020 22:22

I've been mostly very lucky with my year.

Probably improved relationships with some friends, didn't see friends much before Covid
Have met more neighbours
Didn't get to see family much anyway so haven't really missed that
DH and I have weathered the storms ok
Was on furlough for a while so didn't have to juggle childcare and work too much
Got to spend lots more time with DC, not all sunshine and roses but not all bad either
Got to spend lots of time outside
DH not commuting loads so was at home more
Financially ok, health wise all ok, kids ok, still got our jobs and our house.

I do appreciate how lucky I am to be able to say all this.

A relative died too young, that was hard and very sad, but they weren't suffering too awfully for too long. It could have been much more drawn out. Small mercies...

BillywigSting · 03/11/2020 22:22

It's been an awful year but it's not the worst year of my life no.

Dp was made redundant which was shit, my dgm was diagnosed with blood cancer (a very slow form which won't kill her but has made her very poorly) which was also shit.

But I got a new job that I currently at least really enjoy, no one I know has died and ds is doing ok in school despite the pandemic.

I'm not suicidal which I have been in the past and my mh definitely took a hit over lock down so I'm mostly just quite glad I made it to 30 tbh. I never thought I would.

There have been glimmers of good things this year and nothing lasts forever, even if it feels as though it might.

Inthesameboatatmo · 03/11/2020 22:23

Not the worst year for me by a long shot , even though husband and I separated early feb after 20 years .
A childhood of abuse of every kind , poverty , always hungry and walking around in rags and hand me downs , then adulthood was good until my son was stillborn at 37 weeks after 9 miscarriages no cause found for it but I felt like my heart had been torn out and wanted to end it all as I didnt see any point in carrying on . But I went on to have more children who are wonderful but I will never forget the year I lost my baby .

psychomath · 03/11/2020 22:23

2020 as a whole, not even close. The specific period from about mid-March to late May is up there though - definitely not the worst, but still deserving of an honourable mention.

mrsbyers · 03/11/2020 22:23

No another bad one health wise after shielding half the year , coronavirus and then a stroke but it’s also had some good aspects

Diorissimo1985 · 03/11/2020 22:23

Probably my second worst, but not because of Covid. Worst year was 2011 - awful work situation, deaths of two close relatives, relationship breakdown, bad debt, inadequate housing and dark depression.

2020 has been bad due to two consecutive miscarriages, my DM getting cancer again and my sister’s newborn baby being very seriously ill. Covid makes all of the above harder but I don’t feel Covid has made the year awful for me personally. Not fussed by my holidays being cancelled etc. It’s pretty insignificant compared to the big stuff Sad

BillywigSting · 03/11/2020 22:24

It's been an awful year but it's not the worst year of my life no.

Dp was made redundant which was shit, my dgm was diagnosed with blood cancer (a very slow form which won't kill her but has made her very poorly) which was also shit.

But I got a new job that I currently at least really enjoy, no one I know has died and ds is doing ok in school despite the pandemic.

I'm not suicidal which I have been in the past and my mh definitely took a hit over lock down so I'm mostly just quite glad I made it to 30 tbh. I never thought I would.

There have been glimmers of good things this year and nothing lasts forever, even if it feels as though it might.

TheDowagerDuchessofMwwwahaha · 03/11/2020 22:24

Yanbu for asking!

No, it’s by no means the worst year of my life. Being with EA exh was far worse, especially towards the end and when I was trying to end it.

Also the year when my dd was a baby and had two major operations was worse (although like any year it had it’s lovely moments!).

gabsdot45 · 03/11/2020 22:24

definitely not my worst year ,1999 was crap, Started with finding out we weren't going to be able to have children.
2000 was even worse.
2020 has been weird, boring, worrying, a bit lonely but there have been plenty of good times among too, We're healthy, our jobs are secure, I know I'm very lucky.

ShadyBansheeThing · 03/11/2020 22:26

No, probably the worst was having severe depression and panic attacks in 2013, then 2015 which was the last year of being with my ex and being desperate to end it but being too scared, though I finally did it.

In lockdown I mainly just felt so relieved I wasn’t having to spend it with him! And I’ve been lucky that my work hasn’t been affected much.

So sorry to the people who have suffered so much worse times Flowers

Sitt · 03/11/2020 22:26

No - I had a lovely baby during lockdown so while things have been immensely tough in many ways for various reasons, and I am not coming out unscathed, I can’t hate 2020 when it is the year of one of my children’s birth. Having said that, I couldn’t tell you what year was the worst of my life so far

justgeton · 03/11/2020 22:27

Yes. But not because of Covid

Mistymonday · 03/11/2020 22:28

No, it certainly isn’t. I have a number of contenders that blow it out of the water. This I can deal with.

whatisforteamum · 03/11/2020 22:28

No not the worst.Perhaps one of the best in decades.
2012 both parents were battling advanced cancer.2013 dh had major heart attack.Lost df a few years ago.I was work ing 12 hour days so doing less has been beneficial and given me some me time.
Money has been tight but I've been there before.
Waiting to see where we will be worldwide but I know I will survive whatever happens.

HappyDinosaur · 03/11/2020 22:28

No, it's been stressful so far but we haven't lost any loved ones and I have my husband and child with me. The years I was bullied and unhaloy through school and the years I lost loved ones were the worst of my life. I can only hope that I remain lucky in that respect this year, but it does worry me. I feel for anyone losing someone, it's always awful of course, but I imagine especially so when it is so hard to even say a proper goodbye or have support from family and friends as one normally would.