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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:
gabsdot45 · 03/11/2020 22:28

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.

SleepingStandingUp · 03/11/2020 22:28

Nope.

Nothing this year that has happened has made me want to die

whatisforteamum · 03/11/2020 22:29

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.

Lemons1571 · 03/11/2020 22:29

No chance. Being a bit trapped in your house is far far preferable to being homeless with young kids.

Charleyhorses · 03/11/2020 22:29

Of course it will be some people's worst year
It's not mine by a long chalk. My measure is whether we are all still here. And we are. So that's it really.

Willyoujustbequiet · 03/11/2020 22:30

No

I've lost both parents suddenly and my only sibling at a young age in tragic circumstances.

I'm raising kids with special needs entirely alone.

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

LucillevsLowkee · 03/11/2020 22:30

It's very inconvenient and a pain in the butt
but clearly nothing compared with tragedies and losses people have had to deal with.

I totally understand the moan and people being fed up, but the whining and the hysterical drama about despair and the end of the world we knew Hmm are just too much.

Enchantmentz · 03/11/2020 22:30

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.

Newpuppymummy · 03/11/2020 22:30

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

dolphinpose · 03/11/2020 22:30

No. Definitely not. It's been scary and frustrating. I've felt lonely and very sad for DC, for all they have missed out on and can never regain - all those rites of passage leaving school.

But in some ways, it's been a lovely year. Upside of first lockdown was spending time with Dteens who we'd otherwise rarely see. 'A' level stress for DS2 disappeared. We were lucky to have booked a holiday in UK and had a great time.

I'd happily relive this year again rather than the first year of DS's life which was a hell of touch and go hospital visits and less sleep all year than I'd usually get in a couple of months.

Inthesameboatatmo · 03/11/2020 22:31

Nope not the worst year for me . Childhood was awful , abuse of every kind and neglect and poverty and walking around in what felt like rags , adulthood not much better either.

After 8 miscarriages I had a stillbirth at 37 weeks, no cause found .
After that my mum died when my rainbow baby was only a few days old .
Definitely not the worst year even though husband and I separated in feb after 20 years, it's still a shit year and one I cant wait to see the back of .
But I feel like I say that every year

DevastatedandDistraught · 03/11/2020 22:31

My life has been horrendous since May last year when my 15 year old daughter took her own life completely out of the blue due to medication she had been prescribed for acne.

My life as I knew it ended with her death. Since then I have no interest in anything. I have become semi- reclusive because it’s easier than having to pretend I’m ok to everyone. Lockdown would have driven me mad before, now it suits me just fine. And when the worst has happened you don’t worry about things like lockdowns or Covid or anything else for that matter. It’s quite liberating not being scared of dying. Everyone else is terrified of catching this virus- not me. I couldn’t give a shit.

Inthesameboatatmo · 03/11/2020 22:31

Nope not the worst year for me . Childhood was awful , abuse of every kind and neglect and poverty and walking around in what felt like rags , adulthood not much better either.

After 8 miscarriages I had a stillbirth at 37 weeks, no cause found .
After that my mum died when my rainbow baby was only a few days old .
Definitely not the worst year even though husband and I separated in feb after 20 years, it's still a shit year and one I cant wait to see the back of .
But I feel like I say that every year

VinylDetective · 03/11/2020 22:31

No, 1994 and 2015 were far worse. The latter particularly will never be beaten.

itsgettingcoldoutside · 03/11/2020 22:31

Last year. When I was diagnosed with breast cancer. The whole year was taken up by it because there was a delay in my treatment. And then this year don't get me started 😂. SadHmm

Inthesameboatatmo · 03/11/2020 22:32

Nope not the worst year for me . Childhood was awful , abuse of every kind and neglect and poverty and walking around in what felt like rags , adulthood not much better either.

After 8 miscarriages I had a stillbirth at 37 weeks, no cause found .
After that my mum died when my rainbow baby was only a few days old .
Definitely not the worst year even though husband and I separated in feb after 20 years, it's still a shit year and one I cant wait to see the back of .
But I feel like I say that every year

Leflic · 03/11/2020 22:33

Absolutely not.
I’ve loved this year. Burned out after Christmas, lockdown was a blessing. Hot spring and summer with no work meant I had one of the best couple of months. I got to do sunbathing and drinking wine but saving a fortune on going out or being on holiday.
I was lucky to have a teaching job that I went in for after half term. We had a blast- kids relaxed and off curriculum improved behaviour and educational achievements .
Been out with friends without queuing at the bar or fighting for a table. Got endless amazing things on free giving sites as everyone cleared out their houses and cleared my crap out too tgat had been waiting to be sorted for years. No pointless shopping, home cooking and basically the gift of time.
Obviously a horrible year if you lost someone or your financial situation means you are suffering. However personally, Covid has been a great reprieve. .

sarahC40 · 03/11/2020 22:33

Nope losing my brother in law was much worse, as was helping my kids through depression caused by their grief and fear. It's been shit this year and we've lost family friends to covid and other illness and my dad is getting frail but we are closer and lucky to have had time with my now adult kids that made me so proud of the men they are. Employed? Just about. Solvent? Yes, just about. Tired of it? Completely. Wishing you all well? Totally.

TheGoogleMum · 03/11/2020 22:33

I'm currently unwell with covid and can't risk cuddling my toddler who tested negative and its absolutely breaking my heart, and of course the general terrible covid stuff. Its crap but its not the worst year of my life. That would be when my then boyfriend had severe depression and was unemployed and in bed al day leaving me as the unexpected sole provider who didnt really make enough money to do so and at said job colleagues weren't very nice to me and I was basically sobbing in the toilets daily. Oh and then boyfriend started to get better he tried to break up with me. That was way worse. At least now work is fine - way better in comparison(different work place) and husband though struggling a bit with mental health has managed to keep working and I have my toddler who is wonderful (and I desperately want to cuddle)

BoomBoomsCousin · 03/11/2020 22:33

It's been a bit boring and my life feels on hold, but I don't know anyone who has been seriously ill or lost their job or the like. For two years after my kids were born I cried almost every day and sometimes wondered about walking in front of a bus. So this isn't too bad, all things considered.

I can see why your circumstances magnify some of the worst impacts of the lockdown for you though, OP.

sarahC40 · 03/11/2020 22:33

Nope losing my brother in law was much worse, as was helping my kids through depression caused by their grief and fear. It's been shit this year and we've lost family friends to covid and other illness and my dad is getting frail but we are closer and lucky to have had time with my now adult kids that made me so proud of the men they are. Employed? Just about. Solvent? Yes, just about. Tired of it? Completely. Wishing you all well? Totally.

OhTheRoses · 03/11/2020 22:33

Dystopian yes. The worst no. The worst is yet to come due to the bankrupt economy. I never wanted to lock down and I don't want to hear one person who brayed for it whine about austerity in the next five years.

1988 - broken engagement
1997 - ds2 died at 27 weeks due to congenital heart malformation
2007 - dd smashed her leg and FIL dropped dead within 10 days
2016 - dd was very poorly and there was zero NHS support or help - which doesn't make my heart bleed for nhs staff now, especially as her mh unit was closed between March and now due to distancing and safety for staff when there 8 cases of Covid per 100,000 here. It's an utter disgrace. We are locking down for people who couldn't be arsed to lock out over summer lest they had to confront minimal risk and do some work. MH Services. Yes I have made a formal complaint and involved my MP.

Leflic · 03/11/2020 22:34

Absolutely not.
I’ve loved this year. Burned out after Christmas, lockdown was a blessing. Hot spring and summer with no work meant I had one of the best couple of months. I got to do sunbathing and drinking wine but saving a fortune on going out or being on holiday.
I was lucky to have a teaching job that I went in for after half term. We had a blast- kids relaxed and off curriculum improved behaviour and educational achievements .
Been out with friends without queuing at the bar or fighting for a table. Got endless amazing things on free giving sites as everyone cleared out their houses and cleared my crap out too tgat had been waiting to be sorted for years. No pointless shopping, home cooking and basically the gift of time.
Obviously a horrible year if you lost someone or your financial situation means you are suffering. However personally, Covid has been a great reprieve. .

hollieberrie · 03/11/2020 22:34

No. In 2014 my mum died very suddenly and unexpectedly and 3 weeks later my fiance left me for someone else.
But this year comes a close second! I have been so poorly with Covid... 8 months and counting.

akerman · 03/11/2020 22:34

It’s been pretty bad. My husband was in hospital for 5.5 weeks with heart failure and had open heart surgery. I didn’t mind lockdown too badly per se, but I work in a university and work has been off the scale. I had 4 days break in the summer. My mother is dementing and we lost our lovely dog to cancer. I am scared witless about next year, Brexit and what the fuck this govt will do next.

But my husband made a good recovery. I still have a job. My son got into university. The youngest one loves his new sixth form, so a lot to be thankful for as well.