To think the mood of the country is low level depression?

[AllThePogs]

I know individuals may feel optimistic at the moment or severely depressed, but I think the atmosphere in the country is of low-level depression.
I think countries often have an overall "feel" to them. I have lived through times that have felt optimistic that things are going to improve, and times that have felt happy and prosperous.
But at the moment the atmosphere just seems like low-level depression.
AIBU?

Agree, feels like Bill Murray in Groundhog door.

Anyone with a customer facing role is also facing people, every day, who are themselves just generally angry, dysregulated and stressed.

I even hate that masks are back - I can't hear people properly without lip reading and miss facial expressions and smiles.

And we're all working harder to cover for the high levels of staff absence.

Never felt so disillusioned and deflated

@UnshakenNeedsStirring

Never felt so disillusioned and deflated

I totally agree :( It is sad.

@AllThePogs

I know individuals may feel optimistic at the moment or severely depressed, but I think the atmosphere in the country is of low-level depression. I think countries often have an overall "feel" to them. I have lived through times that have felt optimistic that things are going to improve, and times that have felt happy and prosperous. But at the moment the atmosphere just seems like low-level depression. AIBU?

Agree 100%

Yup.

People's goodwill is shot to bits now too. I work in a school and asked today if there was anyone who could cover me for 5 mins in case I'm late back from a doctor's appointment at lunchtime tomorrow and every single person was like, no - piss off and do your doctoring schizzle in your own time. And how did you get a doctor's appointment Grr, moan. We are all just ground down.

This is bad because schools run on about 45% good will at least - if it goes then we are all fucked.

Disillusioned and deflated is exactly how i feel. I'm really struggling now that I haven't even got Christmas to look forward to.

Absolutely agree. I did get some momentary relief by going to a comedy club at the weekend. But generally yes, flat, anxious and a bit meh.

it felt worse to me in the early 70's when the strikes were on. I was at college and several of my friends didn't know from day to day whether their parents would have a job on the following day.

Every decade has it problems, but this pandemic has made things worse and we know that the national debt is huge , beyond my capability of numbers and what needs to be paid back. The young will be paying it all back for years and years:(
They have been royally screwed all ways.

I think many posters have this spot on.

If life was being mapped on a graph, it would be either be flat at a low level or it would be dipping down. The highs seem to have pretty much disappeared and even if you have plans, you worry that they will get cancelled or you will catch Covid and have to miss them or there will be another lockdown or strain.

The news is so depressing and most people only seem to have lighter days to look forward to. Businesses use Covid as an excuse to make staff work harder and harder, but not look after their staff or pass on increased profits. Prices have gone up and will go up more and the useless government don’t seem to care.

It just feels like everything is a bit grey, flat and stagnant

Everyone seems really tired and waiting for spring, It always happens Jan/Feb but much more so this year. On the plus side, any mini signs of spring (eg bulbs peeping through) are being greeted with over-enthusiasm.
I was sending a text to a friend this evening and realised I was casting around for anything of any interest to tell her. Things feel like a bit of a “getting through”

It's the money thing for me. Iknow we're lucky to have jobs, but thought we'd had the hard years of childcare bills etc, and could give the kids the life we never had.

But for the first time since mat leave, it's looking bleak. Petrol is stupid money, everything is going up and my wages are stuck.

It's called "zeitgeist", OP. And I agree

I do sometimes wished I'd never had children as they will have things harder than I and I didn't have it easy at all.
They are grown up and have jobs, but it's hard and I do feel for them and their peers.
I inks I should be more optimistic, but it's hard at times.

I like wfh, I just want some light after I finish work.
January is always a more dreary month, but its much flatter this year.

Well there's not much hope is there...

@the80sweregreat they may have great times. You don't know what is coming. For the future beyond a few years, we really have no idea.

And the tax increases haven't actually hit yet so that will be fun.

I agree. I think it predates Covid and Boris.

Personally I think the age of social responsibility has hit and it's taking its toll. Constant news on climate change, environmental disasters, humanitarian disasters, political craziness, animal welfare.

We are more aware than ever about our collective and individual impact on the world. We are feeling guilty, confused, conflicted.

Social media plays a massive part too. God even Mumsnet. Most posts are snippy and rude.

It's not a good age. I would rather live in the 90s and 00s where things just seemed lighter.

The world is changing and Britain’s power has clearly peaked

I agree with this but think we've had problem since 08 which Brexit compounded. We also have the huge issue of an ageing population which is not being addressed.

[quote AllThePogs]@the80sweregreat they may have great times. You don't know what is coming. For the future beyond a few years, we really have no idea.[/quote]
I know..
They are great kids , but I just see how hard it is and I wasn't bestowed with huge great fortune myself.
We have to soldier on though

It’s incredibly shit and there’s seemingly no hope things will improve either. Truly a vile time right now.

Brexit was a self inflicted disaster that is going to cost families dearly.

We have a clown for PM with a circus as his government with very sinister forces trying to oust him and install a tougher right wing replacement.

Covid is still causing mayhem with no end in sight bringing only more uncertainty.

China actively trying to destabilise our government

Seriously, there’s nothing good in the news right now.

@twominutesmore yes I have heard from friends doing this kind of job that the public are worse than ever.

@AngelicaElizaAndPeggy that is sad that your colleagues wouldn't cover for you. I do feel at work though everyone is doing their job, no one is doing anything extra. And even though we are treated well, staff turnover is high. We keep getting offered extra little perks I think to try and keep us.

@KeepYaHeadUp thanks for that - zeitgeist

@the80sweregreat I hope things get better for them. I left school in surroundings devastated by Thatcher and unemployment sky-high. We were told the place would never recover. It has. Yes, individual lives were devastated, but young loved and well-supported people are most likely to be able to take advantage of opportunities. Robotics is going to explode as an industry and there are fortunes to be made.