Everyone is stressed and miserable.

[liloandtitch]

Rewind five years and I would say that my friends and family were a happy group. We had our problems of course, but a good chat putting the world to rights over a bottle of red usually seemed to help.

Right now though my best friend is pregnant, has huge health anxiety and rarely leaves the house.

Another good friend is stressed and burnt out at work, thinking of leaving her partner but has no energy to do anything.

A third I barely hear from, never reads her messages or picks up the phone, she lives the other end of the country so we can’t just pop in to see how she is. I know money was tight for her before cost of living crisis, so I’m guessing she is stressed out.

My sister is off work with stress, she is also gutted house purchase fell through as can no longer afford a mortgage and feels really bleak right now.

My 80year old aunt who used to be such a great giggle went downhill massively during covid and now I think she is probably depressed.

My boss’s son has developed OCD and all sorts of emotional problems so we hear all about that at work.

Nobody is in the mood for celebrating and the Christmas parties, coffees and catch ups that used to happen just aren’t on the cards this year because nobody seems to have the energy, the money or frankly the cheer. I confess, I can’t be bothered either a lot of the time.

Just looking at my own circle, seems like almost everyone is just feeling really down right now. Are others seeing the same?

I'm sick of politicians saying "we need more roads and schools and shops to support the houses." As if it's a lack of roads that's annoying people!! I don't WANT more houses and roads and cars and noise. I want fields and trees and birdsong. In the Spring, all I hear now is the screeching and exploding of stupid little boy racers.

Colchester (where I live) was recently voted the unhappiest place in the UK. It's no coincidence that it's also the fastest growing town. When you cram too many people on top of one another, they get stressed and miserable. It's the same with any animal. Jam too many bears or wolves or chimps in a Zoo together and they'll either kill one another, or pace up and down biting their fur, etc, to cope with the stress.

Amazing isn't it!! You cram too many animals into a cage, and the RSPCA call it cruelty. Cram too many humans together, however, and anyone who complains is a NIMBY.

Nope I refuse to be miserable. Covid is done and is being rapidly downgraded to flu worldwide. I survived breast cancer, my husband survived a stroke. DS is back n track after depression from having his GCSEs and life cancelled for nearly two years.
We have lost family on the way but have an awful lot to be thankful for. No amount of money would have changed our outcome so we have a very different view on life. We are prioritising heating and food over lavish Christmas celebrations and gifts ( to be fare we always have during me) and are preparing to snuggle up and get through winter.
This year has been shit so planning ( now we can) a summer of relaxing long weekends away next summer.
Im officially retiring and taking my pension but staying on to work 2 days a week.
I’ve stopped caring too much about other peoples troubles after having far too many of my own to deal with. One thing I have learned is that people are too selfish nowadays and I’ve had enough supporting people who run for the hills at the first mention of cancer.

It's lack of progress and social mobility in society. I think globally the economy is stuffed through poor management and being weighted in the top 1% favour. Tories are shamboli, out of touch abd lack compassion.

People can't be arsed as there is no point. I feel down about that. Can't wait for my kids to grow up so I can croak it to be honest.

AnythingConsidered you might want to check out Cliodynamics. It's about socioeconomic cycles too. Fourth turning is a bit more positive unfortunately! Also predicted 2020's crisis globally, although it feels like there always has been one since about 20 years ago.

No, don't see that at all, could it be an age thing? 5-6 yrs ago not as many in your circle would have had kids and health issues and money isn't as tight when you’re childless I guess. Personally, I am finding that people around me are actually more positive than you'd expect given the Financial situation. The only people who are complaining are the ones with small kids (we're all early 30s). Personally, while I am financially less well off than I expected 2 years ago, I have had an amazing 2022, because I could actually travel, see my family abroad, have proper work Christmas dos and planning the first big Christmas in years.

@Angrymum22 that sounds like a good attitude! Trying to live moment to moment. Really feel for some pps on here who have been having a crap time. Bereavements etc, really awful, but in the main arguably many of these would have happened even without the dire economic outlook (covid aside which made healthcare harder to access and caused many of the issues).
But yes being skint would have a massive impact on mental health.
Maybe there should be a thread on how to deal with/prevent depression.

My friend suffers with depression, her way through it is exercise and a positive spin on everything , however bad it can be for her sometimes.

@Bog , sending you warmest wishes, and sorry for your loss. 🌺

These aren’t going to cure all ills, obviously, but my take is (a) vitamin D supplements (for mental and physical well-being in dark winter months, (b) exercise (if physical limitations allow), (c) a dog, (d) nature and (e) tea.

There is a lot of low level depression about. Sadly, I think the general morose will be around for quite a while.

I am only speaking as we all do, of my own personal experience. I was happy, I had a job I loved, enough money to have a reasonable lifestyle, and I worked in a lovely supportive team doing meaningful work. Wasn't even visiting this forum in those days although I was of course aware of it. Heard it described as the "paramilitary wing of the Daily Mail" which did amuse me!

I do hope not, that would be horrific. It would probably be linked to a social credit system.

Totally agree OP.

Sounds silly but I work in a primary school and children haven't even given Christmas cards to friends. Currently none have seen Santa. I know there's still time but it just feels so different to previous years before covid. Much less of a buzz

Yes I totally agree , I feel myself always saying “life is shit “ the moment even the smallest of things wrong , which makes me feel so ungrateful for life as it’s so precious and I have a lovely child and partner .

I think I do have depression and very little “cope factor” left , But yes I just can’t really be arsed with social stuff and really have to force myself , and 99 percent of the time when I do I always want to cancel (I don’t ) but I’m never jumping to see anymore or do anything anymore .

Recently told a friend that I had spent a day last week wandering round at home muttering to myself that I was cold, tired, hungry and fed up and she said 'yes me too'. On the outside I am ok, can afford to heat and eat, but I have attended six funerals this year, including my mum, friends mum and DIL's mum and sometimes it just seems bleak. Here's to warmer, happier times soon

I normally love this time of year but it just doesn't feel as nice as it has previously.
Feel like I am just existing and have a heap of worries about different things in my head. There just doesn't seem to be any joy. 😞

It's a planned onslaught that is working. 24 hour stressful news and the removal of financial safety nets and rights from the populace so they are desperate and ready to accept any and all 'solutions' from the same people who either caused directly or took immediate advantage of the issues.

Nearly 38 weeks pregnant, with a toddler born during Covid, and all I worry about now is how I’m going to keep my kids warm when the gas hikes are killing us. We don’t go out anymore, get takeaways or treat ourselves really, and we saved up a little bit each week all year to pay for Christmas so we wouldn’t have a massive outlay in one go, and our LO could still have everything she deserves. She’s such a sweetheart, and I want her to feel some magic this year, even though we are struggling a bit right now.
Everything just feels really hard at the moment, and I don’t see it getting better anytime soon. I hope I’m wrong, and things will be better in the new year. 💐

Absolute nonsense. It's not a conspiracy. 😂

I've been just so sad since my grandson died more than 5 years ago although superficially have coped.Then since Covid,and the rest,I carried on as normally as possible but have become such a home body.I go to work but don't want to go further. I'm in my 70s and feel I can't waste a minute.I can't relax.My older daughter returned to live at home( failed relationship, the much loved ex died during Covid,that was terrible) I love having her here but she is very chaotic.
There are bright spots,the family, my long tetm,long distance partner and my beloved pets, but everything just seems so hard. And spending a fortune on having the heating on occasionally,and it's still freezing!

I completely agree. Life is bloody hard work for so many people. Nothing seems fun anymore. Constantly stressed about money. We only heat the kids bedroom at night and have single glazing in all rooms apart from the sitting room.

I have never felt less christmasy in my life. Have told my very very small family (read total 3!) that I am not doing presents and certainly don't expect to receive anything. The little tree is out of the loft but I doubt it will get put up. I am working in the morning anyway so it's just another day for me. Just feel really down about everything this year.

So true
i ignore media but overpopulation and concrete can't be ignored.

It’s because life sucks. I changed job earlier in the year as my manager made me justify taking two days off to be with a suicidal colleague. He then docked my bonus for having mental health issues. I was later assaulted by said colleague. My new role is nothing like I expected and I’m getting no support so I hate it. I’m getting divorced but ‘D’H refuses to move out and is making my life hell. Both kids are being bullied at school and it’s impossible to get anything done about it. Dad died earlier in the year and sorting the estate is causing all manner of stress. I’m now responsible for my Gran who lives miles away and getting me named as POA on everything is a nightmare. She falls regularly and after the last one the home told me she was non-responsive and had a bleed on the brain so I was preparing for her death. I have several health issues and it’s possible I could go blind. My friends drifted away during the pandemic so I feel totally alone. Anytime I try to do something nice it goes wrong. It feels like I did something very very bad in a previous life and karma is getting me back. I don’t see any of it getting better anytime soon. That’s why I’m stressed and miserable.

I’m only just keeping it together. Not felt like this for years.

Thanks for letting me know about something I had not actually said. Sterling work! 👌