More afraid of being locked in my house than the virus

[zafferana]

Anyone else feel like this? I woke up early this morning feeling really anxious about the idea that we could all be locked in our homes, like is happening elsewhere. I'd be okay with lots of places being shut, avoiding mass gatherings, etc, but the thought that I couldn't even go out for a walk or a run, couldn't get the kids out of the house for some fresh air and exercise, particularly if they're off school. I'd be happy to keep at least a metre between us and anyone else, we'd avoid playgrounds, but just knowing that we couldn't do that makes me feel intensely claustrophobic.

We spent a day at home yesterday just to test what it would be like if we were all stuck here and it was horrendous! The kids were bored stiff and I had cabin fever by lunchtime. DH wasn't bothered as he's normally at work and so he bumbled in the garden (in the rain), but I'd rather take my chances than be stuck at home. We are all healthy and have no reason to think that the virus will affect any of us badly.

I totally understand the anxiety of the elderly/vulnerable who wish to themselves down at home, but for healthy families I think it would be far worse than catching the virus, particularly those with young kids.

We are at home in France, and I think there will be an official lock down in the next couple of days.

You need to think of coping strategies. Keep to routines, e.g. my DCs will have home school from 10-12 and 14-16 every week day. Think of indoors activities, e.g. pilates, yoga, aerobics, zumba, etc. Luckily there are loads of ideas online. We will do spelling, grammar, etc. but also music, dance, singing, PE.

Also use social media. Phone and skype relatives and DC friends. DCs can also practice spelling and writing while texting to friends etc.

There are other things you can do online, like learning resources for adults which are free, e.g. learn a language, follow a uni course, TED resources, etc.

I think it might take time to adjust to this life but adjust you will, especially if like in Spain it's actually illegal to wander around. I think there's a few days of disbelief and upset, but then people will start to think more creatively- especially if they are lucky enough to live in a whole house with a garden, which is more than many in Europe have as they often only have balconies. We were a bit despondent, but are now seeing we can do a lot of gardening, DIY, there are still jobs to be done like bank/GP, work from home, cooking, activities at home, play fun music and get everyone to be 'silly' to burn off energy. Life will have to change, and I love going out with friends for lunch and will be sorry to curtail my life in that direction (I'm still meeting at their houses), but my children are just going to have to suck it up now, and they are also planning stuff to do differently.

One of my relatives was bed bound for the last six months of their life and we still had the music on, chatted, ate nice food.

It is hard, especially for children who are used to running around but if they still have a garden they have that, in most European countries they do not have gardens and the kids have to stay in the apartment but they still manage.

I get that homebodies who don't care about exercise will be happy to 'Netflix and chill

And what about us “homebodies” that are happy to Netflix and chill but will have to give up going to the gym?
You're being very judgemental. Just take your children out into your garden if the country goes into lockdown.

@BonnesVacances

I'm so sorry to read of your situation. If you ever need someone to chat too. Another human being. Please pm me. I really mean that. I could always do with a new friend xxxx

It can be very relaxing if you can shift your mindset.
Not very relaxing if you run out of money because you can’t work.

Yes lack of money is intensely stressful but the staying in doesn’t have to be.

You have a garden, start thinking about how to use that. I get cabin fever too but better to think now about how to deal with it, sports equipment or building raised beds for plants, or getting kids to build an assault course etc - am inspired by the chinese man who ran a marathon around his dining room table!

I imagine it will be social distancing and then at peak, total lockdown. We all have to do this for each other.

And yes once we are past the worst, i hope we can think a little bit more about people for whom this is normal and hard on a daily basis.

am inspired by the chinese man who ran a marathon around his dining room table!

Shit, so am I! A marathon around his dining room table? That's impressive. I'd fall over from dizziness after a couple of loops around mine (either that or I'd trip over the cat), so good on him.

But yes, you're all right that a schedule for each day and a big a shift in mindset will be essential IF this comes to pass.

Yes! And I live in a big house. Just can't think of anything worse than being stuck in my house with my adult DD's and their boyfriends no doubt plus increasingly bored dog for weeks on end. We have over 1/4 acre garden so I could take up growing stuff I suppose. I'm planning on escaping to dp's who lives walking distance to the countryside which I cannot imagine will be off limits

Wow, so much vitriol on here! I agree with you OP, the thought of being house bound is not pleasant. To those of you saying it's a chance to relax, do hobbies etc...yeah I have two small DC so I think not.

I do realise it's for the greater good etc, flattening curve or whatever...but it's perfectly ok and justifiable to have concerns about it! It is a massive change for many of us and one that has no time limit which is terrifying me...

Same here op.
And if we do go into lock down, the telly better be feckin good. Think of Xmas, 2 weeks of rain and stuck indoors and it's all re runs of films everyone has seen or quiz shows no one cares about.

Am laughing at the Chinese man who ran a marathon round his dining table. God love him. I'd be distracted by the washing hanging over the chairs, the dishwasher needing emptied, the cries of 'what's for dinner'...
Well seeing it was a man who ran that

I agree with you OP. I'm on day 4 of self isolation and already am getting cabin fever! I'm working from home so have that to distract me but I find myself thinking "I'll pop out at lunchtime and get.... Oh. I can't!"

My MIL is in her 70s and immunosuppressed and is absolutely dreading the lockdown. She lives on her own and relies on her small group of friends and us to be her social life. She knows it's necessary but is finding the prospect very distressing.

Mental health is just as important as physical health and I fear that a lockdown is going to impact on people in other ways.

You won't get too much support or sympathy on here though-Mumsnet is the home of the introvert!!

I'm glad I'm not alone

You get used to it.
It's one of those things where, when the newsflash comes, you panic, it's natural. You listen to the prime minister and you think "I can't do this" then you cry a bit. Then you get on with it.

In nervous about this. I'm in a small flat. No balcony. I think the first few days would be the worst and then we'd start adjusting. My plan, if you can call it that, is to stick to a routine as much as possible.
I'm feeling claustrophobic already!

I agree with Canterbury. The first few nights I woke up feeling really panicky but it's starting to get a bit easier in some ways. Just had a nice conversation with my neighbour across the street from the balcony - weird how it felt nicer than phoning!

Me too OP. I’m hoping as we live rurally we’ll be okay but I’ll certainly miss my daily coffee trip, I normally settle down for a few hours with a book.

You could exercise at home and you can open a window for fresh air.

Totally understand the fear of the unknown and change to the life you have been living, that is pretty natural. Its going to take some creative thinking but it will be possible.

As others say look at routine and ways to get exercise into it. Encourage the kids to join you in taking up a new activity maybe Zumba lessons from YouTube at 10am and HITT training videos at 2pm or something. It may seem silly but there are loads of ways you can burn off energy you just need to alter your mindset to embrace it and think outside your usual.

Kids do adapt, you can too, just try not to let fear of what is to come get you too upset at this stage. Yes it will be tough but it will be ok.

Definitely agree with the posters suggesting doing alternative activities, rather than just stopping usual activities.

Could be a bit of a project, researching indoor exercises and coming up with new routines.

Even something as simple as a pedal exerciser might help – they don't take up much space and some fold when not in use.
www.amazon.co.uk/Pedal-Exercisers/b?node=2826439031&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&ie=UTF8

(I'm another indoor cat and have been for years now, not by choice. It's different, but you do adjust.)

you think "I can't do this" then you cry a bit. Then you get on with it.

This.

I already work out in my living room to aerobics videos, am a homebody, and have projects around the flat to get on with.

My fear is being alone, as I live alone. Even now, a day without seeing a single friend or going out drags my already wobbly mental health almost to crisis point (I'm also autistic, but sort of "mildly" - difficult to explain). I can totally understand older people who would choose quality of quantity of life, given the chance. Of course the fear would be spreading it to others...

Current loose plan - if allowed - would be to lockdown with BF (we'd presumably have already infected each other if infected). He has a whole house and garden, and maybe children there too depending on which parent they are with (another "if"...). Actually this would be ok cos we could sort the house out and deep clean because it needs it!

But alone... oh god.

@zafferana it’s not all about you and your family. You could be asymptomatic but infect other people.
This is an interesting article that shows how infections are passed and how social distancing can help www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2020/world/corona-simulator/

I feel the same as you. I think it's a normal way to feel.
I live in a small flat so will find staying in very difficult.

We’re on day 3 (with a 6, 4 and 1 year old). We’ve stuck to a timetable... cosmic yoga first thing, get dressed, a joe wicks workout, an hour of school work, play in the garden (I set up obstacle courses), lunch, a craft activity, a bit more school work (maths and writing) then normal play/chill out time from the time they usually get home from school.
Getting out is usually the only thing that keeps me sane so it’s a struggle.