Predictions of how long this BS will last?

[BlueMoon1103]

I really need some lights the end of the tunnel. I know no one knows for sure but how long do people predict this social distancing bullshit is going to go on for? My depression has already crept back in and I’m worried about how bad it’ll get if this goes on with no end in sight.

Please only nice posters, no snarky, snipey comments or people being mean.

I'm with you op and i too call it bullshit. Yes it's serious yes people are dying but it's my opinion and I wanna call it bullshit - whilst complying to the bullshit rules obviously.
I feel depressed also op I'd like to up my medication but unfortunately I don't know when or how il even be able to get that prescription.
I'm thinking maybe it will be like this and lockdown for maybe 6 weeks. So in my head iv written april off. Hopefully things will be getting better by may. Fingers crossed

OP, nobody knows how long its going to go on for. It will be hard on all of us but im afraid you've got to suck it up.

• I predict this wont go on for longer than 6 weeks, if that- probably 4 max. I think by then people will be tiring of it, the economy will be on its last legs and they will have to relax the restrictions for the sake of people's mental health. Then we'll have freedom for a while and in autumn, maybe more restrictions*

Yes let's have more freedom for peoples mental health... don't worry about the bodies piling up or the hospitals over run

Im a little envious of the people who dont HAVE to leave the house!

But saying that, a shitty comment a relative made on fb upset me earlier and normally id laugh at her for being unable to pass up a dig.

But all the layers of anxiety and stress have put a bit of a chink in my resilience.

So i know it is not what you are going through but how you are handling it.

Me too OP. Me too.

I'm really really struggling mentally. It's been one week. I live in a inner city flat with kids. No garden.

The thought of this going on for months on end is wrecking me mentally. I mean what happens when it all goes back to normal? It all comes back? The cat is well and truly out the bag. I understand why it needs to be done but I can't see how it won't come back when we go back to normal?

It's hard. Sorry I couldn't be of more help :( but your not alone.

I can't see how it won't come back when we go back to normal

I don't think we'll ever get rid of it completely. I think the hope is that we'll set up mass testing (so we can figure out who is immune) and/or a vaccine.

I think trying to set a timeframe in your head won't help either because you still can't control it. As hard as it is, I think you have to find a way of accepting that this is out of our hands.

Don't get me wrong, I'm really struggling too. I have symptoms and feel awful so am stuck in the house and have been for the last 10 days. I have pstd and the trauma behind my diagnosis means that being trapped in the house is my worst nightmare. That coupled with the fact that I no longer have "me" time away from the kids/dh is putting me under far more strain than normal.

I can't do facetime, it feels too fake/uncomfortable and I've never been comfortable talking on the phone. Plus I don't have anything to talk about. My mum and my inlaws are behaving like idiots. Neither can I exercise for the simple reason that due to whatever is causing my temperature, cough etc also means that climbing the stairs makes me breathless let alone anything else.

It's easy for people to say "get the MH help you need". I got a phone call telling me that my psychiatrist appointments are cancelled indefinitely (understandable, apart from anything else my psychiatrist is ex-military and I suspect has a lot of useful experience in other areas of medicine) and could I please refrain from killing myself. I'm not on medication because my symptoms were under control (mostly) and now I can't get any because the GP won't prescribe without my pyschiatrist's say so which they can't currently get.

I'm holding on to the fact that I'm probably going to shift the cough/other symptoms enough that I can do something useful and help our community in some way.

I hear you.
In the last week, I ve been told to work from home and I m on half salary.
They closed my gym I use to work through things that are bothering me
I m a numbers girl so I ve been watching the growing new cases myself constantly
I was already feeling lonely ( I live on my own with the kids here half the week) now have very little essential reason to see anyone.

All we can do is know that for today this is how it is.
You can't control this so concentrate on things you can - what time you get up in the morning, how clean the house is-and look after yourself - brush your hair, get dressed put your make up on

That is today worry about tomorrow tomorrow

Yes let's have more freedom for peoples mental health... don't worry about the bodies piling up or the hospitals over run

You Cannot realistically lock people down endlessly without risking further harm like suicide and DV. Not to mention the economy tanking will cause deaths. Angela Merkel said exactly this- you have to balance periods of lockdown with periods of freedom otherwise it will become counter productive.

Are you seriously suggesting we lock people down for 6 months???

Not sure why posters are saying I’m ‘selfish’. I at no point yes I wasn’t social distancing? I just called it bullshit which it is, it’s the worse thing. IT’S BULLSHIT. If that offends, go away.

Thank you to everyone has been helpful and kind, you are the ones who will make a difference in this situation.

@bluem00n1103

Ignore those posters- people are being truly vile at the moment. We are all in this together and some of the responses here are downright vicious.

I got what you meant and I agree. It absolutely sucks and you arent alone

China is just starting to ease their very strict isolation rules.

China went into lockdown on January 23th so two months of complete lockdown and who knows how long for things to go back to any kind of normality.

Why don’t you plan a trip for next year, whether it be realistic or totally impractical? I’m planning a road trip via the national parks, it occupies the mind and gets it away from what’s happening now.

If feasible, plan lunches with work friends - like a work picnic. You can go out for walks and I’d seriously encourage you to do that - just stay away from others. Do you have a garden or patio? Plant up seeds or make an outside mud kitchen for the little one.

Hope it gets better for you

For those saying the antibody test will change things I think it will just be at least initially for key workers. It will take a lot longer to reach the rest of us.

Hi @BlueMoon1103, not in the same boat as you but I am very down due to being 27 weeks pregnant and feel a bit trapped inside my apartment. I know I can go out, but many of the things I enjoyed such as meeting friends or eating out is now out of the question.

In the last couple of days I started playing computer games, not usually my kind of thing but really has helped to take my mind of the worry etc. Might be worth considering.

To the people being mean, the OP wasn't suggesting that people were over reacting to coronavirus, it was just a vent on how long will it last? Surely if you can no longer just vent your random feelings on Mumsnet then what is the point in the whole site?

Well, if you don't want to distance yourself and stay in, go out catch it and spread it, you have two choices.

A bit like in the war, siren goes off, you go to shelter or take your chances.

Are you seriously suggesting we lock people down for 6 months???

No, but in 4-5 weeks (as suggested here) it would be catastrophic. Especially given huge amounts of people aren't taking social distancing seriously as it is. If the government is forced to lockdown I would hope it was for as long as needed. That may be a 45 day lockdown followed by social distancing relaxed and increased as needed as stated in a report quoted earlier.
I would feel much safer if the people carrying on as normal and going to crowded places were forced to stay indoors.

hat may be a 45 day lockdown followed by social distancing relaxed and increased as needed as stated in a report quoted earlier

Um... thats exactly what I said should happen. Enforced lockdown for 4-6 weeks (properly enforced by the police- not this half hearted attempt) then relaxed. You cannot lock people down for much longer than 6 weeks at a time without it being counterproductive

Life is so precious so I think whatever we need to do, we should do it to stay safe. It’s really tough but it’s not forever. I’m not sure how long it will go on for tbh. Would like to think the kids can go back to school before the end of the summer term.

I see a lot of people saying ‘oh it’s not forever’ but will they ever get this under control? Surely whenever the ‘rules’ are relaxed it will just come back

I just called it bullshit which it is, it’s the worse thing. IT’S BULLSHIT

Bullshit means false/not true/nonsense/deceitful so the way you've phrased your OP makes it seem like you feel social distancing is nonsense.

Some people refer to "this cancer bullshit" when they're trying to cope with that illness. I'm not aware that anybody thinks they mean they don't think they really have cancer, just that they're expressing what a crappy situation it is.

It will change every week though.
The last two weeks had rapid change both in information and social outlook. The mind set of “ now” won’t be the same one we have by the end of April.
Stuck with it. It will be fine. China is coming down, Italy is levelling off. Longer evenings and better weather will cheer you up.

It's hard. I'm coming out of a period of really very severe depression and had just starting to engage with the world again. I'd planned to go and travel the world in a few months - got approval for unpaid leave - and it was lovely knowing I had that to look forward to. Obviously this has now been cancelled and I don't know when I'll get the chance again. I'm constantly terrified for my isolated elderly and sick relatives. I do know how lucky I am though in the scheme of things, and respect those who work in healthcare and have to be confronted with it constantly.

I'm very frustrated to see people not sticking to advice - neighbours having garden parties, people doing kick abouts in the park, which makes me feel like we are never going to get on top of it and it will go on forever.

I’m a fellow depressive it is a huge challenge for us.
Purely by current circumstances I have been forced to exercise ( football) with DS on a local recreational field, and getting a solid 2 hr fresh air and movement per day, ( I wouldn’t usually have time/opportunity), amazed how it has built up my mental resilience.

The weather is improving so enjoying it while we can.