Is anyone else starting to feel really low?

[sunfloweryy]

Just that really.

DH starting to get on my nerves and we are being really ratty with one another.

I just don’t know what to do with myself. It’s too cold for the garden today and our house is so tiny. I planned to decorate but can’t get hold of any supplies anywhere. Because our house is so small I don’t buy books just use the library which is now closed. So nothing to read. No puzzles or crafts as we don’t have the space to store, and places like hobbycraft now have a 3 week delivery time.

I know know know it’s not the end of the world but I’m finding myself just sat around thinking negative thoughts, missing my family and friends and even going into work and the gym. I just feel so sad, for lack of a better word. I do struggle with anxiety and low mood generally but I’ve been better the last few months but this feels worse than ever.

It’s only 11am but I’m contemplating a glass of wine.

Is anyone else feeling like this?

Yes me.

My DH is one of the 1.5m who need to be shielded and I'm high risk, so we haven't been anywhere for 18 days and have to stay like this until June. I am definitely feeling low and snappy and fed up with people saying "oh no, three weeks of this". Lucky them.

And worried about not being able to get food. Online deliveries are non existent and there appears to be no extra help for the "extremely vulnerable" group. At least, no one has contacted us with any extra information.

I'm doing various projects around the house and garden, but I am feeling very sad.

Feeling very low. Have been all week and it’s just getting worse. I do crafts, I cook. I already know a second language. I read, watch TV. Not got a lot of time for that stuff as I have my 1 year old DS who is bored beyond believe despite all the things I try to do to entertain him. Can’t see family, can’t see friends, don’t even want to work anymore (I’m a keyworker) as my mood is so low. Just want to go back to normal or be sedated until all this is over.

I'm pretty robust and resilient and have never had a mental health issue in my life but bugger me, this is getting me down. How anyone who suffers from anxiety is coping is beyond me.

I start okay in the morning, keep busy, walk the dog, etc etc, but by bedtime I feel trapped, confined, worried and pissed off. I'm used to being outdoors for over an hour each day, in the countryside - normally a four minute drive and I see next to no one, but I walked out yesterday and it was heaving.

At the end of all this I will have an immaculate garden and a super-tidy house and a totally fried mind.

Yes, and I fear I have already started to send mad work related emails out. I might need a reality check soon.

TBF - we have already had a few heading in the mad direction work related work calls led by management. One by the business unit head: " I am always the only one on video on these calls, sometimes you need to see people, feel free to turn your camera on..." which the more I thought about it, sounded rather odd. Is Yank - I can see something like: "Show everyone you're favourite baseball cap online" video call coming down the route. Another one was like: "Hi, how are everyone's dogs doing?"

Me! Struggle anyway with mental wellness but I'm feeling particularly low now. I'm isolated anyway despite children and this has made me realise this and also made it even worse! In addition an important hospital appointment has obviously been cancelled and having had lots and lots of teeth problems over the past 8 months I'm terrified I'm going to need urgent treatment but not be able to get it and will be in agony - the thought is making me really anxious.

Get a little routine going... we've "only" been in full lockdown since Wednesday - due to finishing off at work ready for our return!
But we have a routine that works well at the moment. Like breakfast - lunch - dinner at set times. We take turns prepping the meals, do homework or games with DC in the morning, go for a walk after lunch .... and do 1x online exercise (yoga aerobic dance... DC are in charge of this!) early evening.
That leaves plenty of time for reading, TV and cleaning!
I second download the kindle app or go one further and get an e reader like kindle paperwhite.
DH and I also spend time apart, one is in the bedroom and one in the front room ... 😂

@sunfloweryy

Download the kindle app
Are any independent craft shops open?
Ebay/amazon/retailer for books/kindle/ipad - just one larger order perhaps as non essential items
Buy books when you do your food shop in asda etc
Ask family or friends to drop some books or magazines off

Please don't think i'm unreasonable to purchase online. A one time order to save your mental health 🤷🏻‍♀️

Yep. I had a massive panic last week but then was actually starting to feel alright this week. I don’t know why I feel so shitty today. Maybe because it’s Sunday, my period’s approaching, I’m sick of 2 year old DS wanting breastfed every time I sit down. And I really miss my mum and dad.

Ds and I have decided that weekends don't exist at the moment. The days are exactly the same except for no pe with Joe! So we've done a small amount of school stuff, some gaming, watched a movie, etc.

I've been very low the last couple of days but have perked up a bit today. Weirdly, the weather being worse has helped. It's so hard to keep telling ds that we can't go out when the weather is lovely.

Yep me too... I have a toddler and a 1 month old and it's so, so tiring. I really want to do more educational and fun things with my toddler but have nothing in the house and not much motivation tbh. My newborn has been suffering with reflux this week so has been v clingy and not sleeping well. I feel most sorry for my toddler. She loves being outside and running about.
Me and DH have been griping at eachother. The thought of doing this for months is awful!

So sorry that lots of you are feeling low too.

Thank you for all the tips

I’m currently the highest bidder on a jigsaw I like the look of on eBay so fingers crossed. Although it’s much more expensive than Amazon where they are mostly all out of stock! Also just cooked a more elaborate than usual roast - broccoli and leek cheese, honey and balsamic carrots, proper gravy etc. Now DH has buggered off into the bath leaving me to watch a box set in my pjs with the scented candle he doesn’t like and a glass of Prosecco. So feeling alright atm. Wfh tomorrrow so will try making a routine.

to all.

I'm ok as I live alone and used to days without seeing anyone, although I find weekends harder as I usually see a friend.

What I know is that this will get harder as the weeks go on for everyone. It will be harder to keep up motivation as the novelty wears off even for the most positive people, if the weather isn't good for long periods and if some people feel defiant and rebellious.

Out on my walk today I shed some tears at the empty sports grounds, no sounds of children playing and knowing how much people are missing their close family, their parents, adult children, grandkids...no celebrations of new babies, birthdays, weddings etc . The empty quiet streets were so sad.

I’ve found the weekend much harder than the weekdays. We’ve been self isolating 14 days so already quite into the home school + wfh routine.
I was grumpy and horrid today. Did some yoga and we’re watching a film to relax. Ending the day better.

Yes I seem to have a pattern now of waking feeling optimistic and full of resolve but it gradually withers away through the day to become full anxiety and despair by the time the kids have gone to bed. Not helped by the 2pm death update which I can't help morbidly checking. It's like a horrid groundhog day.

DH and I have made a pact not to check the news overnight as it was making our sleep worse. Already bad due to DS being a terrible sleeper right now. We use a sleep app instead if we’re awake.

Totally relate. I shouted at my DD over nothing and feel awful about it.

I'm struggling OP. Had a bit of a moment on Thursday that's lasted until now.
I'm juggling childcare and work & desperate for some time. What I want to do when I get it is read/meditate/yoga.

Can you order a cheap kindle/download the app? There are lots of free books available for download.

Can you do an online yoga class?

I think the key is to get into a routine tbh

Have you tried listening to any podcasts? There's so many out there, history, comedy, self help? I find them a great way to pass the time and keep me company.

I think it's also okay to not do anything if you don't want to. We don't have to make the most of this and learn or do loads of new things, there's nothing wrong with spending the odd day doing nothing if that's what you need. Or having a glass of wine at 11am!

I like naps - they make the time pass!

I'm feeling lonely in the week. DH is WFH which I'm extremely grateful for. I'm not working and I miss the hussle and bussle of temping! Got family related stress to deal with which is very difficult with not being able to see family members. Last week was ok because the weather was nice so I cleared our forest of a garden. I'm going to write a to-do list for each day this week. Maybe aim to get 3 specific tasks done per day. Then I'll feel like I've achieved something. Have video called lots of friends this weekend, been so good to see people. Shouldn't moan really, worse for ppl who are living alone or without outdoor space like some of my family members.

I found this article helpful.

hbr.org/2020/03/that-discomfort-youre-feeling-is-grief?fbclid=IwAR12xX0PHagAsRVJ84rH8ar6HlluZiEf-gYwcrQuKZO7zGlUi-VldkKMQlA

I'm feeling low today as well. I've been relatively upbeat up until today. I've tried to stay positive and think this won't be forever but the days are long and it's hit me today. I think a lot of us will have bad days and other days not so bad. I worry for my mum who lives alone and I also have a 2 year old who I have to keep entertained all day so it's not even like I can use this time to be productive around the house! I also get the sense the people are turning on each other, curtains twitch when you leave the house for a walk or to go to the shop! My OH is getting wound up about my neighbour going out several times a day. It's madness really, if you would have said to me a couple of months ago we would be angry with people going out of their house more than once a day I'd have laughed! Not a nice atmosphere at all!

I’m about to start my period, was ok up until now

I am also going to keep a list of things I've learnt / achieved during lockdown. So far I have stewed rhubarb, learnt to make tasty garlic potato wedges (I'm a crap cook!) And yesterday I took our leaf vac apart, unblocked it then put it back together.

Yes. I'm kind of ok first thing if we all wake up healthy but my mood plummets throughout the day. Feeling quite weepy this evening.
It's not helped by DD being incredibly hard work and eating junk all day. I'm sick with worry about what this downtime is doing to her body and brain.