Struggling with cabin fever!

[Forgone90]

Not really any point to this post but just thought it may be easier to write things down. Now I consider myself as someone with quite good MH or so I thought..

I have woke up this morning and felt very on edge with everything.. We live in a ground floor flat with no garden and 2 austic children 6 and 3. I have lutteralky just broken down in floods of tears and I don't even know why. Just the thought of being stuck inside is driving me crazy Nd the one hour walk can get very repetitive.

I feel so sorry for the people that are already depressed and with bad MH. People can say all they like that it is easy to just stay inside etc but if you are not in a good frame of mind it can feel like a prison and I dread how many people this could send over the edge or people that could commit suicide from all this :(

I am sticking by the rules but really struggling with life in general at the moment.. Just here for a chat really if anyone else is feeling the same.

Litterally*

Hi

I'm struggling too. I only have one DS who is 2.5 and am lucky enough to have a garden. But I am struggling day to day as it's just me and him most of the time (DP still working). He is missing his nan and grandad and auntie who he normally sees about 3 times a week and now hasn't seen for 2 weeks. He is too little to understand and thinks that I'm just saying no to him. My house is starting to feel like a prison and im becoming depressed at the thought that life may not ever get back to what it was. I haven't got much advice but im with you OP! We can do this I'm here if you need to chat anytime xx

I'm struggling too, I have been told today by my partner (who is working) that I need to be organising cookery lessons for the kids, long walks, etc but none of them want to do stuff like that )they're teenagers ), they are more than happy doing their own thing- I am finding it hard enough keeping myself busy and occupied to add theee teenagers to the mix who want me to leave them alone. All these people showing off their inventive abs fun ways to keep busy during lockdown are going to have serious burn out at the end of all this as no one can realistically keep that happy and full of beans and jolly japes for that long. I feel a complete failure.

Exactly my kids enjoy a walk but not for an hour. They constantly need attention to with their ASD there is only so much a grown man can dress up as a princess and play with them all day :( I just need to be able to see a finish line that would help massively!

I feel your pain ILL 3 teenagers here too.

Op you’re doing an amazing job doing this with 2 kids with SEN.

I can't change your circumstances but would suggest that maybe you change your walking and exercise routine if your children would manage the changes (my asd child manages these changes if told about them in the right way).

So maybe alter the time of the day you go out? So that your day routine is mixed up a little.

Maybe print off a street map of your location and get your eldest to help plan out different routes that you'll take.

Maybe take scooters one day. Bikes the next?

Maybe look at downloading some of the online scavenger hunts for your exercise periods?

How about throwing back the nets/voiles /blinds so that you can see the world outside and the windows too?

What do they like doing independently op?

Could you timetable the day a bit? There is nothing wrong with screen time to get us though this and to give you some respite.What do you like to do normally?

Oh can honestly blame you op for feeling on edge given the circumstances you are faced with. A day in bed??

I am not going to list all of the fun things you could be doing, because I am sure you could do this yourself, but I would say have a day off. Don't feel the need to entertain them at all. Feed them, quick cuddle and leave them to it for a day.

Order pizza, run a bath and check out for a bit.

It is draining, it is very hard, and if you are struggling then make this day about you. I woke up and thought oh my another long day stretches out, and I don't have the same set up. Call a friend, watch a comedy, take some time out.

I hear you re the cabin fever. I just feel so slothful and unhealthy. Want a break from my family, I want to get out of my town. It all feels like it’s pressing down on you doesn’t it.

oh - Who

I think as me and my wife have both been furloughed from work and both the kids are in the flat it just seems so small at the moment as we are on top of each other all day everyday... We will survive and will hopefully be stronger for it..

I agree with @cornishdreams1 take a day off.. maybe day to your wife it’s her day off tomorrow?

I’d break the walks into two. There’s no law that says once a day, nor one hour. You just need to be exercising.

Or have a walk/run yourself? Then take kids out. And don’t feel bad, these are hard times

Could you take it in turns re getting out so you each have an hour alone sans kids. We’ve been doing that which helps a bit.

If you're in a couple, what about alone time for a walk every third day, one day you take the children alone, one day together, one day she takes and you go alone at another time. So you have alone time?

Also what about divide and conquer principle to managing the day? So some time you have both children, same for wife, then you have one child and she has other, then other child. Then have a nice family activity time, be that film or whatever your family love?

I would also play to your strengths rather than weaknesses. Make your days work for your family. So maybe have a screen time slot, have down days IFthis actually works for the children and doesn't in itself create bigger issues.