Is now the time that depression is starting to hit?

[ImfinallyaMummy]

The first 3 weeks we felt like it was a holiday, a bit of a novel way to spend time doing things we never do. 3 weeks on and depression is starting to take its toll. It's like Groundhog Day,

No day is different, there's nothing to look forward to and can't see any light at the end of the tunnel. Even when lockdown ends the threat of the virus is still there so life won't return to normal.

How are people coping? Isn't depression starting to sink in now with others?

I;m finding today really hard also.

I am unbelievably stressed about work to the point I feel physically sick going back to it tomorrow (i am WFH). I have done a few hours this past weekend to try and stave off the anxiety about it.

I feel so low.

It does feel like groundhog day. The days have all blurred into wtf actually is the day today and im really missing the routine that i had before all of this.

I have had a few days off from the news and it has helped me massively. I feel so much less dragged down.

No. I feel like it's getting easier because I'm getting used to it. Working from home is getting easier even though i don't like it. The thing I look forward to is getting paid each month and being able to save some money throughout this.

Yes, it has really started to get to me in the last few days.

I’m hoping that the children going back to school, albeit virtually, next week might help - more routine and structure to our days.

I did the NHS ‘am I depressed’ quiz today. It seems I’m not just in a grumpy tetchy mood.

This has been a long weekend (in all ways). I’m looking forward to work tomorrow.

I feel very down today. I am a key worker (just in finance, not anything life saving) and I am still going to work full time at my office. In that respect, my life is pretty ‘normal’.

But there is nothing to look forward to. My DH has had severe mental health problems for the last 4 years. It means we’ve not really been able to go out much as a family. My DC have never been on holiday. I’ve taken them ‘out’ occasionally but it wasn’t the same without DH.

Ironically, my DH has been improving really well since Dec. And now that we could finally do nice things as a family....we can’t.

My DS turned 12 in March and the only thing he wanted for his birthday was to watch a film at the cinema and then have a meal out. Yes, it’s such a simple thing, but something we’ve never done. We couldn’t go obviously, because of lockdown .

It just feels like another year ‘wasted’. I don’t see anything changing much until a vaccine is available - which could be another 12 months or so.

I DO have lots to be grateful for and I’m trying to remember that. None of us are in the vulnerable group and my DH is so much better. I’m just finding it hard to lift my mood today.

I suppose it doesn’t help that I don’t like my job and I’m stuck here for now.

I feel like this too! Just lost. I know I have so much to do in work and in the home and live where I can exercise but everything has just been stopping, grinding to a half

How do we get going again? I just feel so flat

Day 50 here of partial lockdown (but allowed out for exercise).
Day 36 of being completely indoors except for essential shopping/medical trips.

I think it is hard atm as Easter is over. When this started Easter seemed a long way away and now it is in the past and we are still here!

The thing that's getting to me is that even when lockdown is over, life won't be 'normal'. I'll still be shit scared of going out / mingling etc in case myself or my son catches it.

I don't want to wish our precious lives away but feel like I want this year over with already!

A few points prev mentioned on this thread contributing to possible depression.

Uncertainty. We have no idea when this will actually end. Yes we know that its likely to go for a while, but how long? How long is a piece of string? I completely understand why no-one can answer this, but it certainly makes it worse.

Nothing to look forward to. Right now a lot of people will be looking forward to holidays. Even people who haven't had holidays cancelled yet are probably coming to terms with the fact that it is very likely they will be. Also not just holidays, but any events people had planned. Birthday celebrations, festivals, any gatherings really. All stopped.

Change of routine. Even though its been 3 weeks now, we are still out of the routine that we have had years of. It's still early days to be a proper routine so we are still getting used to it.

Not being able to see other people. Yes we have technology so we can do virtual get togethers, but its not the same as the real thing.

I have the fear of being judged too. Some people are so good at being perfect during lockdown and love being the lockdown police. That is really getting to me. So much that I fear that they are judging me even though I'm not doing anything wrong. Some people have developed some really horrible judgy attitudes. It wasn't that long ago when we are all being kind because you dont know what another person is going through. That's gone out of the window now.

However, it is difficult but we must remember the mantra. This too will pass.

Same. Today I woke up just feeling different. I’m bored and just don’t have the motivation to do anything.

3yo DS always wants me to play with him and I feel like my mood is affecting him. I need to snap out of it.

I've been up and down (mostly up, thankfully), but today I contemplated ringing the GP for a prescription for Antidepressants.

I'm hoping that tomorrow will be better again!

I’m struggling today. Though I’ve definitely had one proper teary day a week since all this started. DS is 2.5 and really full on. I think he’s starting to get fed up. I try to wfh 3 days a week but basically have to do it when he goes to bed. I’m really missing my family, and they miss DS so much.

it's down to us to make each day different.

We have 'home cinema saturday mornings' and 'screen-free sundays' (very popular with the dcs where we do singing, board games, pen and paper games, gardening etc.

I try to include a different activity each weekday, so fine art, music, cookery, drama, poetry etc. I'm also learning French, which I've always wanted to do.

Yes, I feel the depression creeping in, but tbh that's more the effect of trying to co-parent with an abusive man during lockdown than the lockdown itself.

Life is what you make of it, to a large extent.

I'm also counting off the days on the calendar because that's what people do in disaster films. That, or carve notches into a rock, or walls.

I was doing ok but my grandad died unexpectedly yesterday and I don't know how I'm going to cope as I can't see my family and in all probability I won't able to go to his funeral. He was one of my favourite people and I didn't get to say goodbye. It sucks.

I am finding it unbearable. I am worried sick over money as I have lost two of my three jobs. I am frightened we won’t get our freedom back if this ever ends.

@chorusline79 💕

YES!

I started a thread demanding asking when the so called 3 week announcement was coming because i needed it for my mental health. Was quite horrified to discover it isn't till bloody thursday.

I think some posters thought i was hoping for lockdown release. Not true. I know we're not coming out yet. I just think i need to know that someone is going to speak honestly to us once every 21 days :(

Sympathy for all of you. I've found it harder every day. Echoing previous posters who have said there is nothing to look forward to and the lack of end date is horrendous.

I'm shielding. I have some epic cabin fever that I think would be better if I could just go out of the house for a bit. I took the rubbish out this afternoon to the bottom of the drive and had a look around and realised that my eyes hadn't had to adjust to look out to the distance in aaages.

Yes, it's looking hard in my household. My DH gets depressed when he does not have enough happening. He has a fortnight off work coming up, which normally is something to look forward to, but we won't be able to do anything during that time, he's going to be very depressed and miserable then, probably won't even get out of bed, when we should be enjoying ourselves. And there being no end in sight really isn't helping.

Maybe I'm being over-dramatic here, but I too am worried about freedoms not being restored when this is over; there is now a precedent (an extraordinary one, admittedly), that lockdown can be called, with no notice, whenever the government feels like it, which could happen for other reasons, such as terrorism (which would put the power straight into the terrorist's hands). I think it's frightening how quickly and readily the public accepted it, without resisting at all, and became willing to dob each other in. Yes, this one is supposedly in a good cause, but future ones might not be. Yes, it's glaringly obvious that I don't like or trust government in general. The public might quickly forget how easily the lockdown was called, but the government won't.

I feel a bit low this evening too.

Easter is over. Back to working from home tomorrow. I realise that I am lucky that my job is safe. However, I do not like working from home and mixing the two.

I have had a good weekend because I have been able to do some nice things. I can't do much of that when working, so every day goes back to being the same. I want to see different people and be out and about and have my home and work life going back to being totally separate. I want to go back to looking forward to going home and appreciating the hours when I am not at work.

I will likely feel better tomorrow I am sure, but tonight I feel low and unsettled with having no idea how long we have to do this for, and having no control over any of it.

to everyone struggling right now, for whatever reason

I'm actually quite worried because I haven't missed other people or my 'old life' as much as I thought I would. Both DH and I have both said we don't really miss going out and socialising and we were out every weekend really but I'm sure thats because everyones in the same boat. I'm sure we'll get FOMO eventually.

I generally feel less anxious about the virus but I'm worried about my business- however I also think I've hit that point where I'm starting to question if my "old life" was making me happy and thinking what I can do next. My DH is the same, he's working such a stressful job and it's got worse through all this that he's seriously wanting to pack it all in and start over. I do worry that my kids aren't getting enough stimulation and how it'll be a massive change for them when they eventually get back to school but they seem quite chilled out. I don't feel depressed I just feel like I need to make some changes and I don't really know where to start. I'd say I'm more conflicted than depressed.