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 worried about getting the virus when schools open again, as I'm fairly high risk. I'm also worried about having other health problems, which would not be treated. I have bad teeth, for one thing. But am able to work online and it's nice having DD at home. I haven't felt depressed at all, due I expect to being able to stay busy with work. Although I am now earning half of what I was before the virus hit.

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

^^ this, too. @wanderings

@celan & @wanderings Sorry but I totally disagree. We are on lockdown to protect ourselves and others. Not sure why you think we should have protested. Find that quite a depressing thought in itself.

Just try and enjoy the time at home. We have made a list of all the jobs that never get done. Paint the garden fences, or an the windows, sort out your paperwork etc. It helps.

I don't think the government would call a lockdown easily. The impact this is having on the economy is huge already and that's before we've considered the long term financial implications.

It is depressing and today has been a tough day for me - I had an argument with DP, my dog is bored and the kids just want to play on screens. Made worse by the fact I'm meant to be on holiday right now.

One thing I've done is to enrol on a couple of online courses and also my work have given me a couple of things to do so I'm not sitting twiddling my thumbs. I think it's important to get up at roughly the same time each morning, to set yourself small jobs and get out every day for a walk (even in the rain). This is just my coping strategy and although I have bad days, I'm hoping this is as bad as it gets.

Today not been good for me. Everyone and thing is getting right on my nerves. To cap it off My mum is then on the phone banging on about “having paid her stamp and I would demand a ventilator if I need one” I think she thinks no one else has ever paid NI.

I'm really struggling with things - the change of routine is hard, and I just don't feel that I am 'enough' to do everything I'm now expected to (work/homeschooling etc). Tough times!

I've mostly been okay over having to stay at home, but my job has gotten out of hand with the virus (I do wfh) and I've found myself stressed with it, epic insomnia, drinking too much, and just dreading what switching on my laptop would bring. Work have put some things into place this week so hopefully it will improve.

But today, in general I've felt "meh". Not bored, just sedentary and tired and over it. The prospect of another month of this and then still not able to get back to a normal life is hard.

I miss my karate club, I miss teaching all my students and I miss the social side of it so much.

Today is the day that I’ve had enough. I’m exhausted, fed up, irritable & constantly feeling like the least creative parent ever.
I live in a small 2 bed flat in central London with DCs (10 & 7) & DH.
DH is a Police Officer so is working out of the home (lots of shifts atm) & I’ve been furloughed. We have no garden but luckily have a balcony. We rent so can’t do any diy type projects. I’ve put some structure in place for the DCs, get up & dressed, PE with Joe, meals at regular times, but they’re both struggling with the small confined space we live in. We do a daily walk but live too far away from large green spaces to do anything than walk around the streets. All our parks are rammed & I'm just overwhelmed with it all. It’s so superficial when we’re in the middle of all of this, but I just want to see friends & family, pop into shops/cafes/restaurants & do our normal days out around the Heath, Covent Garden. I want my normal back.
Phew, It’s nice to get it all out!! I’ll head back to the children & pour myself a glass of wine & get ready to start again tomorrow.
to everyone who is struggling with all of this.

@ImfinallyaMummy I didn't say we should have protested. However, I am a bit shocked by the sheep-like willingness of people to surrender their liberty, and by the glee with which nosey-parker types have taken to reporting their neighbours for going for two walks in an isolated field, rather than one.

I am, bear in mind, very depressed by the lockdown (and I don't mean metaphorically depressed - I mean clinically depressed).

@celan That makes a bit more sense to me. Hope you are ok.

Thank you @ImfinallyaMummy

I’ve really struggled today. It’s been so long and there’s no suggestion of the end being in sight. I’m sad about what I have missed, I want to be able to look forward to things but I am afraid to plan ahead.
I think I had the review in 3 weeks in my mind and it’s a letdown that nothing is changing, although I feel better for hearing that at today’s press conference instead of just presuming.

I'm lucky in a lot of respects.
I'm still working, I've been able to get into the office on a couple of days and I have no children to care for.
But I'm so low. I can't be bothered to do anything. The bank holidays weekend should have been spent cleaning and organising. I did nothing.

It's the social aspect of life, the ability to go out even if I didn't want to, the option was there.

I want this to be over.

Am absolutely sinking. My DS is severely autistic and in a care home. I'm so scared.

I’ve gone full circle, had the initial ‘woohoo paid to stay at home it’s all a holiday’

Then had a really bad ‘fuck, I’m all alone, I can’t do this’ period. When I seriously seriously felt low.

Now I’m contentedly resigned to this continuing for a while longer. Got use to it. Still missing my friends and family and social interaction of course. But I think the beautiful weather and having a garden to sit in was a big part of that.

Yes, i agree depression has set in today - BIG time. Nothing to look forward to even though l planned a few small projects...just don't see the point and besides there seems no hope...no end...With all the measures thus so far why are so many people dying on daily basis in the UK??? Is the Lock-down - really working? To many unanswered questions.

I've spent 4 weeks unwell and so not able to leave the house anyway, so it's been a weird experience, i keep forgetting that everyone else is stuck indoors too. Hopefully its brought me some time, so when I'm better hopefully I can enjoy doing some in house activities I've been wanting to do. The anxiety on the other hand has been awful!

Yes. Echoing the reply from @celan. The sheeple willing to turn into the class snitch at the drop of a hat. The way the mass mindset was changed happened scarily quickly.

Also I found it very hard to handle so many things disappearing at once: work, playing sport, volunteering, church, a lot of my income, being able to travel: all gone, just like that. There were a couple of days when my phone buzzed about twenty times, and all of the messages were "xyz has been cancelled". I'm not exaggerating. And it's so hard having no return to normality in sight! (And don't bother with "count yourself lucky you're not dying of CV".)

I have to work outside home and for first 3 weeks i was really stressed about that but now i think it's saved me. I had my crisis weeeeeks ago.

@7star Don't forget that there is a delay between the measures being implemented, and there actually being an effect on the figures. At the moment it feels like we're making a sacrifice for nothing, while ever-increasing figures are being reported. I heard today there's some evidence of the curve beginning to flatten among the usual government spin and refusal to answer questions . I wish it means we could be out of lockdown sooner!

@letsgomaths - i hear you loud and clear...l took a stand of not watching the news, programmes etc for a number of days and enjoyed the sun...but too many questions remain unanswered. I suppose its a Great Uncertainty - of it all. It's difficult to trust any type of news aired.

@wanderings work, playing sport, volunteering, church, a lot of my income, being able to travel

That was my life, until lockdown. Though I would add 'seeing my friends', and 'all of my income' (I now have none).

It's hideous. I'm so sorry you feel it too.

I don't want to go on, but have to for my family. Every day is a struggle.

Im struggling a lot. Not with lockdown as such (I have a vulnerable child so far too scared to have any desire for free movement) but Im depressed at the thought of things never going back to normal. I don't see how this all ends apart from us all inevitably going back out into the world and taking our chances and that scares me. I have suffered from anxiety (specifically health anxiety and ocd) for years and I don't know if I will ever be the person I was pre-covid. I hope so but it seems impossible