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?

whataboutbob

I could have written your post. Same here with my teens. I’ve had to stop looking at social media where the school is posting endless photos parents have sent in of their children doing 101 improving activities every day.

@TowerRinginferno
I don’t take any notice of what others are doing
For the last week my kids have done absolutely nothing. They have a few chores, but they haven’t learnt to speak Mandarin or learned to crotchet
My son has been playing on this PS4.
My dd2 who was due to take GCSES has been on zoom with friends. My eldest has been on her computer looking at pointless YouTube videos.
I have always been one of those parents who feel that every moment should be used to learn a skill , learn a language etc.
My dcs have attended many extra curricular activities.
However, I’ve come to realise that just doing nothing can be beneficial
I am just taking things day by day.

@AgentCooper @ToweringInferno I’m glad it’s not just me. TBH I’m annoyed that even during Coronavirus we can’t get a break from competitive parenting. The screen stuff has become so predominant here it came to a head with DS1 who turned 17 yesterday. I said I just don’t want to attempt to monitor phone and computer use anymore, it is too exhausting and stressful for me to deal with his resistance and outbursts and creates tension with DH. He actually seems anxious about regulating himself but this has to stop and I’m out now.

Whataboutbob, thank you for posting. I read it thinking 'thank fuck I'm not alone in this'.

I am meant to be working full time but really I am pretending to family I am working just to avoid them. I am pretending to work that I am getting stuff done when I'm not. Really must get my act into gear and do SOMETHING.

@GetUpAgain I am glad if it’s help in any way. Day got off to a bad start when junior lied about brushing his teeth so he could get on minecraft 2 minutes earlier. Then I lost 2 hours’ worth of work when my spreadsheet didn’t save. I then lost my s... with my boys and more or less pushed them towards the door for their daily exercise, they had not gone out since last week. I’m just fed up of making everything work and getting no help. They tell me I’m self pitying... probably true but nevertheless the frustration at it all is getting worse.

I’m struggling with the boredom. I know I’m in a fortunate position in that we have a large house, a nice garden and secure jobs.

But my kids are at ages where they’re both exhausting for different reasons. My eldest is five, has the attention span of a gnat and is generally hard work. Taking her out for a walk just results in constant whinging: “my legs hurt, this is boring, I want to go home”.
She makes so much mess, there’s a trail of toys and devastation everywhere.
My youngest is almost one. He’s just started walking and I can’t take my eye off him. He hates his playpen and screams blue murder when I need to use it.

DH is working from home, long bloody hours and busier than ever (banking sector).

I need a statement like Macron’s. I need to know what the next few weeks will look like; I am under no illusion that lockdown will continue for the next 3-4 weeks. But it would be good to hear if DD can get back to school, if I can see my mum, if I can have a potter round a garden centre.

I’ve just been furloughed and tbh it’s made me feel quite low. My calls with work and the occasional few hours at the weekend to do work things made me feel a bit less invisible. DH is in finance and wfh, and basically can give me the odd hour here and there to work but it’s not enough. And by the end of the day I’m exhausted from running about after our 2 year old all day so I worry about making mistakes with my work (university administrator, student grades etc, so pretty important stuff).

I know I’m lucky to have my job but I’ve got this creeping fear now that work will decide they don’t need me. Everyone else in the office is doing full days, except those with young kids who have been able to set rotas for working with their other halves. Nobody is getting furloughed except me, probably prompted by me calling into the department meeting this afternoon with my feral toddler on my lap.

@Dinosauratemydaffodils How are you doing now? FWIW, I feel exactly the same.

@Thripp Still here. Still going through the motions.

I need a statement like Macron’s. I need to know what the next few weeks will look like; I am under no illusion that lockdown will continue for the next 3-4 weeks. But it would be good to hear if DD can get back to school, if I can see my mum, if I can have a potter round a garden centre.

This this this. I need something to give me hope right now.

Yup. I've had a meltdown this week. Getting quite upset that I cannot go out at all. I know it's for the best but it's been really hard the last few days.

Proper panic attack today, thought I was going to pass out around 7pm. Spent afternoon asleep on sofa. Children impossible to home school. Feel very low and anxious.

@Dinosauratemydaffodils

Same here. It is impossible for anyone to understand the effect of this unless they have experienced it themselves.

Please, someone, give me an end date.

Feeling very very down and wondering what the fuck is the point in anything right now.

The government say don’t book summer holidays. I miss family terribly. There is sweet fuck all to look forward to and no end in sight. What’s the point in anything?

IVe just totally crashes in the past few days. Just really can’t cope with this anymore. The Dunkirk spirit kept me going at first but now I’m just miserable, bored and demotivated. Eating too much, piling on weight, feeling really unwell. I can’t even be bothered going for a daily walk anymore. The weather is cold and windy. Just had enough.

I've woken up feeling really low today. Just want to crawl back into bed but with two kids and a Dh who wants to do DIY today that's not going to happen. Currently hiding in the loo to a kid talking to anyone, I just want to be in a silent cocoon and not have to deal with anyone.

For me one of the difficult things is the goalposts keep moving and it seems to extend ever further into the horizon. Things are offered up as solutions and then pulled away. Antibody testing was going to be a way out but now they say you can get re infected so prior infection is no protection. Added to that the fact that it’s going to cycle around the world and come back like one big viral boomerang . I see my kids spending their days listlessly on their screens. For my sanity and for the peace I have stopped trying to get them off and re direct onto other activities unless I know they will acquiesce, as the fights were getting out of hand. Cue guilt about lack of parenting skills . And repeat.
Sorry this is not uplifting. I hope for better news soon and to just be able to get out . Heck I even miss my office .