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Original poster

Will there be a mental health crisis following lockdown.

53 replies

loza0820 · 08/05/2020 13:40

I personally am struggling. A lot.

I’ve never really had any issues with mental health but these last few weeks my mental health has started to deteriorate.

I’m finding lockdown so hard, but at the same time I fear it being lifted.

I keep thinking what we would’ve been doing this weekend if things were ‘normal’ and I get so upset at the thought of it.

I’m starting to feel like a prisoner. I barely leave the house.

I’m a really social person and I’m struggling not having my usual plans.
Maybe my mental health has always depended on being social, and that’s why I’ve never had an issue with mental health before.

I’m sure there are many many people like myself.

I fear that this period in our lives will result in a major mental health crisis. I fear that now I’m on that downward slope I’ll just keep sliding down 😣

OP posts:
Spodge · 08/05/2020 14:12

Yes, I think there will be a mental health crisis. There is probably already one brewing. I thought I was pretty resilient, generally, but lockdown is proving really tough for me.

Topseyt · 08/05/2020 14:27

I don't think you are alone. In fact, I am sure there must already be a mental health crisis now, but help is even harder to access during lockdown than it is normally (and that is saying something).

I'm not a particularly sociable person, but I am struggling big time too. I can't go and see my elderly parents who are highly vulnerable, shielding and having problems.

I love my own company, and often solitude too. But now it feels as though all choices have been removed, and perhaps there is always some twat curtain twitching ready to report your "transgressions" of the rules to anyone they can think of.

Original poster
loza0820 · 08/05/2020 14:33

It’s so hard isn’t it.
I just feel like my days are all merging into one. We have no real routine.

OP posts:
furrypesto · 08/05/2020 14:37

Sadly there already was a mental health crisis before the virus. People were living for years like the majority of the poplulation are living now without support but still mental health services remained the Cinderella service. I do get frustrated with all these proclamations that 'we're in this together' when so many in society have been forgotten about for so long (and for them during lockdown provision has become even more scarce). But suddenly people are talking about mental health crises.

I hope one of the positives to come out of this is better provision for and understanding of what many have been suffering for years.

PrivateD00r · 08/05/2020 14:38

What you are describing sounds like a normal reaction to the current situation, what makes you think it is a health issue?

There has been a 'mental health crisis' for some years now, I guess most just don't see it if it doesn't affect them.

StrawberryJam200 · 08/05/2020 14:41

Please ring one of the special Helplines set up to support anyone experiencing greater anxiety or more severe symptoms.

I know a lady (ex nurse with MH training and experience too) who works on one and she's lovely and would give very good support.

StrawberryJam200 · 08/05/2020 14:42

The NHS 111 page has a whole section on mental health and lists of support numbers I think.

Bigfishylittlefishy · 08/05/2020 14:55

I’m not sure. I’ve never had a mental health condition but yesterday experienced my first panic attack. I’ve had knocks in life too, so I would like to think I’m resilient.
Anyhow I think once this is all over I’ll just go back to normal in terms of my mental health. I think my panic attack was a reaction to external circumstances that I have no control over. I don’t think it will be ongoing.

There will be lots of other hardship after this that increases MH conditions such as poverty etc. MH has always been at crisis point in this country, it was already a ticking time bomb so I shouldn’t imagine this would help.

BriefDisaster · 08/05/2020 15:03

Yes I think so and not just with lockdown itself but the fear that people have.

How many people will be able to just stop bleaching their food shop after this? My mum is bleaching her lightswitches 3 times a day even though she isn't going anywhere - she thinks covid will just appear in her house as if by magic.

I have been treated for compulsive cleaning (fear of sick bugs), it is hard and not something you just snap out of. Many people will be falling down that rabbit hole right now.

HeresMe · 08/05/2020 18:13

I'm struggling.

The worst thing is you are more likely to suffer a mental health crisis, than suffer from covid.

Furrydog7 · 08/05/2020 20:24

I thought that i was tough but i am struggling so much because of the lock down. I feel like i am under house arrest. I have cried myself to sleep on several occasions since the lock down began and i have never cried myself to sleep before even when i have been under a lot of stress. I am also having nightmares.

Qasd · 08/05/2020 20:25

Yes

Whatsthis1515 · 08/05/2020 20:27

Yes, definitely.
2 people very close to be have become so terrified and I have no idea how they will overcome it.

UndertheCedartree · 08/05/2020 20:35

I think it may well do. And as well as you describe it is affecting people in the community who aren't getting their usual level of support nor the informal support of friends and family. My personal experience is it is causing a lot of people to go backwards in mental health units. Many are pretty much prisoners right now (no leave and no visits) - some getting no fresh air atall. Incidents are increasing.

It is a conversation that really needs to be had.

tenterden · 08/05/2020 20:40

Yes. And MH services are another area which has been cut to the bone by the Tories.

My MH has been so much better during lockdown, I have been able to cut right back on my anti anxiety meds and am feeling so much happier and more stable.

The idea of going back to how things were fills me with dread as I have had a taste now of how much easier my life could be.

Hopefully I can continue to WFH as much as possible but eventually I will have to go back to the panic inducing hell of London Commuting Sad

kingis · 08/05/2020 20:48

My gp surgery sent me a text message about various places to ask help.

Original poster
loza0820 · 08/05/2020 21:18

I’m one of those that cleans my shopping, cleans my house and have extremely sore hands for how often I clean them.

I don’t leave the house, we have our shopping delivered but I’m still so frightened that I may have caught it.

I think just being at home makes the anxiety so much worse as there’s so much free time to sit and think.

I do worry that I’m going to struggle to just get back to normal life and not worry about cleaning shopping etc (whenever that may be)

OP posts:
Olliephaunt4eyes · 08/05/2020 21:22

I think there already is a MH crisis. I know from friends who work in the area that patients who have been stable/in recovery for a long time are relapsing and becoming mentally unwell again. Plus people struggling who have not been unwell before. I think there will be a great cost in human lives as a result of the lockdown.

Pirandello24 · 08/05/2020 21:29

Mental health services are still running. If you need support check out this link www.nhs.uk/conditions/stress-anxiety-depression/mental-health-helplines/

Or Google your local IAPT service (primary care metal health team you can self refer to). They should all be offering covid specific support.

Dozer · 08/05/2020 21:32

There already was, will get worse with this and the economic crash, and MH services are not available.

Buzzfrightyears · 08/05/2020 21:35

I had completed therapy for ocd and anxiety prior to this pandemic stuff. It has massively triggered it for me, I’m now on antidepressants and having weekly therapy via phone. I’m also off work and have developed agoraphobia. My therapist said there is a massive spike in anxiety and also that nhs staff will suffer ptsd. I really hope anyone who is struggling gets the help they need. Physical illness is so easy to explain but I’ve really struggled to put my thoughts into words these past few weeks. They’ve scared me.

Tangledyarn · 08/05/2020 21:44

It seems to be a really mixed bag. I work in mh services, some people with pre existing mh difficulties are doing well, coping much better than the would have expected, other people who have never struggled before are really struggling. Long term it will be hard on people, the long term anxiety surrounding this situation, financial difficulties, likely more austerity, very difficult bereavements. I've found it mixed personally, I really struggled to start with, felt hugely panicked, got covid which was awful am now recovering albeit incredibly slowly but coping ok day to day, feeling pretty ok..the sun is really helping my mood, but am equally very worried about my parents and the long term affects of everything.

Coastercat · 08/05/2020 21:50

As someone who has had mental health problems in the past I am fine just now. I think there is an element of if you have been catastrophising your whole life a pandemic feels ‘normal’ in a way, not unexpected, if that makes sense.

My DS waited over 16 months for NHS CAMHS treatment here in Scotland - absolutely diabolical! There is no money provided for MH here. It’s really very sad, and will only get much much worse after the current stresses.

Redwinestillfine · 08/05/2020 22:05

Firstly sorry you're feeling like this op. There was already a mental health crisis before lockdown. I don't know how lockdown will impact it. Some people are definitely struggling, some are thriving. It very much depends on individual circumstances. I suspect what comes after lockdown definitely will add to the mental health crisis. A lot of people may loose their jobs. Lockdown doesn't necessarily lead to a worsening of mental health though. My DH was struggling and on anti depressants pre lockdown but within two weeks had spoken to his doctor and was weaning himself off. He said that the fact there was this big crisis going on put things into perspective and he actually felt better. He's better than I have seen him in ages. Crisis mode seems to bring out the best in him.

Cherryblossomsnow · 08/05/2020 22:21

Yes for sure. I have been incredibly fortunate to not suffer mental health issues in the past but I know now I am going to have a real issue leaving my house - a real issue. I just don't know how I am going to do it. I just picture myself melting down mentally at workSad