Do you feel like you are losing your mind?

[randomer]

I do, a bit. Can't concentrate, friendships ruined,motivation poor, a contant hum of anxiety in the background.

Yes I definitely am. Teacher here-vulnerable but not on shielded list. DS is care home and DH haven't been able to see him for 7 weeks or so. DH also a teacher. Everything is falling apart. Will pluck up the courage to phone gp this week (been too scared to go to pharmacy to get antidepressants).

Really bad day today - I seem to be worse at the weekends. I’m in Scotland so no easing of restrictions at all. It just feels endless.

So mundane. So weird. I'm tired and fed up

I can't remember the last time I watched anything in full 🤔

Me neither. I can flip between threads on here but anything requiring any attention looses me.
I keep seeing that people are watching box sets, am amazed.

How weird, I have been the same today as well. Lack of motivation, I'm not taking the govt up on being able to go out as much as I want to...just once a day, and today I had to force myself to do that. Fell asleep on the couch at about 2 and slept for a couple of hours...then woke up, feeling guilty that I'd wasted the afternoon. Garden needed doing but I have put that off again. Didn't feel much better after my walk. I'm actually meeting my son tomorrow, first time since Feb, but I feel very flat. Maybe it's just an off day.

I keep seeing that people are watching box sets, am amazed.

Yes I am amazed too.

I've had some very down and despairing moments as I live alone but this last week I've seen 2 friends in real life ( socially distanced) and it was so lovely and really cheered me up. However I've had days where I felt v tearful and scared and had no motivation. Just trying to be grateful for what I do have. Virtual hugs to all of you struggling, this is an incredibly hard time for all of us.

Yes. It’s dire.

I’m signed of on sick leave due to anxiety & depression, increased antidepressants and dd has been massively struggling.

Actually, that’s the other way round really. BECAUSE dd is struggling and her behaviour is so horrific, I’m now ill and signed off. Now we’re just spiralling and making one another worse.

I'm definitely feeling odd.

I have asd and I suffer from chronic anxiety and not leaving the house seems to have in some ways helped me - I haven't had my usual panic attacks or palpitations, because I'm not coming into contact with the usual triggers. Having said that, I am in a constant state or worry and find myself riddled with anxiety about simple things like putting the bin out.

Overall I would say that it feels like my brain has shut down. I'm incredibly lethargic and I can't concentrate on anything or find the will to do anything. I also can't bear to be in contact with anyone and have found myself unable to answer the phone or reply to text msgs or emails.

I bought a book I have wanted to read for ages, it's sat on my dressing table unopened.... I have no emotional energy left to give it. Instead I'm watching crap on YouTube because I don't have to invest in it.

I too have noticed my lack of concentration - interesting that it's not just me!

Something that definitely helps me is to be outdoors and in the sun as much as possible. We are lucky to have a decent-sized, sunny garden and when the weather is good I make a point of sitting out for hours. It makes a massive difference to my mood.

Me.
I keep ordering things online just to have something to look forward to when it arrives
I've realised I'm someone who needs things to look forward to!

Yes it's all a bit shit isn't it? Add to that the constant race to the bottom of the general tone of misery. If you fart you are a murderer. If you go to buy food for your kids then you will infect a gran who will kill her ICU nurse who will kill the doctor who goes home and kills his wife, kids, their gran who in turn kill the entire population of Dorset.

Makes me want to lick a door knob on the tube and just get it over with.

But I had a good day today so trying to push that negative shitty cloud down.

Feel like I'm living in the twilight zone.

Yes, me too.

The loss of focus and inability to concentrate is a pain. I find I wander off, mid activity and come back several hours later wondering who's left all this stuff hanging about, then remember, it was me.

Loss of motivation and feeling sluggish and lethargic too.

Interestingly, yesterday I skim read an article on the physiological and psychological effects on prisoners (!) in solitary confinement - that was the nearest thing to this lockdown that I could think of - and all these symptoms that you all speak of were listed - and I don't even live alone!

I don't feel depressed - just flat.🤔

OP, your friend may well be feeling like this too and the thought of making the effort is just too much for her just now.

My DS said that everybody she speaks to (by phone) has no news because none of us are doing anything.

How are we going to thrive after this? It feels like the whole country is on the verge of actual mental illness. It makes me feel overwhelmed.

I need things to look forward too as well @Aberforthsgoat.

I'm usually a planner and like to have a monthly treat to keep me motivated and energised. That could be a meet up for a meal with friends, or a night at the theatre or cinema, a short break, a visit to family etc.

It's the lack of spontaneity and joyous things that have gone from life and we're just left with the monotonous drudgery and no end in sight.

I'm shielding so God knows when I'll be let out of solitary.

I'm just subconsciously anxious over losing mg job if things dont get better. I am trying to be positive but deep down ik so scared. Scared I'll lose my beautiful house I have after spending all my 20s saving up for it meaning I never did holidays etc.

I'm on my own so no partner to fall back on.

I'm trying not to worry and I'm saving as much as I can but it's still not enough to stop that anxiety

If anyone reading this has found anything that has helped them, please share!

Yes, OP, I’ve been feeling this way for ages

I think it’s the lowest Ive ever felt but maybe I just don’t remember the worst of it before.

The friends thing is hard

Can’t see them and they seem to think I’m stupid for struggling

“ How are we going to thrive after this? It feels like the whole country is on the verge of actual mental illness. It makes me feel overwhelmed.”

The mass hysteria you mean? Yes. I feel like hysteria decreases my chance of having any work in the future.

I’m absolutely feeling this too.

Had a two hour nap in the afternoon yesterday. I feel so tired all the time, can’t concentrate on anything. Tried to watch an episode of Ozark earlier and just couldn’t keep up. I despair at what is happening to us all.

Definitely a little bit. I'm self employed so mostly filling my days with keeping visible and seeing what I can do to help my clients and potential clients through this - they're all small businesses too.

But for the first time in my life I can't read a whole chapter of a book at once - I used to be a fucking librarian, books have always been my joy, my solace and my comfort and now I can't bloody well focus on them. Can't cope with films, so am spending increasing amounts of time scrolling as, like a pp, I don't have to emotionally invest in that. For me this feels like a sign of Bad Things

Same here. I feel flat but not depressed, can't concentrate especially not on telly or films or books or crafts, have low energy, replying to friends texts and messages feels impossible so I don't. I have constant low level dread because of the situation, moments of complete despair, and moments of real delight and joy mixed in. It's weirdly so comforting knowing I am not alone. That others are going through these emotions too - the 4pm naps, the staying up late and sleeping late.
I feel a bit like we are in some kind of mass social experiment...

I find the lack of any kind of deadline makes me lethargic. There's no 'up and out' in the morning to kick start the day.
I find it really hard to keep my two young DS in a routine. It's just so weird. I do think the time is going quickly though.