Anyone else really dreading autumn and winter?

[Ladybird89]

My mental health is already hanging by a thread. The thought of enduring this or worse during the autumn and winter months, fills me with fear and panic.
I think it’s pretty much guaranteed if this is the way of things throughout those upcoming months, that there will be a rise in suicide. I just hope I’m not one of them.

Yes and no. Yes because of the above, no because it'll help draw a close to a summer of public disorder and anti social behaviour

I’m dreading the autumn and winter.....I just have a very bad feeling that Corona is going to wipe through society and the hospitals just won’t be able to cope.

I’m a nurse, and hand on heart, I can honestly say that between the months of Oct-March things are just horrendous. Me, and the other staff are usually on our knees with the stresses and pressures that come with the winter season, it’s awful. I can’t even describe how hard it is.

Throw Corona virus into the mix and I just don’t know how we’ll cope.

And like you said Ladybug, there is also going to be a huge knock on effect of this to people’s mental health

I don’t know what the answer is, I don’t think there is one, we just have to hope we come out the other side of it

Yes I’m dreading it because I think we will be in the same situation. But I’m incredibly optimistic that we will have a vaccine at some point or the virus will affect us less/there will be better treatments.
Can you get help OP to get you through it - ADs/counselling/online help?
We have to try and look forward to better times

I feel worried too.
I just try to think positively:
Treatment and understanding is improving majorly every day.
People understand more how to social distance, thus protecting each other more. (Yes I have seen the recents beaches scenes etc but I still have hope on this).
Test and trace will have much longer to get better. Hey we may even get an app.
The media will be all over the hospitals being full thus putting pressure on the government to sort it out. This could even have a lasting positive effect on the nhs?
Please get some help in real life if you are feeling unable to cope xxx

I forgot we may get a vaccine

@QueenofmyPrinces.

Do you think they might offer flu jab to more groups as that might help.
Would a cp vax also help i know not many are in hospital with that but even just getting that fever or passimg it around.

More groups getting a pneumonia vax too?

Although also who knows how many germs are passed around within hospitals and gp surgeries so mask wearing might reduce that.

Yes. They haven't moth balled the nightingale hospitals for no reason.

The outbreaks in cold meat factorys show it probably does spread quicker in cold.

It's going to be shit. Queuing in the cold and no contact. Shit shit shit.

We ended social distancing from close family early. We're going to make the most of cuddles and contact now.

Not dreading it, just 'meh'. I do think the worst of the virus will be behind us and/or we'll have a cure or vaccine, social distancing will be relaxed, but at the same time, I fear there will be mass unemployment, rising poverty, the gap growing between the 'haves and have nots'/rich and poor, and a mental health crisis like never before.

Not to mention a huge rise in the amount of ill pets and pets having to be given up. Vets and animal welfare charities will be extremely busy.

Christmas and NY will probably be very quiet this year and more about reflecting rather than celebrating.

I am trying not to stress, but I am in the back of my mind thinking about what I need to have in the house to stop us all going crazy if even a semi-lockdown happens.

They need to really really push the flu vaccine this year.

And they need to start forifying food with vit d. And maybe other food with other vitamins.
But I imagine a lot of over 70 will be nit going in any enclosed spaces from now on.
If they can improve online choice of products/prices.
I dont see how anyone will get a food delivery around xmas???

I think to a larger extent people just want to be indoors anyway come September/October time when it's getting dark early and the weather starts to turn, whereas now everyone wants to be outside and active.

A lot of people have given up on not just lockdown but social distancing. Once that first big BLM protest was allowed to go ahead in London it's just been one mass gathering after another.

Once the pubs and gyms are open, as well as shops, it'll give people enough to do while getting out the house. And once it's getting dark early and colder the anti-social behaviour and public disorder will drop somewhat.

I think it'll be quieter over December but Christmas shopping in busy high streets and shopping centres is my idea of hell anyway.

I’m dreading it from a childcare perspective. I honestly have no idea how schools & nurseries are going to deal with regular winter bugs causing Corona symptoms & the need to isolate constantly. It’s going to be chaos. My daughter gets a cough every other week in winter. It’s going to be incredibly disruptive & confusing for her. Younger DD is due to start at the end of Nov & again, I’m dreading the idea of settling her and then her bubble needing isolate etc etc 😫 And us trying to work between all that!

I do wonder to an extent if the high death rate in the elderly may actually ease some of the pressure on the NHS. But I guess in reality about 35,000 over 80’s have died and the population of the UK is 66 million, so pretty small percentage really (although obviously still awful)..

I’m just making the most out of summer. I’ve got tickets to zoos & country parks booked. I’m off to stay with a couple relatives on the coast in July & August & I’m gona try see friends & family as often as I possibly can! And just accept winter for what it may be. I actually don’t think we’ll ever go back into full lockdown unless it becomes extremely deadly to the young & healthy. But local ones are likely..

People keep comparing us to the US but they never got their cases down anywhere near as low as we have. They opened up when cases were still very high and now it’s just climbing again. They never had a proper peak & fall. We have. So we are instantly in a better position for now!

I'm dreading it. Lockdown has had a huge impact on my mental health. Being able to sit in the garden has been a godsend. I dont know how my elderly mother is going to survive winter living alone if no-one is allowed to visit and she cant go out.

OP maybe what you can focus on is small ways for you to get through if you are becoming overwhelmed. I have had depression for years so try and do some things but it is very difficult living with this uncertainty.

There is some stuff here not sure if any use to you. Small things like self care can help. I have a place I go to nearby which I know will always be there, thinking of things which I can always do no matter what helps me a bit.

www.blurtitout.org/resource/the-coronavirus-helpful-hub/

Oh my love that's so sad you feel like this

It is a big concern, but i try and tell myself that scientists are working on a vaccine, we know more than we initially did and will know more by then.
On a practical note i would try and get prepared for a second lockdown and perhaps start a project?

I agree Orange - and my dad gave me advice yesterday- he suffers big time with anxiety, especially now as an 86 yo. He just says we can only alter today. So taking things one day at a time can really help .

@Bol87 you will only have to isolate if you get a positive test. If they get a cough or a cold order a test and if its negative they can go back to childcare/school if well enough.

A lot of parents will be having a bit of time off while waiting for test results I think.

Yes, with a baby due in September too. The idea of being in lockdown in cold weather months with a toddler, a new baby and limited support feels very stressful.

I know - I don’t know how I’m going to manage winter with everything closed to two small children who can’t physically distance. All those free and low cost activities like toddler groups, museums, swimming pools. Even if they are open we won’t be welcome.

Hopefully if these 20 minute tests are available it won't cause major problems with childcare. I'm assuming that if/when it ramps up again it would be a much modified lockdown - ie strict social distancing in the home but at this point, education and work must continue as far as possible, or a targeted lock down of at risk age groups. I don't believe that locking down everyone again is a viable option.

Dear Ladybird89, I must admit that the worrying thought of the autumn and winter crossed my mind only this morning.
There has to be a middle way between being fearful all the time and just behaving as if everything can go back to "normal".
There is some hope that a vaccine will be developed, but I do worry that there is no vaccine for stupid.
Seeing the way people in the UK have been behaving, of late, does leave me fearful for the future.
This country seems to have been having a collective nervous breakdown for quite a while, now.

I am clinging to hope a vaccine in some form will be available

This country seems to have been having a collective nervous breakdown for quite a while, now.

Same as America, too many spoiled, entitled people, particularly the youth, unaccustomed to being told no and having their own way.

Italy and Spain (or further afield to Australia and Asia) had a much harsher lockdown but the people got on with it and have got cases right down and are now opening things up but people are still adhering for the most part to social distancing.

Instead, we've got the dregs of society every day shaming the nation and soon abroad once the holidays open up next month.

It would be a start if everyone entitled to a flu vaccine actually had it, it’s really important to stay as well as you possibly can. That includes children’s nasal flu.
Keep hand washing, using tissues and hand gel through the winter.
Remember that if you’re not entitled to a flu jab you can buy one at Boots, supermarkets etc.