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.

I'll have to get some wellies which I can walk distance in and a knee length winter coat.

Do you think they might offer flu jab to more groups as that might help

I'm not the poster you asked, but the following might help. I've not heard the final upshot of this, but yes there will be more. My guess is that the remaining question will be whether it is everyone. Which will be a massive task, but a damned good dress rehearsal if a viable Covid jab comes along.

www.gponline.com/gps-told-review-vaccine-orders-officials-warn-flu-campaign-expanded/article/1683243

"The letter confirms that 'discussions to consider expansion of the flu programme for this autumn are underway', and that 'concerns about COVID-19 may increase demand for flu vaccination in all groups this year'"

"However, details of the second phase of NHS England's response to the pandemic revealed that officials 'expect an expanded winter flu vaccination campaign' for 2020/21"

I suspect I will be long past caring by then, the whole response has been ridiculous as it is.

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.

Why do a job that’s so awful half the year?

@catsjammies

My Mum lives I. The Southern Hemisphere and has said I can go and live with her if need be. Not ideal but the thought of having a summer in her big house and garden in an almost Covid free country, vs winter in our London flat is pretty enticing.

If you're a NZ resident or citizen you can go, otherwise they won't let you in.

I'm trying not to think any further ahead than getting the DCs back to school in September. I'm not a winter fan anyway and last yesrs was a gloomy slog of a mudfest anyway. I'm not sure of when my usual external motivations like supporting in school or running races can resume.

I want to get on with life while the weather is in our favour.

Compared to March we have some advantages.
Testing capacity
Tracing
Targeted quarantines- we know better now where the virus is rather than hiding away as flu while the world concentrates on Wuhan long after it leaked out.
Better medical understanding of the virus and treaments
PPE access
Measures to reduce transmission

It's not cost-free, but we are in a better position now and consistently improving.

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.

Why do a job that’s so awful half the year?

Because most nurses accept that there will be some really shitty times (including seeing things that are harder to deal with than the winter period) but that it’s just the nature of the job.

Nursing is physically and emotionally draining, of course it’s not enjoyable 100% of the time, and how anyone could even think that is beyond me?!

Nursing is a vocation and we tolerate the bad parts because the good parts make the job so, so worthwhile.

Yes which is why I'm going to do my best to live this summer, see friends, socialise, see family and do the things which make life worth living for me.

Things to bear in mind, OP

You've got through one spike, no reason to think you can't get through another. Keep reminding yourself of that.

Treatment and knowledge on corona virus is changing all the time. Already they have found a drug that greatly increases chances of survival.

Come autumn/winter, we won't all be dashing to beaches/parks/countryside so it won't spread as fast.

Realistically, we won't have a vaccine before the end of this year, but scoentists are doing their absolute best to find one as quickly as possible. We might hit lucky and get one sooner than predicted.

We are going to enjoy the summer as much as we can.

I am going to start preparing in case autumn and winter is bad. I also can’t help but think it’ll be a nightmare x

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

They did this in NZ.

Australia really pushed the flu vaccine too and encouraged people to have it early this year so hopefully the UK will follow suit. All our family had it for the first time. It's Winter here and there has been a recent spike in cases in Melbourne, but the only recent death was a man in his 80s whose death was reclassified as COVID related as they think it contributed to his death but wasn't the sole cause. The total Australian death toll stands at 104 so nothing like the UK. I'm not surprised you are scared and anxious, a lot of our friends here like us have family and friends in the UK and we are all absolutely horrified at what a shitshow it seems to be.

I'm worried that winter bugs will be confused with Corona, as long as testing and track and trace is up to speed then maybe it will be ok...?

Not worried about the virus, more concerned about the all impacts of another lockdown.

@FizzFan

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.

Why do a job that’s so awful half the year?

Let's all be very grateful so many do, or we are all fucked, this pandemic should have at least taught us that much!

OP, put your mental health first. Get out and about with a mask and social distancing, but you can still do a lot. But leave suicide for people with incurable painful illnesses.

If you get covid, you would probably only get a mild version anyway, so why would you let the fear of covid ruin your quality of life?

The OP may not be fearing COVID. I’m not - it’s the effects of lockdown and restrictions that I dread

I predict very little influenza this coming winter due to all the social distancing and drastic fall in international travel.

My FEAR is that everyone will think this is so marvelous that physical distancing will become a new medium-long term norm. Getting within 1m of strangers will become the new 'smoking while pregnant' behaviour (that people like to bitch about). Face covers in many public places especially crowded or in winter will become a new normal, too.

On plus side, norovirus will fall drastically, too.
OCDers shall have inherited the Earth.

@Catastrofuck

The OP may not be fearing COVID. I’m not - it’s the effects of lockdown and restrictions that I dread

It doesn't bear thinking about