Its just hit me

[GruffaloandMouse]

Things aren’t going to be the same again for a long time are they?
My mental health is spiralling. I already had pre existing anxiety and depression and it’s becoming much worse.

I have a 22 month old and I can’t believe I won’t be able to take him to a playgroup any time soon.
Gone are the days when I would sit drinking tea with other mums while watching my DS play with other toddlers.
I have enrolled him into a local nursery one day a week, for socialisation mainly.
But the playgroups helped my mental health, kept me sane, kept me afloat. Helped me have a routine.

My family don’t live nearby, I haven’t seen them since February.
My DP’s parents are supportive and helpful but it’s not the same.

I was on the list for counselling, no one seems to know when face to face counselling with resume.

I keep having flashbacks to times before all this, I get a pang of sadness when I realise things aren’t going to go back to normality for months or even years. I feel so sad for my son and the world he’s growing up in. He’s missed so much already. I’m so angry at everything. I don’t know what to do

Some days I have some very dark thoughts.

There will be a massive shift in September when we return to cmpulsory education. That's not too far off, just about 8 weeks.

Hate to be a doomsdayer, but we don't know that yet. Even the countries which have handled things a lot better than Britain thus far are struggling to keep numbers in constant decline. Certainly lets hope for normal in September, but the truth is nobody on the planet knows for sure what the situation in September will be. Nobody knows for sure what "normal" is going to look like.

Those aren't ridiculous statistics. That's a fact. Flu does kill millions a year.

Did you read my post. I just listed off the approximate world wide deaths for the most recent flu pandemics. Only in a pandemic year are there over a million deaths worldwide from flu. Spanish Flu was shocking because it killed ~50 million, that was about 2-3% of the world's population at the time. It is pretty easy to google wikipedia see: Influenza Pandemic.

YaYaDingDong

Those aren't ridiculous statistics.

Yes, they are.

That's a fact. Flu does kill millions a year.

No, it doesnt (and, there are many strains of flu)

You also missed out 2 vital words when quoting from your original post - hundreds and of.

Your original text said "Ordinary" flu for instance. That kills hundreds of millions worldwide every year."

Can you see the different impact of the 2 statements?

FYI: The WHO estimates that between 290,000 and 650,000 respiratory deaths globally each year are associated with seasonal influenza.

Could you access telephone counseling at least? Research is showing it to be effective.

I'm sorry to hear how you feel. It's not easy is it and must be especially difficult with pre-schoolers.

OP playgrounds are opening again next week- our local farm is reopen. It’s summer, you can do get a takeaway from a park cafe and sit in the sun. Honestly I’m happy for my 3 yr old to mix again, if you and your family aren’t vulnerable then for your mental health and tHeirs, I’d socialise outside.

OP, I know things seem grim just now, and it’s easy to slip into negative thoughts that life will never be the same, etc.
I live alone, and have been ill with long tail Covid for the whole 3 months of lockdown, so I know what it’s like, but honestly, life will not stay like this.
There are more than ten vaccines on human trials now worldwide. We only need one of those to work, and it’s game over for the virus - we can all simply get an annual shot like for flu, and normal life can resume.
Even with worst case scenario - we never get an effective vaccine- the pandemic will eventually fizzle out as more people either achieve natural immunity following infection or die off.
The Spanish flu pandemic killed 50 million worldwide, and there was no vaccine, but people very quickly resumed normal life. In fact they went all out in a joyous celebration of life, after the flu and WW1 - the roaring 20’s were a time of flapper parties, dancing, fashion, the new silent movies, etc.
Just keep on buggering on, as Churchill said! All things pass, this will too.
Meanwhile try to get whatever happiness can be found in current circumstances- time to spend with your child, enjoy nature, have socially distanced contact with any available friends and family. Looking for the positive instead of the negative, to help lift your mood and change your mindset. Cognitive therapy may be helpful to you - you can do it online by yourself or contact a therapist. Best wishes.

Although people keep saying things are getting back to normal in places like Spain and Italy I am afraid that if people have to wear masks it's very definitely not normal to me.
Ok so it's not normal but it's so much better than lockdown which was awful. (I'm in Italy). Like a previous poster said, here people are getting back to normal but it is a gradual process. We're at the beach - we all have masks with us for when we need to pop in a bar or get close to someone. But this is still a huge improvement. Just a few weeks ago it seemed impossible as we couldn't even leave the house! I also felt really claustrophobic with a mask at first but not all masks are the same and some definitely feel less claustrophobic.

Sending you best wishes.

Don't be hard on yourself, I think there will be millions of people feeling the same way. Hoping that groups might be created across the country where people in similar situations can meet up and support each other.

Yesterday someone posted about a link to a meeting people in their own areas for support. I think it was meeting app or something similar. There will be people near you try to see if you can find similar and join together.

Good luck.

Even going shopping is tedious, hanging around in the line round the shop, waiting for the person in front to stop looking myopically at every single packet of peas in the freezer and wanting to scream.
Nobody wants to see me because I work with Covid-19 patients and all my relatives are afraid they'll get it off me so I'm still isolated.
I have one friend I see regularly who has a large garden and she's still happy to have me over at 2 meters distance on a sunny day.
Just totally pissed off now.
i had so many plans for this year things to do and see. not even sure if next year is on the cards now with repeat lockdowns and everytime I come home from work I'm thinking have I got it.
I've had a dental abcess for three months, it's burst twice and is now filling up again and it's agonising. I spent two hours in minor injuries last night just to be told they don't give antibiotics for dental.
You would think that due to covid and the dentists not being open properly they would relax the rules a bit. Can you imagine dental abcess pain for three months?
I'm sitting at home off sick today waiting for the emergency dentist to ring, I never go off sick but I just want to vomit with the pain. I rang 111 in the end, I couldn't stand it any more.

Try this one OP - there may be people near you for mutual support

www.meetup.com

On my area there are walking groups and general online quiz groups etc - anything to help have a connection and not feel isolated.

I feel the same. So sad for my little boy who is missing his opportunity to be at nursery mixing with other kids. So sad for myself because we’re missing this time when we’re supposed to be out doing stuff together before he starts school and is busy every day. I suppose these are just the times we live in, and times change. WW2 lasted for six years, I doubt this will last that long.

I got it yesterday... we are opening our holiday cottage and yurts at the weekend and I’m not looking forward to the extra work although of course I’ll do it, but I almost feel I will fear strangers and that’s not a good way to live.