How are you coping?

[silvertogold]

Hi, I've always found MN helpful so thought I'd give it a go. Wasn't sure what category to post under but as it relates to CV I thought this would be the one to post in!
I'm really struggling, I have massive health anxiety which I feel is important, however I just have got to the point where I can't cope. Two weeks ago my job said that all staff must return full time to the office. I work in a college which is extra scary because the kids just don't care! So far we've had 3 reported cases. We have been told if we don't go back to work then we will be let go (we've been working from home since March and nothing has slipped or anything like that - I'm also admin based so don't need to interact in person). I just don't know what to do, I understand people have been working through the whole of the pandemic and respect that they haven't had a choice but this isn't what I'm asking or talking about. I did have that choice, I worked bloody hard to keep my performance up and did lots of extra unpaid hours to make an impression. I'm now having panic attacks, I've been a mess for today as I'm so worked up over going back tomorrow and the thought of doing so is making me physically sick.

To those who feel the same way as me how are you coping, does it get better? Please help!

Oh that’s really hard. Is there any chance that you’ll get in to work any maybe it won’t be quite as bad as you anticipate? Your anxiety is totally understandable especially as you haven’t been in since March.

Is there any chance you can do part time office and part time WFH?

@CathTurnbull we returned last week. It is terrible. Unfortunately my office seems to think it was a conspiracy, don't believe in social distancing and will come right up and lean over you.
Last week I asked about doing half and half, showed my performance but I've been told if I want to do that I will be needing to consider my future at the company

I'm a million times better than I was during the hard lockdown. But I'm starting to get anxious again that they're going to shut everything back down.
I am not anxious about Coronavirus in the slightest, my anxiety is the impact the virus is having on me, my family, the economy etc.
As anxious a lot of people are about catching/spreading the virus, I'm as anxious/scared about another lockdown. I know many won't understand, but I am seriously concerned about another prolonged lockdown.

@duckme I totally understand that other people will be me on the other side. My partners workplace have given their employees the option (as long as productivity had been good) to whether they would like to work fully from home, go in full time or adopt a mixture going forward and their contract will be altered accordingly

It's such bullshit forcing people back in an office if they're working effectively from home, while the government panics over a second wave.

At least it won't be for long. Everything will be shut down again soon.

I’m really sorry you feel like this.

I am a secondary school teacher and have been in a terrible state of anxiety about going back. However, now we are back, it gets easier every day. I try to take control of my own safety - I wear a mask in the corridors and often in staff areas, I wear a face shield in the classroom. I tell students (and staff) to back up, or step back myself if I feel they are too close (am not bothered if they look offended about it). I clean down the keyboard, mouse and desk of any classroom I am in. My bag seems to be full of bottles of hand sanitiser. If a window is shut, I open it. I eat my lunch outside and during non-contact periods I work outside. When the weather is bad, I will have lunch in my car.

Your employer needs to have some measures in place. They can’t just tip you all back into the workplace without any safety measures. Have you asked what they are?

OP - Are the union no help?

If the workplace is not social distancing then it's unacceptable. I have to go back once every couple of weeks at the moment, but I don't mind so much because everything is well distanced at least.

@Armi they've placed some hand sanitizer around the building and have put one 2m distance sticker on the reception desk that's about the limit of what they've done

Covid has fucked my mh. I was so much better than in previous years and this is a huge regression.

I'm a single working parent. Whilst I can work from home half my job involves visits In the community. My kids hated educare and they missed out a lot of home learning. I feel suicidal at the thought of the schools closing again I just can't do it. I did have some help with childcare but getting messages every single day nagging for me to pick them up/come back home made me mental as well.

When the media started speculating about another lockdown I counted the codine pills I have in the house and I haven't done nothing like that for 20 years!!!! I only had 13 and no plans to acquire any more - I will soldier on but I'm very frightened

[quote silvertogold]@Armi they've placed some hand sanitizer around the building and have put one 2m distance sticker on the reception desk that's about the limit of what they've done [/quote]
Yeah, I would be contacting my union or the Health and Safety executive about that. Your employer has a duty of care.

Ridiculous and frustrating for you, my bf is in a similar position as you and definitely makes you rethink your employer.

Me personally, I'm not coping too well. I'm at home on maternity so I'm indoors a lot already, and I'm really struggling with the idea of being told we could have to stay inside again. Going out once a week or fortnight for some quiet time (baby sleeps well when out) is literally keeping me sane. I've started comfort eating again after losing all my lockdown weight and it will just get worse. I had some big events booked in December and those are now looking likely to be cancelled. It's so hard to keep going some days when there's nothing to look forward to anymore. Before I know it my maternity will be over and I will be back at my job I absolutely despise.

Hope you feel a lot better once you're back in work and see what it's like. I went back to working in a school 2 weeks ago. First week was fine, just felt strange wearing a visor.
This week has been awful. Someone in my bubble tested positive so we got sent home to self isolate. I ended up putting my name on counselling waiting list in April because I struggled with strict lockdown. I had counselling August to September. Now finding self isolation unbearable and I'm worried that I'll get really unwell.