To feel like old life will never return

[Chocdrop14]

I don't suppose everyone feels like me. But I am so sad about all this. Before everyone tells me it's down to me to make a change, mental health is so hard isn't it. I've never suffered from it before this summer. If I'm busy I'm happy. But these quiet afternoons especially now summer is over are really getting to me. I've got health trouble at the moment. Awaiting tests as I have pelvis pains and bleeding. Overall feeling abit rubbish. But i keep going for my kids.

But I feel like I was just getting back on my feet at the back end of summer and now the weather changes have made me feel flat.

We've been really busy for three weeks and have had a team doing work in the front garden. Which has weirdly been nice. Just having to be up everyday and chatting to people again has been lovely. I've made a million drinks but it's been nice to have a laugh and chat with the chaps (not in a flirtatious way) they left a few days ago and now everything see quiet again. Is it totally weird I miss work men being outside?

I currently don't work but really hope I can when I find out what's wrong. I'm fearing the worst at the moment. My eye lid has been twitching all day today too. I just can't seem to get up and stay up.

I feel sad that I haven't been able to do the things with my toddler I wanted to this year. I couldn't take them for our yearly trip to the coast.

I am so fed up of seeing masks everywhere. I forgot mine the other day and couldn't take my kid in the shop for chocolate buttons. He cried all the way home. We've had to cancel our daughters swimming because she can't have help in the pool. Our weekends are rubbish because of my women's troubles. I miss my best friend. We want to meet but I have been so up and down I'm so limited to how much I can do. If I walk to far I seem to bleed or pull my ovary area.

I just look ahead and think when will life be good again. I mean good again properly. I know nobody knows. But I can't wait for the day we don't need masks. We used to just turn up at our local national trust play area. Now you have to book. I hate booking in advance due to my issues.

Sorry to have a moan.i miss life. It's making me feel so flat as areas start closing again. What a life.

Normality will resume. It has to because socially and economically we cannot thrive like this. So, so many are already struggling.

I'm focusing on Easter when it's spring, daylight lengthens, and respiratory illness naturally tail off. I can't see public appetite for more of this shit beyond that.

I know how you feel. It can be easy to spiral. I just think though, even the Black Death ended eventually and people got back to normal! It'll happen, think how grateful we will be for things when they do

Of course it will.

People live through war and famine.

It will end.
We will have freedom to go places and see people in unlimited numbers again.
The only thing I would not focus on is the thought of getting rid of masks - they are here to stay . As is I believe social distancing, however people will stop doing that in private whatever the laws say.

@YellowishZebra

It will end. We will have freedom to go places and see people in unlimited numbers again. The only thing I would not focus on is the thought of getting rid of masks - they are here to stay . As is I believe social distancing, however people will stop doing that in private whatever the laws say.

Carrying on with social distancing and masks doesn't really equal it ending, does it? I certainly do not agree with people who think we should dispense with all precautions now, but I hope science will come to the rescue fairly soon so that we can all freely interact again as we used to.

@YellowishZebra why do you think masks and social distancing will stay long term? That’s a depressing thought!
OP I know how you feel and you’re not alone. So many people are feeling the same. Having to book everything is such a pain. I don’t know what to advise but you’re not strange, this lack of social contact is bound to make most of us feel depressed - humans are social animals. Hope you get to the bottom of your health problems soon.

Surely masks won't be forever? They are awful things that the government said didn't work at all back in may. I don't think they work either based on cases rising more and more as people have gone out again wearing them. They are chucked all over the streets near me too. I hope by spring they let masks be optional. How can people actually live and date and socialise with masks in faces in pubs, clubs, restaurants, cinemas and arenas. How do you have makeup done in boots for example? How do you go on dates when you can't show your lovely face to your date? I know it's silly things. But it isn't silly to young people starting out in life. It's really restrictive. I respect wearing them in shops and medical settings. But I think eventually if they want people to enjoy going out they will need to loosen up with it.

I hope my children don't miss out many more years. My partner is so eager to take our son to soft play. He's never been and he's so daring. We just want to see our kids being free again. Not just ours ofcourse. All children should be able to be carefree and climb and play in play areas together.

It's hard to stay positive with winter coming up. It's going to be long. But as pp said let's hope by April we are coming out the other side to happier times.

Book national trust spot, do it when partner is around so at least he and kids can go but hopefully you as well when the time comes.

You could book a weekend in a caravan/cottage near the coast, it is no longer warm but you could have sand a brisk walking.

Look at the things that you can still do and even if you have to book, well book, that's what we do, the kids don't notice the booking they do remember the day.

It's not ideal I know that.

Hope your pelvis is cured as soon as can be.

The Black Death never ended. It still exists, but the treatment options are much improved.

Hi we do book it sometimes but we've got one toddler and one in infants at school so we need to both be there if that makes sense. They both tend to be capable of doing different bits. It's a massive area so he could loose one if the other shoots off.

We are going to Dorset in April. But we don't have the spare money as he gets no overtime anymore. We have lost £3000 this year due to that. It's a good idea though. Thank you for suggesting.

I am trying not to sound defeatist but today I am! I have good days but I think it's the autumn coming and we are still in this nightmare.

It will end. But only if we work together to overcome this virus. I don't like masks either, few do, but if it keeps the infection from spreading, then I'll wear one. I think everyone's MH is impacted, so you're not alone.

There are still things you can do, just not the range you could last year. Think creatively and remember that it WILL end in the not too distant future.

Social distancing won't be here for good. Unless you want the human race to die out? Why do people say this stuff?

Things will return to normal. It just feels a long way off at the moment.

People will not stomach this sort of shit forever. I'm quite surprised that they have accepted it for this long to be honest, but here we are

Treatment of Covid 19 has improved and we might (hopefully, eventually) get a vaccine. Nor can governments all over the worl afford to keep their economies up shit creek indefinitely.

It is shit right now though. I'm not a big socialiser but I don't like seeing people's livelihoods and jobs destroyed willy Billy.

OP normality will resume eventually. There may be a bit of a hybrid world we're living in for a while and there'll be some changes that will last but I'm hopeful that they'll be positive i.e. more of an acceptance of flexible/home working, new industries that will come to the fore and create jobs for all those lost. I hated the lockdown earlier this year and not seeing family, friends, anyone but with these new restrictions I've made peace with hibernating this winter (work full time from home) and as an earlier post mentioned, looking forward to Easter, the spring, restrictions lifting again, hell maybe even a vaccine roll out? Each day this winter we'll get a little closer to that. So coping mechanisms in the meantime - getting fresh air every day, eating well, keeping busy with projects around the home, life admin, hobbies. School run is so helpful for me right now to force 30 mins away from work laptop, get outside and walk. I'm tempted to get a lumie lamp, already struggling with the darker mornings. Just little steps to get through each day. You're seeing to your childrens practical needs, they're so young they'll barely remember this in years to come, and dealing with a health problem during a global pandemic. Give yourself a break and take the pressure off.

Why on earth would masks be here to stay?

I like your thinking. I think that's what all of us have to do now. Hibernate and keep busy at home for winter if we can. We get lots of fresh air thankfully. Yesterday I stayed in PJ's all day for the first time in 6 weeks. I just thought I needed to give in.

I really don't think social distancing and masks will be here to stay. It is not healthy to avoid others like the plague. Plus as I said above it will kill off the entertainment side of life. Nobody wants to book a date with a new person and be sat there with a mask covering your whole face. I see people sat at tables waiting for meals with masks on but their children are mask free. It's such a bizarre thing. Anyone would think children breathe differently. I am not saying kids need masks at all, I'm saying masks in restaurants is over the top. You have to take them off to eat. You've got to handle the payment with your hands. You are using the plates, cups, forks, salt shakers. Touching the table. Breathing into the air whilst you eat. So what exactly does a mask do on the way out?

I can't speak for anyone else but personally I won't be going to the cinema etc until masks are not required. I find it off putting. I wear them in the shop etc but I can't get into wearing them when you are supposed to be relaxing and enjoying things.

I just can't get into this new normal. It's sad how many people are prepared to continue having to follow rules that have been proven not to work. Cases are hugely rising despite masks and the pubs shutting earlier. Yet people think it helps. The government continuously said in may. There's no evidence masks work. They do not work. The science says face coverings do not prevent the spread. We are not advising masks as research shows they do little. There's a video of all the clips if you search. Then six weeks later they just decide to start using them.

I hope in a year's time people are going to start living normally again. You get one life and children are little for such a short time. My two year old has missed out massively on what his sister did. Yes he will never know. But I will. I've not been able to take him to playgroup. The park was shut all summer. Now they are muddy and wet again. But I do take him. I try not to dwell but he's grown up so much this year and it feels like we've been sat around waiting to be allowed to live again.

Must keep going forward though.

@BogRollBOGOF

Normality will resume. It has to because socially and economically we cannot thrive like this. So, so many are already struggling.

I'm focusing on Easter when it's spring, daylight lengthens, and respiratory illness naturally tail off. I can't see public appetite for more of this shit beyond that.

What does 'public appetite' have to do with the virus? It doesn't have feelings to care whether we have had enough.

If it's the restrictions you're fed up if, that's a separate issues. You might not think the Govt is doing things the way you want them to (I definitely don't) but no Govt in the UK would have been any better, very few places are happy with how their Govt has gone about it.

When you think not even a million people have had it yet in the UK. We've got a long way to go if they don't find a vaccine. Its important to be careful. But we can only stop living for so long.

Masks help - a lot. They prevent people spreading the large droplets far & wide. They can't stop the lighter/smaller droplets from being in the air. The Govt were irresponsible earlier in the year to say they don't work. It was mind manipulation - so that people wanted them to be made compulsory when they came in. Being optional is pointless because they protect other people, not the wearer & you need the vast majority to be wearing them for them to be effective.

Children & masks. I think it should be compulsory for them too, from say 3. But we have too many people who think their little darlings are SO different from children in other countries that they couldn't possibly be expected to wear them.

I'm hibernating for winter and trying to find other ways to celebrate things that don't involve gatherings. I'm disappointed our local Lions run bonfire /fireworks night has been cancelled as I think the event could have been COVID safe, but I understand because it would have been extra work to avoid the arrival/departure bottle neck. I don't have a garden so can't have my own bonfire, but I'll watch the fireworks out of my windows.

The thing I'll miss the most about Christmas isn't actually the way I normally spend Christmas Day (with friends who are like family) but going to the Christmas Markets in Germany. I'll unpack ornaments from past years, make mulled wine & TRY to recreate these gorgeous mushroom/pastry things from the Cologne markets. & try to avoid spending far too much time on 'FaceTime/Skype' etc.

I'm currently living watching the autumn leaves changing & collecting acorns.

I think things will be much better come the spring/summer & in time things will go back to pretty close to what they were like pre Covid. I don't think that some of us will ever feel as carefree about social interaction as we once did, but for the youngsters they'll do what youngsters do and they will be as we were.

If I think about it too deeply I really can't believe this is happening in my lifetime - but that's a very privileged thought really. But if I think about it too deeply it does make me very sad, so I try not to. I try to just avoid getting it & plan nice things for autumn/winter and look forward to the sun in the spring/summer.

Hang in there, masks and social distancing aren’t here fir ever but they are here for some time. My Aunt in Germany said (if I translated correctly) that Merkel has asked them to be patient as it will be ongoing through 2021. I already knew this but that helped as I feel she has her head screwed on and is capable of showing proper leadership.

It’s tough when you are unwell, I have had what you had but am sorted now. Don’t think the worse, lots it can be and lots can be done. As you said, your children are too little to remember. Mine haven’t hit a clue about all the stuff they did that age. It’s much harder for those going into adulthood at the moment who are missing out on a lot and I think as yours get older you will be glad they can’t remember .

Make the most of what you can now. Book some things so you have things to look forward to. Work with the seasons, being connected to nature has been foundti be beneficial to mental health. Get them out and do lees scrunching, collect comkers to make furniture for the fairies.

Still do a pumpkin for Halloween and see if people locally are doing a pumpkin trail, if not start one. Plan for Christmas, National Trust here doing a light display, take them to look at local decorations, salt dough decorations, make dens etc.

Learn a new skill. If you can’t already, crochet is good, loads you can make, blankets, hats and toys. Start planning for your holiday activities likely to be running whatever happens - where In Dorset are you going?

Several million have already had it in the U.K. according to antibody tests - incl ~20% of London

Probably best taken with a pinch of salt, but Boris last week promised social distancing would end by October 2021.

@Eyewhisker

Several million have already had it in the U.K. according to antibody tests - incl ~20% of London

I doubt that is true. Evidence?

I think it will return, probably by late in 2021. But by then millions will be unemployed and job prospects for young people will be the bleakest since the early 80s.
On the bright side, house prices might come down when the jobless start getting repossessed.

That can't be right, the latest ONS data estimates approx 1/3 of a million had it in the last week they have figures for, many millions have had it since March

We could easily get to 1/2 a million in a week before too long