Petrified

[dollychopss]

As with anyone my mental health is taking a battering and now Chris green said this on Twitter I won't be here this time next year if it goes on for years

They are both in tier three and the tiering system is designed to simplify the rules so everyone will find them easier to follow over the coming years. Off to a bad start...

@dollychopss this wont go on, as in restrictions, face masks and SD for years. However worldwide it may take a couple of years before we stop hearing of random outbreaks.

Currently there are 3 vaccines close to finishing testing. The pharmacies are already stockpiling some of these.
There will be a positive change toward spring/summer.

Keep hope

The German health minister said vaccination in Germany will begin early next year

The Oxford vaccination is looking good, so the UK should also be vaccinating then too

Is believe it is going to go on for years because the virus is here to stay - we can't eradicate it.
Restrictions and measures (which to be honest I find largely ridiculous, but I mostly comply) will come and go.
However just looks at the difference between now and earlier this year when it first started - the ways in which it's treated are different, there are some drugs which treat it better, others are being trialled, there are a lot of vaccines being developed (whether they will work i dont know ) and there's a clear break down of who is most at risk. I'm not saying this last point because I think that at risk people are dispensable - I am one of them - I'm extremely vulnerable and still teaching. So I definitely don't feel I or anyone else at risk is expendable.
However, from the point of view of you being petrified, the risk to most people is vanishingly low.

I have had (and still do have ) extreme mental health issues which mean I have spent a lot of time with crisis teams and complex mental health teams - so I am not being unkind (some people call people out on threads for making therapy suggestions ) when I say that petrified feels like a bit of an extreme reaction to the situation. And I do feel for you because whilst I don't get anxiety now I have had it extremely badly when pregnant and I wouldn't wish it on anyone. I wouldn't wish any mental health problems on anyone.

Have you sought help for the way you're feeling? I don't think it's a proportional reaction to be petrified but moreover I feel it is not a nice way for you to have to live. I am so sorry if you have sought help and you are still feeling this way, I realise you may have done already.

If you haven't you can go to your GP or if you don't want to do that you can self refer to the NHS mental health service - google IAPT. It's all one online and assessments on the phone.

I have a very dear friend who is a psychotherapist and she tells me often that she is seeing a lot more clients now who feel their mental health is suffering due to the pandemic so you're not alone.

What is it that petrifies you exactly?
The thought of catching it? Being very unwell? Or the way that we currently have to live?

I really don't want to have sounded patronising here - I don't mean it like that at all. Covid doesn't bother me in the slightest but I certainly have, as I've said, struggled severely over the years (and still do ) with my mental health in other ways so I really do sympathise.

@TooTrueToBeGood

Well it might be better not to come on and try to further scare some one who is clearly already struggling, by trying to present your mere speculation as fact.

Your speculation (as per your first post on this thread) is no more relevant than mine just because you are erring on the side of blind optimism. So before you start making childish comments about crystal balls perhaps reflect on the validity of your own opinions. If the OP is anxious then that is a shame but I'm not going to change my views or be silenced just to give her a false sense of hope.

It's about so much more than just the OP and her feelings anyway. One of the reasons why we are steamrolling into a second wave is because so many people refuse to take the pandemic seriously and are willfully ignoring the guidance. People like you spreading completely baseless positivity only make that worse.

This thread I mentioned my feelings so be go and spread your "opinions " in another

@OpheliasCrayon thanks for this
I have suffered years and had a breakdown last year so yes I suffer but I literally have felt in a dark whole lately and it is solely because of the pandemic

[quote dollychopss]@OpheliasCrayon thanks for this
I have suffered years and had a breakdown last year so yes I suffer but I literally have felt in a dark whole lately and it is solely because of the pandemic [/quote]
That sounds very distressing. Did you speak with anyone last year when you had a breakdown?

You can always seek help again if you feel it would help.

I am seeking help at the moment I am not scared of the virus it is living like this for years that petrified me

I'm glad your seeking help.

Whilst I think the virus will be here for the long haul, vaccine or no - I don't think it's at all realistic that we would live like this for years.
Treatments will continue to be developed , hopefully a vaccine will become available for the elderly and vulnerable and stuff will ease off.

I know people say well we need to save lives - but also we cannot completely destroy the economy because THAT will also take lives. So there does have to be some give at some point.

What is it about the way we are required to be currently that is scaring you the most ?

I think a lot of us are having dark moments right now, OP. I am in Wales and we are probably going in to another full lockdown soon, which is no fun. But life won't be like this forever, it really won't. By Easter things will hopefully begin to look very different and we will know even more about the virus and how to deal with it.

It's about so much more than just the OP and her feelings anyway. One of the reasons why we are steamrolling into a second wave is because so many people refuse to take the pandemic seriously and are willfully ignoring the guidance. People like you spreading completely baseless positivity only make that worse

Not that this OP has said she is breaking rules but I think it’s the other way round actually. If people think these restrictions are for the long haul they will think what’s the point, and won’t bother.

@FractionalGains

It's about so much more than just the OP and her feelings anyway. One of the reasons why we are steamrolling into a second wave is because so many people refuse to take the pandemic seriously and are willfully ignoring the guidance. People like you spreading completely baseless positivity only make that worse

Not that this OP has said she is breaking rules but I think it’s the other way round actually. If people think these restrictions are for the long haul they will think what’s the point, and won’t bother.

Yes. People who advocate dropping restrictions tend to argue that there'll never be a vaccine, science will never help us etc so there is no point continuing the way we are as we won't be able to indefinitely anyway.

I'll admit to being a bit clueless about immunity and things but are we not a bit like the Amazon tribes that live in isolation and then get killed by the flu? They have no immunity. Same as we have no immunity (currently) to Covid as it's a novel virus. The flu kills much more of them but is a reasonably mild illness in most of us. As time goes on, will Covid not be like the flu? It's something that circulates and a few vulnerable people will be badly affected, or worse, unfortunately, but most people will recover with relative ease and with little need for medical intervention? We will have vaccinations and improved treatments and better hygiene practices etc to reduce transmission/improve chances. This isn't forever.

And I'm NOT saying Covid is like the flu atm btw, before anyone says.

I stick by the restrictions but I see my friends husband suicidal/my friends business crashing /I see shops closing and it scares me for my children's future too x

Immunity will build over time. There are so many with a mild response that it is assumed by most medical people I have heard speak that longer term it will be another circulating coronavirus sivhbsd we have lived with.

The getting there is proving a bumpy road but I'm more optimistic LONG-TERM than about Christmas say!

I am keeping my school age kids away from distant elderly family precisely because I have that belief. We look forward to meeting up next spring now maybe still mostly in the back garden.

We will know a lot more then. For now I'm thinking a few weeks ahead maximum. Doing trivial things (like planting bulbs for spring) that cheer me up.

Chris Green, MP confirmed on Twitter:

“They are both in tier three and the tiering system is designed to simplify the rules so everyone will find them easier to follow over the coming years.”

It’s on there now if you want to look. Note “years.” This suggests that these restrictions will be with us for a long time.

@dollychopss

I stick by the restrictions but I see my friends husband suicidal/my friends business crashing /I see shops closing and it scares me for my children's future too x

I understand why you are scared OP. I'm sorry that these are the situations you can see around you. Keep getting the mental health support and keep talking I guess. I don't suppose it is going to help if any of us tell you not to be petrified because that isn't how anxiety works. But treatments are improving, and risk will reduce over time as this continues. Try not to read all the doom and gloom threads because there can be quite a lot of scaremongering or panicky threads which isn't going to help you feel good. Again, with the news unless it is particularly important to you to read / watch id maybe keep away, as journalism does tend to report the alarming stuff in order to get people to comply with the rules / laws. Obviously some stuff is legitimate reporting because they need to , but some stuff does end up being the worst possible cases etc and not the norm.

Hi @dollychopss, I am terrified too! I had the horrible experience of being on a ventilator for several months a few years ago and I think I might have a certain degree of PTSD because of this.

I’m trying to just focus on each day, not read the news and not think about it (while following guidelines etc). There is nothing I can do and what will be, will be. There is no level of control that I have over the situation, so I choose to not think about it. Easier said than done and it doesn’t always work but it is helping me!

Most of the replies you got here are very sensible and helpful. Listen to these logical ladies!

I have just read the MP's piece written by him on Conservative Home website.

I agree with a lot of it actually! I just think what he sees as the acceptable way to lessen cases and which he calls "low density socialising" (hand sanitizer, keeping distance etc) is not enough for the state of the NHS this autumn into winter.

Now as to the wording of the tweet, maybe he added an extra s. Or maybe he means 2020 and 2021. Or maybe he really thinks this is it for the forseeable. 🤔

In which case he should campaign for the urgent reallocation of resources to fund the NHS. Cancelling the high speed rail project would be a start. (Donating his salary? No didn't think so.) My guess is, however genuine his concerns, he's happy to make a name for himself and hasn't thought of the needless worry generated by such speculation.

Is believe it is going to go on for years because the virus is here to stay - we can't eradicate it.

Had any smallpox or polio recently? Scared your kids will get them? Scarlet fever killing 5% of the children you know? Sweating disease? Bubonic plague? Leprosy? No, because diseases do die back, either spontaneously, because of hygiene, because of treatments, or because of vaccines. Even HIV isn't a death sentence any more, and it was a few short decades ago. That's in OUR lifetime.

Go Science.

Exactly, there is so much hope compared with earlier eras.
We don't just have to wait around for nature to run its course.

@MrsTerryPratchett

Is believe it is going to go on for years because the virus is here to stay - we can't eradicate it.

Had any smallpox or polio recently? Scared your kids will get them? Scarlet fever killing 5% of the children you know? Sweating disease? Bubonic plague? Leprosy? No, because diseases do die back, either spontaneously, because of hygiene, because of treatments, or because of vaccines. Even HIV isn't a death sentence any more, and it was a few short decades ago. That's in OUR lifetime.

Go Science.

No. But that's my point ... It's here for years but likely will be sorted in time. I'm well aware of what vaccines and medical developments there now are. Although I did have scarlet fever as a child this said!

You said we couldn't eradicate it. We do eradicate diseases.

And I didn't ask if you'd had scarlet fever, I asked if it killed children in large numbers. It doesn't in countries with access to healthcare.

I think that sometimes we need to switch off the news and just live in our own little 'bubble' for our own MH and self preservation.

@dollychopss I think you might be wise to do this. My elderly MIL was getting quite upset about everything. We told her to do this and that we would let her know anything which was important. It has worked and she is much happier.

Take care of yourself and do only what makes you feel happier.

@dollychopss

People won't comply for many more months let alone years !

The tier 3 restrictions won't be in place for years. Things will open up again next spring/summer, but you might be talking years for some social distancing restrictions regarding mass gatherings (festivals, football matches, gigs etc) without a workable vaccine.

It will go on for a long while yet. A vaccine is not guaranteed at all and even if we get a vaccine, the rollout will take at least a year.