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Original poster

This isn’t getting any better is it?

59 replies

Heatheronthehill · 13/12/2020 11:24

The last week I’ve felt so down. I knew things would be bad in the winter, but I didn’t think they’d be this bad.
When I heard the news about the vaccine I felt really hopeful at last, but things seem as bleak as they ever were.
I have a 2 year old DS to entertain and being in a tier 3 area we have no indoor places open.
With the weather as it is, I feel extremely depressed and my mental health is becoming difficult to manage.

OP posts:
JacobReesMogadishu · 13/12/2020 11:31

I just keep telling myself it will soon be spring and warmer, nicer weather. Which will make it all seem a bit more bearable. Plus virus cases might hopefully dip naturally in the spring. But yes I expect the rest of this month and jan and feb to be grim.

BefuddledPerson · 13/12/2020 11:33

It is really very tough, and strange.

I have focused really hard on hygge this year, and that is helping.

TheCountessofFitzdotterel · 13/12/2020 11:35

Yes, this winter is difficult and I really feel for you having a 2 year old to entertain, op x
We just need to hang on till spring. It won’t be for ever.
Do you have friends and family you can phone or zoom with or anyone you can meet for a walk and a moan in the brief intervals between rain? I am finding letting my feelings out really helps. If there is nobody in rl do it on here, we will listen x

OrangeBananaFish · 13/12/2020 11:40

It does seem tough right now. I'm holding onto the thought that even if there are hard restrictions still by Easter at least the weather will be better. It's not even that its winter so colder and shorter days, but that the weather is just gloomy, grey and wet. It would be better if it was cold and crisp.

Easter just seems so long away. I'm really struggling right now too. You're not alone.

Toilenstripes · 13/12/2020 11:44

Definitely not alone! We knew this winter would be difficult and it is. I’m doing a lot of self-soothing these days. Burning nice candles, hot chocolate, cosy socks. Like pp said, focusing on hygge.

OverTheRainbow88 · 13/12/2020 11:46

Yes I’m feeling the same.
2 year old and 4 year old boys bouncing off the walls bored shitless of our local playgrounds

ElephantWhaleRabbit · 13/12/2020 11:50

I don't think the weather helps. Dismal all round.

bumblingbovine49 · 13/12/2020 11:55

The days will start getting longer after the 21 December which is what I am holding onto at the moment. Not much but at least something and it isn't too far away
Sorry that is all I've got for now

onedayinthefuture · 13/12/2020 11:57

It's definitely hard with younger children, not being able to do play dates with friends and family is hard.

Cornettoninja · 13/12/2020 11:58

I think we’re all dragging ourselves through this winter. Just a few weeks really and then the weather will start improving and even with restrictions some more normality can resume on individual levels because outside becomes an option. It’s bleak right now but there is another side to it. Hibernation seems like a very appealing option...

My personal feeling is things will start getting better as the weather starts to improve around March and then little by little will keep improving. I don’t think we’ll go backwards again once we’re in the spring and we have the advantage of weather plus vaccination programmes.

Right now is a test of our patience, things are happening but they take time and there’s not much that can be done about that.

TheCountessofFitzdotterel · 13/12/2020 11:59

@bumblingbovine49

The days will start getting longer after the 21 December which is what I am holding onto at the moment. Not much but at least something and it isn't too far away Sorry that is all I've got for now
I am counting down to shortest day too! Only 8 days to go and the year will turn!
TillyTopper · 13/12/2020 12:06

Sorry you are feeling low OP and I can understand it, I think a lot of ppl are the same. Few suggestions:
Some cheap fairy lights to brighten the house up
Homemade decorations
Have a "picnic" on the floor on a blanket with only the Xmas tree lights - kids love that!
It'll soon be 21 Dec then days gradually get lighter
Could you do something for you? 1 month of "declutter your house" or a 1 month yoga challenge from youtube, or whatever - the days can tick by to spring once you start marking off your challenge.

Cam77 · 13/12/2020 12:08

And war on France to come! Thank goodness we have BoJo the Clown all hands on deck steadying the ship.

Barmyfarmy · 13/12/2020 12:20

Definitely getting fed up of it all now. As PPs have said try to make your house more comfortable- We moved around some furniture at the beginning of the most recent lockdown and rotated toys so it feels a little different. Try to focus on making fun christmas activities at home, your DS may not be old enough to do much but having a dance to christmas songs and decorating the house with christmas themed art might brighten things up a bit.

We'll get through this, it's just a shit patch that we'll look back on in a few years and be happy we got through it okay.

DC love going 'christmas light hunting'. We all pile in the car with hot chocolates and go for a drive in the evening. Also works if you can go for a walk and encourage your DC to look for decorations/trees through windows.

Hope you're okay OP and perk up soon. Go easy on yourself, you're doing your best in a hard situation! Flowers

Waxonwaxoff0 · 13/12/2020 12:27

It's crap, and winter will be awful, but there are vaccines now. It will take a while but it is the beginning of the end.

AndAwaySheWent · 13/12/2020 12:39

@bumblingbovine49

The days will start getting longer after the 21 December which is what I am holding onto at the moment. Not much but at least something and it isn't too far away Sorry that is all I've got for now
This 100 times over. I’m struggling as well. I don’t enjoy winter as it is...don’t like the dark, the cold, nor the long evenings and not to mention the winter bugs (even before COVID)

There is only 96 days until spring (March 21st) and as the previous poster said not long to the 21st of Dec when the days start getting longer

and it’s important that you are kind to yourself...do things which make you happy everyday

AndAwaySheWent · 13/12/2020 12:39

*are only 96 days

Girlzroolz · 13/12/2020 13:13

I know Aussie winters aren’t the same, but we’ve had 28 weeks hard lockdown in 2020 where I live. Largely March- Nov locked down with a couple of free weeks in June/july, in between waves. No non-food shops open, no schools, no leaving your suburb, 1hr exercise, etc.

It wasn’t easy. But it worked. Where I live it’s 41 days Covid free now. That’s no new cases, no deaths. Masks still recommended, and worn. We earned that the hard way.

You guys are the first in the world to get access to the (proper) vaccine, but it’s a slow road until everyone you know is safe. We won’t get a sniff at even dose 1 vaccine until March if we’re lucky. Let alone 95% of the rest of the world.

You can get through this. But you need a lot of people to quietly play ball.

Just saying, you’re going to be ok, sooner than most. But only proper lockdown, with community support (obedience?) is what saves lives.

We went through what you are now, in our winter. It was step by step, slow but steady. And it worked. Chin up. All the peeps I know who had horrid mental health dips during those many many months are starting smiling again now.

Guessing you will too.

Jourdain11 · 13/12/2020 13:24

Proper lockdown and obedience is also an infringement of people's human rights. Your PM is a real little dictator and so is Adern.

madcatladyforever · 13/12/2020 13:28

It will never get any better because everyone I speak to isn't prepared to have the vaccine.
Fellow medical practitioners, my mechanic, my friends. i want to tear my hair out with frustration.

amicissimma · 13/12/2020 13:31

@madcatladyforever

It will never get any better because everyone I speak to isn't prepared to have the vaccine. Fellow medical practitioners, my mechanic, my friends. i want to tear my hair out with frustration.
Everyone I speak to has practically go their sleeves rolled up ready for the vaccine, even though most of them are quite a long way down the list.

Let's hope my acquaintances outnumber yours!

firstimemamma · 13/12/2020 13:33

I'm in tier 3 with a 2 year old too op. You're not alone Thanks

midgebabe · 13/12/2020 13:35

If you want rights, you have to accept responsibilities.
You can't have human rights if it destroys society, or kills others. You have a responsibility to use your rights wisely, you have a responsibility to ensure your rights don't trampled over others

LegoPirateMonkey · 13/12/2020 13:39

It’s so bleak right now because our December weekends are usually so full of exciting things. Now they are just stretching on relentlessly, dark and grey and raining constantly. The fields out back are mud swamps. My children are constantly out of school as their bubbles pop one after the other in rotation so I can’t work and the house just gets messier with all their home learning activities and clutter. I can’t plan anything because any day I’m poised to get the call from school. I’m so worried that a combination of an incompetent government who don’t care at all about the north, the disaster of Brexit and rabid stupidity of anti-vaxxers will mean this drags on for months and months. It’s very bleak and depressing.

loulouljh · 13/12/2020 13:41

It is tough as this usual exciting month is anything but...I suspect Jan and Feb will be tough too...but come Spring things will improve...