Wellbeing check-in and talk thread: How are you holding up?

[DrWard]

Hi friends,

Times are obviously hard right now. I wanted to create a space where people can talk, or vent their frustrations, or find comfort from others.

How are you holding up?

Not great. Both my DDs currently have it, I’m vunerable and trying to keep my distance but it’s near impossible with two young kids, one of which has been crying with stomach pains for the past 2 days I just want to be with her. I’m terrified of waking up with it every day, it’s been in our home for a week now. It’s 6am and I woke at 4am and been sick with worry and given myself a massive headache. I feel like I’ve woke up in a nightmare.

I thought I was holding up great, until a coworker came to work with symptoms, and had to be sent home, now I'm panicking whilst awaiting to hear if they are positive/negative for covid. Really thought I'd managed to stay as safe as possible this year, but gutted at the thought I may not be able to see my parents on Xmas day because of this. Hoping to god they come back negative and its just a seasonal flu

This is such a lovely idea for a thread.
I had a pcr test yesterday as wanted to go visit my parents in another part of the Uk as my dad is terminally ill and my mum, also vulnerable, needs a break for mental health reasons.
My mum tested positive yesterday and my dads not feeling well so was tested yesterday. Feeling so sad and anxious.
My sister is with them thankfully but its so horrible being far away

I’m doing ok - thanks for asking! Am dealing with a lot of wider family stuff at the moment which isn’t made any easier by lockdown. Otherwise we are well and safe and that feels like enough. Getting a bit addicted to my phone though, need to put it down and stop reading news/social media for a while.

How are you OP?

Massive to those who need it.

I'm up and down. I've been managing okay but the weekend was difficult. All of a sudden, I know 3 people who've had it (confirmed) after not knowing anyone personally, and we had to isolate due to a case in my son's class (didn't have it thankfully). The sudden Welsh lockdown was a shock. I was really down yesterday, crying, restless, barely ate, spent afternoon in bed. Feeling a bit stronger today but it's starting to take it toll mentally.
We know need to get a few extra things in because of the lorries being held at the ports - my son has ASD so has a restricted diet, need to make sure we've got a few extra items in of the stuff he eats.

I'm getting better. I've stopped crying at any mention of my parents and Christmas so that's a plus.

I'm just so annoyed with my FIL (who I live with) he has well controlled asthma and is over 70. He's making a huge fuss about me going to a supermarket tomorrow at 9pm to get some essentials. Our Christmas plans have changed so I now need to get nappies and milk for my kids as my mum had got all that ready for us. My period has also rocked up early so need to get some bits for that. So proper essentials. He's making a huge fuss but he went to church yesterday!!! He is planning to go on Xmas day as well!!! How the hell is that less of a risk than me going to the supermarket at a quiet time to get 3 items??? Someone please tell me.

I’m not great. Self isolating due to very close contact at work (teacher). I have terrible health anxiety at the best of times. Also very sad because I’m trying my hardest to not infect the rest of the house (if I do have it) not hugging and kissing my children especially at Christmas is heartbreaking. Petrified the whole time of coming down with it. Love to anyone else in a similar situation

I'm a bit up and down generally, but this morning's news about France closing the border has made me pretty low to be honest. For so long it's just been neverending but now it looks like whilst things aren't necessarily any more dangerous, they're getting significantly more shit.

Tbh feeling really down. I miss my friends and family. I see my in laws, and they are amazing but I want to hug my Dad.

Really really down today. Made a mistake of reading the daily fucking mail.

It is the shortest day today. I am hoping we are at the lowest point and everything can only improve from now. The nights at least will be getting shorter from today.

@Isitrainingihadntnoticed me too ... doom and gloom!

Thanks for this thread. I'm sick and tired of being told to stay positive, and this will all pass, and other people have it much worse etc. Yes, all of that is true, but everyone is allowed to feel shit. It's a shit situation

Personally, I'm in a much better position than most - have already had Covid, have a nice spacious home with a DP that I love, have job I can do from home, and actually v relieved about not being expected to visit anyone at Christmas! But I'm also sick to death of this incompetent government, of the endless chopping and changing, and I have literally no idea what job I will be doing in Jan as we're being redeployed (NHS). I feel so sad for the poor gyms and salons and bars who have spent time and money trying to keep people safe, and have been shut down yet again. So my moods are up and down like Tower Bridge to be honest!

I cried when I heard the news on Saturday and the atmosphere at work wasn't good (NHS). But like everything this year I took stock and realised many people have things much worse.
I'm just very very tired. I keep looking at Facebook which I know I shouldn't as so many people are cynical. They haven't seen what I have and much as I wouldn't wish that on anyone it's really hard to read that hospitals are empty (oh I wish!!), that nurses are sat around drinking tea (sometimes we almost just make it to the loo) and that they aren't having the vaccine as there's a microchip in it.
But I'm off today, big food shop being done then work until Christmas Eve.
Thank you for letting me vent. Thinking of everyone having a horrible time this year.

It sounds crazy but I'm lucky and still managing to work (hospital) but I currently work 50+ hrs and had no time to get gifts and been so worried about money as you dony know what's next. People will have to do without this year. Having a real wobble and its crippling my health so bad today.

Thank you for this thread OP. I feel down, it's all just getting more shit. Its neverending, and I'm weary, I havent seen my parents in a year, or my sister in even longer (live in different countries). My parents are distraught and I cant Help them from here.

Reading about this new strain and now worrying about people clearing out shops of food, various food shortages possible it's so so depressing.

I have this shitty foreboding feeling and it all just feels so grim. My heart aches for everyone who is suffering, it's just so shit.

I have had a terrible few weeks with awful anxiety. I work in education so need i say more! This time of year is stressful with little ones at the best of times. It's been a vicious cycle of not sleeping, sweating, dizziness and headaches due to anxiety and no sleep. I have been taking my temp every few hours and it's fine every time but that didn't seem to ease the situation. Turned a corner yesterday i hope and slept much better today. I am shutting myself off from the news now, turned off all news alerts on my phone and only allowing myself to check headlines briefly once a day. I am terrified that we have it and are asymptomatic, the responsibility feels enormous and too much. We are not seeing anyone for Christmas and my own children will all be tested when they return to university and school so i have to let go of that burden of responsibility. I am sick of reading posts about people who tested positive and they only had an achy left elbow, urging people to get tested without the main symptoms. It's so unhelpful to people feeling like me.

New strain stuff is making it all a bit much. Almost surreal.

I’m feeling ok but a bit weird.

Real mix of emotions here over the last few days. Two elderly family members had their vaccines last week, we'd all started to look forward to seeing eachother in the summer after we'd had our vaccines - still trying to hold onto that thought in hope. Meeting some friends outside for coffee today, not seen eachother together since September - it's pouring with rain now, I'm still going but I can see others backing out. We're going to have presents, nice food (if we can buy it!), can listen to carols, play games over xmas which should be a lovely change from our normal daily routines, but it won't be the same.

I have a splitting headache this morning as it's doing my head in. I do genuinely need to buy some food today, so am torn whether to get all xmas veggies in now (in the hope they keep) as we're all going to want salads, veggies (we import many seasonal veggies).

Holding onto the fact I have good things in my life, family and friends out there, one of my jobs is iffy but we still have them, our household gets on well, we're actually happy getting out for walks etc.

Stay strong, ladies (and gents if there are any on here).

OP, how are you doing yourself?

Just want my DC to be allowed to interact with another child again and she was going to start preschool and I guess now she won't be able to

It is heartbreaking that she begs to play with other kids and has not been able to since she started speaking properly

Not great. I was nearly physically sick with the worry yesterday. I’m so worried someone I love is going to die and I won’t have seen them for a year. Also apprehensive about after Christmas, how bad it could get then...Brexit terrifies me and I am moving in January, which is really stressing me out.

I’m feeling really lonely - I live with DP but he’s away at the moment. Even when he’s here, he works from 7am until 10pm most days and even over weekends (he’s in banking, horrendous hours and expectations on staff). I haven’t seen friends for weeks (they have been isolating or covid positive). I’ve been trying to limit contact with anyone for as long as possible and not go out as I was supposed to be seeing parents over Christmas, which now I can’t do.

I’m not eating much but was determined to make Christmas Day as jolly as possible and make a nice meal for myself - made a list of nice bits to buy at the supermarket, but just heard that people could be panicking buying again? just feels like one blow after another.

That being said, I am so thankful for my job, income, roof over my head, FT/Zoom to keep in contact with everyone. I know I have it a lot easier than many others & I remind myself of everything I’m thankful for as much as possible x

Thanks for this thread.

I feel anxious today. I feel like I did in March where I was nervous of everything.

My mum had her first vaccination last week and I felt really positive that we were finally getting out of this horrific time. Now I feel like we've all plunged back in.

Four years since DH died, DC so difficult at the moment and covid restrictions just make everything worse. I’ve pulled out of various online catch ups because I have nothing in common with people who have living husbands to love and support them. I see no hope in my future. I just want to be with him. I am so so lonely.

@Isitrainingihadntnoticed

Really really down today. Made a mistake of reading the daily fucking mail.

Dont read The Daily Fail. They really know how to panic people.

I think when all this is done our media and other social media need a long hard look. I don’t understand how they have such free reign to sensationalise in such a harmful way.

I’m feeling overwhelmed again, similar to how I felt in February/March. This past weekend has side swiped me a bit; I thought I’d found a level but then tier 4 and DP getting a contact isolation have thrown me off again. Our Christmas plans have changed multiple times already and now look even more precarious. I don’t drive so even dropping the care packages to vulnerable family members a good distance away is off. We’re lucky that they live in communities that have really pulled together this past year because we’re not getting anywhere near them. I speak to them daily and every phone call is spent listening for changes in their breathing or other clues to their health knowing the most I can do at this distance is call someone else - I feel impotent.

I’m concerned about how quickly this strain is spreading but I do trust the scientists in that it doesn’t appear to make you any sicker than you would have been anyway.

DD(5) is feeling it worse this time round; she’s questioning what’s going on more and almost impossible to keep amused. I’m dreading the possibility schools may not reopen at the end of this break.

I’m pinning an awful lot of hope on the spring and the vaccine.

I’m also losing patience and sympathy with a lot of people now although I think that probably started to creep in round brexit. I don’t have much faith in humanity as a collective anymore.