Anyone feel like no end in sight to this lockdown?

[Hapixmas]

I really struggled with lockdown 1. I would say I was probably spiralling in to depression and developed extreme health anxiety (media panic) i thought my parents were going to die. Despite them not being as worried as me! I knew 1 person who had covid from working on a covid ward. They recovered well, barely even noticed they had it. The summer came and life felt 'normal' nice weather, able to meet people outside, able to drive to see people. Since that point I've been fairly positive. I've had a niece who I've been unable to visit due to tiers/ lockdowns but despite all that, I've felt relatively positive. I know loads of people who have had covid this time and I now know loads who have had the vaccine. So with the vaccine I was feeling optimistic that some sort of normality will resume. But it just feels like there is no end in sight to lockdowns and even when there is, it will be back to tiers. And tiers may as well be lockdown as far as I'm concerned because only on tier 1 you can meet friends/ family indoors.
I don't know why I'm posting really. I just feel I need a place to get it out. I'm just feeling fed up. Anyone else?

Just to say my I don't feel depressed anymore and my health anxiety is much better. I don't feel worried anymore.

Just fed up!

If you were ever going to be worried it should be now because there are more people dying than ever! I don't get it when people were shitting themselves back last spring but now very blasé.. doesn't make sense!

Anyway, this summer should definitely return to some sort of normality. Cases are dropping so things are improving. We just need to hang in there.

You are not alone in feeling incredibly fed up. I do quite understand what you mean by saying you were more anxious first lockdown - it was a new situation and no one understood. I’m glad your parents have calmed you down slightly over time. That said, obviously we have to take it incredibly seriously that cases and death rates are now worst in the world. We need to just stay home unless absolutely impossible to do so, maintain that distance and keep our heads above water. I never understood why people weren’t doing this in first lockdown, but I have absolutely zero patience for anyone who isn’t doing it now. We need to just get this done to get our lives back.
Every time I’m tempted to ‘go for a stroll at the range’, I remind myself how I’d feel if a trip to the range caused my husband or one of my kids to die. Yes, that is absolutely brutal but it could happen and the range is absolutely not worth it.

The winter weather doesn't help either . Spring and Summer was ok; doable even... but this time...it's hard and I've lost motivation to do anything except faff about on the net!
But then I count my blessings.
We're warm, well fed and reasonably healthy. We're close to the countryside with nice walks on the doorstep. We haven't suffered the loss of a loved one or experienced the effects of this terrible virus.
There's much to be grateful for.

And I cling on to that in the darker moments.

Spring is in sight and the pubs/restaurants will be open in May I reckon. It's keeping me going!

I don't think you're alone. I think the lockdowns and restrictions felt more temporary in the beginning, whereas they're now rolling on and on with no definite end date...

I also find myself taking "positive" news (re Covid) with a pinch of salt these days because expectations have been built up only to be ripped away (albeit understandably). I now have an attitude of "expect the worst, hope for the best" and am basing my expectations for this year on being stuck in lockdown so that anything better than that is seen as a bonus.

I am feeling very drained/worn down at the moment and I don't think the winter months are helping... fingers crossed the spring sunshine (just around the corner!) lifts my mood a bit!

My head knows it should be much better in a few months time

My head knows the summer should be good

Wish the rest of me could feel that

I am also finding this lockdown harder as does everyone I know. I think things will start to improve in April, but that a February and March will be tough months.

If you were ever going to be worried it should be now because there are more people dying than ever!

What a helpful comment

My mental health, never very good to begin with, is taking a real battering. I am finding it all so unbearably hard. Things I was looking forward to are now unlikely to not happen or be postponed - I was having a big birthday party in the summer, a family holiday.

When I might have my vaccine is so uncertain and I hate not knowing how long it could take - July? September? Next year? As I'm so low down on priority I know things won't really start to get back to normal until vaccines have be given to all eligible so that just seems like an unending amount of time. I'm worried that everyone vaccinated will be having a wonderful summer this year but I'll still be stuck here at home, not seeing anyone.

It's so hard, the feeling that I'll have to write off this year and it's only January. I'm not sure I can cope for much longer.

I think lots of people are a less fearful about their own personal circumstances this time around, because the data is very clear about who is (isn’t) at risk.

So the boredom, depression, loneliness of this lifestyle is hitting them more forcefully.

Maybe it's just the people I speak to but I thought everyone felt like that. My circle and family isn't an unusually downbeat one so I suppose I assumed everyone had had enough and was thinking this was never ending.

How many out there are actually quite OK with the situation?

If you were ever going to be worried it should be now because there are more people dying than ever! I don't get it when people were shitting themselves back last spring but now very blasé.. doesn't make sense!

Not a helpful comment to someone who's said they've battled with health anxiety and is improving 🙄 but some people just can't help themselves.

Mental health wise, the reason I'm in a better place than last spring (I can't speak for OP but maybe it's similar) are because of the following:

• it was new
• there was no vaccine
• shops weren't really set up yet de screens etc
• no mandatory mask wearing on public transport
• no regulation of numbers on public transport

I still had to go out to work, so the no mask/ number management on public transport was majorly anxiety inducing for me. I was able to be furloughed for a bit then when I went back to work I only had to manage the buses for a bit before I bought a car, because I just couldn't deal with the stress.

If you were ever going to be worried it should be now because there are more people dying than ever!

What a nice comment to make to someone that has overcome health anxiety.

What doesn't help me is the gloomy nay sayers at work saying things like we'll be in lockdown all year give or take and pubs won't open until end of summer etc.

I have removed our local rag from my Facebook page and now simply tell people to stop gloom mongering as my mental health won't take any more. I've already had one breakdown and won't go there again.

It's hard to stay strong but we've got this.

Parents of young kids, struggling to home school and work...key workers who have to go in via public transport... those who are furloughed or lost jobs...the elderly too scared to leave their house,..everyone is doing their best.

We've got this.

@imamearcat Someone's got their positive pants on today I see 🤣

@imamearcat

If you were ever going to be worried it should be now because there are more people dying than ever! I don't get it when people were shitting themselves back last spring but now very blasé.. doesn't make sense!

Anyway, this summer should definitely return to some sort of normality. Cases are dropping so things are improving. We just need to hang in there.

Wth? Why comment if you have to be so unhelpful especially to someone who overcame anxiety? If you don't have anything nice to say, just jump to another thread. It really baffles me how people go out of their way just to be damaging to other's mental health..

OP I am feeling the exact same but I just know in myself that in couple months time, things will change. They did last summer without a vaccination programme, so I just keep looking forward to us reaching that 13 million so that all the 4 priority groups are vaccinated and then I'm sure things will take a positive spin from then on.

We have vaccinated over 7.5 million now and hospitalisations,infection rate and even date rates are slowly coming down.
It's most dark before dawn and this is what it is and feels like right now. Dawn is just around the corner.

OP do join the good news Thread Part 7.
The posters there are very helpful.

@imamearcat

If you were ever going to be worried it should be now because there are more people dying than ever! I don't get it when people were shitting themselves back last spring but now very blasé.. doesn't make sense!

Anyway, this summer should definitely return to some sort of normality. Cases are dropping so things are improving. We just need to hang in there.

I’m a lot less worried now than last spring. Last spring it was all new, I was pregnant, I have asthma, I got told I was CV and must stay indoors. It was unknown, no one knew the risks to unborn babies or the risks of underlying conditions, or even the death rate. With research we now know all this. Not only is the death rate very low for my age group, but it’s still very low for underlying conditions as I’m not CEV. I’ve also had my baby and she is also low risk.

I'm feeling fed up and anxious too op.

Try not to take too much notice of all the doomsters on here. There is an end in sight or at least some respite. We have vaccines, Spring/Summer is coming. The government are going to want to open things up as soon as they can.

I think the complete opposite. I do think the end is in sight, maybe not tomorrow but definitely on it’s way.

I’m struggling this time. The other lockdowns were fine for me. I’m naturally an introvert and it’s quite nice to have no expectations to socialise or have kids turning up to play.
Dh still working this time, I worry for him.
The first lockdown I drank and ate through. I piled on the weight I’d lost. I’m dieting this time so I can emerge like a butterfly when I go back to work. That’s the plan anyway...
Worried about my job in non essential retail. I need the salary I earn. No other jobs pay my salary locally.
Finding home schooling more challenging this time.
Can’t sleep and feeling tearful quite a lot.
I have known some people (all elderly, with underlying health conditions) lose their lives to Covid.
Sorry that was such a torrent of self indulgent misery.

Hey everyone, I just wanted to say thank you to all of you who have replied.

I am so sorry to hear that so many feel the same. It is comforting to know that I am not alone though. I think it is just a bad week for me really. I'm feeling quite alone. I am in my parents support bubble but they live in a different country so trying to limit how often I visit.

@imamearcat that isn't exactly helpful is it? Luckily I've overcome the health anxiety mostly but there may be many who read this thread who haven't. So that isn't nice.

@MolyHolyGuacamole you hit the nail on the head really. Thank you.

But yes, the reason I'm not as worried now is because I'm in a low risk group. I'm staying away from elderly and vulnerable.

I've always sticked to rules really.. I'm happy to stay locked down because I know it is for the best. It just feels hard not knowing how long for..

Thanks for the suggestion for the good news thread, I will check it out.

So many responses so can't reply individually, but it really has helped.

I think what I find hard is seeing everywhere about 'stay home' 'don't mix' etc... and then having to go out to a job (early years) where I'm mixing with loads of families and not social distancing. It feels like a kick in the teeth really..especially because I may not be offered the vaccine until next year. I DO NOT want the vaccine before elderly/ vulnerable etc... but I do think people who have to go out to work should be prioritised over those who can work from home.

I need to find a way to follow how many have been vaccinated..I think that helps..

@Hapixmas abs don't forget the good news about the Novovax vaccine today! Found to be effective against the new strains AND we're making it here AND the govt has ordered 60 million!

@MolyHolyGuacamole true!! Thank you!!