How much longer are we meant to do this?

[Creamteaincornwall]

I have so many friends who are at the end of their tether. Some suicidal, many almost.
I attend a zoom support group for my mental health and emotional well being as I have BPD and ASD. The last few weeks have been horrendous, every person is at the lowest they’ve been since the beginning of all this.
The amount of posts I’ve read on various Facebook groups of people saying they don’t want to get up in the morning anymore, they just stay in bed. Surely this isn’t doing anyone any good physically or mentally?
Surely this will put most in a weaker position if they were to catch covid?

How much more are we all suppose to take of this? With no end in sight?

Have just RTFT. Hard to know where to jump in, but...

@Creamteaincornwall, this situation is absolutely shit. The first lockdown was horrendous (have now not worked since last March - so have no income and no reason to get up, though I do get up every day and pretend that there is a reason to get dressed in order to do absolutely fuck all).

Anyone who has said that the economy will bounce back is wrong. For the economy to bounce back, people have to have secure jobs, incomes, and prospects. Very few people have these things now. The damage done to some sectors by lockdown will take years to rectify - if ever.

The effects on children and teenagers are monstrous (I can't bear to go into the details of the effects on my lower sixth child).

Someone upthread said they didn't know anyone suicidal. How do you know this? Nobody knows how I feel, because I'm spending the whole time trying to get everyone else through it. I don't have a single friend who knows that I regularly fantasise about driving my car into a wall to get away from lockdown and everything that has resulted from it.

I'm not an anti vaxxer at all - but what's the fucking point of vaccinations, if the goalposts have now moved without anyone being told, and the ultimate aim is now 'zero Covid'?

What is the fucking point, full stop?

You aren’t on your own, it is depressing and awful but here is the thing - it won’t be forever. Everything changes and this too will pass. Take it one day at a time. X

@TiersBeforeBedtime I have just read your post and it’s not a lot of use I know but I wanted to say my heart goes out to you. It’s all very well people in secure jobs saying stay at home etc but I am sure they would have different views if their livelihoods were affected. We can’t go forever like this regardless of if the vaccine works or not. Things will change x

That is astonishingly kind of you, @Libraryghost

Thank you.

Sadly, there are a lot of us in this very leaky boat (anything to do with music/theatre - including all the front of house and behind the scenes people; anything to do with hospitality; anything to do with festivals/races/events: we are all really struggling, and I know several people who have mentioned suicide as the only possible way out ).

@TiersBeforeBedtime

That is astonishingly kind of you, *@Libraryghost*

Thank you.

Sadly, there are a lot of us in this very leaky boat (anything to do with music/theatre - including all the front of house and behind the scenes people; anything to do with hospitality; anything to do with festivals/races/events: we are all really struggling, and I know several people who have mentioned suicide as the only possible way out ).

Absolutely, the hospitality company I work for have for the first time throughout all this said they may not survive this latest lockdown. Especially defendant on when/how restrictions look like when we reopen.

Starting to really worry what I do next? And all my colleagues and most of my friends who work all work in hospitality/arts/events.

@TiersBeforeBedtime certain jobs have been elevated to the status of heroic but the truth is everyone has a part to play. Although I am not directly affected my heart breaks for all those people who work or want to work in the arts. All this retraining crap gets on my nerves. No we can’t all be nurses and neither should we want to be. A world without entertainment , and like you rightly say all those wonderful people who make it happen, is beyond depressing. Things will change because we all know we cannot continue like this indefinitely. In 5 years time we cannot be still staying in to save the NHS because we won’t have an NHS because we will be broke. Take heart, one day this will pass. X

@Libraryghost

You can go to bed today knowing that your kindness has made someone feel a tiny bit less awful.

Why is the government keeping so deathly silent on the forthcoming recession? At the moment it's all "I spy with my little eye something beginning with V (virus, variant or vaccine)". Make no mistake, recession will be here, caused and exacerbated by the much-hallowed lockdown, which some people are pleading to go on for ever, and it will be huge, with long-lasting consequences, which our children will be paying for. What the government are forgetting is that we, the taxpaying public, many of whom earn much less than government ministers, have plenty of time to brood on this while we are stuck at home, bored out of our minds, watching our businesses and mental health crumble around us, wondering IF we'll have jobs to go back to. We need to hear some words from our highly-paid leaders about this.

Are the government are too "busy" with the vaccine to think about it? Are they all planning to resign before this reality rears its ugly head? Are those in power so wealthy that silly things like recession are merely a trifle? Are they afraid that we'll riot and rebel once public realisation dawns that the economic shit will soon hit the fan, and so far this has been hidden in the smoke and mirrors of "stay at home while we wave the magic money tree"?

Some of us would be more reassured that the government actually had the public's best interests at heart if they were to TALK about this, instead of endlessly parroting the usual rhetoric of "stay the fuck at home", "look them in the eyes", "oh look, there's a variant", "light at the end of the tunnel", "alas", "be vigilant", "turning a corner", "protect the NHS..." There won't be an NHS if the economy is destroyed.

Yes, I know: people are dying, the virus kills, Boris is "deeply sorry" about 100,000 dead. But perhaps he could also be "deeply sorry" about the economic ruin which will be a reality for tens of millions before very long, which will be worse the longer lockdown goes on.

@AhGoGo you have more skills than you know. I work in supply chain which I fell into because I needed a job. Turns out my chatty personality is perfect for getting may with transport and suppliers. The point is in hospitality you have to be friendly and approachable and although you might not realise is that in itself is a skill. Not everyone is people oriented. Try and look towards customer service roles and be open minded. Good luck. I am so sorry you are in this position x

[quote Libraryghost]@AhGoGo you have more skills than you know. I work in supply chain which I fell into because I needed a job. Turns out my chatty personality is perfect for getting may with transport and suppliers. The point is in hospitality you have to be friendly and approachable and although you might not realise is that in itself is a skill. Not everyone is people oriented. Try and look towards customer service roles and be open minded. Good luck. I am so sorry you are in this position x[/quote]
Oh gosh, I’ll be fine. I worked my way up to senior management and have a degree or two.

Lucky I guess.

Still, an odd predicament to be in, if you’d told me this time last year my industry would just, disappear. Become unviable, I don’t think anyone would have believed you!

But if all 2.5 million+ of us need to start retraining, find something new. What is that? Retail has been decimated, the announcements of Arcadia over the last few weeks is pretty ominous for the high street and all it employes.

What do young people do? Where are the part time university jobs? What jobs work alongside school hours etc?

As eloquently put by @wanderings above there is some serious issues for us all coming up and they really need to be spoken about. What’s next? How to be recover from this.

Ok so you can commit a crime but nothing will happen because there's nobody to police it. Ok they could use the military but it's unlikely, isn't it?

No. What you can commit a crime and you will likely get a fine, as it is not a recordable crime and does not come with the possibility of a custodial sentence. It will probably stay that way, because most people do not think like you and do not wish to break the law.

But you challenged me to explain how it could be possible, and I explained that if they can just pass a law to make gathering in groups a criminal offence, why can they not just change that law?

You seem to be determined to make your frustrations with your current lockdown situation into personal attacks which you are welcome to do. All I would say, and all I have ever said is, people should stay with it, look after their families. and abide by the law.

Moonstone1234

That is exactly why we need to get on top of it. Unless you're happy to let Covid patients just die, they will roll up needing emergency treatment and nothing else will get treated.

There is light at the end of the tunnel....it's coming....don't read doomsday threads and media who get off on making people depressed.

Granted this is Scotland but see that fall in infections..........hospital numbers here fell 250 in a week from c. 1700

It's coming just hold your nerve for a few more weeks.

@wanderings

Why is the government keeping so deathly silent on the forthcoming recession? At the moment it's all "I spy with my little eye something beginning with V (virus, variant or vaccine)". Make no mistake, recession will be here, caused and exacerbated by the much-hallowed lockdown, which some people are pleading to go on for ever, and it will be huge, with long-lasting consequences, which our children will be paying for. What the government are forgetting is that we, the taxpaying public, many of whom earn much less than government ministers, have plenty of time to brood on this while we are stuck at home, bored out of our minds, watching our businesses and mental health crumble around us, wondering IF we'll have jobs to go back to. We need to hear some words from our highly-paid leaders about this.

Are the government are too "busy" with the vaccine to think about it? Are they all planning to resign before this reality rears its ugly head? Are those in power so wealthy that silly things like recession are merely a trifle? Are they afraid that we'll riot and rebel once public realisation dawns that the economic shit will soon hit the fan, and so far this has been hidden in the smoke and mirrors of "stay at home while we wave the magic money tree"?

Some of us would be more reassured that the government actually had the public's best interests at heart if they were to TALK about this, instead of endlessly parroting the usual rhetoric of "stay the fuck at home", "look them in the eyes", "oh look, there's a variant", "light at the end of the tunnel", "alas", "be vigilant", "turning a corner", "protect the NHS..." There won't be an NHS if the economy is destroyed.

Yes, I know: people are dying, the virus kills, Boris is "deeply sorry" about 100,000 dead. But perhaps he could also be "deeply sorry" about the economic ruin which will be a reality for tens of millions before very long, which will be worse the longer lockdown goes on.

Last year's GDP figures post Covid weren't actually that bad - 10-20% fall which, considering the lockdown, restrictions, etc., is pretty good.

Lots of sectors aren't actually that badly affected, some are doing better due to covid. Manufacturing, retail & wholesale, construction, finance & insurance, healthcare, education, professional services, together make up nearly 60% of the economy and will have been barely affected. Other sectors such as real estate, administration, agriculture, mining, etc are also probably not that badly affected. It's the arts, hospitality, etc that are absolutely screwed, but those sectors only make up 5.8% of the economy. (Yes, disastrous for those engaged in those industries!). The most badly affected industries are also likely to come out strongly due to supressed demand after covid. I personally think there'll be a very strong bounce back once restrictions are mostly lifted especially seeing as the majority of workers have been "protected" by furlough or having jobs is essential industries. I'm more worried about potential tax rises etc to pay the hundreds of billions that covid has cost the country. If the Govt push up taxes too much, that has the potential to destroy the bounce back by supressing demand.

@TrustTheGeneGenie

You probably shouldn't be posting to the thread suggesting asking if we should start shooting people. You are coming across as very angry and rather unstable.

@wanderings

Why is the government keeping so deathly silent on the forthcoming recession? At the moment it's all "I spy with my little eye something beginning with V (virus, variant or vaccine)". Make no mistake, recession will be here, caused and exacerbated by the much-hallowed lockdown, which some people are pleading to go on for ever, and it will be huge, with long-lasting consequences, which our children will be paying for. What the government are forgetting is that we, the taxpaying public, many of whom earn much less than government ministers, have plenty of time to brood on this while we are stuck at home, bored out of our minds, watching our businesses and mental health crumble around us, wondering IF we'll have jobs to go back to. We need to hear some words from our highly-paid leaders about this.

Are the government are too "busy" with the vaccine to think about it? Are they all planning to resign before this reality rears its ugly head? Are those in power so wealthy that silly things like recession are merely a trifle? Are they afraid that we'll riot and rebel once public realisation dawns that the economic shit will soon hit the fan, and so far this has been hidden in the smoke and mirrors of "stay at home while we wave the magic money tree"?

Some of us would be more reassured that the government actually had the public's best interests at heart if they were to TALK about this, instead of endlessly parroting the usual rhetoric of "stay the fuck at home", "look them in the eyes", "oh look, there's a variant", "light at the end of the tunnel", "alas", "be vigilant", "turning a corner", "protect the NHS..." There won't be an NHS if the economy is destroyed.

Yes, I know: people are dying, the virus kills, Boris is "deeply sorry" about 100,000 dead. But perhaps he could also be "deeply sorry" about the economic ruin which will be a reality for tens of millions before very long, which will be worse the longer lockdown goes on.

Recession or depression?

The answer is because the people who need to know already know its coming and the people who do not need to know do not need to know. What are they going to do? Learn and prepare? If they were going to do that they would already see what may happen and be ready for it anyway.

You can abide by the law but don’t have to stay in your house 24/7, I go out to work everyday, meeting different people, I walk my dog every day, I go to see to my horse twice a day. I went into London before this lockdown on the train and tube, We had a lovely day wondering round Covent Garden, We went out for lunch, great atmosphere watching the street entertainers, it was only 6 weeks ago, so this won’t go on forever.

@Baileysforchristmas

You can abide by the law but don’t have to stay in your house 24/7, I go out to work everyday, meeting different people, I walk my dog every day, I go to see to my horse twice a day. I went into London before this lockdown on the train and tube, We had a lovely day wondering round Covent Garden, We went out for lunch, great atmosphere watching the street entertainers, it was only 6 weeks ago, so this won’t go on forever.

For some people that level of freedom is not enough.

@TiersBeforeBedtime

Have just RTFT. Hard to know where to jump in, but...

@Creamteaincornwall, this situation is absolutely shit. The first lockdown was horrendous (have now not worked since last March - so have no income and no reason to get up, though I do get up every day and pretend that there is a reason to get dressed in order to do absolutely fuck all).

Anyone who has said that the economy will bounce back is wrong. For the economy to bounce back, people have to have secure jobs, incomes, and prospects. Very few people have these things now. The damage done to some sectors by lockdown will take years to rectify - if ever.

The effects on children and teenagers are monstrous (I can't bear to go into the details of the effects on my lower sixth child).

Someone upthread said they didn't know anyone suicidal. How do you know this? Nobody knows how I feel, because I'm spending the whole time trying to get everyone else through it. I don't have a single friend who knows that I regularly fantasise about driving my car into a wall to get away from lockdown and everything that has resulted from it.

I'm not an anti vaxxer at all - but what's the fucking point of vaccinations, if the goalposts have now moved without anyone being told, and the ultimate aim is now 'zero Covid'?

What is the fucking point, full stop?

Agree with your views. Sorry you and your family are suffering. You are not alone. Almost a year on, with the most paltry cost/benefit analysis coming at least 6 months too late and with a quarter of the adult population vaccinated, this ongoing situation is an absolute disgrace. I am utterly ashamed at my fellow adults disregarding the needs of the most vulnerable and voiceless - children - and seeming to think that the magic money tree will keep on giving whilst people's livelihoods disappear.

Life has to go on now - and of that means people like me die then so be it. This is utterly ridiculous

This. Agreed 👏👏👏

I'm counting myself in that too, happily sacrifice myself for my younger relatives now it's just silly

The most badly affected industries are also likely to come out strongly due to supressed demand after covid.

I don't think so, not with social distancing still in place for a while (probably) and there being much less disposable income, because of job losses.

I think the hospitality sector will be decimated for the rest of the decade. I don't see how it can survive with social distancing regulations in place for the next year or more, and the loss of jobs by people in a lot of other industries. Job uncertainty tends to make people save and not spend because they don't know if their jobs will still be there next month or next years, and those people will not be so inclined to go and spend money in restaurants, music venues, cinemas and theatres. Gone are the days of £6 hotdogs at the cinema to watch the latest block buster, when they can only fill a third of the seats and people start leaving because someone starts coughing and spluttering a few rows back.

But on the flip side of that plenty of new opportunities will open up for the imaginative and the industrious.

So don't advise your kids to study Hotel & Catering Management at university.