Need advice on coping with not seeing family for the forseeable

[ErickBroch]

Backstory summary: Most of my family live in Canada. Dad, Step Mum, Siblings, Grandparents, etc.

I haven't seen them since June 2019. Last year I felt a lot of naive optimism that 'things would be better soon' and that I had something to cling to. It's now March 2021, Canada hasn't opened its borders since March 2020, and I feel like there is no hope in sight.

Their vaccine rollout is fragmented, slow, and basically not happening. I don't feel they will let anyone into Canada again until they have fully vaccinated their population, which means I am likely to be waiting until 2022 for that to happen.

I fully understand why the border is shut, and I know I am lucky that my family are still healthy, but I just feel so depressed lately because I can't see when it will change. I keep having nightmares that one of my family members will fall ill and I won't be able to see them.

Sorry for venting, I just have no one to talk to about this. Does anyone have any advice on what they have done to get through how they feel? I would appreciate any tips or resources. Thank you.

I think its really tough and all the posters spouting rubbish about people wanting holidays in Benidorm killing us all miss the point completely.

All our family live in there UK but a reasonable distance so we haven't seen them (will start in gardens soon). That has been hard enough. I have had to work hard at not getting twisted jealous about friends with local family doorstepping their relatives and creating childcare bubbles etc. This pandemic has been super tough for not living near family.

So my main advice is to really recognise this is super tough and my kind to yourself.

Other advice? Lots of contact with them, send them surprise gifts are my only real pieces of advice I think. Maybe starting doing 'real' letters?

that's so difficult. It is harder when you see other people who see thier family regularly. Do you know anyone in similar situation to you? it helps when you are all in the same situation.