How will communities ever heal after all this?

[ForeignBody]

Firstly I realise that those who have suffered the most are those that lost their lives to the pandemic or knock on effects thereof, their families and those with Long Covid.
I live alone and saw almost nobody for months and months on end during the harshest phase of lockdown. Where I live isn't a place I like anyway but it has turned into a total nightmare with accusations of illegal socialising, competitive suffering, people going on and on about grandparents and grandchildren and totally ignoring and patronising single people living alone. I suffer from depression which got way worse during lockdown but never felt I could say anything as people would slap it down as self indulgent. I seriously contemplated ending my life in January. I hated the stuff people were posting on here, I hated the local FB group, I hated the stupid videos about people baking and painting rainbows. I just don't know how I can ever heal and how the broken community I live in can either

@ForeignBody

Firstly I realise that those who have suffered the most are those that lost their lives to the pandemic or knock on effects thereof, their families and those with Long Covid. I live alone and saw almost nobody for months and months on end during the harshest phase of lockdown. Where I live isn't a place I like anyway but it has turned into a total nightmare with accusations of illegal socialising, competitive suffering, people going on and on about grandparents and grandchildren and totally ignoring and patronising single people living alone. I suffer from depression which got way worse during lockdown but never felt I could say anything as people would slap it down as self indulgent. I seriously contemplated ending my life in January. I hated the stuff people were posting on here, I hated the local FB group, I hated the stupid videos about people baking and painting rainbows. I just don't know how I can ever heal and how the broken community I live in can either

I’m so sorry I hear you I doubt I would’ve got through this without seeing my family throughout lockdown That was far more import to me than any risk of catching covid. I’m sorry you didn’t have the same shared experience . Our community has been pretty easy going too so that all helped. In fact life around the house was pretty normal it was just going into supermarkets and town centre where you noticed a difference. You could see if there was any people locally you could do meet ups with .

Had an outdoor meeting yesterday with some friends and it’s such a morale booster.

@Oneweekleft

Another tip is just to look out for other people who seem to be on their own or perhaps would love it if someone said hello to them. One man said good morning to me the other day while i was out with my toddler and was really genuinely friendly and made my day. Ive been saying hello to old ladies ive passed sitting on benches who make eye contact. It makes you feel good inside. The thought that you are alleviating someone elses loneliness helps. And also just smiling at people and trying to be kind to anyone you meet. It takes the focus off yourself and boosts your happiness and theirs.

Yes I speak to anyone and everyone. Sat in york market last week having some street food and just got chatting to the people we were sharing a bench with. They Just felt like us. They’d had enough too. Had to laugh, when the ladies husband plonked himself down beside my husband.p to eat his food...about 9 ins away from him

You can’t fight human nature 😂

@HolmeH

I’d say community has strengthened in my area. I didn’t know my neighbours at all prior to covid but as we all came out & clapped, we started talking & got to know each other far more. People popped letters through the door offering help with shopping etc .. there are more people our supporting the local high street, cafes & pubs are chokka, the mood is upbeat. Community feels more real now actually.

Yes, I didn’t know my neighbours too well either..then most of us got drunk outside on VE Day and everything all changed.

I came off all local facebook groups about 2 weeks into the first lockdown it was vile, nauseating and so hypocritical. My view is that I do what is best for me, my family and those I care about and if my neighbours don’t like that or have an issue with it then tough!

We have had dirty looks from people for my parents staying over (under 1 support bubble) and to be honest I couldn’t care less, if you don’t know me well enough to understand my circumstances then I couldn’t give a toss about your opinion. We are on friendly terms with most neighbours and say hello etc. but I had no interest in being a part of some collective responsibility, all in it together cult like group that formed during the first lockdown. Who can clap the loudest, who can leave the house the least, I have no time for bullshit like that!

Stay strong OP and hopefully things get better for you soon.

That must have been so hard OP to be so isolated :-( can you be the change you want to see? You want people in the community to care about each other - can you do something for someone in your community? Just thinking about my elderly neighbour, we took him to an appointment and he today left out a box of plants for me. I wonder if you could do a little kindness to start the ball rolling in your community?