Just can't take any more of this new normal

[JuneMoonstone]

I'm feeling incredibly low and depressed. I am just so, so utterly fed up of Covid. I can't be bothered to go anywhere, do anything, make plans. I've been waiting months for my 5 year old to start swimming lessons and they kept getting put off due to covid. I found out that she can start lessons next month but once she turns 6 she'll no longer be eligible so she'll only get a couple of lessons, so there's no point in her starting. Before anyone has a go at me, I completely understand there are many people far worse off than me and I am very grateful that I have not suffered from covid or lost anyone due to covid. I just feel so so despondent and depressed about the future. Everything is a chore now, there is zero fun to be had. The variants will keep coming, the threat of future lockdowns continue to loom for God knows how long, maybe forever. We're told that Covid will never go away and the old normal will never return. If I didn't have a child I think I would end it. Life has just become very small, dull, joyless, wearisome.

Compliance with mask wearing is clearly breaking down, I see fewer and fewer people doing it. And good for them, I’ll be stopping the minute that it ceases to be a rule and becomes advice.

@IhateAntivaccers

No as I'm self employed ! I was working as a cleaner, and did so right from the start. I explained to all my clients I can't work in a mask. And every single one of my clients were totally ok with me being mask free. and other than one chap with health conditions none wore a mask when I was there either. And he's stopped bothering now he's had his vaccinations

I get you OP. I feel like I’m existing atm not living.

We were ok financially pre-pandemic (still had a 10 year old car) Now there is no money for extras. Car tax and home insurance is due at the end of the month which is a nightmare and I will need to use my overdraft.

Pre-pandemic I was hoping to go back to work 3 days a week or possibly after mat leave I lost my job and got a job paying much less and I’m having to work FT with two kids under school age.

It’s like most things are open now but I can’t afford to do anything!

I was dreaming about taking a holiday last night so I checked the price of 4 nights at Butlins and it was £1100! The same week and same accommodation in 2019 was £500.

I'm still struggling with lack of external motivation. Parkruns and races still unable to go ahead to protect my health. Lack of events to look forwards to, even the little ones like school summer fayre, the total absence of all that stacks up.
My youth groups are back, but outside only, so at the whims of the weather, plus the extra burden of planning to maximise distancing trying to be weather resistant (cycling in the rain, fine. Making posters... not so great)
Having to continually bite my tounge in real life around risk adverse people.
Places looking like crime scenes not leisure facilities.
Fearing twats having a go because I can't wear masks/ visors without a very high chance of panic attack within a couple of minutes.
Not coping with making face contact with people in masks because I can't cope with processing the loss of lipreading, plus distorted speech. It's easier to look at ground level and focus on the auditory input and not distract with visuals, but that changes my body language and people connecting with me. Going through that twice a day on staggered pick-ups on an empty school playground is remarkably draining.
Family and friends too scared to make the most of the crumbs of freedom on offer.
Routines chopping and changing, not having a significant element of life running on autopilot where you know what to expect. Loss of spontenaity. Sticking to "safe" places, not in a Covid way, but knowing that you won't be barked at for standing slightly out of position, or having overly convaluted procedures purely to bulk up a risk assessment.

It all stacks up, and drains the soul.
I don't fear the virus any more than any other potentially nasty illness; it's the overzealous social reaction doing the damage.

@BogRollBOGOF

I'm still struggling with lack of external motivation. Parkruns and races still unable to go ahead to protect my health. Lack of events to look forwards to, even the little ones like school summer fayre, the total absence of all that stacks up. My youth groups are back, but outside only, so at the whims of the weather, plus the extra burden of planning to maximise distancing trying to be weather resistant (cycling in the rain, fine. Making posters... not so great) Having to continually bite my tounge in real life around risk adverse people. Places looking like crime scenes not leisure facilities. Fearing twats having a go because I can't wear masks/ visors without a very high chance of panic attack within a couple of minutes. Not coping with making face contact with people in masks because I can't cope with processing the loss of lipreading, plus distorted speech. It's easier to look at ground level and focus on the auditory input and not distract with visuals, but that changes my body language and people connecting with me. Going through that twice a day on staggered pick-ups on an empty school playground is remarkably draining. Family and friends too scared to make the most of the crumbs of freedom on offer. Routines chopping and changing, not having a significant element of life running on autopilot where you know what to expect. Loss of spontenaity. Sticking to "safe" places, not in a Covid way, but knowing that you won't be barked at for standing slightly out of position, or having overly convaluted procedures purely to bulk up a risk assessment.

It all stacks up, and drains the soul.
I don't fear the virus any more than any other potentially nasty illness; it's the overzealous social reaction doing the damage.

You completely sum up how I feel about it all too 💐

That’s also exactly how I feel.

The people making decisions don’t actually have ordinary lives, and they have no idea how their management of this is destroying people.