I don’t know how I am going to cope.

[SteveArnottsWaistcoat]

This talk of another lockdown, the doom and gloom of cases rising, the panic and hysteria.

I’m really, really starting to struggle with how I’m feeling about the current situation and what lies ahead for our futures. I feel almost as though I am suffocating.

Double vaccinated but it really doesn’t mean anything, it’s not improving the future.

@Myplantsare

Icedpurple

Mine or NannyandJohn post? Sorry not altogether clear.

Definitely not your post!

Posting the same silly 'graph' on every thread and trying to take over the discussion with constant gloom is not normal behaviour and I don't think it should be allowed.

IcedPurple

Phew! Totally agree with you. Always the same few posters too.

I agree with staying off these boards if it’s getting to you. Remember that those who choose their posting style with the aim of raising anxiety levels and provoking reaction on here are also those who keep quiet about their own personal circumstances. It’s not you, it’s them

@SteveArnottsWaistcoat

I totally know that switching off the media can help in some ways, but it can’t help with the fact that there’s literally nothing in life to look forward to any more. The sense of being controlled and the resentment I have is huge. I don’t know who I’m even resentful towards. I just feel so extremely bitter frustrated and angry with everything.

This 100% isn’t me. I used to be optimistic and even in the most dire situations knowing that there was good stuff on the horizon would really get you through the tough times.

Now there’s nothing.

And the worst part of it all is I can see how badly it’s affecting my children.

There’s lots to look forward to. 2021 has been better than 2020. 2022 will be many times better again.

Despite undeniable mistakes, the lockdowns saved 1000s of lives. Our welfare state coped under the strain and buoyed up lots of people. Citizens aren’t starving, or being evicted en masse. Bodies aren’t stacking up unburied. If you compare to India or even Los Angeles, we have been well protected.

Brilliant scientists around the world got several effective vaccines on stream in very short order. There is a lot to admire and be grateful for.

This is a great opportunity to talk to your children about challenges different generations have survived and how adaptable humans are.

Misery and optimism are just different sides of the same coin.

This weekend is glorious. Get outside, get some vitamin D and fresh air and try to enjoy the moment.

@SteveArnottsWaistcoat

I totally know that switching off the media can help in some ways, but it can’t help with the fact that there’s literally nothing in life to look forward to any more. The sense of being controlled and the resentment I have is huge. I don’t know who I’m even resentful towards. I just feel so extremely bitter frustrated and angry with everything.

This 100% isn’t me. I used to be optimistic and even in the most dire situations knowing that there was good stuff on the horizon would really get you through the tough times.

Now there’s nothing.

And the worst part of it all is I can see how badly it’s affecting my children.

Honestly, I am finding it quite hard to understand or relate to this post.

Lockdown was tough, but we are not in lockdown now. My life is not that different from how it used to be. I go to work. I volunteer. I meet friends and family. I exercise. I go to shops, restaurants and cafés etc. Yes, I miss being able to travel or go to the theatre etc, but I trust that those opportunities will return too.

Teenage dd is fine too. She does her PT job, she meets up with her friends, she is doing her hobbies etc. Yes, she's looking forward to all of the restrictions being lifted so that she can get back to doing drama shows etc, but there is plenty of fun in her life right now and she is happy.

Maybe our lives are just inherently boring, or perhaps we are naturally inclined to focus on the positives, but I'm finding plenty of stuff to look forward to, even now with restrictions in place. And given that they're being lifted altogether next week (a little too hastily in my view), I don't know why you would be feeling so negative right now.

Yes, we might end up in another lockdown. Then again, we might not. Why waste life worrying about something that might never happen?!

It's like March 2020 all over again

Except for the fact that we now have a vaccine. But apart from that, yea completely the same as March 2020

@NannyAndJohn

It's like March 2020 all over again.

Where do you get this crap from ? I bet your fun at parties .

There's a lot of people making themselves important by persuading everyone that the current restrictions are a 'lockdown' and 'controlling'. Every day life has been almost back to normal for a couple of months. If you're feeling controlled or imposed upon, it's time to review what the real restrictions are compared to the perceived restrictions and what some people may be telling you. Masks and social distancing are minor inconveniences.

Things are due to open up further. Case rates are rising. In all probability we'll be back to masks and social distancing after the summer for a short period as a break before the winter because the NHS is going to struggle with a free-for-all. But, things are still looking ok. The vaccination program is going well, although there's quite a bit of concern about hesitancy and people not taking up the second jab. If you're double-jabbed you're not immune, but you're very unlikely to end up seriously ill or in hospital.

Keep calm. Apply common sense. Think very carefully about who you're listening to. If you're getting a lot of negative messages from your social media feed, then use the Unfollow and Block options. Constant negatives from SM will not help you feel better about things, but switching those off is in your control.

I really think it's best to ignore that poster's latest thread derail attempt.

Do what I do. Turn off the radio and tv when the news comes on, stop buying newspapers, hide the Covid topic on MN and avoid any mention of it on social media.

There's no point in worrying about something so completely outside your control. It is what it is.

What you can do, however, is to stop thinking about it.

I really can't relate and I've worked in a huge inner city school, in an area absolutely ravaged by covid throughout the pandemic!
There loads of stuff to do now, I'm delighted to be back meeting friends, going on holiday and day trips.
Life is so so much better than it was a few months ago and believe me, covid has made my life incredibly difficult over the past 17 months but despite this I can see that life is improving and can't relate to all the relentless doom and scaremongering on here

Without intending to be preachy in any shape or form, a gratitude book might help.

Write down what is going well. Every, single, seemingly tiny little thing.

e.g. made breakfast this morning. Good nutrition
Tidied out kitchen cupboard (good organisinng and wellbeing

chatted to DS about school...

Opened post.

Get yourself a notebook write the date at the top of the page and do htis, every day. If you reach a point in the day you are feeling hopeless look back on it and remind yourself of everything you have achieved.

We had the skills to get through lockdowns. We made it.

We will do it again if need be.
Don't underestimate your own resilience.

I feel the same. I would rather take my chances than keep on living this restricted half life.

Scientists who understand pandemics have been saying all along that this is likely to last at least two years or longer. If anything, things have improved much quicker than expected because many didn't expect we'd have so many safe and effective vaccines so quickly.

Surely there must be lots of good things you can do and look forward to?

I work in a school and had started to look forward to the holidays, hoping I could relax and enjoy the odd day trip, meal out, a couple of short breaks. I'm ok but my anxiety levels definitely up. I really want to go away and was thinking once school finished, I'd feel there was less risk of having to isolate. I found myself looking at click n collect earlier, thinking about long walks instead of day trips and inviting friends around to sit in garden, rather than a cafe or pub, in the hope I don't catch covid now or have to isolate before going away.

I can’t relate either. Due a baby in a few weeks and my trust are not changing their restrictions, so I do feel utterly sad and fucking angry that from next week people can go around in hoards at nightclubs, no masks anywhere, literally celebrate however they want and have the time of their doing things that are fun, but my partner can’t come into the hospital with me until I’m in established Labour, has to wear a mask throughout the birth and has to leave straight away and only allowed in during visitor hours oh and of course wearing a mask so baby won’t even be able to see his face until we’re home. He can’t attend any growth scans with me still, or medical appointments for his baby. I have ptsd and anxiety and still cannot have him to support me or be there to hear information about his child. I’m pissed off that football and nightclubs are more important than health care in this fucking sorry excuse for a country and I’m angry that people are cheering for freedom day when it is anything but that for a lot!

@Viviennemary

I feel the same. I would rather take my chances than keep on living this restricted half life.

How fortunate for that this is exactly what's on offer then.

With social distancing and masks gone next week, that's me shut away again for the summer, I just hope that's not enforced come autumn because of this madness.

That is a really shit thing to do @NannyAndJohn.

You can see the OP is struggling and then you go and post something like that. How on earth is that helping?

@Viviennemary

I feel the same. I would rather take my chances than keep on living this restricted half life.

I'm sorry, I don't really understand this as from my perspective, I feel that most things are open and functioning now, albeit at a limited capacity.

What are the things you feel are restricting you from living a full life right now?

I completely agree. I’m desperate for some hope. Earlier this year I had a lot of hope, as the vaccines started rolling out, but now… everything I hear and read makes it sound like the vaccines barely matter. They might not work against variants, they don’t work 100%, not everyone is vaccinated, etc etc etc on repeat. All I can picture in the future is more yo-yo restrictions, nothing to plan for or look forward to.

I disagree with the poster who said 2021 has been better than 2020. In 2020 I saw a way out of this- vaccines. Now I don’t.

I would love to hear from those who still have hope. Please help.

@SteveArnottsWaistcoat

This talk of another lockdown, the doom and gloom of cases rising, the panic and hysteria.

I’m really, really starting to struggle with how I’m feeling about the current situation and what lies ahead for our futures. I feel almost as though I am suffocating.

Double vaccinated but it really doesn’t mean anything, it’s not improving the future.

Same here op , let's hope for the best and prep for the worst. Is there anything you can do to make lockdown more easy, fun or simply bearable?

Any potential lockdown that is.

@Viviennemary

I feel the same. I would rather take my chances than keep on living this restricted half life.

What half-life? What restrictions? What chances are you now going to take?

“ Maybe our lives are just inherently boring, or perhaps we are naturally inclined to focus on the positives, but I'm finding plenty of stuff to look forward to, even now with restrictions in place. ”

Not necessarily inherently boring, but almost certainly your personal circumstances. Surely you must realise that for other people’s circumstances the restrictions that still exist may still make life very different to, and maybe much more difficult than, pre covid? It’s not that hard to imagine.