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.

@Puppysharness

‘I don't know why people are so determined to focus on the negatives?’ *@AlexaShutUp* because this is where the media focuses. How many positive news reports do you see about the winter, about our future?

Would there be so much pushback (not from me….) against ‘freedom day’ if most people were feeling optimistic?

If you’re reading positive stuff I’d be grateful if you could share it.

Not reading loads of positive stuff, no. I've read some very good stuff about the vaccines but plenty of bad news about rising cases etc as well. I just try not to focus on the negative stuff more than I have to. I focus my attention on the good stuff in my own life - friends, family etc - and I try to surround myself with positive, optimistic people. Life is too short to be miserable.

I control what I can control, eg by taking sensible precautions, but I accept that I can't control it all. We don't know what is going to happen next. Maybe we're opening up too soon and we'll be back in lockdown before we know it, or maybe it will all be fine because most of us are all double jabbed. I honestly have no idea but I'm not going to waste my time fretting about it either way. I'm just going to enjoy the freedoms that I have at the moment while taking sensible precautions to keep myself and others safe.

I get that some people are unhappy because of difficult life circumstances, and I have every sympathy with them. I don't really get the people who are still miserable purely because of covid... they need to find a different way of framing things.

I totally get you OP

I used to be an even tempered optimist, most of the time. Yeah, things don’t always go your way but you get knocked down, then you get up again

The lack of empathy, of glee even from some people who are fine with restrictions is hard to take.

I have not seen my elderly parents for almost 2 years now. It actually hurts, not just a feeling of sadness but a physical pain and occasionally a weird headache that hurts and then crying is the only relief

Today I cried, for no reason, but it’s just been building and building and I spend so much time suppressing it, it just boils over. In the middle of lunch with friends.

I have tickets to Europe for 2 weeks time. I can barely cope with the anxiety and sadness of the possibility that it might not happen (if borders close, or U.K. goes red, or I test positive in my pcr)

I am not ok. I am not coping well. It is not depression, there is no imbalance in my brain, just the very real fear I may never see my parents again

Sending you a hug OP

Just tired and grotty and thinking if it's this easy to catch what hope is there.

There’s another illness out there that will make you feel bad for a while. For the vast, vast majority, that’s the height of it.

You are statistically very unlikely to get it again, from what we can see from the data thus far.

Several people already maskless in local shop.

I have not seen my elderly parents for almost 2 years now. It actually hurts, not just a feeling of sadness but a physical pain and occasionally a weird headache that hurts and then crying is the only relief

That sounds tough. Why not? Are they overseas?

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.

Things might be functioning but they are nowhere near normal.

I'm still doing my job but having to work from home rather than in the office (ok now the cricket season has started but I hate it apart from that). I went into town today and couldn't understand a word of what the Clinique consultant was saying to me as she was wearing a mask and behind a sheet of Perspex. There's nothing normal about having to take a mask on and off all the time when you're going in and out of shops.

I'm supposed to be going to London in a couple of weeks and rather than looking forward to I'm worrying about catching covid, not for me but in case I give it to DH.

"
There’s another illness out there that will make you feel bad for a while."
Yes that's a very sensible way of looking at it. Tbh this hasn't just been about feeling grotty it's also about feeling guilty, that my family have to isolate, that we didn't have enough food. That my friend had to isolate, even though she had plans. That she might get ill and it would be my fault. Feeling guilty when I couldn't answer T&T calls.
Just feeling a bit grotty for a couple of days I can cope with, as you say.

I look to the future and feal some fear.

Variants, vaccine escape, vaccinate the whole world, global travel.

I just don’t see an end. I wish l did, but it’s showing no signs of calming down or tapering off. It just evolves.

Is this life for the foreseeable future?😢

This too shall pass. We're in it now and it feels endless but there will be an end to it - even if it's endemic, we will absorb it into our vaccine schedule.

Some really heartbreaking posts on here. My heart goes out to those who are struggling with their mental health, or angry that they haven't seen loved ones, or can't have the full experience of having their partners with them during labour. I've experienced all of those or still am, and God it's shit. Take care of yourselves, everyone, we WILL get through this. x

@StealthPolarBear

To those who say get out there and enjoy life, I went out for lunch with one friend last weekend. First meal out since March 2020. Caught covid.

Your unlucky, my dc caught Covid back in March when nothing was open only went to work or the supermarket and hadn’t seen anyone outside yet . it’s a virus it doesn’t pick and choose you went out you caught it but your fine .

Didn't Chris Whitty say something about cV being a problem until next April?

I suspect I'm in the minority that doesn't think they'll be further lockdowns - restrictions (nightclubs, theatres, weddings) and masks and SD yes probably to help with flu as much as covid but no further lockdowns.

I think we are inching forward. When I don't feel like that I get off social media. Honestly take a break from it - plans things AND accept that they make not work out. The future is uncertain but it's always been uncertain (illness/accident/financial fortunes - or just a bad dose of D&V).

Yes I feel worry for the future too. The increased health anxiety of many now means people are hyper aware of their ability to catch any illness (despite it having always been there), so I feel there is going to be so much surrounding “staying safe” and avoiding illness at all cost. The consequence of this is that spontaneity and fun take a massive back seat.

I can’t relate to people saying things are practically back to normal. People wearing masks is so far from normal…pointless one way systems…time restrictions on many activities…none of it is normal! Yes, some things may be relaxing on Monday, but businesses are choosing to keep many of them. Maybe it’s not a bad thing, but I’m definitely mourning the old way of life.

I don't mind the lockdowns, but I've always hated people standing too close to me, the pandemic has just heightened this. GET THE FUCK AWAY FROM ME!

If only the answer was to stop reading the news, just put our fingers in our ears and go la, la, la?

Instead some of us are living it. I'm isolating with my two DC, all tested positive. I'm double jabbed, still got it.

Great for those of you out there blissfully unaware. But there's more and more of us isolating and ill. Okay we won't die but our kids mental health suffers and it impacts society.

Meanwhile, I have 'friends' who are choosing who to tell track and trace about, whether to test, whether to isolate ....etc

I don't think it can simply be ignored?

Ok we won't die

Well that's kind of important. As for your kids' mental health are you seriously suggesting that they should be able to go out and about as normal, spreading a virus you dont want people to ignore?

Sorry @Hellenbach I've just reread your post and understand what you are saying now. Please ignore my post.

I don’t think there is any panic / hysteria in real life.

I’ve not witnessed any.

The Covid board is where you will find the panic and hysteria.

Stop reading it.

I volunteer in a vaccine centre as do many hundreds of others, not to mention the vaccinators themselves. (I won't count the professional staff as they have been working throughout so their immunity situation may be different.)

Up and down the country, hundreds of volunteers, in contact with, by definition, unvaccinated or partially vaccinated people in their thousands. We try to keep our distance but when someone is upset, or wants you to look at their phone, or has a very soft voice, we have to lean in. Some people don't wear masks or not properly.

Not one of the many volunteers or vaccinators I have spoken to have caught Covid at the centre, and none of them report knowing anyone who has.

Like many others, I've been doing this for weeks. So going out and mixing with the public, many of whom have been vaccinated, does not mean certain illness.

I’ve hit a wall myself. Last summer I went to Switzerland and Estonia. This year I can’t seem to go anywhere. Ever changing rules. Red list, amber, green, all the tests to and fro. I don’t even understand it all. Much less feel able to tackle it. I’m double jabbed thinking it would allow me to travel, but it’s feels like it was for nothing. I don’t give a shit about being able to order at a bar vs table service. I don’t care about putting a mask on or not. I don’t see freedom day bringing me anything I need or want at this point. Staying away from news has no effect. It makes me feel no better or worse.

@Pootle40 are you regularly tested? Because if not, “That's unlucky. I've been out for 25+ meals, uk hotel stay, massage, holiday abroad last week and have never caught Covid. You just need to chalk it up to bad luck and crack on with life.” is kinda superspready.

@IRanSoFarAway1

I hear you OP

The restrictions are the problem, I don't do much media or social media. Seeing masks everywhere....ugh.

Would you feel better doing some anti lockdown campaigning?

Assuming you are in England, the restrictions, including mask requirements, are disappearing on Monday. No need to campaign - unless you want people to be forcibly infected.

I don’t get feeling like this at all. I’m not a worrier, I never have been. I do not see the point in worrying about something I cannot control that may or may not happen in the future. It’s a waste of time. A waste of enjoying the present. Enjoy today, tomorrow isn’t promised. If we get restrictions again, cross that bridge when it happens. Don’t waste this time feeling miserable when who knows. The weather is amazing, go enjoy life with your kids! There’s so much to enjoy at the moment, crack on with it! I’m wholeheartedly throwing myself into my social life with friends & family and life feels wonderful in all honesty! Isolation is a concern but again, I’ll cross that bridge when it inevitably happens. I have deleted my app though 😂