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.

@sugarspicepea

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.

All of this.

Stop endlessly refreshing MN looking for things to reinforce your fears.

Don't listen to the news - what you actually need to know will filter down to you.

I've had a lovely day today playing Pokemon Go around the river. Had icecream and chips, saw swans and swan babies. Didn't think about tomorrow. Life was good. No-one was panicking and hysterical. They were just, as usual, wondering what to pick off the menu and where they could find a shady place to sit and enjoy it.

Get things into perspective (this one isn't easy) - look at Germany tonight, look at so many other places round the world where life is never what we would call "normal" and always a struggle.

KEEP OFF MN. The minute I came in, happy from my happy free day, I refreshed MN out of habit and was immediately plunged into misery, anxiety, madness, speculation, and gloom.

My kids mental health couldn’t handle another school lockdown

I’m in Scotland. Was at a wedding yesterday. Regularly go to restaurants and cafes. Most things are open. Focus on those things, not the limited number of things you can’t do!

Well at the moment I can do nothing that involves leaving my house. Same for many many people and will be the same but a different group of people in a week's time.

DH took the decision last autumn to stop watching the news/reading anything about any of it. His ignorance on the pandemic is astounding - he had no idea until last week (when I asked him if he was going to carry.on wearing a mask) that restrictions end tomorrow (he is going to, by the way). He has no idea about the vaccines despite being doubly jabbed. He doesn't know how cases are rising or that you have to wait for table service at bars (we went out for the first time in ages yesterday and he sauntered up to the bar all before-timesy, before being barked at to sit down). He wfh so hasn't had a lot of contact with the outside world/people for a year and a half, so hasn't really experienced restrictions in the wild much.

However. He is far, far happier and less bothered about any of it than anyone I know. It was beginning to really affect him last year so stepping away from it all was the right thing to do. I appreciate that not everyone can do it to the extremes he has but if you're anxious and preoccupied with it all, stopping reading about it/watching the news is a good start.

@Porcupineintherough

Have you ever thought you might feel better if you switch off the news and keep off social media? You might feel better if you just got on with daily life (taking whatever precautions you feel necessary) and didnt engage. Fi I have no idea where you are hearing "about to go into another lockdown" from except on here.

I really agree with this - the media/ Facebook etc are honestly your own worst enemy

I feel like this about the situation. I don't pretend to be happy. It's rubbish and the more we lockdown, the worse everything will get. The Virus will be the best thing about the whole situation. Kids with mental health issues, a failing economy, a more authoritarian government, having to have (any old) jab they deem essential for us. Miserable stuff.

@Porcupineintherough

So what good stuff on the horizon are you looking for?

Booking holidays without any concerns.

[quote Etinox]@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.[/quote]
Right you are.

@SteveArnottsWaistcoat I get this. Fellow Scot, softplay opening for the first time since 2020 and a distinct feeling that Nicola will put additional restrictions in place again at any moment. It's really difficult to relax and enjoy things when you can just feel in the air that more restrictions are coming! That said, I'm embracing the freedoms allowed while we can: gym, bars, restaurants, salons...

For me it’s not the not being able to go out , I’m a bit if a home bird really but it’s feeling like I might be putting other more vulnerable people in the family at risk whilst also not wanting to restrict the young adults I live with . It’s a constant juggling act. Every time I go out I have to think if this results in a contact what will need rearranging for next week etc . I have a medical procedure on Friday I really really want it to go ahead, I also support three elderly people one of whom is immunosuppressed. My only sibling lives on another continent and we haven’t seen them for 2.5 years , parents are now worried that they won’t ever see them again, sibling desperate for Zoom but parent hates zoom and gets anxious , apparently sibling thinks I should work harder to persuade them . I am worried about all dc mental health and particularly the interruption in the youngest education . None of this is unique but I am exhausted, not worried about dying but am worried about the dc and long Covid.