Finding that freedom is actually causing more isolation?

[Missfelipe]

I’ve always been in the camp of wanting restrictions to be eased. We live far from family and found the never ending lockdowns and living in the North West under longer restrictions really tough. It really took a toll on my mental health.

However now that the restrictions have eased and we can do all those things we missed I’m finding that we are spending more time restricting contact to avoid missing out. We have a number of big family events we will be travelling to and are terrified we will miss out and not be able to see everyone, especially if there are restrictions going into autumn/winter.

The result is we aren’t really seeing friends close by or going into the office which we are now allowed to do and which we had really benefited from.

Does anyone else find this? I’m now really struggling again and I don’t know what to do to make it better.

@Lua

I am with you OP. With everybody being less careful, i feel like I have to be more careful, especiealy with DCs still unvacinated....

I know what you mean and concur with this.

@NannyAndJohn

Yep. We're basically staying at home now and only leaving for essentials.

30000 cases a day and rising, no SD, minimal masks, waning immunity...

No thanks.

You really enjoy scaremongering don’t you ? It actually got to over 50,000 cases a few weeks ago.in January before the vaccine it was 60,000 + a day. People don’t have the luxury of only staying home for essentials they have jobs and actually they don’t want to . It’s a miserable existence what your describing but if that’s what you want to do good for you . Link below knock yourself out with the data it may reduce your fear . coronavirus.data.gov.uk/details/cases

I really don't get this way of thinking but then I'm a positive person. There have always been infectious and dangerous diseases around that could ruin days out/ holidays etc. Most people (or those that have chosen to) have been vaccinated. As pp have said if you want to lock yourself away crack on, but it's like you are living your life just waiting for bad news it's really sad.
Try to count your blessings, we've all had it tough over lockdown etc and not been able to see, family etc but at least we are here and not in Afghanistan hey?!

How long do people intend to stay indoors for? What point do you think will arrive that will be less risky than right now?

Yes definitely. We go on a U.K. hol next week and rather than book the activities I would like to do with the kids I’m keeping us low key & outdoors. I really want to get away for a change of scenery. I keep saying to myself it will be better after this winter 🤞

Incorrect. By staying at home we are reducing the risk for key workers by limiting their pool of potential contacts

Bollocks. Utter laughable bollocks. The only person you're convincing with that^^ load of crap, is yourself.

So what you’re saying is that you are more careful before big events to reduce the risk of them being disrupted. A friend was careful like this to ensure she could have the knee surgery she’s been waiting for 18 months for. Seems like common sense.

OP I understand. We self imposed restrictions in December last year to ensure Christmas with the family would be possible. Then at the last minute we were put in tier 4. I felt really annoyed that we had wasted our last chance of "freedom" for months by unnecessarily isolating. And I felt angry that those who went straight from school finishing to the grandparents house managed to enjoy lovely family Christmases. I know it's all illogical but I felt it keenly during the long winter lockdown months.

I get what you're saying OP. We had a couple of UK holidays and in the week beforehand I didn't go into the office- which I've started doing and really benefitting from - and sat outside when with friends.
I frankly don't care if I get covid again, but desperately wanted to go on our trips.

I'm more relaxed now we've been, although wondering if we made the right decision not to go to Majorca this week, but I'd have been too anxious to enjoy it - again not because I particularly care if I catch covid but the risk of having to isolate abroad and DS missing first week of school were too great in my mind.

Obviously I don't really want to go into lockdown. Can't a girl be fed up and write something tongue in cheek.

Just depressing sitting here watching other people enjoy themselves whilst I'm stuck in my room. Thought that was a pretty normal response.

Clearly everyone on Mumsnet is a saint.

I get annoyed when some posters say you can't be scared or anxious about covid you need to live your life.
Enjoy no restrictions and forget covid.
We all have risk asses my parents are both classed as cev double jab and dads inmunocomprimised so not totally sure how well jabs taken.
We are going places just mostly local,mostly quiet and mostly outdoors.
We only going shopping if we need things.

I don't judge anyone being cautious to avoid cancelling seeing family or freinds.
Or going away on long awaited break.

Snaffle I get what you mean I look at freinds Facebook and Instagram and it can seem line everyone has better and busier life.

I'm a realist I think winter will be worse and some restriction brought back.
We trying make the most of summer and so glad we went away 4nights on uk break.
I'm trying to take measures now that mean I will have go shops hardly at all in September when cases start to rise because of schools.