Do you ever feel this will never be over?

BTW I can thoroughly recommend watching Joe Stilgoe,s Songs from his Shed. Monday to Friday at 1.00 on FaceBook (I think) and 8.00pm on a Saturday.

Very uplifting and you can interact with him.

This too will pass. My mum used to say that and it always seemed to help. Not sure now. My DP died of the virus on Sunday after 10 days in ICU. I am now in self-isolation in a house in the back of beyond which we came to as our retirement dream 2 years ago. I have no friends here - DP and I were totally self-sufficient. My children are 50 miles away but are also self-isolating. This week a new GP at my surgery offered me a private blood test which would establish if I’d had the virus and more importantly, now had the antibodies. Just what I need. The next day another GP told me that no such reliable test exists and that if it did it would be for frontline NHS personnel only.
So I’d been at absolutely rock bottom - had my hopes lifted - and then went back to sub-zero which is where I remain. I go to bed and pray that I don’t wake up. But the same cruel God always does wake me up.

This has got to pass, it's not helping my mental health probs

This is exactly how it feels to be estranged. Tip toeing around everyone, not daring to do what feels natural, changing your behaviour to suit am external situation you have no control over. It's exactly what gp go through when they're cut off from their gc. A living hell.

I know. My daughter said to me this morning that she heard it could go on into next year and she feels time is a-wasting. All I try and do is what you are doing, try to see it as a break, a hiatus, a chance to hear the birds, talk, rest. The world is having a rest too - dolphins in the grand canal, pollution cleared from the sky...I hope when it’s over we’ve learnt something. However, I woke this morning feeling quite down and not sure why. It’s horrible too.

It will be over eventually. Next summer will have to make up for this year's very odd one.

I feel fine, sleeping well, (over)eating well, plenty of projects to work on. I do miss my family but that's all.

I've gained a new appreciation of how lucky I am. I enjoy the solitude and pottering in the garden. It must be hell for families in flats with bored children.

My only worry, longer term, is that if we return to 'normal', we'll have the same, ideal conditions for the next pandemic.

So sorry for your loss Nona4ever and for the let down on the blood test. My DH died on 25th January and I had been coping reasonably well. But since the lockdown I seem to be in a permanent daze, not able to get on with anything. As so many others have said its the "not knowing" and not being able to see family that hurts so much. I hope everyone stays safe and well and hugs to all those,like me, who are on their own coping day to day xx

Nona, so very sorry. You won't want to hear this right now but if you are in the UK, there will be organisations that can help you.

Please lets try and keep this kind and supportive to lessen the lonely feelings.

I could cope if it wasn’t for the fact that my daughter had her second baby at the beginning of February and I will miss the joy of holding a tiny baby in my arms. We are so lucky to have FaceTime etc but I can’t smell her!

Nona4ever, my heart goes out to you. Sending you love and hope. Your heart must be breaking. Love XxX

Anybody that wants to pm me, I will reply.

Nona4ever I feel so very sorry for the situation you are in. No words are good enough, all I can offer is

Nona4ever and sincere sympathies. There are no words at such a sad time

Something similar to this happens time and time again throughout history.
I think that to some extent. that we have got so used to so many illnesses and diseases being virtually wiped out, that we have assumed that it will apply to all illnesses.
This will go on for longer than many people think and even longer if all the plebs that seem to think they are immune and immortal don't do as told and stay at home!

Daffydilly hats off to you for doing your bit (and then some!)
But
but I've just had a letter telling me I should be shielding, due to a health condition. I don't know what to do
Do as you are told.
To ignore it might mean you end up needing an ICU bed and what will happen to the people who depend on you then?
Keep safe!

I do think it will change us all
Even watching Rick Stein and wishing we were in provence. Well it won't be this year and that's for sure.
And do you really want to get on a crowded airplane
Car and ferry for us I think but not this year..

This will never go away but things will improve when a vaccine becomes available. I am not finding it too hard - I have a houseful of boxes (my possessions from my husband's house, we split up last year, he dumped them all in my cottage when I was on holiday in February). As nothing is open, I am sorting things into boxes for charity, recycling and Ebay; at least I can post things.Ttrying to get enough space to be able to get to a sofa.
I have also met a man on a dating site, not the best time of times for having a meeting (he is offshore at the moment and lives 450 miles away when he is home). I won't actually meet him until after restrictions are lifted, but we are talking every day, emailing and exchanging photos. Wish me luck, he is genuine, sincere and looks gorgeous.

I too get good days and bad days. I am a bit of an introvert so quite content with my own company most of the time and do finds things to occupy myself. However, the news is so depressing and the situation does not appear to be getting better anywhere, and all the politicians are now starting to criticise each other. I am so proud of those wonderful ordinary people out there trying to do their best to help the less able and support the NHS, in so many different ways.
One thing I do find is that when walking the dog or doing my necessary shopping neighbours are so much more friendly and people do actually smile and say hello for a change. That can only be good and hopefully when it is all over it will continue. Well, that is my bit of grumble done and out of the way. Keep safe.

I too understand why you feel this way but I always think to myself if good things can come to an end then so can bad things.

The same as you Greymar. I watched Simon Reeves walking railways last night and it was a strange thing to watch as it looks so odd him having the freedom to walk the railway lines.

I’m a self confessed introvert and sharing my tiny place with two others all day at the moment apart from the one exercise a day I’m finding very hard, I need my space to recover and privacy but aren’t getting it. I need me time to recharge my head.

I've started doing the Jo Wicks exercise for older people on Youtube. There's a beginners' one and then a fuller workout - each 10mins long and encouraged to adapt to your ability level. Makes me feel physically better and I must say he is very easy on the eye which makes the exercising easier . Certainly releases the happy endorphins. I believe he also does a seated routine if needed.

I was an out everyday sort of person but after a difficult first week have settled into this new norm. Every time I see a key worker begging us to stay at home I remind myself that at least I have the luxury of being able to stay at home and not put my family and myself at risk.

It will pass Greymarr, because all things do.

I got this on Facebook a few days ago and find it really helpful. It was apparently written by Jennifer Yaeger, a trauma therapist in the US, and gives some useful points about living through this pandemic:

• Parts of our brain may shut down in order for us to survive
* As a result we are may not able to fully process a lot of what is going on around us
* Feeling somewhat numb and out of touch with our emotions is to be expected, especially for those who have lived through trauma before
* Some people could feel hypervigilant or anxious, while others may become hypoactive or depressed.
* Neither means anything other than indicating the way your brain is dealing with extreme stress.
• In-depth processing of trauma happens later, when we feel emotionally safe to deal with it.
ª. When in the midst of trauma, just getting by emotionally and functionally is okay.
•. Lowering expectations and being kind to yourself and others is vital.

How depressing reading some of the posts on here. Yes it will come to and end but we don't know when so have to remain as positive as we can given the circumstances. Take each day at a time and try to live for the moment. Things appear to be improving in Italy as the death rate seems to be stabilising and some shops are set to open so that's good news. As for the Nightingale hospital being built in the North East its in case it's needed, so better that we are prepared. Anyway good news about Boris. Remember try to look for the positives in life

Nona4ever you have my sympathy, do be kind to yourself and take care