Feeling really low

Lazypaws I had no idea what initials: DH; DD; etc., meant either but I've just noticed an 'Acronyms' tab at the top of each page. Click on that and you will find the answer.

This could cheer you up... The International Space Station can clearly be seen in the evening over the UK

www.forbes.com/sites/jamiecartereurope/2020/05/19/when-where-and-how-you-can-see-a-very-bright-spaceship-above-europe-this-week-with-your-naked-eyes/#2c1bff5b3fd4

Hope the link works...

i really know how you feel and sympathise, feeling a bit that way myself but also feel incredibly guilty for feeling down, we have not been out, my husband being in the very vulnerable category , i think we are now six weeks in. lost track of time never mind what day it is so we are probably half way through our lock down, i do realise that we wont starve and have managed to get a home delivery slot with our local asda but i so miss nipping out to the shops for bits and pieces i need, normally i would shop around for different things.. aldi , home bargains etc , we normally have a stock of pain killers in for my husband who have numerous health problems but the stock is dwindling ,they can only be bought at the chemist so, apart from asking someone to get them we are stuck, we did ask our daughter to buy them if she happened to go to the chemist in tesco, not to make a special trip , shes obviously took us at our word as this was nearly a week ago, its so frustrating, my poor husband is a bit of a moaner, all day every day i am hearing about his different aches and pains, , they are varied and i do sympathise but sometimes it all gets too much, sorry about the rant, its over now

The later part of your post made me laugh, Lizbethann55, I certainly have good days and bad ones, I live alone, am furloughed from my job and have been moaning to my family, whom I haven’t seen since lockdown, is this what retirement is going to be like, cos if it is I ain’t looking forward to it... But of course it won’t, things will ease off and we will have the freedom to visit friend, go on holiday, go out for meals, hug our families again... all good things come to those that wait.... what is a few months in the grand scheme of things. Chin up.

Lizbethan I'm sure several people on here have had days when they feel really depressed and worried for the future. I know I have. To some extent, you have to just wait for it to pass but you can help by trying to be pro-active - do something you enjoy or that you would like to get better at. I have been doing more art and feel I am improving - which is quite a positive thing. There are free courses online. I'm doing a FutureLearn one on Forensic Psychology and there are lots of other subjects, including Creative Writing I believe.

I don't think it will help to get resentful of another age group. I do understand how it can happen because as you get older you realise you have much less time left than younger people, who probably don't get the "life's too short" message (I think only older people understand what that means). However, it appears that younger people are more likely to have lost, or to face losing, their jobs. They are often in insecure, rented accommodation and have not had the income or time to save much for exceptional circumstances like these. I have seen interviews with young people who are worried sick and very depressed when they think about the future.

I have been retired for 10 years and realised it was up to me whether I sat at home and got steadily less mobile and more out of touch with my friends, my interests and the world in general. Surely there is more to life than work (although, of course, it is a necessity if that is your only income).

This always makes me laugh. Mortimeridos on YouTube. It works ?

I was very low yesterday too, it hit me as soon as I woke up, although I hadn’t slept well either. Still a bit low today. You are not alone and are perfectly entitled to feel this way. I think mine is about coming out of lockdown really as I feel we are all relatively safe at the moment and perhaps won’t be when we come out. I’m also trying to come to terms with retirement- I really envy those who really enjoy it and wonder how they found time to go to work. Do something nice for yourself to try and cheer yourself up - go for a walk, watch something you like on the tv, have a glass of wine but most of all, reach out for support whenever you need it. Sending love and hugs xxxx

Thank you all so much for your messages, understanding and words of advice. You will never know how much they mean. Although I am so sorry to hear how many of you are struggling it is good to know that I am not alone. I am feeling better today. We went fof a walk in the park this morning, it was so lovely. May and June are without doubt my favourite months of the year. Then I potted up some plants that I ordered on line ( J Parker, Trafford, always brilliant quality). Perhaps next week we may venture to our local garden centre. Am still having to fight the urge to snap at DH, but am working on it. I did sleep well last night and am trying to drink far less coffee and am not watching umpteen news programmes a day. To those of you who are going through far more than I am, I send you all my love and best wishes. And to all of you who took the time to remind me that I am not alone, thank you so much. I wish we could all meet up for real hugs when this is all over. Xxx

I feel the same way about wondering if this is all life has to offer. I turn 79 on Sunday, I am in generally good health and had been very active prior to the lockdown. I live alone, have a nice home and financially OK, so I should be grateful. I actually never liked retirement but was able to a volunteer job I really enjoyed, completely different from what I had done for 35 years. now I am not allowed to do that. I live in the US and it makes me crazy as to how badly the pandemic has been handled here. the idiot in charge is ruining the country and i don't know what I will do if he gets another 4 years. As trained yoga teacher I try to remember to live in the moment but I find it so hard to not have anything to look forward to and to be faced with the possibility that it could actually get worse. sorry to be such a downer and i do have better days, just not today.

The day I heard that I would be locked down for another four weeks, I felt quite despairing. I wanted to have a good cry but I have Sjogren's Syndrome which has dried up my eyes and I have no tears. Although I can feel weepy internally, I needed to have real tears to give expression to my despair. All my nearest and dearest are 150 miles (and three trains) away. I have recovered, up to a point, but still feel reluctant to get out of bed - what is there to get up for? Today has been better because I've had the car battery re-charged and have been able to go round to a friend's house and sit with her - at well over 2 metres - in the sun in her lovely garden. You will tell me that this was against the rules, but why should we both have to go to a park and find adjacent benches when we both have perfectly good gardens where it is easy to stay distanced and have a good conversation?

If you're not in too much pain then you should be counting your blessings - sounds as if you have a lot of those, lucky you.

It is so sad reading some of the things people have written and I am glad no-one is saying "pull yourself together" because depression is a real illness. I certainly share concerns about what life may be like once we are released from lock-down and wonder how long it will take for things to become normal again as we remember it. Perhaps never? Certainly at the moment the world we may find ourselves living in is not particularly attractive. I was reading only yesterday that when/if department stores open they will have to restrict the number of customers either by pre-booking or letting people in once someone else has left, and the staff will all be wearing masks! A trivial example but perhaps indicative of what life may be like.

I am obviously much older than most of you, but I can honestly say I have no worries about myself, in fact I am quite enjoying lockdown. I have had a full and very happy life, including 50 years of absolute devotion from my late husband. My only concerns are about my lovely daughter and her husband, plus my three wonderful grandchildren. I do not envy them the world in which they are going to have to live. Truly my generation had the best and who knows, perhaps it isn't over yet.

Take care everyone, and never, never stop hoping!

I was feeling very down this morning but friend had suggested we go for a picnic to local gardens. It has a beautiful laburnum and wisteria tunnel and several bench seats . We sat apart but could still talk. Came home much happier. Until today we had only spoken on FaceTime.

Lizbethann55

I think you have said what a lot of us are thinking and feeling but maybe darn't mention it as it seems doom and gloom and the last thing we would want is to be shot down in flames and told to "pull our socks up".

Prior to Lockdown many of us had other problems to contend with, Lockdown was an added strain to try and contend with and somehow deal with it best we could/can.

We mustn't trivialize our problems, no matter how small as they are Big problems to ourselves .

Having someone to share these days/nights with must bring some comfort.

Many are on their own at home no pets to comfort.

A listening ear on Gnet is a comfort and to know there are many of us struggling right now, makes you realize we are not alone.

Keep posting, keep talking, each day is hopefully a step nearer to adjusting and eventually being able to once again do the things we probably took for granted.

On a lighter note ! I see someone has won the tickets to the isle of "Scilly" how lovely, I have often thought I would like to visit there, it looks so peaceful.

Bobdoesit I think DD means dear daughter and DH dear husband etc. I always just write daughter or son or husband. I dont understand some of the abbreviations.

Lizbethann I have up and down times too despite having so much to be grateful for.

Lizbethanne55 you are only one of thousands ....in fact millions of people not only in the UK but all over the world who are in this situation. From what you say it doesn't look like you have hobbies or things that you can enjoy during this lockdown. Maybe you are just plain bored! You say you have a good life so maybe just be thankful for the comforts that you have and the family which you will have more contact with when this is over. There are many many people raising young families and may live in fear of losing their jobs and living with the worry of lack of money to buy food and pay Bill's. There are also many people living on their own throughout this lockdown and suffering real loneliness. You don't seem to be in that position and for that you should be very grateful and maybe count the blessings you do have.

I’m not going to make myself popular but why are you so dismissive of the things your family are saying? What actions is the person taking to make you say they are left of Marx and why not understand more about the person who is young but thinks they have no future?The world is in a terrible place and I think the older generations have a lot to answer for! Is there a future for young people?
Personally I’ve no money, can’t see GC, have family problems but Im trying to carry on with my activism in the environment movement and volunteer to do work on organic farm, do artwork etc. I feel a lot of the depression is coming from the feeling we are getting treated unfairly as if we are all entitled to anything we want. Find a meaning in life beyond holidays and pub meals then you have something that will always be there to give you strength and get through bad times.

Lizbethann55 We could all have a zoom party. ? Glad you had a nice day.

I think we're all feeling much the same as you at the moment, good days and bad days!
I've had a couple of teary days, but pick myself up & tell myself not to dwell on it or overthink things, we can't really change things so we have to just make the best of it all. Let's hope one day soon we can get back to semi-normal... fingers crossed!!

Hi there LesleyF43 ?
Hope you enjoy GN! Perhaps look into and post tomorrow on the Good Morning thread. Mick opens up about 6:15am every day. It’s a lovely gentle thread, ideal for getting to ‘know’ a few of us and honestly you’ll soon feel part of the gang as we’re a friendly bunch!

Lizbethann55 I know what you mean. I said to my DH in years to come the date or name of the virus will be a quiz question. Went for a walk in the park today and my mood was not improved by seeing families mixing and not keeping to the government guidelines.

I had a bad day like that last week, a sense of desperation, no future to look forward to, no plannig and everyone saying this will be going on for a long time.Day in day out the same routine, even though we have a garden and working in it is therapy I suppose. Some days I feel is it going to be today,the visit fron CV. Most days I feel fine and the day after the bad day I thought of two upcoming events which made me better, my Granddaughters 20th Birthday on Sunday we shall be meeting them outside to celebrate this. In two weeks we shall be celebrating my Grandsons Graduation from College, meeting friends of his and the family, all outside, so hoping for good weather, we arent in lock down in this country but distancing. So why should I have felt so miserable with such lovely things about to happen, thinking of the grandchildrens future, not thinking of our own future.I need to pull myself together and get a life! Good Luck to anyone else feeling down it will get better.

I remember when I had DD1. A perfect baby after a late miscarriage the previous year. I had a loving husband, enough money, good parents and in-laws, and a nice new bungalow and I felt terrible. Eventually, the doctor told me I had post natal depression. It all came back to me last week when the same feeling swept over me. Covid19 Depresssion.

We come into the Shielding category. Do not go out. Ever. With really no end in sight. So we decided, as DH was also finding life increasingly difficult, to follow Mr Johnson’s advice and use our common sense.

So we’ve been out two or three times now. And today we drove (car three yards from the front door, a Covid free bubble) to our little boat (a short walk meeting no one), and chugged around for a bit, dropped a mud weight and had a picnic. It was wonderful! We both feel so much better now we’re getting out.

Do go for a drive. Find a quiet road and go for a walk, or park up and look at a view. Don’t stay trapped inside.

And it is getting better. Robert Peston said this afternoon that there were no reports of new Covid cases in London today!