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Anyone else going STIR CRAZY?

(155 Posts)
Pikachu Sun 29-Mar-20 11:44:08

Been a fortnight for us. DH not the best communicator. Managed just about OK when the weather was warmer and could get out in the garden.

Now just about ready to climb the walls. Anyone else at this stage yet?

Purplepixie Mon 30-Mar-20 11:25:49

I’m sorry that you are feeling like this Pikachu. Is there any crafts that you could maybe learn to do with the help of YouTube? Do you like to read? Maybe get a few new books from Amazon, they are still delivering. I’m sorry that I said about my crafts that I do and forget that not everyone is me.

Take care and sending you love and hugs.

Romola Mon 30-Mar-20 11:22:22

I'm missing my volunteering! Normally I would be visiting my befriended focus child, also joining our friendly litter-picking group.
Feeling pretty useless at the moment, but also very lucky as we aren't having to worry about money coming in.

Gwenisgreat1 Mon 30-Mar-20 11:21:25

Whats driving me stir crazy is trying to get shopping on-line!! Had my first delivery from Asda last night, probably because it was the end of the day - I didn't get much of my requirements!! Not wanted, but to be expected, their website is not working very well and don't know when I shall get another delivery!! Tried to get some stuff from holland & Barrett - there Web-site is similar to ASDA - at least it keeps me busy!!!

Alioop Mon 30-Mar-20 11:20:08

I'm in middle of refurb. No kitchen, some electric disconnected, radiators leaning against wall no connected either....but as long as I keep well that's the main thing. Just wish I was a plumber & an electrician....Dog& I getting on well lol, although if her one walk a day is taking away the both of us will definitely go stir crazy!

Kartush Mon 30-Mar-20 11:19:59

No stir crazy here. Being allowed to stay in my house away from people and not having to go out suits me fine. I have books to read, movies to watch, games to play, craft to do.

Craftycat Mon 30-Mar-20 11:18:48

YES!! DH is not good at being cooped up so is very touchy & I like to get out too. Having my daily walk alone but I really need to DO something. I have been cooking non stop but freezers full now- just put a steak & kidney pudding in the steamer ready for tonight.
I will do my yoga later but now weather not so good & I can't get out to do some gardening I will be stir crazy by lunchtime.

Aepgirl Mon 30-Mar-20 11:18:16

I've mastered the art of wall-climbing - just got to learn to get down again.

MarciaB Mon 30-Mar-20 11:15:42

If any of you can sew the NHS are asking people to make laundry bags, scrubs etc. I have a few old sheets so have put myself down to make laundry bags. Similar to making a pillow case and same size. May make a few scrub caps with other remnants.

Beanie654321 Mon 30-Mar-20 11:12:37

Dear Pikachu do you have a hobby? I have been in the house 3 weeks now as I have health problems. Hubby working from home. I plan some thing each day no matter what. Today it is to plant up 5 pots in garden and hoe border, do washing, clean upstairs and mow lawns. Later I shall make a cake and then some knitting. I retired a year ago from 40 years working in NHS as a qualified nurse. I have learnt to structure each day and that is how I'm managing in isolation. If you get up to trying to do without planning you get more frustrated. Tomorrow I shall be cleaning downstairs, ironing, seeding 6 pots and knitting. Exercise will be daily for 30 mins, currently doing the Joe Wicks, brilliant fun. Enjoy your day. Xxx

Teacheranne Mon 30-Mar-20 11:11:05

I'm off to the shops soon, I've not been since the lockdown started, I just hope the Coop is better stocked than last week. I'm getting very excited at actually seeing someone face to face!

I've decided to try some of the virtual tours that museums, tourist attractions etc are offering, just got to find them online! Maybe we could share any we use?

I agree on having a thread where those of us who are finding this time difficult can chat and support each other - should we start a new thread?

Tiggersuki Mon 30-Mar-20 11:08:41

Yes really I am with Teacheranne I get easily bored and like people contact. Today gave up on food shop when faced with a queue of 20 people waiting to go in the supermarket on a one in one out basis.

Tiggersuki Mon 30-Mar-20 11:04:41

Yes feeling very hemmed in. We live in a pretty part of the world and have a garden and a nice view so can be grateful for that.
Should still be in Australia at the moment and came home over two weeks early and struggling with reality here. We should have been away for months so had emptied fridge and freezer and run down other goods to come back to empty shelves and panic buying and everything changing on a daily basis over which we have little control.
I have bad arthritis in both knees and can't get acupuncture or physiotherapy so relying on painkillers. Husband off cycling up hills every day so he's alright but my knees won't let me. Managing online Pilates class which is fun for now but not enough.
Find I am paranoid on a walk outside if people come too close and that makes me stay in more.
Also I have noticed those in cars driving like idiots and people wandering in the road as if no cars will come!
My house is tidy, I have already emptied the loft and tidied it up. Knitting projects all sorted into bags with pattern and needles ( enough to last until at least Christmas).All drawers and wardrobe done just the dreaded cleaning to do.
Maybe I will just read another few chapters.....

Theoddbird Mon 30-Mar-20 11:03:15

No. Ordered Mr Motivator DVD to exercise to this morning. I live quietly anyway. Really things are not that different

Pittcity Mon 30-Mar-20 10:58:25

I'm with wildswan preferring the words "Safe at home".
I love my own company and not needing an excuse to get out of unwelcome invitations. DH is the opposite and is going crazy. He has volunteered to help and is on a list to return to the job he retired from if needed. He keeps checking his messages as he would love to go.

Calendargirl Mon 30-Mar-20 10:56:04

Don’t think we’ll suddenly find we’re free Notright, but I know what you mean. We won’t have any excuses for jobs not done after all this.

Notright Mon 30-Mar-20 10:51:57

No. I'm loving the time to do all the jobs I've been putting off for ever. Like sorting photos, my wardrobe, contacting friends, reading> I live on my own but so do most of my friends.
I keep thinking I've got months to do these things, but I'm worried I'll suddenly find we're free and I haven't done them all. I also write. Get busy, no time to climb the walls. Good luck.

Lainie45 Mon 30-Mar-20 10:49:07

Yes!

TerryM Mon 30-Mar-20 10:11:51

Yes smile I am a lot of the time
Husband and I do get on fine and our place is enough that he has the spare room and potters with his things . I have loads of things to do .
Having being retired for almost five years I am not doing too badly
However I miss popping out for coffee or lunch with a friend , going to the Westfield's to have a sticky beak , get my nails done.
Today was a hard day for some reason . Hoping tomorrow isn't as bad

Franbern Mon 30-Mar-20 10:03:37

There are some good programmes on Radio 4, I enjoy the afternoon theatre play at 2.15 - 3 pm most days. Do think it is important, if at all possible, to get out of doors for a while each day. Do you have a garden?
I do some exercises each (well, most) days. Do not bother with those shown on tv - I was a tutor and examiner of gymnastic coaches for many years, and have made up my own routing to suit me, but for others with less knowledge there is lots of help via media - even if you are confined to a chair, there are exercises you can do. Motivation is the most difficult part of it.
Yes, more than happy to talk on here, on another thread I have been involved in for nearly a year, I have made some really good virtual friends.
There is no simple 'one size to fit all' solution. Some will relish having time to do very little, others will equally relish the time to catch up with stuff they have not been able to do But I suspect that many, particularly older, folk, particularly those living alone, and many without contact via technology it is going to a difficult even dangerous time.
So, let us give each other as much support as possible, and no guilt trips about our feelings or lack of abilities to keep ourselves amused. Remember, solitary confinement has always been used as a punishment/torture - and that is what we are suffering from

Pikachu Mon 30-Mar-20 09:37:28

Thanks for the invite to PM. But on the other hand if those of us who feel like this can chat on this thread then it is more inclusive. Hopefully those who haven’t experienced these feelings, yet, will allow us that privilege and not tear into us.

We are all different. Some are crafters, I am not. Neither can I abide some of the rubbish on TV but accept that others find that interesting or diverting. Some are able-bodied, as I used to be until recently.

But just to have some of you acknowledge you feel the same does help.

Franbern Mon 30-Mar-20 09:26:05

Pikachu and Teacheranne, I am totally with your feelings. I live by myself - which I normally absolutely love. Moved into my lovely flat only a few months ago and worked very hard at building up local social groups mainly with U3A, giving me something to do most days. Also, had friends coming to stay for a few days, and I was going to stay with friends. Suddenly, here I am stuck indoors. My flat is clean, and as I only moved in recently, all the cupboards are sorted, clean and tidy. I had planned to sort out my balcony after Easter, but now cannot get pots, compost and plants. Do try to get out each day for a short while on my mobility scooter and am still doing my own shopping. It is hard to motivate myself to get dressed each morning - seems to be a waste of time - but I do so and am trying very hard to keep to normal times of eating, going to bed and getting up. I try to watch as few news programmes on CV as I can, prefer some escapism programmes recorded on my Humax. Doing a little knitting, but usually, only in the evenings - scared of running out of yarn. Trying to write a daily diary, and am making at least one phone call to friends each day. Also skyping my g.children. Very fed up, and seriously concerned how long my mental health (usually very strong) can stand this. Some afternoons, I do meet with one of my daughters in the local park on the beach, we stay well away from one another, but at least, for a short time I can chat to someone.
I am more than happy for either or both of you, or anybody else to PM me here so we can have virtualy conversations to try to support each other.

Greymar Mon 30-Mar-20 09:22:10

Everybody experiences the world differently and this crisis shows that more than ever. I'm glad you came back. Those of us who have built a fragile life based on classes, shopping, friends, walks and so on and have them suddenly removed are struggling.
I am struggling massively, so I get where youre coming from OP.

Pikachu Mon 30-Mar-20 08:22:44

I nearly didn’t come back to this thread because of some of the first few responses. They made me feel that I was to blame for feeling like that.

However I’ve been reassured by those of you who’ve experienced that ‘stir crazy’ feeling too or ‘bored out of my mind’ as a friend put it when he rang yesterday.

It doesn’t help that I can’t get out to walk. I feel I understand my dog now and how excited he gets when there’s movement in the street. It won’t be long before I start barking at passers-by.

welbeck Mon 30-Mar-20 01:10:01

here's a soppy suggestion, those of you who are sequestered with a DP, or relative/ valued friend, could you write little notes of appreciation and hide them about the place.
this has just occurred to me, so wanted to share it with you.
perhaps because i have no one now to direct them to, and wish i had done so when i could. it is so easy to take people for granted, and to get annoyed over such dross, unimportant rubbish, often rooted in egotism. i know i did.
spike milligan, used to leave miniature letters with drawings for his pre-school children, among the flowers in the garden. they were led to believe that the fairies wrote them.

paddyanne Mon 30-Mar-20 01:00:54

We've been home since March 12th,It hasn't been a problem until yesterday when we also lost a friend not to CV ,a very sudden nexpected heart attack.We feel so bad that we cant visit the family or attend the funeral.Difficult times