Tonight I lost it and just wept ....

I think we need a group hug like the Teletubbies - virtually of course! We can all send positive vibes to those who are having a bad day, in the knowledge that the same will be done for us when it's our turn to feel down. Sending now...

I think it’s natural that our anxiety may worsen over the next few days or weeks. For most of us, it’s bad enough anyway but it’s like going backwards because we don’t know what the easing of lockdown will bring. I am stopping listening to most of the news....much of it is distorted anyway,in their quest to get a good story line, checking in once a day for the statistics....and just plan to stay in or go out according to my mood. I am also worried about family who are all in London but I trust they will do more or less what I would do in their situation,...so there isn’t really any point. Of course, we all stay in touch and I do what I can from a distance. I would take it a day at a time. Each day is very different, take pleasure where you can with small things and accept those days where you just want to feel miserable. This too will pass.

I agree with others,it's what happened to the transport worker that has upset me the most this week.It may not have been spat on that caused her death,but it was still a disgusting thing to do to her.It also highlights that people are being made to work in unsafe conditions.A lot of us are feeling panicky at the moment,it's hard for us retired people as well as those who work.We can't see any hope of being able to do the things we normally do,a lot us just are not used to spending so much time alone,it's the first time I've ever really felt lonely

"Ginny" the poem is lovely. So apt for these strange days. Thankyou so much.

I liked that poem Ginny. We are all experiencing things we’ve never experienced before and the uncertainty of everything is sometimes over whelming. I had an awful day last week when I felt so down I just went back to bed. Never ever have I felt like this. I will take each day as it comes.

Please don’t worry about the exams cupcake1 the whole year is in the same boat. I honestly don’t think it will have serious consequences for most young people.

Cupcake I hope you’re feeling a bit better today

Ginny Thank you for the beautiful poem

And to everyone else who feels overwhelmed and unsure and wobbly

This thread has made me cry this morning. It’s so difficult for everyone and everyone has their own individual worries and fears. We all worry about our families, when will we see them, are they okay, how are they coping? A lot of our families are not coping too well, as their usual childcare has been removed, that of course, was all of us grandparents.

I never feel great in the morning. I’ve taken anti depressants for a long time, since I had a life threatening illness and hit the menopause, and normally they keep me well. But now I find the mornings quite difficult again, a typical symptom of depression. I’m alright after a couple of hours. But this thread made me cry. We seem to be looking out of our houses and it’s an abyss. It seems never ending with little to look forward to.

I too have had a few meltdowns over the past few weeks, you are not alone. Sending virtual hugs to you. xx. Its the stress, we are all under a certain amount of stress at the moment
because of the virus. More obvious for some people but it affects everyone. It's a bit of grief for the loss of our lives as they were, uncertainty as to what the future will look like and fear for our families, friends and ourselves. Don't feel bad - you're human. xxxx,

The ones that most trouble me are those children with very poor early years experiences at home that need nursery to give them any hope.

I do worry about those little ones.

I find my emotions are very close to the surface at the moment. The smallest thing, happy or sad makes me cry(on the inside). My poor husband would be beside himself if he knew how unstable I feel. I think we are all a bit frightened and over-whelmed but that is perfectly normal given the circumstances.

ginny
Thank you. That is lovely.

I heard the transport worker’s cousin say that she had reported the spitting to her bosses, but nothing was done. They should have looked in cctv and tried to trace the culprit there and then. She also normally worked away from the public and had health issues, but was obviously expendable.

I heard a quote on the radio the other day - "It's easier to cope if you have hope". Short and to the point, but very true, never give up hope that we'll get through this.

I find that the thing which is hardest to accept is that everyone, all generations, are going to have to adjust to a completely different style of social and work life. If it's true that we'll have to learn to live with the virus.
As for protection of frontline workers - there was a documentary on tv 2 nights ago which I watched:
www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b09r8jvr/hulls-headscarf-heroes
These women joined together to get better conditions for deep sea fishermen. I couldn't stop thinking about the dreadful conditions these men worked under.
We were living in Hull at the tme and I was working as a remedial reading teacher in the area.

Dear Twig14 sincere condolences to you and your family. Please take care of yourself x
Wheniwasyourage hugs right back at you!
x

ps and the poor transport worker, I read that too. I've noticed a few incidents here when some stupid young teen with no school, nothing to do, causes trouble. Yesterday one of them passed very close to me on his bike on the pavement where I was walking. Made me wobble and I wish I'd had the presence of mind to stick my foot out under his front wheel.
(Maybe not - we would have both been over.)

Glad you like the poem. I have it printed out and keep it in my purse. Always makes me feel better when I have a wobble.

Years ago, just after my Dad died when I was in my 30s, I attended a WEA course on 'How to Cope with Bereavement'. At the first session, the leader said something that has stuck with me ever since, and has helped me a lot.
He said, 'Bereavement isn't just about death. It can be about loss of anything - future plans, relationships, friendships - and you grieve in the same way for these. You still go through the stages of grief - recognise this and it will help you to understand your feelings'.
This is about the loss of the futures that we'd planned, were looking forward to - and (in my case) were enjoying. They've vanished, and we don't know which bits - if any - will come back. Personally, I'm in the 'anger' stage at the moment - lots of shouting at the telly when inept politicians are announcing things that terrify me because they're so obviously going to cause a second huge surge in cases (& deaths). But I know that this is normal, is part of the grieving process, and will pass eventually.
Hang on in there everyone ❤️

Love the poem ginny. I think we all have days like this I know I do, I have tears now just reading the comments.

I do agree with growstuff. I’m an ex teacher too and really feel for all in the profession. The only thing I would say is how long can we go on without a “back to work” initiative? We can’t just stay as we are, safe as it may be. Our economy, our mental health and the children’s education and welfare are all important and those needs must be addressed at some point. Those of us who are retired can make the choice but Im afraid others can’t. This is why it’s so urgent to introduce quickly ways of allowing a phased return to normality in the safest possible way. To those who constantly criticise the Government I would say could you do any better under these unfamiliar and unexpected circumstances?

Hi. I understand totally your break down. I read this below and it helped me feel better about the moments I feel exactly the same as you.
Here’s to holding it together.
It will pass, let’s just pray it’s quickly and not many more are lost to it. Love to everyone overwhelmed at the moment. ❤️

Very touching Ginny ??

Those of us who are shielding relatives are beyond worried that the government is going to sacrifice more lives for the sake of the economy. As long as it isn't one of their relatives, that's ok then.

I'm so sorry cupcake1. I too have been struggling with my emotions recently. I suffer from fibromyalgia which is a constant pain and I've recently had to have 2 referrals to outpatients about other issues and the clinics are of course not operating as normal just now so it could be months & months before I get a diagnosis. We live in a very isolated farmhouse with no neighbours so I rarely see anyone other than DH who spends a lot of time working in the garden or somewhere on the farm. Our son has unexpectedly been called back to work overseas and will be gone for at least 6 weeks, leaving DDIL with a 7 year old and a 2 year old with learning difficulties. He could go back to nursery 2 days a week which is what he needs as his progress has stopped without stimulation & he is regressing but DDIL will have to work, leaving 7 year old with nowhere to go. I feel we need to help but can't see how, given the constraints, though there's no joined up thinking - children of separated parents can move between 2 houses, people who've rowed can move elsewhere to cool down, cleaners & nannies can work in peoples' homes... none of it makes any sense. I feel completely unsettled, bemused and miserable & am certainly doing quite a bit of crying right now.

I totally agree aonk.

The government might not be full of my favourite people, but could Labour have not any better?

It is easy to criticise from the sidelines...this situation of course is totally unprecedented and we are all feeling our way.

However I do criticise the fact that PPE expiry dates were not checked and allowed to get out of date (Channel 4 news).
Also...the situation in care homes was not properly considered.