In support of others in challenging times.

[Guest_9043]

Hi,

Don't expect anyone to respond to this. It's just a post to talk about how I am feeling and to offer much love and understanding to those who are also struggling. For the first few weeks I did not take Covid 19 too seriously. I knew Italy had been hit hard and I truly felt so much for Italy. Sad even. Felt powerless to help. I at first got so angry with Australians panic buying. I was so annoyed at the ridiculousness of it and thought it would blow over very soon. I was wrong, it got much worse. I found myself getting very depressed after a shopping trip for a weekly shop. I was upset I could not get certain things to make meals. I was upset I could not even get a bottle of hand sanitizer or methylated spirits to make my own hand sanitizer.

Then the government started making changes, social distancing and events I was going to were cancelled. From there on in it was a snowball effect. In my state of WA, our borders were shut today and no businesses with food such as restaurants, cafes, pubs are not allowed open after 12pm daytime. Gyms, cinemas, casino and nightclubs all shut down. I'm concerned about the clean up after this has eased more. Many people have lost their jobs with no second income. People will hardly be hiring right now. The hit to the economy is going to have a large dent in it.

I'm really struggling to even come to terms with such rapid and fast changes.

I just want to wish you all better days sooner rather tater. Keep your heads up and pay attention to washing your hands very popular.

I wish everyone very well and take good always.

2quik.

[Andre_P]

Well said m8. It’s not easy for anyone. The hardest part is changing 1’s habits soo dramatically let alone self isolating etc.

We definitely need to all have empathy for one another n be kind to each other.

As for the washing hands thing well I got that covered mate, I got ocd 😂 I’ve been washing my hands like a crazy person for years. Now I actually look normal 😂.

keep in touch m8. 👊👊

[Guest_9043]

Hi Andre,

I used to have the OCD issue you have. I was aware of it becoming worse so before it did I did something about it. I had to work with my brain. I understand it is not easy though and hard to overcome and work through. It's definitely psychological.

You were normal anyway before Covid 19 Having OCD does not make you not normal. That's my opinion though.

I'm finding the self isolation and social distancing very hard. I need to do social things and not isolate too much to manage my mental illness.

[romantic_thi3f]

Hello,

Thank you for your post 2quik and I so appreciate your kindness and warmth to everyone that has to go through this.

I too have felt the same way- in total shock and sympathy for people overseas dealing with something so extreme, to almost laughter at the ridiculousness of stockpiling toilet paper - we literally make our own! All the way to total misery and despair at not even being able to find one roll for myself. Now when I go grocery shopping instead of having a plan (like I've always done) I see what food is available and try and make a meal out of that.

You are right in that so much has shut down - and I'm guessing more will be too for now. But I also believe that Australia is pretty resilient and will be able to bounce back after all of this. How have you been coping?

Andre_P -

While this post applies to you too of course I was just thinking that it must be so hard for some people with OCD - having intense rituals and trying not to wash their hands too much and now having reminders everywhere to wash our hands?!

[Guest_9043]

Hi Romantic Thief,

You are welcome. It's the least I can do. Each person is heavily impacted by Covid 19. It has hit everyone and everything hard. Coles sent us an email saying pensioners, people on Newstart, veterans etc are opening it's doors between the hours of 7am and 8am Monday, Wednesday and Friday for that hour for those people only. I am in that bracket so I am going to do that now and hopefully can get some stuff I'm not getting.

As for how I've been coping, I have not been at all. I have only just realised in the last few days how it's impacted on me overall. It was so unprecedented and it all happened so fast I had no time to even keep up with massive change in short time frames. For a person who tries to deal with change as best I can it was too much and very rapid.

Looking at some of the actions a large majority of Australians took with the panic buying and the major repercussions that has had still makes me feel angry. I see the majority of Australia now as selfish, thoughtless and counter productive. It wasn't just the panic buying it was doomand gloom from the get go like the whole of Australia was suddenly going to be in lock down. You also see this behaviour when new items or big sales are about to happen. Hoards of people, people even camping out the front of stores. I see all of it as completely unnecessary and I can see the major devastating effect it has had. Now given that I would hope but am doubtful that Australians will reflect on their choices and do better next time. There is going to be a next time. It's not government that should be looked at, it is also largely us as individual people. A lot of things were absolutely unnecessary.

Some things I agree with, others I do not. Restricting travel for a short time. Fine and understandable. Closing our borders, no I don't agree.

Stopping groups from running all together, no I don't agree. (This has had a major impact on me)

The media asking dumb questions as usual about setting up a 1300 number to dob in a neighbour seen not doing the right thing. Stupidity abound and completely disagree. Security measures, security guards out front of stores? What for,excuse me mam, you have too many rolls of toilet paper,I'm going to ask you to only take the alloted amount per customer.

Australia may or may not be resilient, the clean up I shudder to think. Extremely disappointed in Australia.

[Andre_P]

Today was actually a hard day. I spent all day getting stuff all done.

What’s hard is I live with my old man and he knows how to push my buttons lol. I like things a certain way n he moves stuff so I can’t find it lol.

yea I’m definitely a perfectionist.

I wish I had the money to have my own place. As I previously mentioned somewhere I’m an outgoing introvert. I like my own space but when I go out or catch up with someone I make a good go of it.

while I’m an introvert I certainly don’t like sitting home all bloody day everyday. I wanna get out n go for a drive somewhere n go to a local restaurant n the beach or whatever etc etc, but we can’t in these hard times as everything’s shut n in lockdown (almost).

cant wait till things are back to normal ay.

[Guest_9043]

Hey Andre,

I am sorry you had a hard day yesterday. Some days are harder than others. You seem to have a sense of humor in regards to your father and sometimes a sense of humor is needed in life. I do hope one day you can get some money together to have your own place.

I am an introvert myself, not much of a sociable person or outgoing though. I used be. I just changed over the last 6 or so years. I do not mind having a great chat with someone, I need it to be interesting though. I can get bored with how's the weather type of chat? I like in depth and thoughtful chats. It makes me feel more alive in myself. I do understand though about going out. I still go out to parks, beaches very low key social things with just a few people.

I am not going out a lot now. I am quite depressed and just over what I am witnessing every time I go out. I am trying realLy hard to minimise getting way too involved with Covid 19. This social distancing I am finding darn hard. I went to woolworths today and it was shut at 10:30 am. Not open at all. I did not know why. Heaps of people waiting. I ended up going to a tobacconist instead. I was upset. A young girl was scrubbing the floors like no ones business and the guy who served me stood literally a metre and a half away. I said to him I am finding this social distancing very difficult. He just said well if it is what they recommend we should do it. I was just sad.

Then no one is even allowed in the chemist I went too. The entry is all roped off. You have to stop there and someone comes to help you with what you want. You also have to pay there and that is it. You leave.

The reception where I live has closed completely and we are not allowed in at all. To get our mail we have to call reception, walk to their front door and be met at the door with our mail. I cannot cope a second longer. It is just too much for me. Now, I am having to get up at 7am to go do my weekly shop tomorrow. I want this to be over.

2quik.

[Andre_P]

Yes mate it isn’t easy. I was having a disagreement with the old man today. I just calmly jumped in my vehicle and went for a drive. Just drove around doing nothing but seeing the sites and listening to music. It was good to get out. I may not be able to stop for an event but that doesn’t stop me from driving/driving to a park ^_^

what I am finding though is that this whole social distancing is creating more anxiety. I feel like it’s me vs the world sometimes and this kind of behaviour is very bad for anxiety. I hope this thing ends soon so I can at least try and go back to normal.

to be fair I’m not as sociable as I once was. The problem is the longer u stay in your funk the harder it is to get out. I kinda miss my 20s mate. No phobias and not a care in the world. Sigh I can’t look back at that.

hope your doing well 👊

[Doolhof]

Hi Andre, RT, 2quik and All Reading,

Thanks for all your comments. Sometimes I think I have this staying at home more covered as I have been self isolating anyway for years when my depression hits. I have fought it in the past so now it is more necessary to stay home I half get it and the other half of me is fighting it.

I have work, but due to this current situation I am not sure how long for. Part of my job is to assist people coming into the establishment...no people are coming in now so I sit at a desk with nothing to do for hours. Who is going to keep paying me to do that?

The other day I happened to park my car near an abandoned café. A bird was looking for food. It made me cry.

I'm trying to get myself interested in arts and craft projects I have started and never completed or to start new ones.

I have the time now to do loads of jobs in the garden but I have no motivation!

I need to work on my thoughts, emotions and feelings and try harder to make the most of each today. I was told once to be aware of my actions and reactions to event happening around me.

This morning I will go for a walk before walk. Hopefully that will help cheer the spirit.

Cheers all from Dools

[Guest_9043]

Hi Andre,

It is more than fine going for a drive around your locality. There are NO RULES stating you can't and I suggest you keep doing it. It is necessary.

I too am having great difficulty with the social distancing so that is one of the reasons I barely go out. In saying that I feel angry, sad and defeated by this pandemic.

I can also suggest do everything you can (within the limits that have been imposed and enforced) to not stay in the funk.

I only just joined a community page on Facebook within my own locality in support of Covid 19. It does also help. I'm finding very kind and caring people. I've spoken openly about my mental illness and people have reached out through comments on my post. I guess for me that's the silver lining in the cloud. Talking to people you never thought you would and opening up to community. I use this all to my advantage.

Keep your chin up mate.