Coping during the Coronavirus outbreak

[Sophie_M]

We recognise that many of us here in the community are feeling scared, worried and overwhelmed about Coronavirus (COVID19). 

As a result, we created this thread to allow people to come together here during those difficult times and encouraged those wanting to share or seek support to do so here in this space. 
 
It was important with this thread that we maintained perspective and supported each other as best as we could, medical, scientific and public health experts around the world have and still are working hard to contain the virus and treat those affected. 
 
The Beyond Blue Support Service is available via phone 24/7 on 1300 22 4636 or via beyondblue.org.au/get-support for online chat. 
 
There are some other helpful discussions taking place here within our forum community that you may find helpful to read or participate in: https://www.beyondblue.org.au/get-support/online-forums/staying-well/hi-there-i-only-just-joined-and... 

This thread is now closed for further posting. Users are still able to read through and find support through already existing posts.  

[Guest_1584]

Haaa , glad you got a nice pack anyway.

But yeah right , well that's good then at least.

More , God l hope not , for everyone , we've had enough. Any more 22's though and we best not get hopes up.

Hope your ok.

rx

[quirkywords]

Dools

Sorry to hear of your quarantine, can you have food delivered.

I have been trying to measure from fro door to stint wall. Not much place in my garden to walk.
thanks for sharing. I started a lock down diary, I know quarantine is much more restrictive.

I write fir a few days but then I was doing it retrospectively but I have ideas to do things then I do not keep it up.

hi mimsy

i liked your post. Comparisons can be so unnecessary.

I am sorry you are up and down I can be down in morning neutral in afternoon and a bit up at night. Are you down all day.?

[Guest_1643]

sounds difficult and upsetting dools, sending support to u

hi rx - another week would be hard. I'm accepting it at the moment but it would be great to have some end in sight. I appreciate seeing the cases go up that they really don't seem to know from day to day so its hard for them to predict. I was expecting the cases to begin going down... and they are still sky-rocketing.
Hi quirky, thanks for ur understanding towards my post.

Hi Monika i've seen a lot of petitioning via social media to reinstate the higher-level jobseeker wage... which they had last year. To give ppl more funds. I doubt they will do it... but i hope they show more compassion. The poverty cycle is painful for many ppl and we need to help each other out.

One thing I use is the Utility Relief Grant to help pay with gas and electrical bills. It's pretty helpful, if you are having financial difficulties . sending support to all

[SingleMum123]

Hi,

I've commented in this thread before and feel I need to vent about this lockdown.

I honestly feel so exasperated now. I'm crying more in this lockdown. Trying to juggle full work, being a single parent and home schooling is all taking its toll. I can go part-time with my work from next week which takes some of the pressure off but still the outside world hasn't changed.

I feel like I can't trust the Government. Things always change. I had been looking forward to going away for just one night this weekend for so long which now won't be happening. It was only to the beach 2 hours from home.

Even the simplest things feel unattached.

When I try to talk to family they say how lucky we are not to be overseas with more cases, but it just invalidates my feelings.

Anyway, I know I'm not alone in how I feel after reading other people's posts.

I wish everyone lots of love and light and the strength to face whatever challenges are ahead of us.

[Rupes79]

Why won’t the premiers or the federal government release the cost benefit analysis of Covid lockdowns?

Is it perhaps because there is no net benefit? We mourn the death of age care residents mostly in Victoria last year, and any death is sad for those involved, but overlook that less people died in aged care in 2020 than they did in 2019.

Why wont they tell us what the costs of lockdowns are on mental health, delayed healthcare and education standards for our young?

Thats before we even talk about the economic impact which will be long lasting and have further health implications for some.

Here in NSW we are at 1,200 cases with four people dead. 170 people die in NSW every single day. No mention for them.

These lockdowns are becoming a circus and largely a result of the premiers collective egos.

[Guest_1643]

hi single mum, sending you strength to manage all that u have on ur busy plate right now, thinking of u

its so invalidating to hear those comments. it makes ppl scared to be honest about their feelings.

Anyone who is a caring friend will hopefully try and imagine and accept wht is happening for u.... i hope there are some ppl around u who believe ur experience and empathise, if not, know that we here do.

[golden82]

Hi again everyone,

Hi Dools - so sorry to read you are suffering through full-on lockdown/quarantine. Thinking of you. You will get thru it with the strength you have.. but it will be tough no doubt. I am in SA too - but not needing to quarantine. Although I live in a shoebox with no yard, no nothing. I hope you can get some time in your yard.

Hi Rupes - spot on. It makes me mad too.

Hi to the new posters; I am glad you feel comfortable posting here and a little less alone. It is a safe place to post our struggles.

Hi as always Sleepy 🙂 Good on you for being so proactive to get a little pack of goodies. I am glad you got some nice things.

I have been on the lines a great deal over these last few days. With mixed results as usual. Sometimes sugary sweet which makes it worse for me. But then tonight had a really helpful guy just now which is like a breath of fresh air. It is a lottery with this stuff. But super lucky I got him. Just realistic about it all. Accepting and agreeing that it is a struggle.

What I really struggle with is that no-one - and I literally mean no-one connects with me. I have 4 'friends' I would say on the fb msger. But no reaching out or checking with a how u going? This sort of stuff shows me what I already know - that I have no real friends. They are nice ppl. Just I guess not friends. I think of them as friends but when things like Christmas alone, Easter alone, Covid lockdowns alone - and not even a hey?? Shows me I don't matter to them. Or anyone. This is how Covid lockdowns really hit home to me. How alone I am. I wouldn't even have anyone as a bubble buddy.

The premiers and CHOs are SO out-of-touch with ppl like me. No, it is not just a lockdown. It is like solitary confinement for a good human being who has done nothing wrong. With libraries closed, safe places closed, stay at home in 4 walls with no interaction. Just to reflect on your reality of alone. Let alone past abuse and trauma flashbacks. At least at a park or something you can ppl watch and feel a part of something - although it is not really a part of something - you can imagine and drift away for a bit. That is I think why lockdowns affect me so much. Makes my lonely, small world even more so. That is what it is like for me.

I know a lot of you are struggling at the other end and wanting to be alone and I can imagine that would be hard too. I just don't think thought goes into our daily struggles. Pollies , CHOs make decisions from their perches.

[Bananie1234]

Hey lunastone

Sometimes i wonder if it’s the government or the media. I believe there’s a lot of fear mongering from the media but not sure about the government. I have no problems with restrictions, i have no problems with face masks if that gives me most of my freedom back. but i really disagree with snap lockdowns and taking away our freedom completely even if it’s temporary. I don’t know if a virus is worth putting our lives on hold. i can already see every state taking turns going into lockdown over a few cases in the next coming months.

I know people blame governments but I feel it’s also difficult for them too. If someone (even just one person) dies as a result of covid due to eased restrictions, we blame the government, but if the government goes hard on everyone, we also blame the government. (I feel this applies more for NSW and VIC as they often get criticised for taking too long to call for a lockdown) I’m thinking maybe the premiers would rather be labelled as a dictator instead of being accused of having blood in their hands.

im in victoria now. This is my first snap lockdown ever and I can already see why Melbournians hate it so much. Melbourne is such a vibrant city, people are so outgoing/active and they know how to live. And to have that taken away suddenly with no guarantee of an end date is actually painful.

i also feel bad for gladys. She’s always been one that tried to make sure people’s lives can be as normal as possible during a pandemic.

Once again, any death is sad. But it seems that a death from covid is more sad than a death from something else. If someone dies as a result of covid restriction- eg delayed surgery. Is that not as sad as a covid death?

People blame the vaccine roll out. But honestly, noone was in a rush or refuse to get them at first and now everyone’s fighting for it.

in the end it’s team effort. We can blame the government but each individual still needs to put in the effort and there’s always someone out there ruining it for us. As a pharmacy worker, even during a pandemic, people’s lack of hygiene is just horrifying. I understand It’s not the most deadly disease but we still need to be cautious.

I really hope things will go well for you career wise. Who cares if it sounds like a first world problem. It shows that your career is an important part of your life and that’s amazing.
I understand how tough the WA premier can be and i hope you can hang in there.

We’ll be in touch xx

[Guest_1584]

Yeah seen a lot of reports and interviews with all kinds of experts over this 18mths and many saying the ongoing eventual health costs later of locking down a society is far far greater than anything Covid. They're talking about the whole spectrum from MH, depression, bankruptcies and on and on. ln two minds not saying l agree but l def' don't agree with this all still ongoing after all this time. On the other hand though it's all such a catch 22 bc how would we like to be one of the countries still getting 50 or 100s of k a day after all this time and they've also had hard lock downs themselves too a long the way yet still with those numbers soooo, damned if l know. Sick of this crap though and don't trust the media or Gov's l know that much.

Gladdy was pretty stressed today better hold on in NS l'd say surely though they'd have to start going down soon now. But saw a Vic report too where he said our numbers were actually pretty good and they were pleased bc that 22 were actually already in isolation so that's encouraging.

rx

[Doolhof]

Hello to Everyone here,

My thoughts are with you all as you find your own way to negotiate and travel through what is happening in your lives right now.

We are in quarantine, but I realise I have so much to be thankful for. I have my husband and my cat here. Last night we had a power failure so we decided to do a jigsaw puzzle with candle light and ate snacks for dinner. The cat sat on a seat and looked at the puzzle pieces before pawing a couple of them and claiming them for herself.

We have done our first ever shopping on line food order. Thankfully a store in a town close to us covers our region. The postman who does deliveries outside of our town has very kindly agreed to deliver our mail to us while we are in quarantine.

I'm very thankful we have a garden to be able to spend time in.

If this had happened a month ago when my mental health was in a terrible place I do not know how I would have coped. I am so thankful I have been able to rise above the dark place I was in. I know I can go back there any time so hope I don't.

My heart does go out to all of you who are suffering.

I'm wondering if some people have lost some of their empathy and understanding of other people's concerns and problems because this pandemic has been going on for so long. It is as though some people are just numb and don't get the pain others are experiencing.

I'm sending kindest regards and best wishes to you all. From Dools