Planning on trying to have our Friday beers 'online' tomorrow. It's not so bad for those of us with families but the single folk at our work are a bit more isolated. Hope it works. Moving to more video chats as well rather than just phoning as seeing people helps as well
Wishing strength to those on here who are struggling
I'm a remote worker anyway but my London office colleagues are now too.
An online Friday evening drinks at 6pm was suggested yesterday. It's a nice idea to keep the morale up and to stay in touch socially.
Just watched the Bojo news thing. Even though what he’s telling us to do I’ve been doing for the last week or so, my anxiety has just gone through the roof and feel trapped (even though I’m not) 😣
I guess making a phone call a day to people I know as I’m terrible for staying in touch. Run up and down my path 714 times for a 5k run. Keep regular hours and don’t stay in bed though I’m an hour past bedtime already. Stand on the path at a set time for a brew to talk to elderly neighbour who lives alone. Make it up as we go along. Odd times indeed.
Like most of us I'm struggling a bit as well. However for me social media has been great. Lots of positive stories and a lot of funnies. Don't read all the news - just get the basic info you need. ditch anyone on social media that is all doom and gloom. Concentrate on those posting funnies.
Your friends and you make a mutual support circle. Lean on them and prop them up. do a good deed every day even if its as little as being silly to make someone laugh.
Shout out for help if / when it hits you badly. I'll post you a pic of an otter doing tricks or one of my better selfies.
I mean what can you do in the face of this? I am in isolation, I have run out of chocolate. I have no tonic left but I do have 6l of sloe gin.
this is a good one - me with the pasty I won off binners in some daft political bet. Now thats a moment to cherish
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TJ, you've a face only a dog would lick...
🙂
I'm generally pretty self aware and able to preempt the dark clouds descending and/or implement an antidote. Often that's a bike ride, like so many here.
I work from home a bit anyway, and rarely go to central office, use a local remote office a lot. I work for the local authority, site based. Anyhow, a fortnight ago I fell sleep after playing football with a fan heater blowing in my face (cold old house) and woke up an hour later feeling like shit with a blocked nose. I had a crappy sinus thing for a few days so didn't go to central office as usual that week given the situation, it was caused by the heater but resembled a cold...
So I've been home working since then as guidance then changed anyway, we've been on limited site visits, talk of redeployment etc, and I've generally been pretty rubbish and unproductive tbh.
Today I had to fill a form out with my skills and now await redeployment as our service is being reduced to a skeleton staff, I've no idea what/where/when in terms of the job(s) I'll need to do. One positive is that pay will remain at usual level. I was feeling pretty rubbish this afternoon, spoke to a couple of friends, temporally cheered me up, until Boris came on... I don't do being indoors/at home any more than necessary, I'm out nearly every night and all weekend doing something until a couple of weeks ago.
I have sod all outgoings, no debt, job is secure, fortunately live in a big farm house (not mine) with a big garden, some dogs and lots of farm stuff that needs doing too. It's totally illogical, all of the above puts me in a much better position than most people, my thoughts are also really selfish as I'm currently stuck at "I'm a chartered professional, I didn't sign up to do whatever the council needs in a potentially high risk job".
But that's where I'm at in any case, an impending sense of doom and generally in a fairly dark mood, frustrated further by knowing it's not logical or at all community spirited. I'm young (ish) fit and healthy, no dependents, no money worries, much better position than many but still wallowing in a bit of self pity.
Tips, please? I've deleted any news apps and links, I'll limit my consumption of information I think for starters.
Thread killer.
Update - I've slept on it, come to terms with the fact I was being a selfish arsehole, stopped letting that compound my anger/frustration and am letting it go.
Easy news sources gone, FB and IG apps gone. As much positive stuff as there is on social media, there's an awful lot of rubbish. I'll read and watch classic rallying videos instead if I can't be in the garden.
Terribly self absorbed, but typing it here and realising how much of a tit I was being has helped, so thanks OP.
Thats sort of where I ended up.
Cut big news channels from your life. Pm speech out and just after its over the speculation and over analysing starts. It is pathetic. You will be happier without that tripe.
Link below to Diverse Minds UK latest blog post on maintaining good mental health & wellbeing during Cv19. Sounds like people on here are generally pretty self aware but hope this might be a useful resource.
https://diverseminds.co.uk/five-ways-to-wellbeing-during-coronavirus
We are lucky to be able to keep working, stay occupied and perhaps even contribute in a small way.
I am working on a digital product which will encourage people to take action to help others and stay connected in the weeks and months ahead, and to give guidance on bolstering their mental health.
So I'm finding things easier than my wife, who has more time to browse social media and fret.
Still I've had to stop reading and contributing to the CV threads on here, because they're overrun by speculation, bickering and ill-founded judgement of others' choices or opinions. Not my loss.
Unrelated but still kind-of related, I saw a really good film on Netflix the other day - Lady Bird. Well worth a watch, very heartwarming and original look at families.
Still I’ve had to stop reading and contributing to the CV threads on here, because they’re overrun by speculation, bickering and ill-founded judgement of others’ choices or opinions. Not my loss.
They are like the crack cocaine of the forum
Had a few nights now waking up fretting at 3-4 and unable to go back to sleep. More about our parents than us. Finally sent home from work today after a frantic hour trying to leave stuff obvious for the colleagues covering to pick up.
Glorious ride home - sun, flowers, blossom, bees and butterflies. Parents are sounding chipper, positive and sensible on the phone. Hoping to sleep through tonight.
So I'm struggling a bit at the moment.
Before and after my mental break (or what ever the term is now) last year I didn't go into the office much and WFH when I could - this suited me then as I didn't want to be around people.
This has changed over the last few months and I've actually enjoyed being around people again - still WFH 1-2 days but not dreading going into the office.
Now that I'm basically having to WFH with the odd skype call I'm struggling.
I miss the chats around the kettle and the random bits of piss taking.
I'm worried that if this goes on for too long I'll end up back where I was.
Have you taken steps to replicate that chit-chat online (or phone) at all?
We're all making more effort to stay in touch by messanger, video calls and phone - and making sure it's not all work-related (except today it has been 'cos we're madly busy).
I subscribed to Spotify as a student the other day and got the headspace meditation app included free which also includes a code for a free 2 week trial. If anyone thinks they'd make use of it just ping me a dm and I'll send it over.
Have you taken steps to replicate that chit-chat online (or phone) at all?
We’re all making more effort to stay in touch by messanger, video calls and phone – and making sure it’s not all work-related (except today it has been ‘cos we’re madly busy).
Trying to but it's not been very successful so far.
Someone has arranged virtual lunch drinks on Friday so see how that goes - one of the lads is leaving that day too.
Also to add a kick in the nuts we were told good news/bad news today:
Good News - Pay rises in effect from 1st April
Bad News - All UK staff have to now take a mandatory pay cut from 1st April due to the 'exceptional circumstances' and predicted 20% drop in revenue.
We have no idea how much though as we are waiting for our individual notifications.
Talk about adding to an already stressful situation.
I am really struggling now. About a decade ago my mental health was rubbish, huge health related anxiety. I'd more or less got it under control 7-8 years back, primarily through cyclng more again, but it's been knocked back to square one by this. To make matters worse I found a sheep tick attached at the beggining of the week. Even thoguh I got it off cleanly and have been given anti-biotics as a precaution I find it hard not to be completely convinced I have asymptomatic lymes disease which will not respond to the anti-biotics and I'll end up with long term health issues. I know the chances of this are small, and that its just my general anxiety about the current situation manifesting itself in a specific way but I can't shake it. Terrified I'll end up long term ill and not be able to be a good dad. This is not helping me deal with having to manage full time working at home with a wife also trying to work at home and splitting the childcare. Not doing any proper excerise because I'm afraid if i do it will compromise the antibiotics, even though probably a good turbo session would do me the world of good.
Head well and truly mangled 🙁
To make matters worse I found a sheep tick attached at the beggining of the week. Even thoguh I got it off cleanly and have been given anti-biotics as a precaution I find it hard not to be completely convinced I have asymptomatic lymes disease which will not respond to the anti-biotics and I’ll end up with long term health issues. I know the chances of this are small, and that its just my general anxiety about the current situation manifesting itself in a specific way but I can’t shake it.
Good that you've been given antibiotics and please familiarise yourself with the NICE guidelines on Lyme disease. Here's an easy to read version written by a member of the guideline committee.
https://caudwelllyme.com/what-does-the-nice-guideline-for-lyme-disease-say/
Would be worth keeping a diary of any symptoms, no matter how small or trivial you feel they are. There is an opportunity for a further dose of antibiotics should you continue to feel unwell.
Don't wish to increase your anxiety but the NHS is utterly useless when it comes to Lyme and can not be trusted. Am speaking as someone who's had Lyme for years and been left to rot, please do not hesitate to send a PM should you need any more info.
Good luck.
Thanks Cinnamon_girl. As it happens my GP is really good and very thorough so if any issues arise I hope it would get investigated.
Feeling slightly calmer today, but its going to be a long 6 months
I'm not loving this.
Things I don't deal with well are isolation and uncertainty.
My work kind of fired me, kind of didn't. So no idea if I should work or if I'll get paid.
This is kind of a long running thing with them about communication and my role.
I also live by myself and worked from home anyway.
I had a pretty decent balance of time by myself, gym/cycling and socialising that kept things relatively stable.
However, now the balance is tipping too far to the being alone too much.
My girlfriend stays in a different town, so I'm not able to see her any more. We can't move in together - she has a flatmate who I don't get on well with (caused lots of problems last time I stayed there for a month), and she can't move here because of her cats.
A lot of our relationship is already done over WhatsApp texts and calls - and certainly isn't a substitute for human contact.
And now I'm seeing they think this could go on for six months - that is a very long time to consider this for - it is weighing on me.
I guess I am just struggling with accepting that my mental health (guaranteed to be damaged) is less important than the physical health of others (I'm probably helping).
Well I've just had a rather large anxiety attack, came out of nowhere.
Spoke to the guys on the NHS helpline and they said there is pretty much nothing they can do immediately as all the mental health team (it's rather small) is either off work or has moved departments to help with the virus stuff. Had my shoulders lock up solid, heart racing and just wanted to escape to somewhere, anywhere I could. Managed to calm down a bit now but I can't sleep and have work in the morning. Heart still going 90mph though, not a good sign.
Seeing as I'm still working (shorter days than normal but it's still time out of the flat), getting out on the bike on my days off and doing a bit of zwifting if I need to expend any more energy I should be fine. Had to take my inhaler a few times too before it had any effect.
Will try to get some sleep before work in the morning, properly scared me though.
Marin
MemberI guess making a phone call a day to people I know as I’m terrible for staying in touch. Run up and down my path 714 times for a 5k run. Keep regular hours and don’t stay in bed though I’m an hour past bedtime already. Stand on the path at a set time for a brew to talk to elderly neighbour who lives alone. Make it up as we go along. Odd times indeed.
Odd times indeed, but it was bloody nice of you to check on me today, 4 meter rule observed as a minimum.
What it did show me that people care and as a result I'm feeling better.
Yesterday I had a real crash day, fortunately I have been able to work most of the time. Had to self-isolate for seven days due to a cough and fever, then returned to work.
All was well, but yesterday I started a week's holiday, should have been going to Croyde, but that obviously isn't happening, then made the mistake of listening to the radio on the way to the shop's, and had a real bad anxiety attack. Fortunately the boss came home and we went out for a walk and we talked through the problem, yes I broke down at one point, but it didn't seem that bad afterwards.
Today, I have exercised in the garden and am just listening to Spotify, no tv be it live or streaming.
