Hi Golden, I could feel tears behind my eyes when I read your post to me. I suddenly do not feel alone in this. Thankyou for validated me. Means more then you are properly are aware.

And indeed think more people are coming awake. More and more people are turning up at those..... they have on around Australia.

Hi all,

I can understand that sometimes people who are very full on about vaccines probably have a lot of anxiety themselves, and to manage their own stress they tell others wht to do.

Hi Elizabeth, I also attend semi-regular appointments at the publich health psych facility so I can relate to getting vacced so u can have face-to-face medical support.

Katy your understanding and tolerance is always helpful here and on many threads!

Hi Shelll, I sometimes feel so different to others when I speak to them about covid... even that they have such strong opinions and tell me that this or that will be the answer etc... I feel like... how are they so cool with everything that is happening and so confident that they understand it all? It is such a complex and scary time. Thank you for sharing and I hope you feel not alone here.

Hi Golden my friend told me that ppl are often just trying to comfort themselvers when they go on and on about things like u said hot air.... i hear you... take care or urself. I hope you know how valued ur posts and comments are.

Yeah for sure Matchy , it's terrible that people in a so called lucky country are forced out of a roof over their head , lifes most basic of requirements in a country like this.

Some great ideas from us all here but l fear that most likely Gov's being Gov's nothing will become of them after all this. They'll tell us it's too expensive or too complicated or this or that to convert them to use as this or that. The buildings will just deteriorate won't be all sparkling enough anymore next minute they'll be knocking them all down after sitting their empty and wasted 10yrs. What a waste.

rx

Golden....."refreshing"....yes you can say that again. It certainly is,that people like you....{and me) who agrees with you are feeling a tiny bit more freer to actually express these opinions even though we are invariably shouted down, treated like unfeeling criminals for daring to have an individual opinion on how we run "our" lives....we were once silenced wherever possible.

we tried to warn about "spreading fear" . The majority of this once free country is now clearly living in fear....I find that incredibly sad...so heart breaking to see the once brave, indomitable Aussie spirit. The Premier of my state, Q,has been filling us with fear from Day One. Just yesterday she said "It's going to get worse before it gets better".....good stuff Premier! Wouldn't it be nice to have an encouraging, uplifting, motivating leader?

Hey hey Moon

you arent being shouted down at all.....unless I have missed something...doh!

Can you give some thought to my frail 91 year old unvaccinated mum who is being cared for by my 55 year old antivaxxer sister who refuses to acknowledge that Covid/Omicron is a serious problem

Covid aside Moon...Happy 2022 :-)

my kindest

Paul

Hi all,

I'm a little concerned that there seems to be a divide growing amongst us, which I do't think is helpful for us to continue.

Perhaps the pollies have gone about the public message in the wrong way, & that's got some people fearful, anxious, depressed as a result. Perhaps because the medical & scientific knowledge about COVID-19 is still growing, makes people feel uneasy, & when new information comes to hand, & changes are made to fit with the new knowledge, people feel there is no certainty or clarity. It is all adding up to much confusion & various responses to this ongoing pandemic.

Everyone's situation is different, & it's not easy to bear that in mind when your own situation means that you feel the impact of COVID-19 directly, or at close quarters, or the restrictions intended to protect impose limits which make for difficulties in your personal or working, or school life. Or sometimes it all just feels too hard.

Whatever it is for you is valid & important

I feel we have come to BB to be together, so I would urge that to be our priority. We can agree to disagree, & still be heard.

Unfortunately, I don't see COVID-19 ending soon. Other variants will arise, as I understand, from places around the world, where vaccination rates are still low. Eventually, it seems more likely we will have vaccinations, like we do for influenza, which also mutates, & therefore requires a tweaked vaccine every year to keep on top of it. After having a severe flu one year, I am happy to get the flu vacs each year. & if I have to get ongoing vaccinations for COVID-19, then so be it.

Given how much or little understanding there is about COVID-19, I'm sure we are all doing the best we can. Could we do more? Probably. Implimenting more change to how we go about our daily lives is getting so hard, but not so objectionable when we notice how profoundly & permanently some thousands of lives have been effected.

As much power & influence The Media & Politics seem to have, it's not about them. This is about us, humans, in our homes, schools, workplaces, holiday places, cities towns & country towns, farms & factories - everyone.

What we do to protect ourselves, protects some part of society around us, which in turn protects a wider part, & so on...until we are all looked after.

mmMekitty

Hello Paul....i really feel for you and understand your worry about your Mum. That's an awful situation..has your Mum been able to express herself..that she wants and needs the vacc? If it's entirely in the hands of your sister...I don't know where you go from there...

Re my expressing my true opinions...I was referring to quite a few of my posts being edited...and some not printed at all (perhaps wrong choice of words "feeling shouted down")...best wishes to you and your very important Mum...

hi all

Paul that really is rough
Today I got my booster and there was an elderly woman who went before me.
I asked her how she felt, and she said "great, I feel so much more confident now to go out". For that alone, for comfort and security, if ppl want the booster they should have access. My father makes all the decisions for my 90 year old grandfather and I can relate... it is scary to see ppl making decisions for others.

I hope u are okay in this difficult situation.

wave @moon and golden. This thread moves fast. I haven't been back on BB since January. Re: expessing your true opinions. I thought i was the only one with posts.... (you fill in the blank). So i have been just keeping all to myself -- pretty difficult for someone who is quite expressive and with a partner who likes to keep everything to himself. The society is divided than ever before. The virus is already here in WA. I don't quite understand why the govt pretended that they could eliminate/control it for weeks. I realistically have accepted that it is here and just go with the common sense of caution. While the intention of publishing exposure sites is getting ppl informed but it also creates unecessary panic/anxiety on some people. I'm a law abide citizen. I was unlucky enough to be at an exposure site on the only day of the week that i went out for shopping. I know the chance of me getting it is zero given the short amount of time i was there, masked properly, social distancing in a not crowded store. I was honestly not worried about catching it as i think it would be mild with the vax -- my close friend in Europe and the entire family got it recently so kinda know what they were dealing with. But it doesn't stop me from worrying. Have i done the right thing on following the instructions etc or passed it to someone else? I stressed me out for 2 weeks with every little changes in my body. When i talked to the other local mom recently, she has all gone nut about the exposure sites too. Wish RAT would have been available by now......Hey, count your QLD premier has the gut to flip the switch for re-opening. I think the delay of WA re-opening (indefinitely) only just sweeps the problems under the rug. If our hospital isn't ready by now, I doubt another month would make any difference. We have two years.....While i am boosted, i think it is an endless cycle with the vaccine as doctors/nurses/older population who are all boosted now would all have immunity waning in a few months time. Next variant. Then what? There is no solution to the problem. I'm sad to say that i was all optimistic at the end of Nov that we were seeing the light at the end of the tunnels. Now....this year seems to be pretty gloom for me personally.

hi lunastone

this year feels gloomy for me to, and a hard start with not much promise for improvement, i hear u. welcome back here. that non inserted word affects me frequently.

i have core values that i stick to, and i don't care too much if they clash with BB at times. It happens.

In terms of being silenced....i think this thread should be safe for anyone to vent their feelings.
Ppl seem to get confused between feelings and facts... this isn't a fact place or for educating ppl or learning about covid.
This is for us all to cope living in hard times... because we are vulnerable and this is a hard time.

For me, facts do have a very important role in how I am coping with this ongoing pandemic. What facts are known, & when new information comes through to the public, informs me about what I can do, Practically, & allows me some sense that I'm not clutching at straws, wishing on a star, & relying entirely on hope & time.

Venting my frustration, my isolation, my confusion & everything, only gets the feelings vented. Practical ways & means of dealing with emotions are also useful, if venting is not enough by itself.

Practical information about what to do, whrere to go, who to call etcetera is also important, for me, so if I have information to hand, I can ease back any panic if I do find myself fearing I may have been in contact with someone with COVID-19. I will have things I can do. The first is BREATHE. Just take a breath & focus on what the plan is.

I would like to know how to cope with the shifting sand, every time some change to what is allowed or disallowed, & when, where & what is available to us, - I am feeling the instability of so much frequent change, even if the announcements don't directly effect me. It feels frustrating & confusing.

I feel I've exhausted myself today. Not just thinking of this Thread, though the sense that people are 'taking sides' is something I feel uncomfortable about. I find places feel less welcoming when this happens.

mmMekitty

& if someone comes here, asking for information, because that may ease their mind, & if I think I can help in that way, I think it is entirely appropriate on this Thread.

mmMekitty

It's a mh forum space, and none of us are drs to tell others what to do, and even those who are drs, would feel likely unerhical doing so here, or even on social media, we don't know someone's history here to tell them what to do.

I believe only close and trusted friends can give direct advice to ppl about where to go and what to do. To do so for strangers on an internet forum is not jn my opinion such a good idea.

ln my world as has been the case right through this 2yrs, well actually they did go a bit cranky when the state opened up again, but apart from that . At any rate it's back to the usual now just this last wk or too and a pretty well whatever . No one hassles anyone people just going on with their stuff , living , holidaying, beach, whatever . There is a common sense courtesy anywhere you go out and about. People will walk around others , most still use masks if they're around others, shops still have sanitizers and l see most people swipe some of that on their way through, but really, it's pretty well hassle free. So l really feel bad for what others seem to be going through in their world particularity with people, opinions, views and what have you. No one even mentions anything up here about anything really or Covid stuff much at all or vaxing. Tbh l wouldn't have a clue who's vaxed or not or who thinks what about anything except with the few l'm close to.

Sounds like we're very lucky though and all this has really brought on a new appreciation of the people and their thoughtful but just live and let live ways.

On another note , heaven forbid l should just wanna see what the numbers are on the news this morning bc l haven't checked in a wk or so. My God, presser after presser, l gave up. But l see the scare mongering is still in full flight , now they're trying to scare the hell out of our kids going back to school. As if the poor little buggers aren't already having enough anxiety and troubles understanding all this, Thank the Gods most of them wouldn't watch the news is all l can say but you know kids though, they'll still pick it up.

rx

Hello All, the only people who are winning are the manufacturers here, we are told to have 1 injection, then have another one, but you need to have the booster and then the possibility of needing another a 4th injection.

Years ago 1 injection stopped polio in its tracks and the flu vaccine/injection gets better each year, although you may still get a cold, it's not the actual virus that decimated us years ago.

I've had 2 injections and waiting to have the booster, but when you go to the supermarket half the people aren't wearing any masks so it makes you wonder.

Geoff.

Don't get me wrong of course parents and families need to know and now , in advance how it's all gonna work l know but it was the way they were talking and going about it. All their usual same old same old dreary mannerisms and all the usual threatening undertones and being all so sure to throw in some horror just to be sure the parents were scared enough , and all repeated, over and over and over.

l wonder what methods other countries use , surely they have a bit more soul than just trying to threaten and scare their people into submission.

rx

Hi, Rx, i must admit. I am having anxiety despite learning so much about how to deal with it from my oversea friends in the past 2 yrs. I'm trying to mentally prepare for it. Isolation, home schooling etc which is part of the deal to live with the virus. Moving on.....And ya, when i said sweeping the problems under the rug, i was also referring to school. Less than 6 days to school starting here in WA. There is no plan! Also, with community transmission, there is no action on childcare at the moment either. I'm worried about the old carer. Well, i think they should promote hygiene practice more in general, not just during covid time. Yes, i am sure that kids would pick it up everything no matter what but not deliberately catching bugs would be nice -- my kid has only been back to childcare last week and has already gotten a bug by the end of the week! I am a bit tired of it........i know about the european school rules (e.g testing twice a week) and i'm keen to see it here. In the end, most kids still bring it home to adults because it is omicron but it certainly delays the spread. They don't all get it at once so not huge impact on workforce. Anyway....ppl seem to be so scare about it here......yes, it isn't going to be fun but we have to face it.

Hi luna

No l didn't mean the kids will still pick up covid , l hope they don't of course and you can all keep them safe.

l meant they'll still pick up on the media threats and scare mongering tactics our pollies and media use even if they don't watch the news. My d is 20 yet God knows they;ve still managed to have her scared out of her skin and she never watches the news. How the hell are young kids suppose to cope with our so called leaders tactics in presenting all this stuff the way the do , like l said even if they don't watch it they'll still sense it and hear about it.

But yeah , you guys over there have been sheltered from it all so long , they must be jumpy now , are they opening up there or ? European no again l just mean their media and leader tactics mainly as compared to the way ours, trying to scare us to death basically. But yeah l've also heard a lot and read to of their rules and school plans and of the physical side of how a lot of countries are handling that side of it. l have friends in different places too but l'd just love to see their pressers though , and the way they actually talk to their people and about it all.

Anyway , good luck with back to school

Hi crikey, supermarkets are stressful ATM. How did u cope?

I couldn't buy eggs yesterday which again was depressing.

I have never stockpiled and have thankfully always had enough. I'll just wait til I can pick up some eggs or ,albeit go to another supermarket.

Hi rx, sorry it's so stressful for Ur daughter. Only 20, life is scary at that time anyway, hope she is alright...

I got the booster , feeling OK.

all a bit intense now...with cases etc. I am a consumer / case managed for support in the public system.

I still see ppl face to face , and it really helps.

I don't think I'd have managed so well if I had no one therapeutically in my life face to face. I need it.

Remembering and sending hugs to those who've mentioned the same here. I know u guys are also struggling and needing more face to face sessions. It's so important.

Hiya sleep and thanks very much for that. Unfortunately though sadly Covid is only 1 of other huge stresses she has this last few mths, so it certainly isn't helping,l wish for the whole world actually, this damn thing would just go away. Hopefully soon.

Really nice to hear though that you've been having some luck with something that helps you've had a pretty rough time yourself l know .

All the best eh.

Hi Anne(withan-e)

I am hearing you loud and clear. Frustration maybe coming out. And of course it is your body and no one else's. You live in it after all. I can see you were in a difficult situation there. And I am guessing your decision was not taken lightly. To keep your job ( to provide for yourself and perhaps little children,) it is such a difficult place to be in. I believe there are many in a similar place. It really would not be easy at all.

Anyways just wanted to say your voice is definitely heard by me and that I care.

Hi Anne (and everyone)

Anne; i am so sorry you have experienced this. It is not right to force anything on anyone. And especially as you say it is your body. And then to force it on you or you lose your job.. Which is more than just a job, it is our livelihood and can contribute to our wellbeing and mh, and obviously needed to support ourselves (and families) with the basics needed to live. It is a disgrace that this has been happening here and in other parts of the world. I think there is starting to be some push back around the world as some highly regarded drs and others are no longer allowing themselves to be silenced. Here in SA we have some challenging it too. About time. Well it should never have been allowed. And in 2022! And i note Vic premier wants to push for booster mandates (for now) until he again exerts more control. It is never enough. It never ends. And now we are in our 3rd year of this bs.

Since the beginning there were a few of us voicing (trying to) our concerns with all the controls, lockdowns and fear to 'justify' this. And how it was doing more harm than good. Wave to Moon, Luna et al. Now it seems in this 3rd year some ppl are bit by bit waking up to all the control. Starting to read beyond the press conference spin to suit their agenda of fear and panic into submission. As a few are exposing truths. Eg a son has come out to state his father's death was inc as a covid death, when in fact he had end stage cancer with days to live. Understandably he was upset by this. There have been countless others (and they are only the ones we hear about) many are too scared to speak out. It is so important that the spin be analysed instead of just accepted as fact.

Most ppl seem to have been blinded by fear put in their minds by constant daily updates in our faces all the time. It wears us out. And then the lockdowns we are isolated and cannot talk to others for perspective. Our fear grows. And then when not enough ppl got their vax; the unfathomable happened to force it for work.. and for entertainment and just living life. Medical treatments and apts. More and more things mandating vax making it near impossible not to get one. Offering lottery draws for it, free food, lollipops and superhero stickers for kids. It makes me sick.. is this some sick futuristic movie? Nope, this is reality. And if we dare speak up about this or borders or lockdowns, there are always those ready to tell us we don't care about others. When will it end?

I hear u golden and Anne.

It sure has been a confronting two years...

I admit I like to put my trust in authority

I also admit it has definitely not always worked out for me.

I feel sometimes like my thoughts and opinions are different to others on these topics, so i can relate.

Sending hugs.