Hello everyone,

Speak your truth, I too relate to note having structure and routine yet when I had it, I never realised how important it was, well I did a bit as I am no good on holidays.

was going to sort out my pantry but still haven't done that, may leave that for tomorrow.

Glad you started your dishes. I hope tomorrow is better.

I like the way people are looking out for each other on this thread, so people feel brave enough to say how they feeling.

Hi all,

I haven't been on here for a while, but now seems like a good time. I have been reading mostly recent posts to catch up where people are at. I am the end of my 4th week in what I am calling self-preservation as opposed to self-isolation. I am a severe asthmatic so everything I'm doing is me trying to preserve my life. I have had a roller coaster of emotions over the last month. I have been frightened at catching this and very, very anxious. I had a phone chat with my counsellor at the beginning of this and she told me I was allowed 15 minutes of worry and to remember to what I can and can't control. This has helped and I slowly began to calm down. Daily meditation also helpful and I too limit my news coverage. Finding a routine is trial and error I think and it comes down to what works for you. I've gone back to what I started earlier in the year which was to plan my week in my diary and at the end of the week, tick off what I got done and put any crosses and a reason why other things didn't get done. It can give a sense of accomplishment.

Lately, my frustration has been my independence being taken from me. Apart from walks where I zig-zag my way around to avoid people, I can't just pop to the shops and I either have to get things delivered or I have to arrange my sister to get me things which leaves me feeling guilty at exposing her even though she has no underlying conditions. You just never know.

I was feeling low last night and still a little today. I live on my own and far from friends. Although I am trying to arrange video chats with friends, it's like herding cats at the moment, leaving me feeling bereft. I was also in the process of making some life changes to help me live my best life and now all that's been put on hold which also leads to more frustration and anger. It feels as if time is being stolen from me and maybe others feel like this too.

I will continue to use this time for some soul searching that my counsellor assists with so that when the times comes to run free, I will hopefully have some better tools and a clearer direction on where I want my life to lead. I am looking for online areas where I can volunteer as I feel useless. It would be great to have a sense of purpose and a feeling I am doing something worthwhile for someone.

Take care of yourselves. Feel the bad days and the good and breathe.

Thank you Quirkywords and PatienceBay and anyone else reading this. I am Cala 😊👋 hello.
Quirky structure seemed to have disappeared from my life so far back I can’t remember. If I had worked hard in those early days to hold onto structure I would be so much better off now, but I didn’t and I’m suffering for it now. Way back then when things were bad for me it was too easy to let it all slide. But today I did get the dishes done, and a couple of other chores, and tomorrow is the vacuuming (I hope)
Patience I have a bit of the Irish in me so it’s not hard for me to express my feeling, especially on this forum where we are all so anonymous.

I have times when I like my solitude and I could even call myself a bit of an introvert but this much ‘solitude’ is much more of a challenge that I want. The main consolation is that I know I am not alone - I can’t even begin to imagine how many singles there are out there in the world who are in the same situation, many of us on this forum.

Other positives are knowing I am a thousand times better off than countless people in the world coping with Covid19. I have depression (with meds), some anxiety and am lonely but I also have a secure place to live, plenty of food, a warm bed and things to fill the time apart from housework 😅 I’ve got tv 📺, books 📚, a dog 🐕, CDs and DVDs 💿. I went out get some supplies today - just couldn’t stay home - and it cheered me up some to see a staff member at Coles who I have got to know a bit and have a quick chat with, and another quick chat at the checkout. Smiles from both were very welcome. Thank goodness it’s been a sunny day with blue skies today, it doesn’t help when it’s overcast, raining and gloomy weather.

Well that’s about it for now. I hope everyone is well and enjoyed some chocolate 🍫 today. I’m trying not to eat much, don’t want to put weight on and sitting too much doesn’t help.

bye for now, Cala big warm hugs to you all 🤗😘

Lou-Lou

Welcome to this thread and thanks for making your first post.

Thanks for sharing your ideas and thoughts of what works for you .

Reading other peoples posts and replying if you want to, lets people know they are not online. Many people have time so they go online and it always helps to know someone cares and listens.

Welcome LouLou.

Congratulations Patience Bay for removing alcohol from temptation. A little can be good sometimes, I repeat “sometimes” but too much too often can be disastrous. So well done you. 💯%

I don’t drink much anyway and I always think of alcohol as a social thing, so I’ve none in the house now and it doesn’t bother me at all, thank goodness. I’d not be at all happy to have to deal with that problem as well as everything else.

I loved reading your post. I have been feeling overwhelmed as a school teacher, forced abruptly into isolation when my son tested positive. The pressure of continuing to teach full time online, being a single mum to two other children, and caring for a covid patient... it has sort of got the better of me yesterday and today. So I did a google and jumped on here. It really is so nice to know I’m not alone. This time is tough. Really tough. We are finally out of quarantine, and I had a great 10km bike ride in the fresh air today. I tell myself I need to just keep putting one foot in front of the other 😢

Hello Susannah H. Welcome to the forum. I’m Cala. I’ve been here on the forum on and off over a few years, and have returned this time because Covid is challenging me BIG TIME, and I’m glad to be back, so I’m sure you’ll find the support you need like I did.

Thank you for replying to my post, the one you said you loved, though I don’t know which one you mean. I’m so glad though that whatever I said helped you in some way.

I don’t have kids so I can only wonder at how hard it must be for you being a single mum, teaching online, 3 kids, 1 Covid+. Phew ! Its great news that quarantine is over for you and I guess your child was asymptomatic with Covid or would have been in hospital. I hope your two others children are old enough to take the pressure off you for some things. It’s great that you did that long bike ride today - it must have blown away a few cobwebs.

Its such an incredibly stressful time in the world and I have been feeling very low today. I feel so helpless, ”there’s nothing I can do“ has been going through my mind but to know that my words have helped you helps me feel better, and so THIS is something I can do - posting on these threads when I can, to offer support fellow members. I hope I can continue to offer you support.

Where I live has been sunny with blue skies today, but generally days are unpredictable now, evenings are very cool and mornings cold mostly. We’ve had a fair bit of rain and heavily overcast skies too. Whats the weather like where you are Susannah ?

I keep telling myself to be positive in thought and word, take one day at a time, be mindful and enjoy the moment. I live alone and have no family or partner relationships so that’s something I am grateful for. Actually I don’t know which is harder - to have stressful family and partner relationships or have no family or partner relationships anyway.

The emotion I have felt today has been very draining indeed and I am exhausted. Normally I am an “owl” type person but I’m ready for bed now at 9.30.

Talk again soon Susannah, Cala 😄

Hello all, and welcome to people reading this thread for the first time,

Susannah welcome to the forum and thanks for making your first post.

You are under so much pressure and so many things to cope with.

I am glad you shared your experience. You are not alone and the support is here.

Feel free to post here as much as you like. You may like to browse some other threads.

This is a good place to talk about things that you maybe worried about and share your positive experiences and suggestions as well.

Hi, I am new here so I apologise if I am posting this on the wrong place lol.
I am struggling so much right now. My whole life has changed since the restrictions came in for corona virus. I am a mum and a wife and after years of putting myself last I was finally studying full time, volunteering and finding myself in life. In the blink of an eye, everything has changed. Now I could probably handle the changes if my marriage was strong, but we have recently decided to seperate. We are still living in the same house though, and the trauma this is causing with not being able to have space from him is breaking me. He won’t give me space, everywhere I go he is there in the house, sitting and staring depressed. I know he is hurting too, but not giving each other the space is damaging us both severely. I am waking up every morning just dreading another day of the same and I cannot see an end in sight. I constantly feel sick in the stomach. I have always been the type who hates to be cooped up, and I am very soft natured and do not handle conflict well. I just feel so trapped. I need this to change. I know it will not be like this forever, but I’m worried I’m not going to come out of this without some severe emotional damage.

my dad only passed away a few months ago also, and I’ve been supporting my mum through this time. I feel like I still have emotions of my own locked away that I refused to let out, because I needed to be strong for everyone else. I have kept myself busy with life and study for so long as a coping mechanism, but now that there is nothing left to busy myself with, it is all crashing down on me and I feel like I’m crumbling more and more each day.
I don’t know how I am going to continue on for this next indefinite timeframe until I can begin to rebuild my life.

Littlebluebird, I like your name and avatar

Welcome to the this thread and welcome to the forum,. You have come to the right place.

Your life was changing before the virus and you were dealing with a separation and the grief and loss associated with your dad. You are helping your mum and your children and had little time for yourself.

Now you are dealing with these problems but you no longer have the routine of study and have you husband hurting and unable to give you space just at a time when you need it.

Your routine has changed and you may need a new one.

Can you make time to meditate or exercise or practice mindfulness?

Would you consider ringing the Beyond Blue Support line. 1300 224636 where you can talk to a trained person offering support advice and action.

thanks for reaching out.

You may like to cut and paste this post and start your own thread so maybe more people could see it, Only if want to. You are more than welcome to keep posting here.

By writing your post others reading it will now they too are not alone.

Hi Littlebluebird's,

I really admired what you posted. Super brave!

I reach out to my GP when I need to talk. Just though I'd share.

The most important thing that you've reach out on this thread, you could find the value in it like I have recently. With so much unavailable at the moment, this forum is so great to connect with other.

Hope you're smiling.

Regards,

Doran

Now we’re out of isolation I am making every effort to get active again, within the bounds of social distancing. Walking or riding to pickup a coffee, milk and bread and so forth. I guess I feel that something that will come from this period of time, is reevaluating my priorities. It was always busy, busy, busy. The way the world is right now is slowing me up. In many instances, in a good way. Having said that, I have to work to keep that mindset. Our extended family has had two covid cases, and the death of a friends brother from covid. All of these in different parts of the world. Sometimes everything seems so bleak, but I remind myself that each day is what I make it, and that as it passes, we are another day closer to a vaccine.
So, I read, I cook, I talk with my children. I garden, cycle, call and message my parents. These are all things I would normally do less of. So I suppose that’s my silver lining.
I have only just discovered these forums. And they are a blessing. I get lost in my own head, and it is good to step outside myself, and realise we are all in this together.

Hi There,

Great to read your above post,

There is a great park close by to go for a peaceful walk and a enjoy the surroundings.

What I noticed over this time there is a lot more Dads taking their kids to park and spending time with them which I think is a big plus, in all this uncertainty there are positive things happening,

Even noticed at the local K Mart they are constantly selling out of reading books and colouring books,

You are so correct when you say we need to count our Blessings and be grateful for everyday

Great to have you on board and look froward to seeing more of your posts.

Wow Susannah your last post impressed me so much. You are very strong I think, perhaps stronger than you realised. Good on you 👍

It must be very hard for you to have Covid so close to you with your extended family and your friends brother. I am sorry 😢

I have been very down, but got myself going today doing chores that have been waiting too long to be done, so I feel better for having done them both physically and mentally. You must feel the benefit of gardening and cycling too. While doing the chores I have had some of my favourite artists’ and music Chromecasting to the tv from iTunes.

I must go, bye for now, Cala

So sorry, I misread the top part of your post earlier.

You have been through a tough time but at the same time you have a very positive attitude.

your post is an inspiration to myself personally and I am sure others, and yes you are very strong

Once again sorry.

All the best

To anyone having sleep problems.

I use lavender spray which sends me off to sleep so well. I spray the air over the bottom half of my bed and in no time it’s 😴 💤
It can be bought at Coles, Woolworths and Chemist Warehouse
Good luck 🤗😘

Mahala,

welcome to the forum and to this thread. Thank you for your part in working hard so there is food in stores for everyone. Can you take some time however small to have time for your self and to spend time with your family.

It must be hard when people want work but you cant help them.

This is a friendly space so feel to drop and post when you want to.

Ive been doing my normal daily routine to help me get through the days.

Waking up and going to be bed when I normally would. Thankfully I live near a park and long walk trail so I'm able to get some fresh air.

I get a good feeling knowing Im doing my part in helping to flatten the curve and the curve is starting to flatten!

I also get a laugh at the bin outing group on facebook! Trust us aussies to think of something like that haha.

Bendigo1955 could you do something from this list?

Exercise

Meditate

Google

Text

Email

TED talks

Listen to music

Read

Relax.

Hello Bendigo- 😄.

You are most definitely not the only one - I also know very well the feelings you are experiencing. And I don’t have any family to talk with anywhere, so you’re ahead on that at least. I had a couple of important things to go out for today and got myself a coffee, found a nice view to park and look at m and hoped I wouldn’t get arrested for just sitting. I was ready with my reason for being out if I had a visit from the law - it was a “mental health break” which I really, really needed. I am developing bad cabin fever and so incredibly lonely. I need a hug, some kind words and conversation about things other than any bad news stories in the world. I’ve said this in posts before, but I still need it all.

Can I add to meforcats list videos on iTunes ? A movie, a documentary, music ? Can you crochet or knit or do any other sort of craft ? How about writing down memories of your children growing up - that could be something they would love at some stage in the future. I’m looking for different things to do too and read other people’s suggestions, but I’m a bit stuck - all I want is the above - hugs, some kind words and conversation about things other than any bad news stories in the world. And I do really wonder how I will manage this long term, as I’m sure you do too.

As I said before you are most definitely not the only one - and you are definitely not alone - I know it doesn’t necessarily help to know that, but can you please let some of that soak in and feel at least feel a bit of benefit from it.

Hang in there Bendigo - I, and we, are here for you. Bye for now, Cala 🤗😘

Hello all

I've been really struggling the past few days. My son is finding the online uni study challenging and has decided to take a break. I think underneath this feeling is anxiety about the coronavirus but he won't open up.

He's really struggled to identify his chosen field of study--spent two years in a course, found it wasn't right for him so had a year to work and think about it, and had just made the decision to go back and try something new. I feel so heartbroken for him. It was a real process for him to go through, with the support of a psychologist and career counsellor and my husband and I.

I'm trying not to turn this into a catastrophe. It's possible he may return at a later date or maybe somehow this was meant to be and another door will open. Life has a funny way of unravelling at times.

Other than this set back, holding my own. Walking, talking and posting.

Kind thoughts to you

hello everyone,

Bendigo ,

SYT and meforcats gave you some ideas for coping. It is hardtop keep busy at times.

Are you into looking at family history? Do you lots of photos on the computer you could organise better.

There is a thread here

How to take practical advantage of isolation. This may give you some ideas .

Hi Meforcats,

I was really struggling before I popped on here.

I'm just feeling wounded and disheveled from the day.

But reading you post with the TedTalk idea is a great idea. I've completely forgotten about them.

If anyone else can share some tips and tricks to get through self isolation, please share.

Regards,

Doz

Hey @Summer Rose - I think I can really relate to your son. I changed my uni course after my first year, then changed majors a couple of times too. It's so hard to find your path during that time of life, and though I was really depressed at the time, I want to reassure you that things will work out okay for him. I think it's good to encourage him to follow his passions and interests above all. After I graduated with a science degree, I went to TAFE to begin my career as a chef. And now I'm 30 and back at uni doing psychology. Life takes us in many ways, and it's all part of the journey. Thinking of you.

This sounds really awful, but I feel like I've got a bit of a free pass with the pandemic. I was already intentionally unemployed (while I sort my life out), and am lucky to be staying with my parents rent-free. I was already feeling uncertain about everything and stressed about the state of the world, so now it feels like everyone else is in the same position, and I feel less alone.

But I'm worried about what happens when things start to go back to normal. What happens when everyone else applies for jobs, and I still feel like I'm useless and not good enough?

Hopefully therapy will help with this, but I worry that it will be even worse feeling like I'm in a competition with so many other people.

On a positive note, I'm so pleased to be able to get outside with the really nice weather here at the moment. It makes it feel like I'm less caged in, and allows me to be mindful of the beauty and resilience of nature.

Stay strong everyone. x

Hi Quince

Thanks for your response. You really helped me to see that all the confusion and angst about study paths for young adults is common, with or without the virus.

Admire your courage to pursue your dreams. I'm glad you're safe in your family home. Both my young adult children are home, too. And family, togetherness is really something to be grateful for.

I think we've all got enough on our plates to really necessitate taking things one day at a time. That's what I'm going to do.

Kind thoughts to you