Hello and thank you everone to be so understanding who is discussing about vaccinations. Yes, it's a bit of fear/uncertainty coupled with anxiety along with ptsd of not knowing the outcome if I decide to have a vaccination or not. All this messing about with the laws of who's allowed to have which vaccination is so unfair. We're supposed to be a country with a choice of free will and every human being should have those rights but when it comes to covid vaccinations, the law seems to chop and change constantly. I don't wish to be a Guinea Pig for any medical authorities or anyone to experiment with. There are different of types vaccinations for different age groups. The W.H.O. is right up to date when it comes to vaccinations, however, it's still not a guarantee that any vacs is 100% suitable for any age group especially the older generation. I wanted to have the pfizer vac and was informed by medical authorities that it's only available for those under 60 yrs, those above that age we don't get a choice. I'm not interested in anything else. Decisions, Decisions, Decisions,... i need have a clear head before I decide what's best for me. Regards.

All honestly, your best way to reassure yourself is to switch off all the media.

They have done an awful job at making people panic and they are now hitting their heads against the wall for what they have to themselves. Media people need their freedom as much as their viewers and everyone else, but it's too late for them to wind back the damage.

I listen to Coronacast, that's a good start for anyone. Then you have several researchers that have social media accounts, get onto that. Some make the odd appearances on various ABC shows. Ok, I know I sound like I'm advertising the ABC and a bit contradictory to me saying switch off all media, but in all honesty, they are the only ones that have tried to somehow be rational about vaccines.

There is plenty of positive, encouraging, and good information out there. When you read some negative, ask yourself where is it coming from? Is this supported by science? What do researchers say about it and most importantly, what does my GP recommend? No one knows your health better than your GP more so if you are over 60!

Hi al_ch

I so agree with your comment! I listen to the corona cast and follow Dr Bill bowtell and Dr norman swan on twitter. I had a good chat to my GP about it to.

I didn't know where all the misinformation is coming from. Social media I guess.

I've had the first astra zeneca shot with no problems and won't relax until I've had the second shot in a couple of weeks as the virus is getting out of control near me.

The Abc really is the best place to get reliable information and it is worth checking what the health experts are saying!

Yeah , l watch abc or sbs . They're the only ones that have even indigenous and many other things and no no's that the commercial channels are just too scared or conservative to touch.

They have a good summary midday , catch the start of that and your good to go in 15.

l must admit l have been watching too much though again through the day also lately , gotta stop that. l have a world stat covid thing on my pc too so that if l wanna know what each countries situation is at any time it has the lot in a simple daily list. If you wanna go further than just the numbers you can click on any country and get the full run down. l hardly use that anymore though it was mainly just for through last yr , a quick abc summary does me now .

rx

hi there

the comment that you've made regarding no one knows you better than your gp - personally i strongly disagree on that one. No one knows yu better than urself. Gps are given excessive power unfortunately, and ive been led down to nearly the end of my tethr by gps who were very backwards on mental health.
GPs are general practitioners by nature, and many have very limited understanding about mental health. I feel it's risky to tell users here to defer to their GP 100 percent. I've been told that all my life and did everything my GP said.
It led me unfortuantely to the lowest point in my mental health

GPs should be colloborative, sensitive, refer on suitably, and complement our own intuition, and our own chosen MH treatment, which may include things outside of the medical model, in my humble opinion and experience

hi lunastone

i relate to and undeerstand a lot of what u are saying

the rules sometimes trigger me and i hate particularly curfews. it is a PTSD trgger. i dont want to be told what hours i cant leave my home. I think a lot of the language and guidance is draconian and lacking in empathy for the most vulnerable. I didnt want the vax, but will probably get it, and have booked in.

My heart goes out to those trying to recover. I think we stil have a long way to go in helping ppl in trms of the MH aftermath of these times... i am myself at a loss how i can help or be helpd.

I like that we can have the tough convos here. As long as u are trying ur best to keep safe, keep others safe, and not put urself or othrs at risk - who is anyone to judge. Do what feels right for u.

I hope lunastone u feel safe and okay to vent here. i hear you.

@sleepy21: this thread sometime moves very fast so i can't keep up on everything other than a few who i have 'met' on the other thread. I also got what you meant about the curfew etc. I was all for the lockdown etc until i lost a young friend last year from a sudden death. A death which could have been prevented if he went to check out with some symptoms. At the time, no one was dare to set foot into the hospital due to covid risk. This got me here on the BB forum. I have also known someone who refused to see the GP because worried about being treated like a covid infected person (no risk here in WA at the time). Our draconian rules to fight for covid and fear are delaying necessary treatment for other illnesses at the moment.

No one wants the vaccine. I had many lengthly discussions with my oversea friends and did some scientific reading myself (i am always curious in science). As i mentioned, i was not at all keen 8 months ago. I worried about the side effects, not enough data etc. I was converted because I saw the benefit for the community, myself, my little family here, and a way to get back to semi-normal life. It is a collective effort. I have accepted that mask, social distancing etc are here to stay for a while even with the vaccine as we want to help stopping the virus from mutating. I just don't like lockdown and like you, being told when to go out or not. The virus is here to stay and we cannot hide forever. I want to go and see my family oversea when it is safer to do so. I do feel safer having the vaccine but know that it is not a silver bullet. I'm constantly having the stress, sadness etc with what's going on in the world. Take care.

Yeah , it's been crazy crazy mind blowing times alright.

Pretty discouraged seeing Melbourne numbers up so high today , think they said this is the 6th lock down and they've spent 201 days in lock down. No wonder everyone is feeling this so badly these days. l have it very easy up where l am compared , most of my lifes hardly changed , but it still has too though , hugely nonetheless . l still can't complain though as compared and yet even for me l'm just that damn sick of it all.

The news , the way we're handling it here , hearing other countries living again , the way we've treated our own people court os and that shame , all of it. Last yr l've thought we're lucky to be where we are but , here we are , 100k behind the 8 ball now after all this time though , and l've just gotta wonder. And l wonder about the cost to lives save too, bc l have a business and know damn well not many small business could be still holding on with 6 damn lockdowns. So what about them and their families, and what about all the people trying to survive lock downs and MH and their outlook . Might've save lives but l don't know about that , gonna need 4 or 10 yrs after this to just see what was really saved and what wasn't at this stage now unfortunately.

rx

cheers lunastone!

rx ur right in melbourne the vibe is "again!?"

thnk u for caring about us.

It is nice to hear tht even ppl who aren't as restriced such as yourself can have empathy

i feel a bit tense because my friend and i have had disagreements about lockdown stuff.... we both keep the rules etc but have a diff view about what is happening now with the increasing cases... and it has kinda been awkward, its hrd when u dont see eye to eye

sometimes i just wanna be heard and relate to each other, so i guess thats not something i can do with her

Ahh sleepy , no worries at all my heart breaks for poor old Melbourne and it's people at this stage - l was one of myself for 30yrs and my family still are.

And especially for those of us not on a good footing to begin with or MH issues and a million other things. lf l'm feeling it and worn out with it all l could only imagine what you guys are feeling.

lt's hard to know if they're still doing the right thing still with the damn lock downs l reckon 6 must be a world record though.

Take care and l'm sorry about the friends. l know who's like minded and who isn't in any subject so l usually just let it go myself bc we're never gonna agree on everything.

rx

Hello. I hope you're all well during these difficult times. I'm longer going to make any further comments on this thread though it's an excellent thread. Thank you reading and replying my posts and I do respect each and everyone with their veiwpoints. Take care and nice meeting you. Regards ezzi

Thank you Sleepy21 for being a beautiful caring soul whose struggling so much yourself. I do feel your pain when I've read your posts on other threads.. keep up with your wonderful contributions on the forums. It will help others and especially yourself. Even if it's only a tiny bit, you'll always feel good helping someone in someway. No, nothing has upset me on this thread. Take care. Ezzi

Would you believe , India , yep , is reopening as we speak. How can that be.

They've also reopened schools and the Taj Mahal , which normally gets 70,000 visitors a day.

rx

Apologize, the India report had a tiny date way up the top that made it 10 mths old. Pretty amazing though been reading around on worldwide reopening getting an idea of what other countries are doing.

Some like Greece only have a 7day quarantine if your not vaccinated , if you are, nothing. Others are just using a vax id thing or passport , some if you've had a negative test in the last 7days then just comon in . Most of Europe seems pretty well open but some ask for a vax passport or else some quarantine, or a test and no quarantine.

Talk bout lenient compared to what we're use to. Admittedly l suppose a lot of those countries are 7o or 80% Vaxed . Hong Kong , 21 days quarantine, ouch. But anyone that have been to other high risk countries in 21 days prior aren't allowed in . They've also banned the UK altogether atm.

ltaly have a green pass, for entering restaurants museums theaters theme parks. Anyone over 12 must show proof of at least one jab.

And on and on it goes . Very interesting though .

rx

hi rx , after a few days of bad vibes with the friend, she texted today really sensitively about how she is struggling with it all and i felt that because i've calmed down i was able to answer more rationally, and we came to a nice "peace"

i felt scared of losing a friend over this stuff!!! i'm learning that if i don't get too upset we can agree to disagree

hi sleepy .

That's really nice to hear good on you nice going. lt can be so upsetting when things go a bit wrong with friends can't it.

Not getting too upset is a huge thing yeah for sure. l know this from a lot of personal experience which l've worked on myself too for a long time . Good luck with it, it really really pays off. Take care

rx

I can’t even cope with responding to friends texts or calls any more. People I really care about are tearing each other apart on politics, ‘dobbing’ and competitive loss.
I’m not ‘coping’ in the coronavirus outbreak. When are they going to see the ‘cure’ is worse than the virus.

I don’t care about myself any more, Im such a lost cause. But I’m watching young amazing people’s lights getting turned off, students wanting to take their own lives, giving up.

Sometimes it feels like Covid is the faster way to die. Lockdowns are just the slower and more more cruel way.

Like most people I'm finding the lockdown really hard as it prevents me doing some things I need to do for my mental health, Despite this I believe this is the only option to prevent a worse situation.

Lack of control is really difficult so I'm trying to think of the benefit of following the recommendations so I'm doing them for myself & my community rather than because I'm told to. Fr example wearing a mask is saying I'm choosing to avoid transmitting any virus. Walking in uncrowded places or shopping when it isn't busy is doing my bit to help get out of lockdown sooner. I can't change others behaviour but I can set an example and do my bit to help get us out of lockdown sooner.

The other issue is that this situation is affecting everyone in different ways causing us to feel stressed and unhappy. I'm suggesting we each do our little bit to help those around us to feel a little better. Simple acts like thanking the person serving you or the policeman checking on you or the nurse giving the vax etc. They've probably had to deal with other difficult people but it doesn't take much to let them know we appreciate what they do. We can give a friendly greeting as someone walks past (It might be the only human interaction they have all day) Phone a friend or relative to let them know you care. We all need some positive human interaction to get through this difficult time so lets be the ones to reach out in simple ways to others. We don't know what a difference it might make. I'll share a couple of things I've experienced recently which helped me as examples. I had written a post expressing how I was struggling. A lovely person responded with such a warm caring post it let me know someone really cared and made the situation a bit more bearable. This week I was with my hsb in hospital after he'd had surgery and he was extremely unwell due to the sedative they used. I was really stressed watching my hsb suffer so much. A nurse looked over and noticed how I was feeling. He came over to check how I was and then offered to get me a drink. Obviously the drink wasn't going to fix my problems but it let me know the person cared. (there wasn't anything that could be done for my hsb. He needed time to recover) I hope what I've written makes sense. We all need to feel someone cares so lets do that for each other in real life to help us all get through this difficult time

l've had nothing against Dan all that much except over doing the pessie's and repetition right through. l mean what do you do , it'd be the toughest gig around right now and hth do you handle it , especially when things got so bad last yr.

But today he was literally trying to scare everyone to death , it was way over kill and just the wrong damn way . He usually uses a bit of fear in his pressies they all do trying to get the message across but today was just crazy , just too much. Disappointing, wrong.

l felt sorry for all the vulnerable people out there that might've been watching , as if they haven't been through enough.

rx

Hi Anne withan e, i've spoken to you before,

I'm so sorry you are struggling, is there more you wanted to talk about? here to listen.

I just don’t understand, talking about tighter restrictions again. I have followed all the damn rules, suffered, and to what end??

This. needs. To. Stop.

this is completely triggering on so many levels. I’m hearing talk now of cafes closed down. 1km radius. Construction. Closed.

people stuck at home with people that hurt them. People without the ability to earn an income. People not accessing health care they need. Kids without education. Without support. Without escape. So trapped. So crippled.

This so inhumane and wrong.

Hey RX

These are difficult times....unfortunately Chairman Dan didnt provide Victorians with any hope in that woeful press conference today. There were only threats of further restrictions. He didnt even answer any questions about freedom of movement for people that are vaccinated

If I was on a guaranteed salary of $487,000 (circa $8000/week) I would be providing some reassurance to the public...not threats of further restrictions. Then again the majority of Victorians have voted Chairman Dan in twice...so I guess the public have made their decision

Thankyou for letting me have my say :-) Over 200 days in lockdown is crossing the line

Paul

Hi RX..Anne and everyone

I grow weary of Dan treating the public as children....and the threats he made at todays press conference

Even as a volunteer with leftover anxiety I understand where you are coming from....This is a difficult period we are going through

Paul

Hi Paul.

And yeah l agree , it was pretty damn weak today l just smelt the fear and threats , very disappointing.

Think he's been in the saddle too long in this , they really should've let the others handle it today.

Hang in there mate .

rx