Thank you Elizabeth, for understanding my situation

I don't like to fuss about myself and my standards but if it's worth saying I'll just add, I keep the rules and don't go for Walks or to thenshops after 9pm. On one occasion I went to the ed as I felt suicidal, and had a note that I could be out for that. I do keep the rules but would love to go for a walk at night to calm myself as I struggle with sleep. I do struggle with the curfew and find it hard. I wandered if I left and said it was a walk for me to keep safe mentally what would happen, but I'm too scared so don't do that. I never venture out unless that one time with a note. I keep the rules but they sometimes frustrate me. As you mentioned, going for a lone walk doesn't spread it, but we do here as you said try hard to keep it, in general, and are vulnerable ppl,doing our best. Thank you so much for listening to me. Ur right about it all in my opinion,and I hear you.

Thanks for accepting my apology. I never got the impression you would have broken the rules. It might be worth getting a note to allow you out of the house for MH reasons. I know someone who has one for the same reason as you. I had permission to leave my 5km at times. I spoke to DHHS and they assured me that it was ok providing I had a letter from my psych to verify it was a genuine need for my MH.

Im currently feeling very vulnerable. My hsb is quite unwell at the moment. I'm hoping he gets better on his own because I don't feel I can take him to hospital without putting him at further risk. I will no longer govto th GP he used to go to after getting extremely poor treatment earlier this year which has left me with long term nerve damage. The new GP doesn't kow my hsb so wont understand the risks associated with his condition. Sorry for venting

This is how I am coping with the C.

Sometimes I feel fear, if I watch main stream media. I hate feeling fear. And being consumed by it in my thoughts and soul seems to rob me of any happiness and peace. Hard to see any beauty around me, hard to love other people. Fear clouds my thinking. I look through eyes of fear and really cannnot see clear or straight. It's absolutely feels like hell itself. I have struggles making logical decisions when my soul is consumed by fear. And I certainly do not want to make any important decisions whilst in this state. How can I, when I don't see issues clearly enough. Because its clouded by fear.

So I hardly watch any main stream media, I don't watch TV. The bit of media I do is just enough to be aware of restrictions. Or I may get that information from someone else.

I am also aware of some of what appears the other side. The side that has been heavily censored by government bodies. Which sometimes I also struggle with fear of if I read or listen to this too much.

I like to be aware logically though. And not to make any decisions in regards to all this stuff when I feel fear. I also don't make good decisions when I am in panic mode. And a lot of the media seemed to put panic into me. Or I picked it up from others. Sorry can't live that way. It is overwhelming and like I said hell itself.

So I am coping I think by choosing to think on whatever is lovely and whatever is pure and honest. Not always getting it right though.

I like watching little babies because they can smile when you smile at them. They can be at rest, they seem to find delight in simple things. Don't seem it panic mode (unless absolutely hungry) and even that is pretty cute.

Anyway I am also coping by going outside in the sunshine. Vitamin D3 especially good for us at the moment. Getting fresh air. Moving. Taking vitamin C and vitamin d3 and k2. Eating vegetables. I am doing all this to improve my natural immunity. I could improve much more there though.

Properly the most important way of coping for me and I am still in the learning process here is to pray to our Heavenly Father. And to trust Him, which is not easy, especially if one doesn't know exactly what trust looks like. I ache to be close to Him and stay there. Because this is where I belong. I am so at peace in that special place. It doesn't seem to matter what the circumstances are like around me. Its safe there. The Mighty and loving God has got me.

RX I hear you. I’m finding it very difficult to feel positive. I alternate between anger, jealousy that the positive free states haven’t had to endure what we have here in VIC, especially that we are locked out of other states to be with family . The uncertainty of when we can all be one Australia is eating me alive. I hate it that the premiers have so much power and making our lives harder than what it already is

Welcome fedupwithcovid to the forum.

It is hard coping with lockdowns and remaining positive.,

. I have a grandchild who is almost 3 months and I have not seen her.

You are not alone and we are listening

Hello all, and yes, welcome Fedupwithcovid, I am glad you are here.

I want to say, I hear the pain felt by those who cannot visit with family and friends they miss so very much. I have seen people speaking about it, news mostly, and it is heart-breaking.

many times I have sworn out loud to hear someone has been denied an exemption to visit a loved one, who is sick/dying, while others, not in such circumstances are granted exemptions.

I can imagine myself crying, 'why?' I don't know if people can ask anyone, "why?", or if the way people learn they are refused is via a blunt note or what...I'm just sure it is most frustrating, disappointing, and disheartening.

I don't even know if there is a way to appeal. Or time enough, in the event a rellie is dying.

It is understandable to me, when people try to cross the closed borders anyway.

I do get anxious and worried to hear someone has succeeded and has tested positive for COVID-19, and they have been in near-by locations. I think how quickly COVID-19 spreads from person to person, or several people, as we have seen.

My ability to cope has been under strain and I am concerned about how much more strain I can deal with. I'm trying, putting in a lot of effort, and I am constantly tired, as if this is taking a lot of my energy reserves just to cope with each passing day.

I feel I am on your side. I want what you need. I wish I could give it to you. I would take more time stuck in my flat if you could go and be with your distant &/or friends.

We can only do every small thing we can to get this virus down to such levels that it can be managed without so many restrictions. Remember, if you can, get vaccinated, wear the horrible mask, keep a wide physical distance from otheres where possible, use hand sanitizer, yours or theirs, wash your hands when we all know we should, use the QR code, if you can or be sure to record your presence where you are, shopping or whatever.

I think, don't rely much on being able to remember where and when you went anywhere - keep notes. That way, you can check your notes or give tracing staff the notes, if you need to. I am amazed how I forget exactly where and when I have been somewhere, and I am not going out unless I absolutely must.

I have found, under stress and having anxiety or depression, or well, any mental health concerns, makes it harder to keep track of things, almost everything!

Okay, I'm running out of characters I can have in this post ... & I am surprised this time.

They said on the news last night Melbourne's spent more days in lock downs than any other city in the world.

l don't understand this at all , most other cities Melbourne's size or bigger had 100's of 1000s of cases.

rx

Dear randomx ...Of course you don't understand it...no one does. It's beyond ridiculous....the reason is that the Vic Premier, like our Qld premier is drunk with the power and control they wield....they've become addicted to it especially noted with the childish outburst a couple of days ago from Q's Anna P....answering questions from journalists about whether Qld would be out of lockdown and opened up for travel, including international once we hit 80% vaccination?

Naturally she didn't give a straight answer....just threw back at the reporter " well, where ya gonna go then...hey? India? or wanna go to Tokyo?.".......yes very mature answer Premier, how classy, how professional........this whole debacle will be a stain on the reputation of several Premiers for many years to come....scandalous!

The idea behind having these strict lockdowns is to NOT have millions of cases, and so many people needing hospital care, but no way to help them. We don't want a million people dying.

I saw, (not clearly) a man wheeling his dying father in a wheelbarrow. The hospital could not take him. The man is pleading & crying. It upsets me to see such things on tele, how much worse it is if people you care about, or yourself?

That's at the root of why these lockdowns are so severe. That's what I remember when I complain about being confined, because I can't adhere to all the restrictions and feel I am doing everything I can.

I don't want people to feel nervous or uncomfortable around me, because I need to go out occasionally, though unable to wear a mask. What if? & I can't get help?

I don't understand how it has happened that some people with COVID-19 have died in their own homes. That's not being explained. That is scary. I'm imagining the illness takes a sudden nose-dive & they have become so debilitated by COVID-19 they became unable to call for help, or there is suddenly no time.

This is why I am so utterly serious about COVID-19.

I try to put myself in others' shoes, and still think I got it easy. That doesn't mean I don't hurt too; I acknowledge, not try to put on my old face of denial, & allow myself the feelings. but not ALL the time.

We're all worn down by these months of restrictions. I think we need to find those things we can do, within the restrictions, to ease our bodies and minds.

I cam take a long shower. I find music on YouTube. I am sourcing books I have not read before. I post here as a way of feeling not so detached from people, community, & the human race. That's how cut off I've been feeling. I have to put in some effort, to do things differently.

I have not quite figured how to incorporate my involvement with BB, which I will have to restrict, because, time, it gets away and I am staying up way too late. I want to keep up with the threads where I have posted, & just checking in takes time, and then I want to post and that takes time, because I am reviewing what I am writing, editing, changing, before I post. Even the word games I am enjoying, I take time to think what, if anything, I post there.

I have to consider what I need, make some more choices, finding what can work.

'One day at a time' seems a good idea right now.

& those virtual shoulders & hugs come in handy. & we have an unlimited supply.

Tbh rx and moonstruck, it's been devastating in Melbourne for ppl struggling with mh. I've heard for adolsents as well, not easy, they need to get their energy out and be with others

When the rules change, morph, and mutate into new things, just as we've got used to the old rules, It leaves me feeling really isolated , having no one to process it with. U see the effect of human companionship

If I had one person by ,y side to say...wow...that's rough, hey? I think I'd feel more solid, but as it is now I feel like a leaf blowing in the wind....and the changes and har sh rules just batter me around

I keep every rule

I haven't had anyone in my house nor gone tomanyones house

But hundreds of days alone in a small apartment with no garden and struggles with severe mh concerns...and si...will get to u. I am going to ask my psych along Elizabeth's suggestion if i can get a note, maybe just to walk outside alone past 9. I can't take this shut in feeling any more and going to hospital looms

Hello mmMekitty,

I got a phone call Thursday night to say my daughter in law’s father who had caught COVID from being in hospital....why did they send him home knowing that he has COVID...He has been been isolating at home and suddenly due to his COVID was rushed by ambulance to their local hospital as he suddenly took a turn for the worse...

What I don’t understand is the professionals knowing full well that the people with COVID can at anytime have a turn for the worse and be really sick and need oxygen suddenly...Then why don’t they keep these COVID cases in hospital until they are over the worse of it..and in recovery until they are safe to go home....why are they sent home to fend for themselves...when they are still in the early stages of COVID...This is so unfair...

I haven’t seen my children or grandchildren now for nearly 2 years...I hate the thought that now my son, daughter in law and grandson is having to deal with the possibility of loosing their father, father in law and granddad...without my support and help...

We all need to keep in contact with elderly people or people who are sick that we know and lives alone...because they are vulnerable...A phone call could save a life....because COVID is so unpredictable...

My heart goes out to everyone who cannot see their loved ones...but please remember that by keeping away you are protecting yourself and your love ones.....It’s been 2 years for me since I have seen mine....it hurts...a lot..but well worth the sacrifice of being able to one day, see them healthy and give them some hugs...I can’t wait for that day to come...Looking so much forward to that day....and hopefully that day will come soon for all of us..

My kindest thoughts everyone...

Grandy..

Hi Grandy

I'm sorry that's happened to your daughter in law's father. I guess they sent him home to quarantine and only admit him again when he's become very sick because they need the bed. There's such a demand for hospital beds now and limited nursing staff available.

I don't mean it's OK just that I suspect that's why this would happen. Have you heard how he is?

I'm sorry you've been apart from family for so long. I have friends who know I'm alone in lockdown but they haven't rung to say hi or see how I'm going. They're in areas that are out of lockdown and they have families. People don't seem to think what it would be like to be alone all through this.

I hope things are going OK in your town. 🌷

Good luck Sleepy with getting the letter.

I agree with meKitty I try to put myself in others' shoes, and still think I got it easy. That doesn't mean I don't hurt too; I acknowledge, not try to put on my old face of denial, & allow myself the feelings. but not ALL the time.
We're all worn down by these months of restrictions. I think we need to find those things we can do, within the restrictions, to ease our bodies and minds.

The lockdowns are to try to reduce the number of cases until enough people are vaccinated to stop the hospitals being overwhelmed. It sounds as if NSW are already overwhelmed which means they are only taking the really serious cases but I imagine that means that people are missing out on early treatment which could prevent serious problems including non covid issues. If Melbourne 's cases keep rising we will have real problems in hospitals.

Yeah it boggles the mind that cases rise even in say Canberra,so much smaller, when they've been locked down for mths but even the same for Melb and Syd too really.lmagine if they were open. But cities have been all over the world , makes you wonder how did they cope then.

But there are the lives saved and surely that's a huge thing. Had an American mate complaining last yr about lock downs saying ahh, 4000 [or something like that ] Americans die a day anyway what's the difference, well they lost a lot more than that l think in the end but he's attitude was still the same, UK 1000s and 1000s, most countries actually . They haven't even heard of low numbers like ours, so l suppose that is a huge thing for us, at least that's something.

Sleepy , wondering , are you allowed out for walks through the day there or ,shopping and stuff, not quite sure what the rules are in Melb atm . But can you go for 2 or 3 walks a day or one day time one evening or something or? l realize you might not even want to anyway , just wondering. Sorry you've wound up alone, so hard for so many.l'm lucky in that way alone wouldn't worry me at all even mths on end but l am an odd one. And for those of you that can't see family , fortunately l'm odd like that too , well apart from my daughter , the rest though.

l agree Moon,they've lost the plot. And these bloody pressers and exact numbers in every tiny thing they insist on, hours on end day in day out. lt's way way too much , it's too much for the peoples psyche too, it's beyond dwelling to the whole country every damn day. Think they're loving it tbh. l hear many countries aren't even reporting stuff anymore let alone hrs on end and to the ridiculous.

rx

I am over the whole thing. Is there anyone else that questions what the mainstream media tells the people of Australia. Is there anyone else that will stand up for freedom of choice. Is there anyone else that questions the safety of these vaccines ?

I've had anxiety this week although I did have a restful couple of days off work. I think I was triggered by the roadmap out of lockdown. Not knowing if &when we can go back to the office. When will kids be back at school and for how many days? Will I be in the office a few days and work from home a few days? Change of routine again, then end of school year so another change. New system at work in November. How do I juggle it all?

It all feels too much and I can't keep up with all the different dates.

Cmf x

Here in SEQld we're not really in lockdown, just still expected to wear face masks when getting about, if you can't maintain that 1.5m away from each other, but not household members, I can sit in a cafe without a mask, but cannot walk through into and around inside the place.

Untraced cases? A few, I think.

I get a bit lost when hearing what is said on tele and trying to find the detail in the Qld's .gov website.

All I know, mask restrictions are to continue - even while some other parts of the restrictions are eased. & aren't they happy, aren't our vaccination rates great! Still I am stuck and frustrated.

If getting the vaccinations out to as many people as we need is so urgent, why aren't they getting it done? Are we in Qld going to hold Australia back? Are Qld & WA in a competition to finish last in the race?

Who's winning the Pr comp? Sometimes I do believe that's what the daily press conferences are really about. I need clear info on what I can and cannot do, and when there will be another review of the restrictions.

If the state/territory gov websites where you live, have the information you need, and you can find out there, I think I would suggest not watching the daily press conferences going over and over and confusing you, or not answering questions directly. Just going to the website, later, because it is not immediately updated, and checking the info for myself has taken some pressure off my emotions. I also like listening to ABC's Coronacast in the morning. It's roughly 10 minutes and focuses on a couple areas, questions, and Dr Norman Swan and Tegan Taylor explain better than most. Sometimes they get a little help. (I don't even have to log in to hear them).

& the roller coaster rolls on....oh, I want off now, please!....

mmMekitty....it's nice to meet someone else on here from Qld...no one else seems to understand and think we have it "so good" here...so fewer restrictions but from my point of view...so many of us are still living in "fear" that our press conferences keep drumming into us over and over again. as you know our Premier locks the border with hardly any notice, people's businesses are over, their lives ruined...and yet our "leaders" keep bragging to the rest of the States what a wonderful free life and lovely time we are having here in Qld.

The feeling is still all pervading that we are living under an iron thumb, whose press conferences are verging on the ridiculous with things like {referring to international travel)..."well, where ya gonna go then? Hey? You gonna go to India? Wanna go to Tokyo".....disgusting!

whatever freedoms of movement we have here can be taken away with a click of their fingers...they know it..and remind us all of it every possible chance they get!!!

Your not wrong.

l'd put money on no other country in the world is trying to scare the living daylights out of their people daily 18mths later the way they are here. Or doing 1 hour pressers day in day out and reeling of the bs , numbers and scare mongering they're doing here for 18mths now.Anyone l talk to os , Covid is hardly even on their news anymore.

And they're scaring the hell out of young people too it's just disgusting.My daughter was ok and excepting last year and oh well'ish . This last few mths 18mths later she's an absolute mess with worry and anxiety , we can't believe it. We try everything we can to lighten it all up for her but her anxiety worry and panic is through he roof.

They're all just making me sick.

ps , on another note say for Vic but the same in NSW too really , how the hell have numbers gone from 20s a day to a 800, 900, let alone 1400 or whatever it was in NS , when we're still under the strictest lock downs in the world? Matter of fact l think we're the only ones even in any sort of lock down these days , let alone our lock downs.

Sorry about the negatives , but they're just making me sick.

rx

Hello everyone

Does anyone else wonder what we we will think of 2021 and 2020 looking back in 5 and ten years.?

My 3 year old grandchild knows about corina masks and covid testing.I wonder what will her memories be.
sorry for those who are struggling, anxious and confused.

@quirky : You know, everytime we did the video call to the grandparents, my son would always ask when we were going to visit. I told him that we can't even go to canberra (where his friend moved to last year), let's alone oversea. He would say "I hates corona virus". He now also knows that the rona was here when we told him that that we couldn't go out and had to stay at home. My parenting could have been "better" if i told him that "it is to keep everyone safe". But the truth is that I would be lying if i said so. Going out for a walk doesn't bother pass on the virus to anyone. I feel bad to put that "fear" into him. But that's the status of our life is right now......press conference day in and out. Who to blame? People seem to like it. When NSW premier didn't want to do everyday press conference, it created an outcry.

@rx: well, some countries are still running that fear (i don't blame them as their hospitals are still stretched). But in many countries, life is fairly normal like covid doesn't even exist. Vax rate is high in those countries, though. They still have the usual mask and restrictions. My friend told me that she got a new job, signed up team sport for everyone at home. And just had family visiting from another country in europe. Wow...so much hope. Here, doom and gloom every day.

@moonstruck: QLD and WA can join the club. Fear campaign every day. 20 months?! I'm not even sure what else to look forward anymore. We were told that the premier might reconsider re-opening the interstate border by xmas when we reach 80-90 vax rate. You hear it, "reconsider". Given how things go here, i would like to be proved wrong that 80pc is even possible. NT premier said that covid would take off even at 80% vax rate. And QLD, even vaccinated people would still pass it on...hmm....such a doom statement while trying to convince QLD people to get jabbed at the same time. Now, can everyone please focus on hospitalisation? Stop obsessing with the case number. I'm tired of it.....

Thanks luna , very interesting . It's hard to get a good picture of what goes on around the world and in too many places in all this because there's so much reading involved for ea one and there's a lottttt of countries.. But yeah , l do have a few friends in different parts of Europe and the US and they've all mostly been back to life a long time now, traveling, holidays, international, pretty well everything from what l can tell.

rx

Yep rx, BF said no one ever mentions C19 in his circles or in the news he reads, except our friends pass on their sympathies to me and my family for what they read we're going through here - and the rest.
that's in the U.S.

He said the only change he's noticed is people wearing masks at airports. He travels every week or more to different states for his work. Seldom do labs even ask him to have a C19 test to enter the premises now.

And there you go.

I actually forgot about Covid for a whole 3 days last week, a few days this week too lol.
Maybe it was because we had our first week in AGES that we weren't all told to get tested via close contacts of close contacts of close contacts on and on - meaning NO close contacts for us. Yet we did what we were told.

Sorry for the cost of all those futile tests future generations.

And so much for preparing for numbers to go UP here as I've heard in the rhetoric passed on to me via my kids and we shrug.
They closed down the only C19 testing tent near us.

We'd have to drive about 20mins to the next nearest one now. Ok!

I don't even try to make sense of any of it anymore.

I spoke to 2 ppl from Qld in the past week and neither of them WANT to open the Qld borders to NSW, only 2 people but there it is.
Not before Christmas, not until "Covid is under control" whatever that means.

The cockatoos and kookaburras are flying all around on this pleasant crisp morning.
My garden beckons me to join nature.

Have a beautiful day everyone,
love EMxxxx

How are people in Melbourne coping with the rise in the cases today... they are saying it is everywhere in Victoria ... I am so incredibly anxious.. I am experiencing so many physical symptoms that are making my health anxiety go into over drive... I can't understand why some people have not been following the lockdown rules ... I feel we will be in lockdown forever with many more businesses failing because of some thoughtless people

Hi awesome people

Maybe the main stream media is not making logical sense.... How can covid cases be everywhere if so so many people are vaccinated now. I am not sure of the percentage. But isn't the vaccine meant to protect you from getting covid. Sorry just not understanding.

Hi Shell,

People can still catch covid when double vaxed but the chances are very much reduced... vaccinated people are also less likely to spread it to very many people because they will get such a mild case.... what the vaccines protect against is getting severe covid & needing to go to hospital or dying... it also reduces the risk of getting long covid... all the vaccinated people who have still ended up in icu have had serious underlying health issues which have reduced the effectiveness of the vaccine for them.

Paws

I am extremely anxious ad feeling hopeless. I feel really upset at the selfish people who ignore the rules and then spread Covid to unsuspecting people while the rest of us do our best to follow the rules. My dtr lives and works in a hot spot. She runs a health clinic but constantly worried about having to close when her hsb or her become a close contact either at the shops or from a patient. She is probably typical of the many small business owners struggling to keep afloat with reduced business due to restrictions but still the same overheads and the constant threat of becoming an exposure site even when doing everything right.

My hsb has a chest infection (not Covid) His GP told him to go to ED as he has deteriorated since he was seen and prescribed antibiotics. I was shocked to arrive at the hospital to find them setting up huge tents outside presumably to manage the influx of patients. (It is a small hospital so has not been affected by Covid up till now. The waiting room was full with people having already waited for many hours in the waiting room. It took ages to see the triage nurse. I had to leave him on his own as it was too crowded for me to stay.. If it is that bad at our small local hospital I hate to think what the major hospitals are like.

We have both been vaccinated so unlikely to get really sick from Covid but I'm concerned that my hsb won't be able to get decent health care while Covid is such a problem. Every person who needs health care for non Covid issues are no longer able to get the care they need. I feel overwhelmed at the thought of coping over the next few months.

Hi Elizabeth CP,

I am so sorry to hear you are feeling like this as well - I also find it very hard to understand what is happening with many people in the community ignoring rules put there to keep everyone safe and get us out of lockdown sooner so that businesses can get back to some sort of normal and so we can all see our loved ones without risks.

I hope your hbd will be ok and that he can get the health care he needs.. take care

Thanks RX, They said at least 500 cases were due to illegal gatherings over the weekend but I think the protests will have caused some. One pretested ended up in hospital the day after with Covid and another also tested positive. The Union officials that were attacked have been infected. I'm sure there are many others who haven't got tested but are sharing their germs with others at work or in the shops or at illegal gatherings. Too often it is the innocent that suffer.