Sorry Elizabeth l somehow no idea how, wound up with added's message in with mine but none the less yeah, very sorry for what you and your h are going through.

Thanks for the run down , it's getting even harder to wrap the head around it all .

rx

Hello Paw Prints,

I appreciate your clearly written explanation of the benefits and limitations of the vaccines. Face masks are also not 100% going to stop the virus from being exhaled and inhaled either. Together, along with maintaining at least 1.5m apart, in outdoor settings, and 2m or 4m (depending on size) when indoors.

*

I'm frustrated with the frequent changing of what is allowed and what is not, and then yes, we do have some people who need things spelled out to them, because I think it is natural to want to NOT have your own freedom restricted, and to think what you are doing is REALLY essential, & I'm not sure I disagree all the time.

I think of it this way. One person gets infected, is out and about, and infects a few people, who then, each of them, infect more, and then they infect more again, Like a family tree, a few generations and you have a hundred plus infected people. Only our COVID family tree might grow to that size in a week or two.

I just think how quickly this virus can & has spread, & how it has overwhelmed medical services.

Long term effects on people, of all ages, are going to require more mental health services too. Where will that come from?

One thing I think which worked well last year was when there seemed to be an understanding that no one was excluded. To coin a phrase, "we're all in this together"

I think, alongside that, we consistently saw more positive results from 'doing our bit'.

This year, I feel our Australian community is not holding together so well.

For myself, isolating as much as I am because I cannot wear a mask, I am feeling rather defeated. When things aren't working, like, I know Coles is not going to deliver one item :my cheese (poor mmMekitty, first the milk, now the cheese),and other things. I want to go get my own food shopping, find some clothes, speakers for my PC, new 'Fitovers' sunnys, like the pretty frame which broke. I want to feel comfortable about going out without a mask.

I feel I am anxious for us all. The daily announcement of numbers are part of that. Sad and tragic stories, lives of real people, in pain and anger, frustrated wanting greater reassurance than they can be offered. It does get to be too much. I feel uneasy, perhaps even guilty, if I turn off the news stories.

I'm losing the sense I had that I could cope. Is waiting now the only thing I can do?

MMMekitty

Hi Rx and everyone, they are saying the cases came from illegal get togethers over the weekend, and yes there is also some spreading from the protests last week... looks like we won't having any easing of restrictions.

Feel like masses and masses of people are being brain washed or fear pushed. It is challenging thinking differently.

It's challenging thinking differently to the masses. Going against the grain

I try to get my information from reliable sources. I speak to my daughter who works in the UK in their health system so I can find out what it is like there on the ground rather than relying on the media. I also have a sister in the US so I have heard her experiences. My dtr caught Covid. My dtr in Aust lives in an area with lots of cases. Last year she was close to a few people who caught covid and became extremely ill. we have also had discussions with my hsb's specialists who work in one of the city hospitals which has treated many Covid cases. I have found that the chief medical officers in Vic seem to be giving advice that makes sense based on what I have learnt.

We got vaccinated as soon as possible both to protect ourselves but also to reduce the risk of transmitting the disease to others. I don't want to be responsible for causing other's suffering whether from being sick or losing work due to having to isolate. I need to feel I'm doing my bit to help the community. I try to follow the rules not just the legal requirement but do what I can to follow the spirit of the rules. For example I try to find walking tracks which are less popular or have plenty of room to physically distance from others. Other things which help to reduce risk is basic health strategies like cleanliness, exercising regularly and healthy eating. I am not always as consistent as I should be but anything which increases fitness and health (both physical & mental health) will make it easier to recover if Infected despite all precautions.

I know it is hard being in lockdown and most of us are suffering in one way or the other but the alternative is to allow everyone to do as they please but then have the virus spread like it did OS and have hospitals overwhelmed. I want to live in a society where anyone who is sick or injured can get good health care rather than sub standard because staff are too stressed coping with covid patients. It is hard for polititians to get the balance right. If they go too soft people think it doesn't matter if they follow health recommendations. If they go too hard with their messaging they are accused of fear mongering and risk having people feel hopeless and give up trying. They are trying to meet everyone's competing needs often without all the information.

Thanks RX for your thoughtful post. Sorry I am overwhelmed so often my replies are not as clear as I'd like & sometimes I fail to acknowledge people. & their posts

Nah not at you've got enough to deal with.

When or if you ever feel like it though l'd love to hear what your daughter has to say about things in the UK these days though.

Take care

rx

Hi Elizabeth CP,well written post. & I could not agree more.

Please pass along some virtual hugs to your sister and daughter, my appreciation for their efforts.

I listen to those working with patients and their families, hearing how difficult having someone in hospital is for everyone around them. Often it is heartbreaking stuff.

I fear our own health care systems being so overwhelmed that there comes a time when some very hard decisions must be made as to who gets admitted and treated, and who does not. That's got to be the worst situation for our medical staff to have to be in. It is the kind of decision where there are only difficult choices. Someone will be very upset and disappointed and in a lot of pain no matter who is chosen to treat.

I would have this not happen if it means I am living as I am for another year )or more). My frustration and isolation, this disconnection I feel are all worth us avoiding the worst case scenario. Nope, wouldn't be happy about it, but I would do it. Am doing it.

& I get really upset to think anyone would suggest all the people in the world who have become infected, sometimes very ill indeed, and sometimes dying of this Coronavirus, are not real, that this isn't happening, that so many people would be at the very least, exaggerating the serious impacts of this virus. For what reason???

I just wanted to share something that I saw on Youtube that has helped to put things back into a bit of perspective for me. My partner put on a video of Chris Hayes on MSNBC reporting about how the Florida Governor made statements that Australia is not a free country because a year and a half on we are still enforcing lockdowns and questioned whether Australia is any freer than China. I didn't really pay attention to that part of the story! What really caught my attention was the map comparing the population of Florida (21.5million) with the population of Australia (25.7million). Chris Hayes then went on to show the Covid death toll of Florida (54,067) with the Covid death toll in Australia (1,256) and how Florida had surpassed Australia's death toll in just one week! As tough as our lockdowns and restrictions are, I am glad that we don't have a death toll like Florida! I have beeen avoiding Covid news but this gave me a bit of perspective. I hope that someone else might find this info helpful too.

Well , we aren't a free country that's for sure we're nannystated to pieces but just on this lock down business separately yeah , l dunno. The saving of so many lives is a really really big thing l must admit , especially when you look at other countries or the US , proud title holder

ironically l was gonna mention here talking to my mate in Florida just yesterday. The same one who's biggest concern 8 or 9 mths ago was having to pay hotel quarantine while visiting his gf in Arabia , meanwhile Florida at the time was on l forget , 50 or 100k cases a wk or something , it was a lot anyway. Well we were talking yesterday and he's main concern yesterday now is that he wants to sell his house butttt, and he says so casually you wouldn't believe it - so many people have died so there's a lot of houses on the market his valuations dropped, damn eh.

rx

None of us can be totally free. We live in society so we have to fit it with other people's needs. Nobody likes lockdowns but we saw what happened recently when people broke the rules and attended illegal gatherings the case numbers shot up. Unfortunately a percentage of those people end up in hospital taking up beds that others need fir noncovid conditions and leave staff too stressed and unable to provide the care people need. The government then have to come up with more rules to control the situation so we all suffer due to selfishness of a few. My sister lives in the US in a state that is controlled more than Florida. She was looking forward to attending a big event open only to those who can prove they are fully vacinated. After a year of hell last year being afraid to go anywhere because of the high risk of catching Covid and dying from it leaving a severely disabled son she is loving thevfreedom of going to things where she knows only fully vaxxed people can attend so she is safe. Hopefully in few months we can get to thst point so we can live nore normally and enough are vaxxed to allow hospitals to be able to run properly. Just wish thevgovt had done a better job with vaccines earlier so we could have avoided this situation. Remember being told it wasn't a race. I bet a lot of people wish it had been a racefrom the start so we could have avoided all this suffering.

Hi everyone. Can I just share some thoughts. I'm actually really anxious worried and nervous right now. I live in Sydney and am fully vaccinated but in a hotspot and freedom day freaks me out.

I have an office job thankfully but since I'm still on probation I still need to go to work for now instead of working from home. My issue is however, that I live with friends who are healthcare workers (I'm single no kids). We're getting covid tested daily but it seems friends and family around me don't intend on celebrating exiting lockdown, instead it will drive them further into hibernation.

I want freedoms back but I don't want to cause a rift in any friendships. If I didn't have friends in healthcare or their patients/clients to think about then I be less concerned about getting on with life but it's getting to the point where I might have to move out...which is why with each new covid19 variant I get more and more anxious. Honestly I feel like Brooks in Shawshank redemption except lockdown is my prison. So where do I go from here?

I feel for the people here especially the anxiety about coming back to work.
There are some employers that don't acknowledge that some workers are more productive working at home. They would rather have staff come back to work and encourage staff presenteeism. Most probably because having empty buildings is costing them money.

I feel for the people here especially the anxiety about coming back to work.
There are some employers that don't acknowledge that some workers are more productive working at home.

They would rather have staff come back to work and encourage staff presenteeism. Most probably because having empty buildings is costing them money.

l just can't believe Vic numbers , how is it happening when in Lockdown for mths started at l think it was 30 a day or abouts.

l'm all for demo's especially in this country but unfortunately l do think at a time like this not so smart and they're what did this . But why Vic ? Demos were in Sydney too .

And how is it Vic numbers are yet again the national record and yet even with spending more time in lock down than any other city in the world.?

lt's just mind boggling. Why Vic. l think from memory we also went into back into lock down way earlier than NSW numbers wise, yet now this.

l can't wrap the head around any of it.

rx

Hi randomx

I listen to the AbC Corona cast online in the evening with Dr Norman Swan and he was talking about Victoria last night.

Apparently yes the demonstrations and also that Victoria has had several outbreaks coming from people in NSW. NSW had one case initially, the limo driver for people going to quarantine, so we only had one outbreak to contain not several. And we still cannot control this delta strain.

Cheers!

The demonstrations definitely lead to increased cases. On top of this over 500 people on one day admitted to attending illegal gatherings on Grand Final weekend. I imagine there are a lot more who didn't admit going to the gatherings or didn't bother getting tested after getting symptoms after being infected at the protests &/or the illegal gatherings. Earlier we had the engagement and a religious gathering. These few selfish people led to the spirally numbers as they not -generously share their infections with unsuspecting people.

Today we had a telehealth appointment with a specialist. My hsb requires further procedures to reduce the risk of the medical problems he is having. These problems have led to many hospital admissions and can be life threatening so it is a serious issue. The specialist said we have to wait for the covid situation to settle so hospital's are no longer overwhelmed. It is scarey wondering what is going to happen over the next few months particularly with the high number of cases and its impact on hospitals. Lockdown ending will just make things worse.

Yeah right well you've probably summed them all up right there and thanks for that , unfortunately. At a time like this those things would easily be enough to set this off and yeah of course there would've been 100s maybe 1000s more that they don't know about but the timing is spot on to these latest numbers. And thanks also for filling us in with first hand Uk and Us situations.

Very sorry about your situation Elizabeth too , l hope your both managing somehow and he can get the help he needs one way or other as soon as possible.

Hi Hanna , it's just mind boggling and thanks for the details. And yeah it is hard wondering just how we're gonna control things even vaxed. Vic seems to do above and beyond in trying, hence our incredible lock down numbers, yet we still get this, again. l've given up my 15 min ABC updates as there's just too much going on now and they've just flowed into presser after presser these days. l then just last wk found a quick 5minute update l can catch on the radio at work. But the news guy reading it has the most morbid voice and most overly dramatizing manner in the way he reads everything out, it's just downright unsettling listening to him sooooo, l'm on the hunt once again for yet another way now.

Take care people .

rx

I am very stressed lately due to the situation and the frustration of hearing about people doing the wrong thing and making things worse for everyone else. I need to accept we can't change the situation so need to accept the reality and learn to cope.

I thought I would share some positives of things I've seen where people have made the most of the situation rather than focusing on the negative, Hopefully we will find some inspiration or at least comfort in seeing what other are doing.

Yesterday I was walking in some parkland near us and came across a personal trainer who had set up equipment for a client on a large picnic rug. She commented on how nice it was to be allowed to work in the open. On the way to the GP last week I niced the gym had their back door wide open. They'd pulled equipment out into the public car park so they could run sessions with clients in public so it complied with the law. I liked the way they found creative ways to run their business legally without putting anyone at risk.

There is an piece of open public land near us. A few days ago someone had dug up the ground in sections to make jumps for mountain bike riding. Probably not strictly legal but harmless and I'd rather young people meet with a friend or 2 in the open riding their bikes having fun than sitting indoors where the virus is likely to spread easily.

Their is a dead end road opposite us. Children had painted roadways with stop signs zebra crossings even a fake petrol pump so the young kids could ride their bikes, trikes or scooters around while playgrounds were closed. The signs etc were off the road so it didn't stop traffic.

Hello ElizabethCP,

Thank you for posting about how some people are trying to "make emonade from all the lemons we're having to deal with.

I had suggested to my local GP, if they were at all uncomfortable with me going into their clinic unmasked, then, I would be happy to have someone come outside to give me my 2nd vax dose there. There was a bench, where I could sit for the 15 minutes, to be sure I was not going to have any adverse reactions, easily observable from the reception area. No worries. But, no... I eventually did get in.

Lately, I am getting my helper to take me out to some near-by parks. She can open the window n her van, and I am not so uncomfortable being unmasked in these circumstances.

I get some some well-needed exercise, sunlight, and I feel like I am more a part of a real world again, one that has kids, dogs, more than some )lovely) crows magpie birds around.

It's a whole lot better than sitting alone in my little flat, complaining.

I know, from experience, once in a rut, it is difficult to get up and out again. It does not matter how you got in, whether pushed or voluntarily, it is so much easier to not exert any energy to get out again.

I am adjusting to doing some things differently.

mmMekitty

Hi, I'm having a tough time living with my partner especially now that Sydney is coming out of lockdown. My partner wants to live where we 100% dont catch COVID. I don't want to catch COVID either but the restrictions are tiring to do. We have both been double vaxed. And now I just told him I need to go back to the office next week (my job requires me physically being there, but during lockdown I worked from home). Is anyone else in a relationship where their partner's anxiety over COVID is affecting their relationship?

He acknowledges that he has health anxiety, but wont go to a therapist or do anything to overcome it. He justifies it by saying he is just doing the right thing and taking precautions to keep us safe, and nothing is more important then our physical health. He has every right to feel safe, but living with him is hard and now he is saying if I go to the office on Monday I should pack a bag because I wont be allowed back in. I would have a P2 or KN95 mask (ear loop style) on all day, bring lunch and cutlery from home and eat this outside away from people, social distance all day, drive and park (so dont take public transport) and when I come home I take shoes off before stepping in, place my bag and shoes in a 'quarantine area' then have a shower (shampoo, soap on for 1mins) before I can touch anything in the apartment. I'm not being reckless.

Hi Jessica2021,

You say:

"...and now he is saying if I go to the office on Monday I should pack a bag because I wont be allowed back in. I would have a P2 or KN95 mask (ear loop style) on all day, bring lunch and cutlery from home and eat this outside away from people, social distance all day, drive and park (so dont take public transport) and when I come home I take shoes off before stepping in, place my bag and shoes in a 'quarantine area' then have a shower (shampoo, soap on for 1mins) before I can touch anything in the apartment. I'm not being reckless."

You do seem to be taking every possible precaution, & more. Are you doing allthis in order to 'keep the peace' or to reassure him? Do you think it is reasonable for him to be threatening you if you don't do what he wants?

If these demands today, what tomorrow?

Do you think he would actually lock you out? If so,what then for you?

& any place which is & is guaranteed 100% COVID-19 safe is bound to be extremely isolated. so, if you are concerned he is serious about either taking you to an isolated place, or locking you out, please, phone RESPECT (1800 737 732 & discuss what you might do to keep yourself safe.

You have a right to your own autonomy. and to feel you are safe in your own home, to not have to cater to his fears and anxieties - those are his responsibilities. Because he refuses to try to get help with these feeling he has, does not mean you have to watch everything you do, or protect him from the realities of life. I mean, your work is not just for fun, is it? I'm sure your working supports your entire household. If you were to not go to work, what would happen then? What's next? Does he prevent you going out to shop, friends, family? Anywhere? If he sees the world as an unsafe place, how far could his controlling you get?

Warmest wishes,

mmMekitty

Thanks Mekitty for your reply :-) Is this common? Are there many people out there with a partner that has anxiety around COVID making them very difficult to live with? And how do they cope?

I dont have anyone to talk about this with. I'm tired of 'keeping the peace' and 'reassuring him' all the time like you said. Its hard living with and loving someone who suffers from anxiety and becomes controlling.

My partner never acted like this before COVID. And now his fear of catching it is affecting my lifestyle as we live together. I have told him what I'm doing from next week regarding work so we will see. He has to learn to deal with it. I dont think he would actually lock me out, that would result in me calling the police/his mum/my dad/everyone to help me get back in and his biggest fear are people coming into the apartment so I'm sure he would rather its just me then other people (who he doesn't know has been taking COVID safe precautions).

I think I'll be safe, and am sure he will be mean to me and try to talk me out of it till then.

Hey Jessica2021, a warm welcome to the forums.

I'm glad the forums are here for you when you feel there's no one IRL to talk to. Usually what brings all of us here to some point.

You're doing your best to alleviate your partners anxiety but tbh it's HIS issue to get help for and seeing as he won't get help, then the ball's in your court so to say.

No my partner doesn't have any real fears of catching Covid, he lives in the U.S. and travels extensively across many states for work. He's been doing so since it all broke out in the U.S.

I don't have any fears about it either, neither do any of my children.

I guess it's a balancing act of us doing our best to keep ourselves safe, within reason. That "reason" is what each of us make of it really.

Although I do understand that MANY many people are extremely anxious over Covid.

IDK how you'll be able to "manage" your partner's extreme anxiety.

I agree with MeKitty about calling 1800RESPECT. there are awesome Counsellors and psychologists to talk to and they may have some strategies or MH support for you in dealing with the new relationship dynamic.

Bestest wishes
Love EMxxxx

ok I don't have any fear of covid either. But rather some fear regarding the vaccines themselves . Am I allowed to express my thinking on here or will I be judged. For me there is no point going to ask any GP.... Why because some may not have your best interest at heart . There are some doctors that think differently then what the main media is saying and they want to able tell you there honest opinion about the vaccines but they risk loosing there licences to practice if they do. There are so many people who want to speak up, but in reality are censored. I am not against vaccines, but I am against these ones. Why are they being so pushy? Why the bribes?. My mental health is being affected, because I am scared for the whole human race. Not because of the virus but because of the vaccines. My heart aches and is sad for people. I started to listen to main media (which I had been staying away from) and felt my being like my soul being sucked in to what they were saying. Like starting to be sucked in this hole. It may sound weird, but that was my experience. Firstly by hearing it, then other parts of me were emotionally affected. It really is a challenge to explain it. Initially I felt fear. Then a sense of comradeship to the Australian people. I am an aussie. Then a sense of team work or something. A sense of belonging to something that was bigger then myself. The alone feeling I often feel could be met if I believed what I was hearing. I mean I would be going along with the many many other people. Even on here.. BB. I wish someone on BB understood me. I won't be rejected if I just believed and went along with what others said. I could be one of the pack. I sense of belonging maybe.

But I cannot go that way. For it sends alarm bells off in me. My whole being, conscious and gut feeling just know that it's not right for me. Will I be seen as selfish, will I be seen as a weirdo, will I be hated even. Discriminated against maybe. I know I need to come to the point that I don't care what others opinion is of me. But I don't think I have arrived at that yet.

I think one of the real casualties of this pandemic is the ability to accept differing opinions. My son in the UK has very different ideas to me re Covid but our relationship is far more important than our opinions. We agree to disagree and as soon as the conversation gets heated we both agree to change the subject. I was speaking to a friend last week who is against the vax. I am strongly in favour of it. I asked her to explain why she thought the way she did. For me it was important to understand other's viewpoints. Neither of us changed our opinions but we had a better understanding of each other.

Knowing you Shell don't want the vaccine doesn't change my opinion about you. You are still the lovely caring but vulnerable person I have got to know and care about on the forums.

For me the vaccine is important as it protects me and my family. Hopefully with enough people vaccinated it will stop so many people getting sick and ending up in hospital so that others like my husband with other medical conditions can get treated properly (something which is not happening currently due to the outbreak) I spoke to relatives overseas who had been vaccinated to find out firsthand what to expect.

There is no room for treating anyone with disrespect regardless of differing opinions. This is a difficult time I am really struggling as I'm sure many of us are. Let us reach out with love, respect and undertanding to all our fellow citizens to help us get through this time.

Do any introverts among us feel anxious about lockdown ending? Dealing with all the socialising again? I've been content doing nothing in lockdown. Now that it's ending soon I feel anxious.

l'm not in Melbourne and we haven't been in much lock down up where l am. But l must admit going down to Melb or through or around , during all this this last 18mths has been a pleasure for once. There were trips where say on the ring roads or some other , we were basically the only car on the road. They were night time trips but even some of the day trips with the traffic down to about a 10th of what it is normally , has been bloody beautiful .

And just a few wks back we were at Docklands ands picking up a car and the streets were so quiet , gotta admit , l'm gonna miss it.

We've also had a real kick out of the airport 4 or 5 times too though this as most of those trips we were only of a few people in the whole airport , God it was nice , surreal , but nice.

l can't work out why poor Vic has yet again broken all the records, yet locked down more than any other city in the world. l don't see what else they could've been doing they've been majorly cautious and careful all through but yet again , we've been hit with this new wave like no one else in the country.

lt looked like for once NSW was gonna hold the crown and sorry NSW but in one way it was nice to be getting outdone for once buttttt, so much for that. Should've known we'd be up there again.

But why ? Do you think it's the weather maybe ?

And how is it even possible with the place locked up like this ?

rx