Is anyone else starting to go f**king insane?

Friends in Melbourne have just emerged after around 100 days of lockdown I’m just hoping we will get out of it after half that time.

Rodney Bathgate

Piehead wrote: »

Fapping 4 - 8 times daily. Sometimes more

Wanker

The Mighty Quinn

Compared to the first one, this isn't a lockdown.

First one there wasn't a car to be seen on the roads, it was like Christmas Day levels of peace and quiet in Limerick City. It was actually refreshing in ways, pause button hit on the rat race.

Now the place is humming and buzzing with traffic as always, but it's darker, wet, cold, and the forgiving attitudes first seen when working from home began are gone, now the rat race is inside my house instead of in an office.

A paycut and a February baby saw to any of the possibilities of saving money that many espouse. Poor child is meeting nobody, terribly attached to her parents.

tamara25

Going for my walks in the local wood is the only thing that keeps me going. I feel sorry for my kids this week not being able to meet their pals. Made buns with the youngest yesterday to help pass the day for her. Wish it was the start of summer again.......

Aglomerado

It was easier first time round. I've worked from home throughout and I loved taking tea breaks in the garden when it was sunny and watching the cat chasing butterflies. Now I just wish I could hibernate until Christmas. I hate the month of November and would usually go away somewhere for a few days just to break it up. Need to start getting up and going for a walk in the morning before work instead of going on Boards!

Other than that I have enjoyed the slower pace of life.

amadangomor

Deleted User wrote: »

I had to wait an hour and a half in traffic due to a completely pointless checkpoint where they weren't even stopping people by the time I got there on a major route after a 12 hour shift yesterday morning..

That sort of craic will push people over the edge I reckon and turn them against the whole thing..

Discovered the new one on the M4 after work on Monday. Held up for half hour for no reason. Was determined to get a bottle of wine after it but somehow managed to not in the end!

amadangomor

tamara25 wrote: »

Going for my walks in the local wood is the only thing that keeps me going. I feel sorry for my kids this week not being able to meet their pals. Made buns with the youngest yesterday to help pass the day for her. Wish it was the start of summer again.......

The nearest woods to me is 8km away, feck it, I'm going after work. Don't mind sensible restrictions but the 5km is a really blunt instrument.

Will tell any Guard that it is essential to my mental health to walk in nature.

PsychoPete

I loved the last lockdown, I got to spend 7 weeks at home was fantastic. Not happy I'm working through this one, would have loved another six weeks off

Padre_Pio

Padre_Pio wrote: »

This lockdown feels completely different to the March lockdown. Back then we had the novelty of working from home, the days were getting longer, spending time outdoors, getting more quality time. It was weird, but weirdness was a change.

This last week has been completely different though, especially with the clocks changing. Dark when I start work, dark when I finish. Went for a walk around town and its crazy to see everywhere shut by 7pm. Went to meet a friend for coffee and ended up sitting in the car with the heater on. I'd usually go for a run straight after work, but now I'm running at night in the cold. We're 6 months into this now with no end in sight. I'm actually going insane looking at the same four walls every day, counting the end of every day when I closing my bedroom curtains.

How are the rest of ye coping with this?

Tbf, it's always dark at this time of year, even if there was no pandemic, you would still have to run in the dark.
There is only a lockdown, & not a big one for 6 weeks, then it will be back to the way it was a few weeks ago. It's not so hard.

BabysCoffee

Mental Health is so important.

Everything has changed around you, so you need to change and adapt too.


Mix it up a bit, get new routines, do things you never did before.

Here's a few suggestions
Jigsaws
Lego
Knitting
Crafts
Scrapbooking
Blogging

As regards missing friends how about organizing a Zoom dinner party?

Have fun on group Whats App chats. My sister threw a picture in to a group chat and gave everyone to 3 minutes to replicate, dress up and pose like the picture with whatever we had on hand. Everyone started posting their pics and the results were hilarious. It broke the boredom for an hour or so.

Also remember your local library offers free ebooks, eMusic and online courses and lots lots more....

Basically look to fill your free time with something new. Don't expect the time to pass well if you don't fill it with something stimulating that you enjoy

Oink

It’s mad how differently people are coping. Some people are able to find peace and actually enjoy the lockdown. Some people are getting by. And then some people are driven demented with anxiety, loneliness, or in some cases domestic violence or the threat of homelessness. There but for the grace of God go I, my path littered with minor inconveniences.

Take care of yourselves folks.

Wibbs

Parsnips wrote: »

Gates are being locked this year to discourage little hands.

Well that got me in the feels.

I bloody hate winter anyway, but I'm lucky because I'm still working and get out most days and see and interact with people. I talk with friends on a daily basis. Being in an urban environment helps enormously as it's easy to see life going on even if you never left the house and a lot more compared to the last lockdown(to the point at times of what lockdown). Plus if you do go out and about there's a lot more going on within 5k. I don't know how rural people are coping TBH.

fits

Wibbs wrote: »

I don't know how rural people are coping TBH.

Funnily enough I’ve been thinking the exact opposite. I live on a cul de sac lane with several other houses and we’ve all gotten to know each other much better over the course of the year. I’ve much more space in a comfy house than we could ever afford in Dublin. Local village is very agricultural so not a whole lot changed even in first lockdown. Lots of lovely walks nearby too. And I’m able to meet my mum for walks.

I was a lot more down/ anxious before the restrictions came in. I was happy to see them as numbers were going out of control fast.

Anyway we are both still working. I’m in office at least once a week so not much has changed here. Feel for people who are very isolated.

storker

emo72 wrote: »

Polishing my glock.

I never heard it called that before...

ChikiChiki

Started a 1000 piece jigsaw and it's surprisingly addictive and rewarding.

This is something I would never have done previously. It passes the time quick enough.

whisky_galore

Parsnips wrote: »

Speaking od Netflix.
Dont watch that new Adam Sandler halloween film on Netflix.
Worst Ive ever seen of his. Pure ****e
I love him but this is pure lazyness

Running out of stuff to watch, on the foreign language ones.
Always a pathetic selection for Ireland with streaming, no wonder people opt for the less than legal option.

RTE never bothered rising to the challenge, calling 5 or 6 year old films network TV premieres, big whoop.

_Brian

Wibbs wrote: »

I don't know how rural people are coping TBH.

I just posted the opposite in the other thread.

Always loads to do here either in the garden or on the farm. I’m on WFH but very little happening so I’m free to tip about doing”stuff” and get full pay. Thismorning I’m doing some emails, then it’s grooming the pony and loading to being to the riding school as they are clipping horses today, then daughter has a three day intensive horse riding camp so the pony will stay over for a few nights.

whisky_galore

Wibbs wrote: »

I don't know how rural people are coping TBH.

All things that made the city appealing for me are gone, closed or fcuk all craic.

completedit

People who keep going on about mental health don't seem to know the science behind it. People prone to depression will be suffering but they suffer anyway. A lockdown isn't ideal but neither is normal life. People who are depressed need psychotherapy and help, using the gym or some other coping mechanism is a short-term solution.

But, this lockdown sucks. It's too busy out and about and lacks the serenity of the March/April days. The whole idea of living through a historical moment and the lockdown being part of the ups and downs of human experience has gone. It's just boring now. I'm over it now though; relationship ended and the job market is ****ed, I'm in my 30's and lucky in some ways though so just best to ride it out and hope this 'new normal' eventually comes to an end, but I wouldn't be so sure. I think the freedom of life pre February 2020 will be a long while away, unless more and more numbers start revolting.

Warbeastrior

Just remember its only temporary. Look after yourself and find joy in the small things.

riclad

I watch old comedy shows, I listen to podcasts, cycle around to random places,
Maybe now is the time to read books that u never had time to read.
Even if it's cold everyone needs
exercise walking for 30 minutes
has a positive effect on the mind
and the body
You can still go to a park sit on a bench
It's much tougher now as its cold
At least the first lock down was in the summer

People who were meeting up or
Not following social distance
rules caused this 2nd lockdown

I read news online
I do not watch TV news it too grim
At least our government has a rational policy
towards fighting covid unlike america
where every state has different rules

Nigel Fairservice

Nigel Fairservice wrote: »

I'm fairly introverted and like to spend time alone so I'm not too bothered about the lack of interactions with others. I live with my missus so I do have some company. I love this time of year and I love the long dark nights. Seems to be the opposite for a lot of people.

My family live in another county and I can't see them. That's probably the worst thing for me at the moment.

I love this time of year too and the dark evenings I can be introverted as well but I absolutely hate this pandemic and how it has disrupted my life. It's been a struggle. I even get aches in the bottom of my stomach for the way things were.
God knows I'm trying to be positive and focus on all the ways I'm lucky but it's hard.

completedit

riclad wrote: »

I watch old comedy shows, I listen to podcasts, cycle around to random places,
Maybe now is the time to read books that u never had time to read.
Even if it's cold everyone needs
exercise walking for 30 minutes
has a positive effect on the mind
and the body
You can still go to a park sit on a bench
It's much tougher now as its cold
At least the first lock down was in the summer

People who were meeting up or
Not following social distance
rules caused this 2nd lockdown

I read news online
I do not watch TV news it too grim
At least our government has a rational policy
towards fighting covid unlike america
where every state has different rules

What are you talking about? Look at the EU and the extremes in our policy towards it.

paw patrol

its a load of pox this time. there was an excitement or buzz in the air last time. the weather was decent too.

I love training but training outdoors is poxy now compared to the last lockdown.


I'm off for the week and tbh not much to do bar the park/beach and call of duty.

AlphaDelta1

I do worry how people would cope with a real emergency in this country and many others tbh. You'd swear we lived in the Gaza Strip the way some are going on about this lightest of lockdowns. The vaccine is a few months away from being safely distributed to every citizen of the state and the people can go back to doing whatever they want.

Real Life

I would consider myself to be mentally very strong but its even getting to me now and wearing me down.

My girlfriend has struggled very bad for years with her mental health and she is what seems to be to be in a bit of manic episode pretty much constantly the last few months, its very tough. She has zoom calls with her therapist but its not enough.

Its hard to keep going with no end in sight and nothing to aim for.

kkelly77

For everyone rightly so losing their minds being locked up again, there's absolutely no need for the destruction of our society and sanity. Tell everyone you know.

See attached.

Nigel Fairservice

Nigel Fairservice wrote: »

I'm fairly introverted and like to spend time alone so I'm not too bothered about the lack of interactions with others. I live with my missus so I do have some company. I love this time of year and I love the long dark nights. Seems to be the opposite for a lot of people.

My family live in another county and I can't see them. That's probably the worst thing for me at the moment.

Surely you miss romping with your school chums in the fens and spinneys, when the twilight bathed the hedgerows like a lambent flame?

ChikiChiki

Deleted User wrote: »

Friends in Melbourne have just emerged after around 100 days of lockdown I’m just hoping we will get out of it after half that time.

I think we will be out of it at the 6 weeks mark to give the economy a pre Christmas boost. The data seems to be going in the right direction.

November can be an indoorsy time anyway most years in the run up to the festive season.

barney shamrock

I'm sort of lucky I suppose as I don't go to pubs or clubs so not really missing out on anything there.

I do most of my shopping online (books, vinyl, ebay etc) so that also hasn't really been affected.
I've been able to carry on working, so my daily routine is much the same apart from wearing a mask etc.

No staff Christmas party to "look forward" to this year as well, which is a bonus in my book!

I actually consider myself to be fairly unattractive (my wife disagrees!) so I'm happy enough wearing a mask as a lot of people seem to have lovely eyes when that's all you can see!

Apart from my immediate family, I don't like greeting/kissing/hugging etc so I'm not feeling any great physical contact loss there, as some people are.

I do miss going to restaurants, gigs and cinema though and not being able to go abroad on a nice Italian city break is disappointing.

I suppose you could say this virus has been easier to deal with for those of an introverted nature?

ChikiChiki

kkelly77 wrote: »

For everyone rightly so losing their minds being locked up again, there's absolutely no need for the destruction of our society and sanity. Tell everyone you know.

See attached.

If we had a decent health system we would not be at this point.

The risk of it being overwhelmed is too high. It is not all about you.

Atlantic Dawn

Warbeastrior wrote: »

Just remember its only temporary. Look after yourself and find joy in the small things.

But that's just it, there's no end in sight, ive wrote off 2021 as being exactly the same more or less.

If countries sign up to the Great Barrington Declaration approach we might see the light, current way of dealing with this is crazy.

zf0wqv9oemuasj

Hi all, personally we don't mind it really. Ok, you don't get to see family as much but working at home full time is brilliant, I see so much more of our toddler than I did for the first months of his life as I was away for days almost every week for work. My wife is still not back to work after maternity leave though which I know makes it easier as we don't have childcare problems. She has been looking to get back working now but the jobs market is a little slow even in her sector which overall isn't being hit hard by covid.


I can understand its a very different experience for those who live in house shares and other situations like that especially those who have lost jobs and so on. Unlike some of the posters who talked earlier in the thread we would not have been introverts and would have gone to restaurants and the pub weekly even after having our child but we appear to have adapted quickly.

ChikiChiki

ChikiChiki wrote: »

I think we will be out of it at the 6 weeks mark to give the economy a pre Christmas boost. The data seems to be going in the right direction.

November can be an indoorsy time anyway most years in the run up to the festive season.

And back in to it again.

_Brian

Deleted User wrote: »

And back in to it again.

Possibly.

This will actually depend on how people behave. If people had behaved correctly we could have remained at L3 restrictions and lived away easily.

So when we do get out of the L5 people need to behave.

eviltimeban

What I don't miss about this time of year when it is "normal":

1. Going to work in the dark
2. Going to work in the dark, in the pi**ing rain
3. Sitting in the office at 4pm looking out at the dark
4. Standing on a crowded Dart with every second person coughing all over the place
5. Going home in the dark
6. Walking into a cold house as the heat hasn't come on

What I like about things now:
1. Nice basic routine, making breakfast, taking time to make nice coffee, chats at the kitchen table as no one is in a rush
2. I don't have to leave the warm house
3. Getting out for a lunchtime walk in the park or on the beach
4. More time to make a decent dinner rather than rushing in the door and everyone is starving
5. Going to bed early as there's not much else to do - it's quite nice to chill out with a book and not feel guilty about it

The only thing I do miss now is the gym being closed, going to the cinema, having more options for lunch, and not being able to have friends over for dinner.

gourcuff

for me and alot of my friends its not being able to travel home to see family and friends and being stuck in dublin, would usually head away maybe 1 in every 3 weekends to family, friends and now we are stuck...

My three cents. Out of work again with escalation of restrictions. One blessing in disguise is absence of social drinking - I seldom crack a can at home. The 7.30am run has filled the void to a certain extent, and devised a daily schedule to cut out morose drift. Online learning since September in anticipation of the inevitable helping somewhat. Trying to manufacture something out of adversity, harnassing the free time. Better days lie ahead, want to be primed and ready for future opportunity. Easier said than done, however life is too short to feel sorry for oneself. December isn't far on the horizon, already looking forward to catching up with family & friends.

_Brian

_Brian wrote: »

Possibly.

This will actually depend on how people behave. If people had behaved correctly we could have remained at L3 restrictions and lived away easily.

So when we do get out of the L5 people need to behave.

I'm not so sure it's all down to how people "behave". Of course there are things we must do in order to stem the tide of virus but with our society back open then cases will increase.

Makes no odds to me if I'm ignoring level 3 or level 5 restrictions

fits

Anyone else looking forward to a less hectic Christmas?

Graces7

It will be the same as always here; peaceful, through choice.

gozunda

Graces7 wrote: »

lol.. knitting is better!

Can't knit either

Gruffalux

gozunda wrote: »

Can't knit either

Macramé!! Big knots! Faster!!

I found the recession period from about mid 2008 to maybe late 2013 far worse and more depressing than the pandemic. Things felt utterly hopeless then and that we had brought it on ourselves as a country. It seemed like everyone started to become genuinely depressed around that time.

Prime time and the Frontline etc. would talk about young people not being able to afford to attend college or get jobs anywhere and everyone's attitudes to each other hardened. Life went from a condition of getting by just fine, to abundance and even luxury for many, to a grinding anxiety-ridden depressing existence in comparison. That said, at least back then not everyone suffered financially and it was an option to leave the country, and we are only 7 months or so in, but I'll never forget how dark those times were.

And who knows where this pandemic will end. I would worry about the amount of resources the entire world is using up to tide us over this period - what happens if another more-deadly child-killing virus emerges in the near future for example and we have used up all our resources on this far less serious pandemic.

jimgoose

Some days are like a wet Tuesday in Buttevant with no money. Having said that, the whole lockdown scene is great for keeping on top of the laundry, developing cooking skills, catching up on odd-jobs around the place and embracing my inner anti-social bastard. It turns out I'm quite good at it.

Porklife

ChikiChiki wrote: »

Started a 1000 piece jigsaw and it's surprisingly addictive and rewarding.

This is something I would never have done previously. It passes the time quick enough.

A few years ago a friend of ours had his first child, he's Italian. My sister and I got a 1000 piece jigsaw of a cherub with doves and decided to build it, mount it and frame it as a gift for him. I thought that was such a beautiful idea.
In reality, we started the jigsaw with love in our hearts and hope in our minds....couple of hours later we're both like **** this ****! Why wont this stupid piece fit? Gimme that corner..its my corner! Ah screw this let's just buy him a pint:)

Lockdown is suiting me at the moment cos I don't feel much like interacting with people but I completely understand why some people are finding it difficult. I was out of work in March and found my drinking ramped up cos I'd no reason to get up in the morning and my hangovers made it all the more grim. This time around I'm not drinking and I'm working from home so money is not a huge stress for now. As Wibbs said, living in the city centre makes it feel way busier too and you almost forget there is a lockdown. There are people everywhere and cafes still bustling with take out etc.
That said, I really miss my family and wish I could visit them abroad. We'll all get through this though folks. One (looooonnngg) day at a time.

GDK_11

Kaliyah Mushy Dresser wrote: »

Hi all, personally we don't mind it really. Ok, you don't get to see family as much but working at home full time is brilliant, I see so much more of our toddler than I did for the first months of his life as I was away for days almost every week for work. My wife is still not back to work after maternity leave though which I know makes it easier as we don't have childcare problems. She has been looking to get back working now but the jobs market is a little slow even in her sector which overall isn't being hit hard by covid.


I can understand its a very different experience for those who live in house shares and other situations like that especially those who have lost jobs and so on. Unlike some of the posters who talked earlier in the thread we would not have been introverts and would have gone to restaurants and the pub weekly even after having our child but we appear to have adapted quickly.

Like you it is great to spend more time with the toddler but for me personally it is harder to get work done, we are lucky we have some help from family but kids of that age obviously require a lot of attention. I’m looking forward to getting back to some kind of normality, whatever that may be.

Wanderer78

Wanderer78 wrote: »

Or better still, start being more active, Its called anxiety, and it can cause serious problems for some

Nah, it’s fashionable attention seeking. The go-to excuse for everything.

fineso.mom

fits wrote: »

Anyone else looking forward to a less hectic Christmas?

Yes and no. Our Christmases have always been family oriented anyway so not particularly hectic, just extra visits, food and fun. Time to enjoy each others company and remember those not with us. We probably won't be able to do that this year so are contemplating building some sort of shelter outside and having a Christmas morning get together where we can be together but not too close and then go home.Luckily we all live veey close to each other and have lots of room outside. Two of my children live abroad and I haven't seen them since early January and they won't be able to take enough time off work to isolate on both ends so they won't be here. I'm trying not to think of how much I will miss them on the day.
I feel sorry for an aunt and uncle too, both in their 90s,both still driving. One lives 3 hours away, the other 4, and since I was a child they make the journey 'home' and visit each of their nephews and nieces and bring us 'something nice'. I'm over 50 now and still feel like a happy child when my aunt or uncle arrives in the yard, beeps the horn and gets out of the car carrying a brown paper bag with sweets, biscuits or cake. There won't be too many of those visits left (although we've been saying that since they hit 80 ðŸ˜), so it's sad knowing we won't have that visit this year. Though my aunt who is 92 is mad into zoom calls so she said will organise one to make up for not being able to visit.
On the other hand, I won't miss all the extra social events, work parties, friend's nights out. I don't go out an awful lot but at Christmas I often have to choose between events as there are so many. We might have a few zoom parties instead.