Getting really demoralised now with the Social Distancing thing.

theoretica

I get the feeling a lot of people aren't thinking beyond their personal risk.  I'm not too worried about an increase in cases in about a week from infections caught now.  I am worried about what will happen in two weeks when those infections have spread to people who didn't choose to go into crowds.

Spendless

To offer another viewpoint. We (household of 4) plus our 1 yo puppy went to the seaside yesterday. 1 hour drive from our house (yorkshire coast). Usually a relatively popular place. We were there 2.5 hours I didn't witness a single incident of people not social distancing. We had to go on the dog friendly beach, so yes less people anyway, but we de-toured on our way back to the car park and walked alongside the main beach, which was busier but everyone was spaced out appropriately. I purposely looked and everyone was more than 2m distance in their groups. We saw a fish and chip shop open. Everyone was queueing 2m apart. We'd brought along a picnic so didn't need to get food. I was the only one in our family  that needed the loo during  our trip. There was 4 of us queuing again appropriately  and that was because the other 3 hadn't realised they needed to pay a contactless 20p. I was on the brink of paying  for everyone when we were able to be let in. The worst thing was that I tried 4 soap containers before I found one with any in, but since the cleaner was there dressed in PPE, I should imagine that they were about to be filled. I had hand sanitiser on me anyway but would in future take a travel soap too.

Other than the hand soap situation none of the above makes a media story, which is why you're not seeing them.

As we walked along the shore, I can recall getting a 'good for the soul' feeling, something my 17yo daughter also commented on getting. She has had one socially distanced face to face conversation with someone her own age  since mid-March. She told me her MH was starting to get to her recently (school issues over a year ago caused her to be under CAMHS with suicidal ideation and I've no wish to return to those days). I'm also starting to hear of others strugging with MH, including someone who recently took an overdose (fortunately was ok), has become very down due to loss of livlihood (entertainment/tourism business) and how long, if ever it will come even close to what they once had. I'm also aware that this family hasn't been in contact with anyone since mid March, this is due to choice rather than any vulnerability.                                                                                                         My daughter has a drama teacher in her 90s. widowed, without children and only family in another part of country. She told me weeks ago how much she was struggling with lack of social contact, I wasn't able to do anything other than ring her from time to time wit any chat.  I'm now looking forward to being able to sit in her garden and have a conversation with her.  

NeilCr

theoretica said:

I get the feeling a lot of people aren't thinking beyond their personal risk.  I'm not too worried about an increase in cases in about a week from infections caught now.  I am worried about what will happen in two weeks when those infections have spread to people who didn't choose to go into crowds.

Possibly

But there are a number of issues to take into account for many of us.  Covid, the effect of lockdown on our mental and physical health, economics etc etc

From my POV I am pretty strong and have lived on my own for a long time. But, I've had a number of "down" days recently. My partner has had to look after a 6 year old for long periods of time. Meeting up while maintaining social distancing and safety measures provided a welcome relief for both of us. Even if it was in her garden

MrsStepford

OP, your husband is right, you can only control what you can. This is the worst British government ever. Totally clueless and corrupt and uncaring on top.

 My attitude is, to control everything coming into my home, to try to minimise the risk. I've been reading stuff online from WHO, CDC, universities only. My husband is working from home and does sometimes have to go out in SE to consult on technical probs. He has PPE (mostly bought by us, early on) but when he comes in, his Barbour gets wiped down with an alcohol wipe, ditto his shoes, his clothes go in a garbage bag then out into washing machine. I have clean clothes waiting for him after he has washed hands and face with soap. 

I wipe down the front door, door knobs, light switches, banisters, clean the loo, kitchen sink and food prep areas every day. We use tissues and bin them in a separate pedal bin in bathroom. If my face gets itchy from hay fever, I use Simple cleaning wipes - just (triple purified water and vitamins) from a special offer at Iceland.

I'm taking part in two online studies about mental health for universities, which is helpful because answering questions shows me that my experience isn't so awful and that other people get anxious too. 

MysteryMe

My sympathies to anyone who has suffered a recent bereavement.
In the same way that the vast majority of people complain as opposed to praise, so only the idiots hit the news and not the vast majority of people who are adhering to the guidelines. You end up with a distorted impression and think everyone is carrying on as normal when they are not. 

NatalieSav

In Scotland we’ve been told not to go further than five miles from our home. We aren’t supposed to see family unless we are outside and we have to stay 2m away. I’ve not seen my brother in weeks. The most I’ve done is go to the supermarket, the local shop and to a community group who are giving away meals 3 times a week with social distancing observed. I’ve had a few wobbles around week 4. But you get past that. Oddly enough the hardest thing for me was when my gym closed a week before lockdown.  I go five times a week and that just hit home what kind of situation we were in.
Your routine isn’t your routine anymore. 
 But that’s nothing compare to what some people are going through. I was actually supposed to be moving house soon and surprisingly my local council are allowing moves but it’s been delayed because the kitchen needs plastered and they aren’t working just now. Scotland hasn’t relaxed its measures as much as England. My exercise now is a walk to Aldi but you get used to new habits. Sorry to anyone who has lost a loved one 

onwards&upwards

theoretica said:

I get the feeling a lot of people aren't thinking beyond their personal risk.  I'm not too worried about an increase in cases in about a week from infections caught now.  I am worried about what will happen in two weeks when those infections have spread to people who didn't choose to go into crowds.

I'm reassured by the fact that the wave I was fully expecting after VE Day never really happened.  Most of those parties and gatherings were outside in the nice weather, and I think that's a good sign that transmission outdoors is much harder than indoors.  This bodes well that even with the new rules, cases should stay reasonable steady over the summer. 

Comms is right that this isn't going away anytime soon.  We all have to learn to live with it, and that means some restrictions but not so many that mental health suffers excessively, or that people can't tolerate it anymore and do whatever they want.  We need to keep the number of cases low enough so that the NHS can manage not just the Covid patients but everybody else who needs our help and care as well. 

maman

onwards&upwards said:

  We all have to learn to live with it, and that means some restrictions but not so many that mental health suffers excessively, or that people can't tolerate it anymore and do whatever they want.  

 In England, I've noticed that the ignoring of social distancing and other advice/laws has worsened in the past week or so. I'd agree there is a number of people who just feel they can't cope with lockdown any more but I think it's more a s*d it attitude because of the government's mixed messages and lack of clarity. We're moving right away from 'the science' and into political spin.  In the past week we've had the ability to meet more friend/family , markets and car showrooms opening, schools opening with the promise of more, a 'world class' track and trace programme begun overnight, the promise of dentists amd more shops and even possible English holidays when the school holidays start.  The worst thing IMO was texting vulnerable, sheilded people on Saturday night to tell them they could come out of lockdown on Monday with no clinical explanation or forewarning GPs. I'm sure this has all been done to act as a smokescreen for the Dominci Cummings fiasco. 

So, I'm not worried. I'm angry at being treated like a mug.

barbarawright

I think the lack of social distancing is somewhat exaggerated - I could speculate why though I won't. But I've met up with a friend in the park a couple of times and observed what look at first glance like chaotic crowds but which, on closer inspection, turn out to be little groups of twos and threes.  Clearly not everyone is perfectly but I've see very little breaking of the rules

pollyanna_26

maman said:

onwards&upwards said:

  We all have to learn to live with it, and that means some restrictions but not so many that mental health suffers excessively, or that people can't tolerate it anymore and do whatever they want.  

 In England, I've noticed that the ignoring of social distancing and other advice/laws has worsened in the past week or so. I'd agree there is a number of people who just feel they can't cope with lockdown any more but I think it's more a s*d it attitude because of the government's mixed messages and lack of clarity. We're moving right away from 'the science' and into political spin.  In the past week we've had the ability to meet more friend/family , markets and car showrooms opening, schools opening with the promise of more, a 'world class' track and trace programme begun overnight, the promise of dentists amd more shops and even possible English holidays when the school holidays start.  The worst thing IMO was texting vulnerable, sheilded people on Saturday night to tell them they could come out of lockdown on Monday with no clinical explanation or forewarning GPs. I'm sure this has all been done to act as a smokescreen for the Dominci Cummings fiasco. 

So, I'm not worried. I'm angry at being treated like a mug.

Well said maman. I live on the coast and the recent bank holidays and hot weather have been sheer hell as the hordes have arrived from miles around with their disposable bbqs and alcohol both of which are banned on this coastline due to rare endangered species and flora and faunaa.

Many lit fires and woodland was set on fire. All emergency services were run ragged at a time when they've enough to do in the pandemic.

My youngest dd mid 30s is in the extremely vulnerable category . Her Gp ordered her to stay indoors on the 13th March and she remains indoors until he as a medical profesional considers it safe for her to go outside. He phones reguarly and this morning his advice was the same.

We and our GP are following the real science not random ill thought out political opinions. I can only think of one other country rhat's handled this as badly as ours.

I am angry too.

polly

ETA Re texts or letters concerning no longer being on the Shieding list. The BMA responded Only a qualified Doctor with knowledge of their patients health conditions can add or remove someone from the list. Our Dr confirmed that during this mornings phone appt.