Life during lockdown

Really, genuinely struggling with it. Have had past mental health problems (mainly anxiety and depression), which I've just about managed to keep under control in the past few years - largely through exercise. So only being allowed out for an hour at most, with no access to gyms, and no chance to socialise with people is definitely taking its toll (especially as I live alone). The complete lack of indication about if or when lockdown restrictions will be eased in any way at all is not helping. Of course, it's understandable why these measures have been put in place, but the toll they have on mental health does need to be discussed.

Our whole family's mental health is currently being stretched to breaking point. My husband has been unwell for a month or so but has failed to be able to see a doctor or other medical person despite his previous medical history. A&E refused to examine him despite his being in severe pain. I ended up taking him back to A&E this week, luckily someone took him seriously. Within a couple of hours he had been diagnosed with cancer and a positive outlook is highly unlikely. 

He's stuck in hospital, I'm not allowed to visit nor can I go to my daughter to comfort her. Basically unless a person is suspected of having Covid-19 the NHS in London is closed. It's an utter disgrace.

My husband had young onset Alzheimer's and died on December 30th at the age of 69. For 10 years I've cared for him at home. For the last five years that meant we were in our own version of lock down as I could never leave him. Now he is gone I am very relieved that were spared having to live through corona virus as well as living with dementia. But living with bereavement in lock down is hard and I feel so very sorry for the people who have lost loved ones without being able to say goodbye. 

I'm a 24 hour carer for my mother at home who is 99.  I'm so pleased I chose to care for her myself in her own home as so many old people in care homes are no longer with us, and not only in London.  Why?

People's mental health is being challenged by the current safety measures so many will be seeking support for this.

I do know of several people with existing severe mental health problems who are currently struggling and are receiving no support and are unable to find any alternatives for a variety of reasons.  Some are not even able to access medication needed to manage their conditions.

Naturally, the focus is currently on frontline staff treating patients with Covid-19 while trying to protect themselves but there are also many Londoners falling through the cracks so to speak.

If there are any avenues of support, please let me know so I may pass them on.

I am very fortunate in many ways.  I am retired, aged 73, live in a lovely flat overlooking a park, and have stable retirement income. I have no underlying health issues. But I am finding the lockdown difficult and boring.  I greatly miss visiting my sons and my grandchildren.  I belong to two choirs and both of these are on hold.  I was volunteering two days a week at Citizens Advice but this too has stopped.  I also miss my church where I play the organ.  Various holidays, family weddings and trips have been cancelled or are likely to be.

 On the positive side, thank goodness for Zoom, WhatsApp,email and phone.  It keeps me in touch with family and friends.  I have lovely neighbours and we keep in touch and help each other when we can. I have been heartened by the outpouring of neighbourliness across the country and support for our NHS and care providers.

i have been suffering from bouts of general anxiety but seem to be coping better these days, though the prospect of a long period of continuing  lockdown is alarming.  I worry about my family and friends,  I cannot bear to think about covid19 in poorer countries with limited health services. I wonder how it’s going to develop and what sort of world we’ll have in the future.

I am finding the social distancing I can cope with and while I’m finding the loss of all pubs restaurants etc is making me feel bored and irritable it is the pointless restrictions that send me into a head spin. Why when we go for a long walk have benches been closed? Why can we not drive to exercise because authorities have blocked all parking? Petty minded officials adding extra restrictions make it all intolerable. STOP THEM NOW.  

I do so agree that walkers seem at the bottom of the pile. Cyclists on footpaths and joggers who think two metres is second to their keeping their pace going are also enough to drive me wild which in these times is easier than usual 

I am 75 so presumably high risk although fit and healthy with no underlying health conditions however, I do try and self isolate as much as possible because it is the only way we will stop the hospitals being inundated as Italy's were and nobody wants to be in a position where they are choosing who lives and who dies.Cannot fully self isolate because one has to get shopping and one has to eat and there is absolutely no way one can get a delivery, not even if you are 85, disabled with underlying health problems so I have to get their shopping also. Neither would they have a clue about how to get it ordered online, that is a mystery to them. Bit fed up with those who aren't conforming to the rules, can't walk in the park because of all the cyclist and the joggers, feel they are a bigger threat to me than anyone else as they charge past me, sometimes brushing me and spraying their  sweat behind them, also fed up with the boy racers,  they're having great fun on the empty roads at this time. Apart from that can't complain, I am warm, I have food I have tremendous amounts of entertainment including some great London shows, shame they are not newer,  masses more time to learn new skills if I want, time to do some decorating BUT I really miss my  tennis, badminton and table tennis and my freedom just to get out go out and do as I wish. I am not anxious, I am sleeping very well so I guess I will just have to sit it out.

I would be spending time watching different professional sports, visiting museums and galleries, planning future holidays and visiting my father. Everything is on hold, except planning fantasy holidays for some indeterminate point in the future. Tv, films, music, books and online activities are all very well, but living alone after a while boredom sets in.

I'm loving it. I am in the enviable position of not needing to worry about money right now, and living in a nice flat (sadly without garden) with my wife, and I've been very much enjoying what I call the Great Slow Down so far.

I can't imagine any other way we could have gotten all of society to just slow the hell down and take some time to just be, instead of frenetically running around like headless consuming chickens all year round. I can feel it in the air - people are so much more chilled out and inward-facing instead of constantly running after the next distraction.

Living in Hoxton, I feel as if I was in the countryside. It's so quiet and peaceful. It's like everyone has taken a holiday at the same time, including all those who work in services, and nothing can be planned, so we're all having to just enjoy life day to day without knowing where it's going to take us.

I'm sure I'm in a tiny minority with this, but personally I'd be fine if this continued for a decade. Though it would be nice to be able to meet a friend from time to time.

My biggest frustration is not being able to travel - I usually go on a couple of walking holidays abroad at this time of year which are very important to me and a big part of my life. I take a daily walk round the streets near me, and go to Hampstead Heath every so often, but it is so crowded I don't always feel safe, and it is not the same as country or mountain walking. Other London walks, like the Parkland Walk or the Regents' Canal, are too enclosed and busy to even consider. I really envy those with 10k walks on their doorstep. 

But I shouldn't complain, I know we are lucky to have a good size house and small garden, which has not a single weed in it this year, when many Londoners are cooped up in small flats with no outside space. Keeping up with friends and activities via Zoom is very important too. But it doesn't stop the wanderlust and stir craziness...

Biggest issue is trying to exercise safely and the fact that you are not meant to travel to exercise.  I live alone with my dog and work full time.  During the week I usually walk for 2 hours in the local park - which I now cannot do because it is closed.  There is nowhere to exercise locally with my dog as there are far too many people on the very limited and narrow footpaths I can now use - no chance of social distancing as some of the paths are not even 2m wide.

At weekends I usually drive into the Chilterns or the Downs and walk for several hours - again now not an option!

I am both bored at being inside all the time - I spend all my time outdoors normally when not working and have no real indoor interests - and stressed because of the issues of trying to give my dog a proper walk.  She is also stressed because she can't have a proper walk and is licking off all her fur which is causing me even more stress!

Recent guidance has eased things a bit as I can now drive 15 minutes away and walk in open space - so maybe things will get better!

Boredom is a major challenge. I am 64 and live alone in a very small one bed flat with no garden. I used to work but lost my job. My family are a long way away. Financial difficulties are lurking. I have no friends near, my partner is in Malaysia and I'm so lonely. This lockdown is having a very severe impact on my life and wellbeing with eating and sleeping being the pastimes with television during my waking hours. My weight is increasing and I am on medication for high blood pressure and high cholesterol. My exercise routine is a daily walk locally.

I miss my old life & I'm pretty sure it is not coming back for a long, long time. Looking through the comments below my heart goes out to those for whom there is no social network, no supermarket delivery slots and great fear or inability to go out. Please, please contact your local council or community support groups, they have volunteers to shop, collect medicines and chat to you (by phone). 
frankly my own worries & frustrations pale into insignificance compared to the pressures on those bottled up in crowded living spaces, with no income, worried sick about bills, in fear of domestic violence, the list goes on and on. So sorry, Riverside Sue, but your  I Refuse To Change post strikes a very shocking note. It's not all about you, it's about society & protecting others. And that is what society means - the mass works together for the common good. 
like it or not we have the leadership we have, we live in the times we do and we must get through them as best we can. 

Lockdown is not the right solution. We are affecting the health, wellbeing, careers, livelihoods and education of the whole country in order to reduce hospitalisations. We're pumping huge amounts of money to support jobs and compensate companies when should be spending it on PPE and increasing volunteer staffing of temporary hospitals whilst forcing over 60s and others most at risk to self-isolate. I.e. a more targeted approach.