Hi all,

I’m okay, I’ve had the test, but am awaiting results, so still in self isolation. I see this thread has been very active whilst I’ve been away from it and I would love to be helpful but I find the collective anxiety, fear and upset in the world right now is weighing on me and I’m getting a little flooded and a little overwhelmed.

I worry about my family and those close to me, I rarely watch the news but when I do I start to get panic attacks worrying about the poor older and more vulnerable people, I worry about the healthcare staff, I worry about the economy…and so it goes on. I can’t stop thinking about some particular circumstances like the 13 year old who died and their family and how they will grieve without the support for extended family and friends etc, anyway, I do not want to contribute to more anxiety on this thread, I’m just explaining why I’m finding it all overwhelming right now. The global pandemic is A LOT to come to terms with and then of course, it’s not as if other problems in our lives magically disappear.

My general advice, if worth anything!, to all is to survive, whatever way we need to survive right now, just grit your teeth and believe you can do this. We can do this. It’s tough times, dark times for many, facing the loss of lives as you knew them, but lets just focus on surviving. My therapist has a favourite phrase “sometimes surviving is an achievement’, so do what we can. Walk outside every day where possible and try to focus our minds on things periodically throughout the day to help tackle some of the ruminating.

I know how hard it is. I’m struggling myself. It’s been almost 11 months since my breakup and I know I’m not over it. Most of my day, especially at the moment due to lack of distraction, is spent thinking about my ex. I stop that line of thought each time I notice it, but nevertheless it’s there. And to be honest, I’m not gonna berate myself for it, i’m accepting who I am for the moment, because things are hard and tough enough without me beating myself up all the time for not being in a different phase or with a different perspective. Family dynamic is definitely a struggle at the moment and mental health struggles are certainly coming to the fore for some close to me, so I’m telling them too….we just got to survive and do what’s needed of us to save as many lives as we can until the day when we look at this in the rear view mirror.

@kkasxo, keep well my friend – i know this can be such an unbelievably tough time with PTSD.

Stay safe all and remember…’This too shall pass”….the pandemic will pass, the restrictions will pass, the heartbreak will pass, the hangovers will pass….it will all pass. x