Corona Angst....

[janzman]

... I am not for one second suggesting coronavirus is not an incredibly dangerous virus affecting millions of people worldwide..... but how about a little positive spin on the situation instead of the relentless doom and gloom which is having a huge negative effect on our mental approach to the pandemic....to those unaware journalist Sarah Vine is married to Cabinet Minister Michael Gove

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-9130347/SARAH-VINE-24-hour-cacophony-doom-drive-crazy.html

[jno]

what's the positive spin on Covid? "Oh well, at least I only have ordinary Covid, not long Covid"? ""At least in lockdown I can't be mugged on the High Street"? "Thank heavens I've got an excuse for not visiting my mother-in-law"?

[Mamyalynne]

I look for (and find) lots of heartwarming and positive stories about where we are at the moment - nothing wrong with keeping up with what is going on but a constant stream of doom is sapping in the extreme.

[sherrardk]

I’m with mamy on this one. The number of people I hear moaning on every day (in a manner that makes it seems all this only affects them) is tiresome (by tiresome I mean ‘it’s doing my *** head in). Additionally, I see that the blitz spirit that was being bandied about by some on here at the start of the first lockdown had fizzled out after less than a year.

[zylaphone]

I am with mamalynne and Sherrdk, we have to look for the positives. No point being nothing else

[Jackdaw33]

I suppose I am one of the few 'lucky' people inasmuch as I am hardly affected by the current restrictions. I am more or less housebound anyway and only go out for medical appointments. I am retired so my income is guaranteed. My shopping is all done by my 'lady who does', so I have no worries on that account. The only downside is that I can't get my hair cut, and that in the wider scheme of things is a mere piffling trifle. For once in my life I consider myself rather lucky; were I a fit young man I might see things differently. I genuinely feel sorry for those who are more seriously affected.

[Mamyalynne]

Totally agree with Jack, were I younger and stuck at home with children on a low income I may well not be able to be quite so optimistic.

I like to think I'd still try though.

[Barsel]

///I look for (and find) lots of heartwarming and positive stories about where we are at the moment///
///I am with mamalynne and Sherrdk, we have to look for the positives.///
Where are you finding these positives? What are they?

[Bobbisox1]

I tend to not look for positives but try to be upbeat about a situation which is beyond my control, pointless fighting against it

[eve1974]

Yes its a good reminder to look for the positives - tho that can be hard. So hard!

Being negative is just as contagious as covid.!

last week my family purposely began a daily morning msg (via whatsapp) of something we are each grateful for. Its random - for eg mine yday was being grateful I have access to my morning cup of coffee!!

[Mamyalynne]

Usually within local communities, people helping others in many and various ways - personal experiences myself with neighbours going the extra mile to help.

Then there's always lots of cute and happy videos about.

Look at Pasta's thread 'Magical' in CB last night and let the videos run for a few, if you aren't smiling at the end I'll be surprised.

I have always been an upbeat person (apart from spells of clinical depression) I can't afford to let myself slip back into dark hole again.

[Barsel]

Mamya, I understand what you mean, but I honestly feel myself slipping further and further into a black hole. I've always thought of myself as being a positive person, but not anymore.

[woofgang]

i think that's a fairly mixed article....I agree with the need to manage our mental and emotional health...to look for and celebrate the positives in our lives and to manage how much news and current events we watch. Getting the facts is one thing but it is easy to become overwhelmed by it....but I don't think experts reporting the facts and telling us how bad things are is avoidable. What would she like Chris Whitty to do? say its all fine, go out do what you like?
It seems to me that the article is a personal cry of despair and expression of her own stresses rather than a thought out article.

[eve1974]

Barsel Im sorry ur slipping lower atm... its hard surrounded by all this covid stuff with no end in sight.

I felt very similarly a few weeks ago. I hope that u get your positive outlook back somehow.

[Mamyalynne]

Barsel if your mood is sinking really low try and get a telephone consult with your GP, it's essential to get on top of any problems as soon as possible.

It is hard and we are all so very different in our approaches and needs.

[sherrardk]

Barrel, I’m fortunate in that I started work just before the first lockdown so I get to leave my house and interact with others. If I have a negative attitude it’ll be transferred to my kids which I don’t want to happen. I have a dark sense of humour which is proving very handy at the moment so that helps. We’ve also been v lucky to see lots of additional wildlife and my hedgehogs should be back in two months (fingers crossed).

[cashier]

I think the fact they are talking about the situation continuing till autumn isn't helping anyone. It's the relentlessness of it all. Even the adverts are reminders of how to act, or the Professor Whitty update from the other day. It's just been on again.

[douglas9401]

"Additionally, I see that the blitz spirit that was being bandied about by some on here at the start of the first lockdown had fizzled out after less than a year."

A bit like The Blitz itself then, lasted roughly 9 months.

Anyhoo, it could all be worse, just keep waking up and one day it'll be over.

[New Judge]

Mrs Gove is absolutely right.

It is about time this campaign of intimidation, scaremongering and attrition ended. We don’t need footage of people tee’d up to machinery; we don’t need to see recently bereaved loved ones; we don’t need the “scientists” pasting incomprehensible graphs and charts on the wall before we go to bed. We know it is a serious disease; we know it is claiming many lives; we know it’s still around. We don’t need to be continually told. All we need is the latest figures. Two minutes tops.

There is no doubt that a co-ordinated campaign of scaremongering has taken place over the past four or five days. Constant threats of “stronger measures” and police chiefs threats to rigorously enforce somewhat unenforceable “rules” have worn thin. The efforts by the Derbyshire police to stage a coup by attempting to fine two women for not breaking the law made them look foolish and brought them and their colleagues elsewhere into disrepute.

I am lucky. Mrs NJ and I get out and about as much as we want to and we spend much of our time at home ridiculing the shoddy and poorly drafted legislation which the government hopes to scare the population into accepting. But for those living alone it must be purgatory. I don’t know whether the government knows – or cares – just what this is doing to some people (as is evident from this thread alone). But it’s about time they packed it in.

[woofgang]

NJ "we spend much of our time at home ridiculing the shoddy and poorly drafted legislation which the government hopes to scare the population into accepting"

goodness you really know how to have a good time!