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Mental health and CoVid-19

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Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,940 ✭✭✭acequion


    polesheep wrote: »
    I have been thinking of Patrick Kavanagh's beautiful line "Through a chink too wide there comes no wonder." We have all had to endure a sort of penance through Covid, but when it's all over there will be a freshness to the world that will be very uplifting.

    Yes it is a beautiful line but the reality is that there is many an old person and terminally ill person that haven't the luxury of waiting. There probably won't be a next year for them. So the prospect of deferred gratification, even for the young and healthy, doesn't necessarily console.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 2,950 ✭✭✭polesheep


    acequion wrote: »
    Yes it is a beautiful line but the reality is that there is many an old person and terminally ill person that haven't the luxury of waiting. There probably won't be a next year for them. So the prospect of deferred gratification, even for the young and healthy, doesn't necessarily console.

    When we emerge from this it will be all about the living, not the dead. I wasn't supporting a penance btw😉


  • Registered Users Posts: 17 bluepurple


    the **** will hit the fan if he goes to USA on Paddys day, people wont be staying withoin 5km or theor opwn county and will be taking flights.

    I’ll be going to another county to see my partner who I haven’t seen since the start of December. If Martin can go to America no problem during this then I’ll be leaving my county.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,940 ✭✭✭acequion


    Goose76 wrote: »
    This might sound a bit totalitarian but I’d be all for a national media ban on all COVID related discussions and articles unless they are 100% fact based, e.g: number of cases today, the government deciding to move to a new level officially etc.

    Genuinely have begun to loathe Varadkar, he is loving this situation , sick of him going on radio and tv every chance he gets saying what MIGHT happen. Said yesterday we won’t be in level 3 in March, why say that and panic people? Surely we could be if cases dramatically fell? He’s done this loads of times during the pandemic, peddling drama and uncertainty, saying this could happen or maybe that could happen etc, and I’m so sick of it.

    It’s not just him though. Sat down hoping to relax on my lunch break just now and first thing I see is a thought piece from RTÉ about the merits of pursuing a zero covid strategy, full of maybes and what ifs and useless comparisons. Who wants to read this???

    Give me the facts and only the current, real hard facts.

    The major detractor to my mental health since all this has begun has been the deliberate uncertainty pushed by mainstream media. Not the rumours caused by the general public or the conspiracy theories online, but literally Varadkar and state sponsored tv and their unbridled delight in telling us all what might/could/maybe potentially happen. Please just shut up.

    This 1000% I tend to suffer from anxiety but it's low level and I'm fairly good at managing it. But one thing which drives it off the Richter scale is the constant speculation about the future, even the distant future. And the speculation is always apocalyptic. It's never even remotely hopeful. Twice lately there were Covid related headlines that affect me personally, but which were spun into dizzying levels of hysteria by the media and by our utterly useless Govt. Cue days of agonising anxiety and sleepless nights for me. This horrendous situation is traumatic for everyone in different ways. It's right up there with the big stressful events in life like death, divorce etc as our sense of control over our lives has been shattered. And the advice for such traumas is to take life day by day. Which is what I'm trying very hard to do but every few days there is another storm ratcheted up to hysteria levels by the media and you just can't avoid it.

    So I completely agree. Just the facts please. And just today's facts as I'll deal with tomorrow's tomorrow.


  • Registered Users Posts: 167 ✭✭noserider


    wadacrack wrote: »
    I find at night very hard tbh, I usually think back to what life was like before Covid. Certain things remind of it too. Has been happening alot recently Thought I would share. Not sure if anymore are feeling similar. Certainly wont take things for granted when this pandemic ends

    Yep same. Work is busy during the day, find it helps.
    Little options in the evening, TV then bed. Feels just like an exsistance
    Keeping hopeful for March, brighter evenings and possibly inter county travel.
    Also John Creedon on RTE radio is pretty good in the evenings if you’re into eclectic mix of music.
    Keep the head up


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 58 ✭✭bunnyboxer


    Premiership is keeping me going. Thank feck its not cancelled dont know what id do if it was.

    Its the same routine, wake up, work from home, cook dinner, bed, rinse and repeat.


  • Registered Users Posts: 252 ✭✭Goose76


    acequion wrote: »
    This 1000% I tend to suffer from anxiety but it's low level and I'm fairly good at managing it. But one thing which drives it off the Richter scale is the constant speculation about the future, even the distant future. And the speculation is always apocalyptic. It's never even remotely hopeful. Twice lately there were Covid related headlines that affect me personally, but which were spun into dizzying levels of hysteria by the media and by our utterly useless Govt. Cue days of agonising anxiety and sleepless nights for me. This horrendous situation is traumatic for everyone in different ways. It's right up there with the big stressful events in life like death, divorce etc as our sense of control over our lives has been shattered. And the advice for such traumas is to take life day by day. Which is what I'm trying very hard to do but every few days there is another storm ratcheted up to hysteria levels by the media and you just can't avoid it.

    So I completely agree. Just the facts please. And just today's facts as I'll deal with tomorrow's tomorrow.

    I could have written this myself. I posted earlier in this thread how back at the start of the pandemic I just had this low level subconscious anxiety all the time because of all the uncertainty, even though aspects of lockdown did - and still do - benefit me. It’s so unsettling and if the government truly cared, I’d like to think they’d take more of a responsible approach in their dealings with the media and the knock on impact their utterings have on the mental health of the public.

    Sometimes you can only just laugh though. I’m meant to be getting married in March - small ceremony but even our small numbers are too high for level 5. The concept of people asking me “when’s the wedding date” and me having to respond saying “well either March or July, or maybe even after that” is agonising but also breaks a smile sometimes. Not sure there’s been more of a ridiculous time in modern history - having your wedding fully booked and planned for everything except the date :D


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,940 ✭✭✭acequion


    if you need recommendeations on cbd let me know as ive been using it quite sometime so know a good bit about it, id aboid prescription pills at all costs and use cbd its far better overall.

    good luck :)

    Hi DessieJames, could I ask about this cbd please? I've never heard of it. What is it and where can it be got?

    Struggling a bit with anxiety issues during these really tough days and am interested in anything non chemical that might help. Thanks a lot!


  • Registered Users Posts: 252 ✭✭Goose76


    acequion wrote: »
    Hi DessieJames, could I ask about this cbd please? I've never heard of it. What is it and where can it be got?

    Struggling a bit with anxiety issues during these really tough days and am interested in anything non chemical that might help. Thanks a lot!

    CBD coffee is great too.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,940 ✭✭✭acequion


    Goose76 wrote: »
    CBD coffee is great too.

    Thanks Goose76. But I've never heard of CBD. What is it?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 31,067 ✭✭✭✭freshpopcorn


    acequion wrote: »
    Thanks Goose76. But I've never heard of CBD. What is it?

    I've seen a few shops around selling cups of it.
    It's also seems to be here.

    https://www.fullcirclehemp.com/collections/cbd-coffee

    But Google it.


  • Registered Users Posts: 12 Anon.123


    if you need recommendeations on cbd let me know as ive been using it quite sometime so know a good bit about it, id aboid prescription pills at all costs and use cbd its far better overall.

    good luck :)

    Hi,

    Sorry for jumping into the thread, would it be possible to get the recommendations for CBD please? Generally I’ve had no luck with it but would be willing to persevere again.

    Thanks.


  • Registered Users Posts: 2,185 ✭✭✭Tchaikovsky


    I ordered from Dr Hemp Me yesterday; they're an Irish company that seem to have a good reputation. Will see how it goes as I've never tried CBD but hoping it helps with getting to sleep at night.


  • Registered Users Posts: 9 Anon9876


    if you need recommendeations on cbd let me know as ive been using it quite sometime so know a good bit about it, id aboid prescription pills at all costs and use cbd its far better overall.

    good luck :)

    Hi, yes this would be great! Thanks. Can you share on here or prefer me to DM you? Cheers.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,124 ✭✭✭Unknown Soldier


    2027 Can't come fast enough IMO.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,934 ✭✭✭✭fin12


    2027 Can't come fast enough IMO.[/QUOTE

    What’s happening in 2027?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,412 ✭✭✭Dinarius


    Regarding resources in these trying times, but I'd like to mention Crisis Textline as another source of help for those in need of a friendly ear (via text message).

    On a related matter, can someone please clarify this for me...

    I've found plenty on exceptions to the 5kms restriction rule regarding visits to the elderly and care homes, etc.

    What I'd like to know is this...

    Can someone visit a person outside 5kms for care or medical reasons who does not fall into these categories?

    An example I came across this morning was someone wanting to visit their brother (49) who lives alone, and has ongoing mental-health issues.

    Can the relative simply visit them, or do they need some sort of official permission to do so?

    A link to a HSE or government explanation of this would be great.

    Many thanks.

    D.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,934 ✭✭✭✭fin12


    Dinarius wrote: »
    Regarding resources in these trying times, but I'd like to mention Crisis Textline as another source of help for those in need of a friendly ear (via text message).

    On a related matter, can someone please clarify this for me...

    I've found plenty on exceptions to the 5kms restriction rule regarding visits to the elderly and care homes, etc.

    What I'd like to know is this...

    Can someone visit a person outside 5kms for care or medical reasons who does not fall into these categories?

    An example I came across this morning was someone wanting to visit their brother (49) who lives alone, and has ongoing mental-health issues.

    Can the relative simply visit them, or do they need some sort of official permission to do so?

    A link to a HSE or government explanation of this would be great.

    Many thanks.

    D.
    They can say they are in their support bubble. If they can get their without having to go through a checkpoint like is there back roads to travel on.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,221 ✭✭✭lucalux


    Dinarius wrote: »

    Can someone visit a person outside 5kms for care or medical reasons who does not fall into these categories?

    An example I came across this morning was someone wanting to visit their brother (49) who lives alone, and has ongoing mental-health issues.

    Can the relative simply visit them, or do they need some sort of official permission to do so?

    A link to a HSE or government explanation of this would be great.

    Many thanks.

    D.

    https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/3516d-support-bubbles/

    Some on it here, but dated from early December, so...

    Scanning a couple of articles, this is what was reported back at the start of January:

    From RTÉ:
    https://www.rte.ie/news/coronavirus/2021/0106/1188079-at-a-glance/

    "All household visits are prohibited, including social visits to gardens, except for essential family reasons or those in your support bubble."

    I think the situation you describe comes under a support bubble if that man lives alone, and also family reasons.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,412 ✭✭✭Dinarius


    Thanks both.

    Yes, it does appear to come under support bubbles and is permitted.

    Useful to know.

    D.


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  • Registered Users Posts: 331 ✭✭All that fandango


    Hi, was wondering the last while, with the support bubble, what do you actually say to a guard if stopped and you genuinely are part of a support bubble? I mean anyone could just say "Im going to my support bubble"?


  • Posts: 0 [Deleted User]


    Hi, was wondering the last while, with the support bubble, what do you actually say to a guard if stopped and you genuinely are part of a support bubble? I mean anyone could just say "Im going to my support bubble"?

    I drive down the country a few times a week to my dad. During the last lockdowns I had no issue saying where I was headed when I met a checkpoint. This time I was more wary because the Gardaí seem more strict. As luck would have it though I haven't come across any checkpoints on the way out of Dublin County. The one outbound on the N7 doesn't seem to be there.

    Personally I won't use the term 'support bubble, just that I'm keeping an eye on my elderly father. Although I should add that my car is registered to that address and I could easily say I'm going home from work.


  • Registered Users Posts: 331 ✭✭All that fandango


    I drive down the country a few times a week to my dad. During the last lockdowns I had no issue saying where I was headed when I met a checkpoint. This time I was more wary because the Gardaí seem more strict. As luck would have it though I haven't come across any checkpoints on the way out of Dublin County. The one outbound on the N7 doesn't seem to be there.

    Personally I won't use the term 'support bubble, just that I'm keeping an eye on my elderly father. Although I should add that my car is registered to that address and I could easily say I'm going home from work.

    Thanks for the reply Diamonds. I wonder would the guards be understanding of people going to visit their partners in different counties. Especially if this is going on until at least March...


  • Posts: 0 [Deleted User]


    Thanks for the reply Diamonds. I wonder would the guards be understanding of people going to visit their partners in different counties. Especially if this is going on until at least March...

    No bothers :)

    I'm really not sure what constitutes a support bubble. If you are alone and need support then that's one but I don't know after that.
    Driving to a different county to visit your partner is probably seen as unnecessary travel. Even though the person is very close to you that won't matter.

    Now you could say you are travelling to your support bubble because you are.....well you could come up with a reason perhaps.
    I wouldn't say I am travelling to see my partner.

    I know that's not what we are supposed to do but its all very hard.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 32,634 ✭✭✭✭Graces7


    Goose76 wrote: »
    This might sound a bit totalitarian but I’d be all for a national media ban on all COVID related discussions and articles unless they are 100% fact based, e.g: number of cases today, the government deciding to move to a new level officially etc.

    Genuinely have begun to loathe Varadkar, he is loving this situation , sick of him going on radio and tv every chance he gets saying what MIGHT happen. Said yesterday we won’t be in level 3 in March, why say that and panic people? Surely we could be if cases dramatically fell? He’s done this loads of times during the pandemic, peddling drama and uncertainty, saying this could happen or maybe that could happen etc, and I’m so sick of it.

    It’s not just him though. Sat down hoping to relax on my lunch break just now and first thing I see is a thought piece from RTÉ about the merits of pursuing a zero covid strategy, full of maybes and what ifs and useless comparisons. Who wants to read this???

    Give me the facts and only the current, real hard facts.

    The major detractor to my mental health since all this has begun has been the deliberate uncertainty pushed by mainstream media. Not the rumours caused by the general public or the conspiracy theories online, but literally Varadkar and state sponsored tv and their unbridled delight in telling us all what might/could/maybe potentially happen. Please just shut up.

    You are doing this to yourself. You really are! You make the choice to read/listen to the media, knowing it will offend and upset you.

    Check in maybe twice a day?

    They are doing their jobs in the freedom of speech we have here.

    Listen to good music; read a book?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 18,854 ✭✭✭✭silverharp


    I avoid RTE and any Irish TV, catch the odd radio news. I do have sky news on in the background whenever, so can kind of keep up with things but be disconnected cos they are talking about the UK. I can only imagine that if you were on a diet of Irish media taking in hours and hours of concerned talking heads it might bring your mood down.

    A belief in gender identity involves a level of faith as there is nothing tangible to prove its existence which, as something divorced from the physical body, is similar to the idea of a soul. - Colette Colfer



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 30,220 ✭✭✭✭Wanderer78


    silverharp wrote:
    I avoid RTE and any Irish TV, catch the odd radio news. I do have sky news on in the background whenever, so can kind of keep up with things but be disconnected cos they are talking about the UK. I can only imagine that if you were on a diet of Irish media taking in hours and hours of concerned talking heads it might bring your mood down.


    Understandable why people would avoid the media, but it doesn't seem to bother me too much


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,724 ✭✭✭uli84


    Just realised that we’re pretty much in lockdown since October with 1 week or so break in December, that’s bloody 4 months :( last year the movement restriction was far shorter and 4 months from March brought us to July anyway when at least I could have a trip to Wicklow with small group of friends. Now 4 months gone and there isn’t even an end in sight :/


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 30,220 ✭✭✭✭Wanderer78


    uli84 wrote:
    Just realised that we’re pretty much in lockdown since October with 1 week or so break in December, that’s bloody 4 months last year the movement restriction was far shorter and 4 months from March brought us to July when at least I could have trip to Wicklow with small group of friends. Now 4 months gone and there isn’t even an end in sight :/

    Tis unfortunate alright, but truly is shows how inadequate our health services are, and the disturbing thing is, not much will probably change after the fact


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 32,634 ✭✭✭✭Graces7


    Wanderer78 wrote: »
    Tis unfortunate alright, but truly is shows how inadequate our health services are, and the disturbing thing is, not much will probably change after the fact

    Not sure why the blame on HSE for the pandemic, which is what a lot of posts do. Compared with many other countries we have done well. Very well. We have no bodies piling up and none of the latest burial plans they are left with in the US; burying them 4 to a large box.

    No one has any training or experience in dealing with a pandemic. It IS hard . Says I who has not been further than my gate for all this while. But it is eedful to contain the virus.

    Blame the virus not the HSE! And accept the hardships as best we all can and must. Acceptance will bring peace.

    And feel for all the families like mine, who have lost loved ones to covid. Life is precious, however limited it is.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 30,220 ✭✭✭✭Wanderer78


    Graces7 wrote: »
    Not sure why the blame on HSE for the pandemic, which is what a lot of posts do. Compared with many other countries we have done well. Very well. We have no bodies piling up and none of the latest burial plans they are left with in the US; burying them 4 to a large box.

    No one has any training or experience in dealing with a pandemic. It IS hard . Says I who has not been further than my gate for all this while. But it is eedful to contain the virus.

    Blame the virus not the HSE! And accept the hardships as best we all can and must. Acceptance will bring peace.

    And feel for all the families like mine, who have lost loved ones to covid. Life is precious, however limited it is.

    im not blaming the hse for the virus, ive family and friends working in the health service, so ive an idea of what theyre dealing with on a daily basis, even pre covid, but we were actually warned of the strong possibility of such an event, and we continually refused to truly prepare for it. we continually refuse to truly create a health service that actually provides us with our actual needs, this is particularly evident in the psychological element of our service, but its also evident in the physical aspect, im not expecting any great changes post covid in our services


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,934 ✭✭✭✭fin12


    Wanderer78 wrote: »
    im not blaming the hse for the virus, ive family and friends working in the health service, so ive an idea of what theyre dealing with on a daily basis, even pre covid, but we were actually warned of the strong possibility of such an event, and we continually refused to truly prepare for it. we continually refuse to truly create a health service that actually provides us with our actual needs, this is particularly evident in the psychological element of our service, but its also evident in the physical aspect, im not expecting any great changes post covid in our services

    I say the health services will be worse as the bill after this will mean totally neglected again.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 30,220 ✭✭✭✭Wanderer78


    fin12 wrote: »
    I say the health services will be worse as the bill after this will mean totally neglected again.

    we really need to get over this deficits crap, its dangerous thinking, and theyre not as dangerous as we think, theyre in fact critical for a functioning society and economy, our health services are gonna be traumatised after this one


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,412 ✭✭✭Dinarius


    Wanderer78 wrote: »
    we really need to get over this deficits crap, its dangerous thinking, and theyre not as dangerous as we think, theyre in fact critical for a functioning society and economy, our health services are gonna be traumatised after this one


    Yes, we need a health service that works.


    But, we also need one that is accountable.


    Since Micheal Martin created the catastro**** that is the HSE,we haven't had one.


    Remember in 2019 when Pascal found €3bn down the back of a sofa (unexpected Tech tax windfall) and it went straight to the HSE, increasing their budget from €17bn to €20bn? That was a one-off find. Will their budget ever be reduced in the future? Not a chance.


    The old health boards tried to operate within budgets and there was the possibility of comparing their relative performances, and asking questions about why one might be doing better than another. There was an element of competition.


    The HSE is a black hole. Where does the money go? Does anyone ask? Ask yourselves, why has big business in this country gotten into the private hospital business like nowhere else? (You know who I'm talking about.) Because health is a license to print money.


    Health finance is out of control and has been since long before Covid, and no one has the cojones to ask why.


    D.


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 2,084 ✭✭✭statesaver




  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 22,656 ✭✭✭✭Tokyo


    Admin


    A few earlier posts have been removed due to the direction they were taking, but I'd like to remind posters that should you be experiencing difficulties at this time, please know that you do not have to deal with this on your own.

    We encourage people experiencing difficulties to talk to someone they trust and, if appropriate, to go to their GP. If you need help urgently and outside of GP hours, please go to your nearest A&E department.

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    There are some other useful services that you can use also listed here.


    /Admin


  • Registered Users Posts: 15 bluescat


    Try to get through to them....good luck !!!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 30,220 ✭✭✭✭Wanderer78


    Dinarius wrote:
    Health finance is out of control and has been since long before Covid, and no one has the cojones to ask why.

    Far more money is required for it, but there is a serious accountability problem, there's major financial issues in both the public and private entities, the private entity certain is just extracting money, and the public entity certainly is wasting it, but the reality is, far more money is required for the service in total.

    Our health care needs have become highly complex, probably due to many factors, including the fact, we 're living longer, and complex issues are arising from this fact, and that just means, more money is needed. It's clearly obvious we need far more direct, frontline staff, and this will be even more so, post covid. The psychological element of our system is beyond disturbing at this stage, as far as I can see, multiples of billions are required immediately, today, to start dealing with it, this should have been announced from the beginning of covid, and regularly throughout it, that's obviously not going to happen, so........


  • Registered Users Posts: 187 ✭✭ShadowTech


    I’m feeling more hopeless all the time. It’s not just the lockdown but the diminishing prospects for the future. I’ve believed all along that vaccines were the solution to get us out of this but the news and the noise from the government make that sound less and less likely. I have to admit, I’ve come to expect the goal posts to move but I didn’t see this coming and I feel broken.

    Vradkar has said that even with full vaccination we wouldn’t be looking at travel at least for this year. Some experts and government types saying masks and social distancing won’t be going anywhere even with vaccinations fully rolled out. Talk of closed borders and zero-covid policies that would result in very long and even more difficult curtailments of civil liberties. While I realise that the discussions on Boards probably doesn’t accurately represent the population as a whole (I mean, the views on either “side” of restrictions/no restrictions argument are often pretty extreme and the middle-ground often seems to be ignored) it’s still upsetting to see so many people prepared to continue with restrictions of some kind for potentially years after vaccinations on the off chance the virus mutates. I feel like we’ve lost sight of the reality that a life worth living involves risks; we can deem the current level of risk to be too high and warranting of some restrictions but we shouldn’t normalise this past the absolute necessity.

    If the world we’re steering into is just constant restrictions and curtailment of basic civil liberties even after the emergency phase has passed I don’t really see a point. If social distancing and masks remain mandatory for years then things like museums, concerts, and gigs just aren’t that enjoyable anymore if they’re permitted to take place at all. I’ve family and friends living abroad and the idea of not seeing them again is just heartbreaking. I feel like every meaningful thing in life is being destroyed and the light at the end of the tunnel has only illuminated more tunnel.

    It’s getting harder and harder to get out of bed in the morning, harder to find a reason to work even though I know I should feel lucky to still have a job, harder to make myself eat, exercise, just exist. I don’t know how we can be expected to exist like this for 6 or 9 months or longer. I can’t believe there’s no organised movement demanding a more balanced approach. It’s just so fecking hopeless. :-(


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  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 299 ✭✭DessieJames


    statesaver wrote: »

    Absolutely spot on here.

    NPHET are the absolute worst for this,day in, day out they churn out the fear and scaremongering to the masses, Holohan must thrive on misery, he is like a broken record saying the same thing over and over again, mainstream media just pander to NPHET, ive never heard the likes of Zara King on Virgin media news at the daily briefing ever challenge/ask any hard questions to Holohan or NPHET on anything, RTE equally as bad as are all mainstream media outlets.

    There's a reason i rarely watch the news anymore, it will just depress you.


  • Posts: 0 [Deleted User]


    ShadowTech I completely relate. I keep moving in and out of rational thought, irrational panic, hope, being unrealistic. I'm worn out with it all.
    I listened to Luke O'Neil speak to Stephanie Preissner on a podcast last night. It was between positive and negative for me.
    Luke thinks we will be dealing with restrictions in some shape for the next 2 to 4 years. He said maybe it will be 3 years before the likes of Electric Picnic returns.

    Now I have no interest in going to a massive music festival or travelling around the world a few times a year. Doesn't matter though because other people do and they are part of normal living. The idea of having Government interference in how we live for the next number of years fills me with dread.

    I know now that I have to work on acceptance. I must accept that this is life for the next 5 years anyways and find a way to be ok with that. Even writing those words my stomach goes to lead.

    All those people on the main thread in this forum that seem to talk with ease about worst case scenarios, how it will be a long time before normality, that new strains will evade the virus etc. Do those scenarios frighten them? Is it how they cope? Have they reached an acceptance?

    In a few days I'll probably be back to "be grand" but right now I have a splitting headache and a constant knot in stomach. I know all too well how fear robs us of contentment and peace but I'm terrified now.


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 299 ✭✭DessieJames


    Anyone suffering from anxiety,etc i urget you to stop watching the news completely, disable notifications from news apps or uninstall them altogether, because it's nothing but doom and gloom every single day without fail, social media too can be a cesspit too especially twitter and facecook, instagram isnt that bad as there's little in the way of covid-19 compared to the other two platforms.

    Obviousy it's unavoidable to completely block yourself off from the news completely, but instead of waiting on the evening news to see what the daily cases are just dont watch it, with Netflix/Prime there's plenty in the way of escapism in addition to getting outdoors and exercising.

    Just my two cents anyway.


  • Registered Users Posts: 2,185 ✭✭✭Tchaikovsky


    Anyone suffering from anxiety,etc i urget you to stop watching the news completely, disable notifications from news apps or uninstall them altogether, because it's nothing but doom and gloom every single day without fail, social media too can be a cesspit too especially twitter and facecook, instagram isnt that bad as there's little in the way of covid-19 compared to the other two platforms.

    Obviousy it's unavoidable to completely block yourself off from the news completely, but instead of waiting on the evening news to see what the daily cases are just dont watch it, with Netflix/Prime there's plenty in the way of escapism in addition to getting outdoors and exercising.

    Just my two cents anyway.

    Absolutely. I'd recommend getting lost in a good book as well. Book sales have shot up in the last year and there are lots of great Irish bookshops you can support, rather than Bezos' mob.

    Try to remain positive guys; once the vaccines cover the most vulnerable and we see deaths and hospitalisations fall, we'll start getting back the freedoms denied to us for the last year. Gigs and sporting events might be further down the line, but we'll be going in the right direction.


  • Posts: 0 [Deleted User]


    If you are interested in some online training in suicide prevention, there is one provided by the HSE. You have to contact the coordinator in your county to get a license but it is worthwhile. You can find info on the Connecting for Life section of HSE.ie. LivingWorks Start is the name of the program and it is free to take (HSE covers cost). Keep having those tough conversations and talk to your family and friends.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,940 ✭✭✭acequion


    ShadowTech I completely relate. I keep moving in and out of rational thought, irrational panic, hope, being unrealistic. I'm worn out with it all.
    I listened to Luke O'Neil speak to Stephanie Preissner on a podcast last night. It was between positive and negative for me.
    Luke thinks we will be dealing with restrictions in some shape for the next 2 to 4 years. He said maybe it will be 3 years before the likes of Electric Picnic returns.

    Now I have no interest in going to a massive music festival or travelling around the world a few times a year. Doesn't matter though because other people do and they are part of normal living. The idea of having Government interference in how we live for the next number of years fills me with dread.

    I know now that I have to work on acceptance. I must accept that this is life for the next 5 years anyways and find a way to be ok with that. Even writing those words my stomach goes to lead.

    All those people on the main thread in this forum that seem to talk with ease about worst case scenarios, how it will be a long time before normality, that new strains will evade the virus etc. Do those scenarios frighten them? Is it how they cope? Have they reached an acceptance?

    In a few days I'll probably be back to "be grand" but right now I have a splitting headache and a constant knot in stomach. I know all too well how fear robs us of contentment and peace but I'm terrified now.

    5 years, Jesus I hope you misprinted and mean 5 months.:eek::eek: How on earth could anybody accept or be ok with the idea of this dystopian existence for 5 years!!


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  • Posts: 0 [Deleted User]


    acequion wrote: »
    5 years, Jesus I hope you misprinted and mean 5 months.:eek::eek: How on earth could anybody accept or be ok with the idea of this dystopian existence for 5 years!!

    I know!! That was my fear writing. My fear is that life pre 2020 won't return for a number of years. It isn't a feeling I want to have but I am more hopeful tonight.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 11,685 ✭✭✭✭ACitizenErased


    Have found the last 2 weeks incredibly difficult for whatever reason. Am back in college so busy enough but nighttime is just terrible for me personally with no sports to go to and no events happening. I rely on the GAA and league of ireland for my weekly trips out but none of that now in a time when it should be kicking off is incredibly hard.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,940 ✭✭✭acequion


    I know!! That was my fear writing. My fear is that life pre 2020 won't return for a number of years. It isn't a feeling I want to have but I am more hopeful tonight.

    I didn't mean to come across like I was having a go at you. But I've always found that thinking too far ahead really ratchets up anxiety. We're all going through something akin to grief/loss/trauma at the moment and the best policy is to just focus on the here and now. I find mindfulness helps.

    But as to the future, I think it's vital to have hope and to be optimistic that this will all pass and fade away. And the most likely scenario is that it will.


  • Posts: 0 [Deleted User]


    acequion wrote: »
    I didn't mean to come across like I was having a go at you. But I've always found that thinking too far ahead really ratchets up anxiety. We're all going through something akin to grief/loss/trauma at the moment and the best policy is to just focus on the here and now. I find mindfulness helps.

    But as to the future, I think it's vital to have hope and to be optimistic that this will all pass and fade away. And the most likely scenario is that it will.

    You didn't :) The gas thing is I practice meditation and am very self aware. I understand how important hope is and on the whole I do have it. I've always had a tendency to lose the run of myself emotionally and have worked hard at controlling that and keeping grounded. The Covid pandemic has unsteadied my
    grounded-ness. In saying all that I can bring myself back which is what I've done today.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,560 ✭✭✭jaffa20


    I'm doing a course and just invested my time in that without reading the constant news and it's really helping. I have the odd look at the numbers out of curiousity but even then it's very brief. Too much negativity in the news constantly.


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