How close are you to your breaking point?

[BuckeyeBama]

excellent observation!
same 8 people fighting over 10 threads....my goodness, you have just nailed it!

If you two join in, we'll have 10.

 

[easyas123]

If you two join in, we'll have 10.

ha! that's a no-win situation!

 

[JaxDad]

excellent observation!
same 8 people fighting over 10 threads....my goodness, you have just nailed it!

I finally decided to ignore a handful of posters, and the change in the amount of content is quite noticeable! I doubt I’m missing anything new either.

 

[bethbuchall]

My youngest is struggling with on-line classes too. He is definitely the type of kid/learner that needs to go to class. He needs to ask his classmates and teachers questions face to face. On-line learning is a disaster for him.

He was due to graduate in May, but its not going to happen. He already knows that he is not going to be able to pass one of his classes. Before the shut down he was doing great in all of his classes. But, this one has done him in. None of us are stressed about it though. We are just hoping that he can re-take it this Fall and graduate in December.

Best of luck to your son!

Best of luck to yours, too! Mine is only a junior, so he has another year to pull it back together, we hope. There is one class that he says he is sure he's going to fail. It's hitting him hard because he has always been an A student but struggles with some anxiety. I was going to try to get him to go to a counselor this summer anyway for that, but right now he's not ready to talk about it and is very resistant to starting something else on-line. He thinks he can retake the course this summer, but it will still be on-line, so I don't know how much that will help. We'll see...

 

[SamFaniam]

The only thing I miss is going into the office because it's so much easier to work from there, but other than that I am fine with staying in the rest of the summer. DD is quarantined two and a half hours away with her boyfriend and she is doing fine.

One bright spot is how much I'm saving in gas. I used to fill up once or twice a week (every five or six days). My last fill up was just before starting the stay at home order in mid-march. I went out last night to pick up a curbside delivery pizza and noticed I still have over three quarters of a tank.

I Purchased gas for the first time yesterday since March 10. Our local grocery store has a points for gas program, and I had maxed out on points, so used it for a dollar off per gallon. Admittedly, I do have a small car, but I filled my tank for $1.42. I think that more than anything else really made an impression on me when it comes to everything that’s happened over the last six weeks.

 

[Boardwalk Jedi]

While I hope you meant this at least somewhat tongue in cheek, this comment is thoughtless within a thread for people who have severe concerns to discuss them in a safe place.

I'm a nurse who has been working swing shift during this ordeal and am concerned I'm bringing home the virus to my husband and kids, while also discovering my body can't take off shift hours anymore. I have also lost a relative to COVID. On the lighter side (in the grand scheme of things), I have one graduating from college and one from high school with tons of cancellations of things they worked hard for. But I deal with people everyday who are sick, dying or lost a loved one...so I know I don't have it the worst. Forgive me for wishing I was safely at home and resetting right now.

 

[AustinTink]

We've been in medical isolation since late December due to my son's illness. I haven't been to a restaurant, movie theater, etc. for four months, and guess what, the sky didn't fall. Truth is none of that superficial stuff matters. I know my family is lucky to have income and a safe, comfortable home. For that, I am eternally thankful. I have the two people who matter most to me here in this house. I could stay this way 'til the cows come home.

 

[JimMIA]

Frankly, I think sometimes the here makes it even worse. People grumping on each other and same 8 people fighting over 10 threads. I wish there was one giant blended thread and let the people fight until the horse is dead on it instead the start rinse and repeat over and over. In the end no one knows how this is going to play out and all we can do is wait and control exactly what we can control.

Actually, there IS such a thread but apparently it became more popular to diversify. Here's a link:

https://www.disboards.com/threads/the-i-want-to-argue-thread.3797874/

 

[*DisneyDreamer]

I'm fine with staying in. Huge introvert, so I'm not missing anything social and I'm doing fine with online ordering and grocery delivery. I miss a few things I can't get that way, but on the whole it's NBD.

What I'm starting to struggle with is the feeling of long term futility. Seeing the reports that exposure may not confer any immunity, that perhaps a vaccine cannot be made due to the way the virus works in the body, that the winter will be worse than now, etc., is really getting me down. The complete lack of leadership and uniform response in this country isn't helping, either. Some states want to do one thing, others another, and no one seems to have a real, cohesive plan for how to handle this now, let alone long term if it stretches out for years. (And that's not political. Neither side of the aisle seems much better than the other, at this point.)

I can duck and cover for a while, but at some point I'm going to get this just in the course of going to the store or something, as are my DH and our parents. (He works from home for now, but that won't last because they're already agitating to get everyone back in the office, despite orders to telecommute if you can.) At that point, it seems luck of the draw as to whether I/we die or not. I'm healthy, normal weight, etc. and under 50, but now there are reports of long term damage, strokes, etc. even in the "younger" population. So it feels like a crapshoot as to who has a hard time and who doesn't. And even if you have an easy go this time, if there's no real immunity and no vaccine, it may be the second or third exposure that kills you.

It's all just starting to feel hopeless. That's what I struggle with. I can do the isolation thing forever, but it feels like we as a population are completely screwed. Possibly permanently.

This is definitely what I’m struggling with the most. I can handle being at home in the short term, but the uncertainty for the long term is messing with me. If it is found that there is no lasting immunity, what do we do and how do we move on? I try to stay away from the doomsday mindset but it sets in every now and then and I start thinking we’ll be stuck like this forever.

 

[3threebabies]

I'm a nurse who has been working swing shift during this ordeal and am concerned I'm bringing home the virus to my husband and kids, while also discovering my body can't take off shift hours anymore. I have also lost a relative to COVID. On the lighter side (in the grand scheme of things), I have one graduating from college and one from high school with tons of cancellations of things they worked hard for. But I deal with people everyday who are sick, dying or lost a loved one...so I know I don't have it the worst. Forgive me for wishing I was safely at home and resetting right now.

I firmly believe we all need some grace during this dark time—and that includes suffering of any sort. I am very sorry for the suffering you see and experience, as I am sorry for all those who share their suffering in this thread.

 

[mousefan73]

I have not reached the mental breaking point YET of being home. We are lucky as we have a large home, live in the country where we can go out and about. Imagine being stuck with 4 people in a small apartment.. Parks were closed and play grounds too. Horrible for those families.

My breaking point is if this continues past May/June. I have two teenagers and yes they are content being lazy, on their phones etc.. but this is not a lifestyle to grow and nurture real personal relationshisp. Socialization at this level is nothing I want to see continued.

I am content working from home as I have probably the worst commute anyone can have ( 2.5 hrs each way). I worked about 2 or 3 office days and actually miss those. I chat with my colleagues with TEAMs etc.. but that does not replace face to face contact, going for lunch etc...

What really is my breaking point is seeing the stop on global movement of people. I personally know families where they are not allowed to fly and see family. I think people underestimate the number of multi-national families out there and those, including myself, are really suffering right now not knowing when flights return and borders open..

We have had unusual weather here lately. since the our lock-down in germany started, ,maybe one day of rain.. we are talking 70s with blue sky for WEEKS on end.. Starting tuesday this will change. I think many are mentally in good spirits as the weather has helped.. imagine this in the winter!! Our physical health would also suffer.

I am concerned if the pools are closed this summer. What will all the teens do???????? My kids online all day with lack of other options for me is a perfect storm brewing.

 

[easyas123]

I Purchased gas for the first time yesterday since March 10. Our local grocery store has a points for gas program, and I had maxed out on points, so used it for a dollar off per gallon. Admittedly, I do have a small car, but I filled my tank for $1.42. I think that more than anything else really made an impression on me when it comes to everything that’s happened over the last six weeks.

Wow! That really is something - I think it's been two weeks since I filled up, I can't quite remember.

 

[adkkev]

We get out for hikes almost every day. We are fortunate to have some really nice places to go that are fairly close to home. I have been able to get some biking in as well, whenever the weather is halfway decent. We do messenger chats with our granddaughter and see her a couple days a week when she goes to take care of her horse. We use messenger and House Party to chat with our son & his family who live 4500 miles away. Grocery shopping is once every two weeks - home delivery of groceries isn’t a possibility around here. So we’re doing okay overall.

 

[mousefan73]

I wanted to add one more post about breaking points. There are days were I get really sad and freak out. It seems many are happy being homebodies.. I am too but there is a limit.. I never thought I woud quote Meghan Markle. But for me a society that simply works or goes to school and goes home to eat, clean and rest and watch TV is "surviving, not thriving".

Maybe we are all spoiled now as a society, I know I am , I want more. I want to go to concerts, travel, meet friends in biergartens, laugh face to face... have my kids go to the movies, meet friends at the pool in the summer.

I keep thinking about my grandparents generation ( I am talking 1920s-1950s) or earlier. Life was work.. People only had church to look forward to as their weekly social event or the state fair once a year or literally when the circus came into town.. Those were their highlights. For me a horror situation. My generation works hard and plays harder. I have the feeling we all got kicked out of life's playground.

I would hate to return to such a life my grandparents had.. I know things will get better one day.. But when I hear of major Fall events being cancelled., Olympics being moved. Oktoberfest, Fall sports. I freak me out. I will NOT be ok just sitting at home watching Netflix at that point.

 

[traviesojmt]

This is one of the MANY reasons that I dislike the saying, "we are all in this together" that is plastered everywhere!!

In my opinion, we most definitely are NOT! (I have no problem with the SAH order and believe it is necessary. I know once the order is lifted, I will still be staying at home. We are doing great, fantastic really.)

But, we are so NOT in this together and the fact that not all homes are safe and happy homes are a prime example of that. Some folks have lost their jobs/businesses forever while others still work full time either at their office or home. Some folks are waiting in long lines at food banks to feed their families, while others have plenty of food and plenty of money to buy more food. Some, like myself live in the country on many, many acres of land, so going for long walks and not seeing anyone is easy. Others live in apartments in the city with all of the parks around them closed.

So while everyone is dealing with the virus one way or another, so many are on opposite ends of the spectrum, so to me personally, it doesn't feel like "we are in this together", as some people are suffering in heartbreaking situations and others like myself aren't really suffering at all.

The best phrasing that I have heard so far is we are all in the same storm, but we are not all on the same boat. Every single person‘s experience will be different from someone else’s.

We started week 7 yesterday and honestly I am very tired of it. Yes, I KNOW how lucky I am. But darn it, it is ok not to like the current situation. Being sad about cancelled trips or plans and wanting to get my hair cut or go to dinner doesn’t make me callous or a danger to others. I don’t like the shaming each side tries to throw at each other. For the record, I have hardly left my home in six weeks with the exception of a couple of grocery trips. I have followed the stay at home orders, but I will be back to my normal routine the minute things open back up.

 

[disykat]

If this goes on too much longer I'll need to make some changes and get out more - maybe back to where we were before the stay at home order. Still social distancing, but functioning out and about on a reduced level. Although I've been willingly doing my part and staying home because I can, I think those that are going out have an advantage in the isolation part. I've been home since March 12th and am really feeling the need to just be out. (Home from work/errands/socializing for 6.5 weeks and 9 weeks since I've traveled to see my parents, a trip I usually take every 2 to 3 weeks.) DH does the shopping since I am higher risk, but I need to find some things I can do safely just to get some more interaction into my days. I've noticed even on zoom meetings I participate in I don't have much to say - a change for me.

Over all, I'm happy to be safe and relatively content considering, but I do see it starting to get to me.

 

[KayKayJS]

Honestly... idk. I feel like I’m close but I am concerned about the virus. I think most of
It is that we have special circumstances.

We have a 7 month old and are both trying to work from home, and my husbands mom is dying from end stage cancer. Add on the pandemic and the stress is just incredible.

I think in a month or so people will just be ready to take their chances.

 

[disykat]

I agree especially with the fact that your husband's mom is dying changing things. The longer this goes on the less likely I will see my dad again. We've known he is getting closer to dying and consider ourselves ready for that at any time, but weeks on end of not being able to see him (even mom can't see him right now) and probably not seeing him until/unless he is considered eminently terminal is excruciating.

 

[loves to dive]

Hubby just 5 min. ago said if I really wanted to get out we might think about pulling the RV down to south Ga. to visit his parents for Mother's Day since it was also their 56th anniversary. Who in their right mind wants to go to the S. Ga. swamps in May and park in the in-laws yard. Me ya'll. I jumped on it. I told him it was up to him though since his mom has Lupus and his dad has had a few heart attacks if he thought it was safe for them or not. He said we would still probably have to practice social distancing. Huh? Are we going to stand in the yard at the RV and wave and holler hey at them? Not sure they would put up with that. He said he didn't want to be the one who killed them. I understand that so I'm leaving it up to him. If that doesn't happen I'm guessing we are going to go to a State Park for a few days just to get away. We are both introverts and pretty much stay at home most of the time anyway but I do love to travel and occasionally eat out. I'm pretty sure my son is going to break soon. He still works (manager of a grocery store) but misses his weekly trips to the wing place. If they open back up, his rear will be waiting at the door. He has PTSD and was doing pretty well with his new therapist before all this but can't go see her now so is slipping right back.

 

[wildride]

I'm a nurse who has been working swing shift during this ordeal and am concerned I'm bringing home the virus to my husband and kids, while also discovering my body can't take off shift hours anymore. I have also lost a relative to COVID. On the lighter side (in the grand scheme of things), I have one graduating from college and one from high school with tons of cancellations of things they worked hard for. But I deal with people everyday who are sick, dying or lost a loved one...so I know I don't have it the worst. Forgive me for wishing I was safely at home and resetting right now.

I am a first responder, we just lost our 2nd person. At least 59 more fighting Covid. My DH is also essential he is feeding people through the Foodbank. Thank
You for you service

I would love to be stuck in my house instead of daily exposure. You think your reaching a breaking point because you can’t run errands.