Lockdown

[Moremagic123]

I’m on lockdown and feel like a prisoner in my own home, getting bit down although I’m trying to keep active and happy with music and make myself a special afternoon tea treat every now and again but I miss my family

[Lolabridge]

Oh yes it's really tough being in lockdown, especially for those of us that live alone or are having to self-isolate through this pandemic. I miss my family too but we keep in touch by phone. It's not surprising you are feeling a bit down - I think many of us are.

Be kind to yourself and have as many treats as you want to help to keep your spirits up. I'm no expert but I have found two things that have helped me:

1). Remind yourself how resilient you are because you coped so well with a previously difficult time in your life (and we've all had those including getting the RA diagnosis!)

2). At the end of each day think of three positive things for which you can be grateful or that have happened to you that day.

Have you thought about joining the Positive Wellbeing community? There is a link to it on this page.

I think we will start to hear some better news soon about less restrictive lockdown measures and that will cheer us all. Stay safe and stay strong. x

[Moremagic123 in reply to Lolabridge]

Thank you 💐

[hatshepsut]

It is really hard isn't it? Difficult to keep to any sort of routine, difficult to eat, and so unbelievably lonely!!!.

I've tried all sorts, bringing on wildflowers to hopefully establish a meadow on council land at the back of me. Bingeing on TV series. Online scrabble.....good except American spelling, jigsaw,.

Wishing I had the energy to properly clean my house......cleaner can't come while shielding.

Wouldn't recommend my latest, having to be admitted to hospital with blocked bowel. Hairy time, b ut luckily sorted without surgery. Going home today.

Downside, pain and fear at going in, and terror at thought of op.

Upside, in my absence my daughter has cleaned the house, and I will see the world on way home. AND the brilliant NHS have looked after me brilliantly.

Have you got a group that you can Skype with? Family and/or friends. We have shared meals, done quizzes, had fun.

There's also help locally, you could contact your local council, they might have telephone or online support available.

Don't be afraid to ask for help/tell people how you are feeling.

If there's something home based that you've always wanted to do........now's the time!!

Please remember that you are not alone in that most of us shielding on our own are finding it really really tough.

Please take care, pop onto HU again.......we're in this together xx

[Moremagic123 in reply to hatshepsut]

Thank you I hope you are recovering quickly 💐

[Pippy25 in reply to hatshepsut]

Wishing you a speedy recovery, take care x

[oldtimer]

I decided that, as long as I don't show any signs of infection, that I would just do social distancing. I'm a very social person and also like to be outside. So I go out, with my cloth mask, and keep well away from others but still talk to people I meet (which isn't many). I would find it very difficult otherwise, so I can sympathise.

[Moremagic123 in reply to oldtimer]

Thank you, I sit on a fold up chair in the front of where I live, maybe 5-10 mins with my cup of tea, but rarely see some one as no one needs to pass here. And I clap every Thursday, which I look forward to with my saucepan and wooden spoon 😁. I’m trying hard to keep busy.

Thank you for your reply

Keep safe, keep well.

[Pippy25]

I'm so sorry to hear you feel like a prisoner in your own home and can empathise with you as it isn't easy. However, It sounds like you are keeping active and going and that's the main thing is to keep some sort of routine or adapted normality in this very difficult time. I love the sound of any afternoon treat for yourself and must admit I ordered a few little treats myself to keep me going. A lovely idea so thanks for sharing this. Just keep holding onto this wont be forever and make the best of your days as difficult as it is because we will never get these days back. It's hard when you miss loved ones, but I'm sure when we are able to be with them again it will be so much more meaningful and special. Sending my very best wishes to you, take care x

[Moremagic123 in reply to Pippy25]

Thank you💐

[Fra22-57]

Have you thought of doing video chat on your phone with friends and loved ones.I do this with 2 lots of friends and my sisters.Friday evening 2 of our friends and my eldest sister are doing a quiz.each household asks the others so many questions.we will sit down with gin n tonic n nibbles or whatever is their preference and dream that we are out in a pub or at one of their homes. One of my granddaughters rang me yesterday.it was such a wonderful surprise and we chatted for ages.She had been baking and so had I so we sent each others photo to praise each other. Really made my day

I have sent for a puzzle to do too

[Moremagic123 in reply to Fra22-57]

Thank you 💐 I do call my grandchildren but it’s not easy to get them as they are busy people and then I feel upset so I try to wait for them to contact me. And when they do I’m so happy 😀