How are you all dealing with coronavirus and the restrictions many of us have to live

My hair is really starting to bother me. I'm seriously considering buzzing it. I've been watching YouTube videos. And I've read that more and more woman are opting for buzz cuts during this pandemic.

I was doing okay until the lifting of the lockdown- it has triggered massive anxiety in me. I won't write why in case I trigger someone else reading it.

I have gone back on meds for the first time in 4 years. So I am getting a few weird physical symptoms too. Feel zonked.

It shows in Iceland people are smart. Here, the process of opening the lockdown is being too fast after all what happened and I’m scared.

I’m thinking the same as you.
We already showed in my country that we can screw thing up along the pandemic so I don’t trust a lot. I will have to rely on people’s common sense.

So far I’ve carefully trimmed my bangs, and just a little since in the past over did it, and then it doesn’t look so good. Will just put my hair up and maybe wear a head band and then clip my hair up into a bun if can’t take my hair.

I can relate to feeling anxious about the lift of lockdown. I'm worried too.

I hope your meds help you. Yea, adjusting to the meds takes a little bit. Hope you feel better soon.

this week the government have started to lift some of the restrictions

from yesterday, people could start doing unlimited exercise, people could go back to work, and garden centres and parks re-opened. I am quite anxious about it, while I know the ultimate goal of the government is to lift the lockdown, having it lifted causes me a lot of anxiety

I think it's down to my life plans. people want it lifted so they can do this, that and the other, but I have no plans post lockdown

I had no plans pre lockdown so guess I feel quite screwed round about now

I've decided to definitely stay away from the news. I have all the information I need at the moment. And that is to practice social distancing and wear a mask. I have a doctor's appointment on Monday. I'm aware of their protocols and so will follow. Then I'll spend the rest of the week safer at home.

I delt just fine with the restrictions it's the slam bam reopening that I'm having trouble dealing with. The cases and deaths are still going up, reopening!? Pah the ding bats are in charge!

Yes I think many of us are struggling with this.

Good for you - I think this is very sensible to stay away from news. I am doing the same with social media.

I have not been on social media since 2005

I don't like it

Hi Azuloscuro,

Sorry for the late response. Yes, you answered my question. I'm sorry this happened to your partner with work and the safety measures.

It seems many areas shut down late for the pandemic. I feel we really need to listen to the Scientific experts and doctors at this time. We have to trust the doctors, but at the same time I'm afraid to take the vaccine because it is being produced rapidly. Generally, it takes at least 3 to 4 years to test the vaccine thoroughly. If they do not complete all the tests how will they know the complete side effects. When the vaccine is being created, are they skipping some of the steps to rapidly produce the vaccine...I hope not.

What are you hearing in Spain regarding the vaccine? Any news on production.

Be safe and take care of yourself.

Maggie

Cases here have spiraled out of control. It was clear what was going to happen, there are a lot of people here that live in such close quarters, 8-10 people in a 400 square foot house or apartment. Many live day to day, doing informal work like selling stuff at markets or working as nannies. They don't have the luxury of staying home, and living in cramped situations means that the virus spreads quickly. Some such areas were already under quarantine for up to 4 weeks, such as where my husband works. Last Friday they quarantined all 32 municipalities of greater Santiago. They also added 6 other areas that are in the Metropolitan Region, including where I live, although our cases aren't so bad here. It's more rural/suburban and spread out.

As it was, we weren't going out much, but we could at least go for a drive or walk around our neighborhood. Now you need a permit to do anything. Half an hour to walk your dog, 3 hours to buy basic supplies, etc. The military is on the street enforcing things. It's no joke. It stresses me out just thinking about it.

So, we are back to protests, despite the quarantine, in some areas due to lack of basic food and supplies. It's exhausting. The 18th marked 7 months since the metro stations were burned and the protests started, now we have the virus. Our president is a billionaire. I guess he and his cabinet didn't even understand that if you quarantine people that are barely getting by they will need assistance. Finally, they are organizing to send some sort of boxes of basic foods and other supplies to families in need. The secretary from my husband's office lives in a hard hit area close to where he works. She's a community organizer so we are going to see if we can coordinate something with her to send assistance to her neighbors in need. I feel like we should do something.


Keeping my mental health in check is tough some days.

Unluckily this is what always happens in these occasions. In a crisis period, the ones who always pay the higher price are the less lucky.

Thank you for what you are doing for others in this difficult times. Actions like that, make this life might worth.

It turns out the secretary wasn't able to help right now as she is dealing with a health issue (not COVID related, fortunately). Instead, I did some research and found two reputable charities that are providing food and other essentials to hard hit areas and made donations.

Yesterday my husband requested a 3-hour permit to go to the supermarket. You get two of those a week per person. He got out of the store and back to the car, and the car wouldn't start! So stressful for him, since there is a time limit to the permits. People are nice out this way, much friendlier than in the capital. The supermarket security guys helped him to push the car so that it could be loaded onto a two truck. The first tow service he called didn't answer, but fortunately the second did. He is a mechanic as well. When they got back here the tow truck driver said that it could be a problem with the chip in the key. We tried the spare key and it works. Just having one key isn't ideal but it's better than nothing for right now And, at least we now know a mechanic if we need one in the future.

In the UK, we're getting mixed messages from Government. No doubt widely broadcast by media worldwide!

Personally, I've now got used to lockdown although it was strange at first. Garden is very tidy, so is house. Live on my own but have to go out once a week for elderly mother's food shop, so do mine at the same time. Thanks to the greedy people who stockpiled, you're selfishness knew no bounds. Then the poor organisation of supermarkets who actively encouraged panic buying.

Thankfully, I've not had any symptoms as know cause of pre-existing respiratory problem. Experienced commonsense amongst neighbours and people in shops, but there's always one as the saying goes. Chatted more to neighbours, socially distancing of course. Man on his own because Japanese wife stranded there until state of emergency is lifted, so the family skype every day. Had to book test for another neighbour at weekend as she's been off work; received negative result in under 48 hours. Strangely, another neighbour and I have been having strange dreams, bordering on nightmares. Then there's the Chinese lady who insisted I should wear a face mask. Subsequently seen her on numerous occasions without one. Know I can't but want to fly off somewhere.....

As lockdown is released I am finding it is throwing up new issues.

The thing is I live with a clinically vulnerable person and am therefore being extra cautious. My parents (who do not live with me) are also elderly and vulnerable by the government guidelines.

If you read the UK advice nothing has changed for vulnerable groups, they are still advised to minimise contact. But this is never mentioned in government releases - it is like they are forgotten about.

So some people are celebrating mixing more with others ( and tbh many have been doing this before the announcement about 6 people meeting from Monday). But the infection is not gone, the R rate has not dropped to less than high risk even by their own measure.

It makes me nervous. Nervous for my loved ones. We go outdoors and get exercise and I work out of the home but I feel we've been opened up to extra risk by these easings. People are still dying daily I the 100s. And UK had highest death rate in Europe - go figure.

You know why this isn’t strange to me?
At the beginning of the virus spread, the UK’s president was contemplating a lockdown only for risky population. Here, in Spain, the news from there were that one of the solution could be a confinement for these people at risk for 6 months. I can’t believe it my eyes.
Then, common sense won and the lockdown was general in the UK. Thanks god.

I understand your fears. It will take us still a time to do a normal life, especially people who have a common sense. I guess in these difficult times we depend on this kind of people because there are others who are not giving the best example.

I feel like now is going to be a tough time for me. Things are slowly starting to reopen, people are going back to their lives... except me. Concerts still aren't happening, and those are pretty much my only social events. Everything was cancelled and nothing was planned for this summer.

I still can't see my parents. I don't feel like five hours on a train with a face mask on and there is absolutely no way I am letting them come to the city - I feel that is still too risky. Don't get to see any of my friends because I only see most of them at gigs.

We're slowly going back to the office in shifts. So when it's my turn next week, I'll only be meeting one of my colleagues, everyone else will be at home.

It's been almost 4 months since I hugged someone. Haven't even spoken to anyone in 2,5 months.

My birthday is next month. Probably will be spending it by myself.

And of course I'm also worried things could be opening to soon. The virus isn't gone.