The Black Dog that Coronavirus created

by eddie Sat May 01, 2021 12:03 am

I work in a customer service position and meet many people from all walks of life on a daily basis.

Covid19 has affected people badly. People haven’t only physically lost loved ones and friends to this disease but they’ve lost relationships, a feeling of safety and in some cases, common sense. It has made a lot of people fearful, angry, mistrusting, paranoid and in some cases, irrational. It has caused depression, angst and fatigue. It has created overeaters, binge-drinkers and over thinkers.

It has become the Black Dog that breathes down your neck.

I am a positive, happy person who always sees a glass half full but lately, the Black Dog has been drinking from my cup.

The stories come from different people but they’re all the same...people are tired, lonely, depressed, irritable, stressed, breaking up their marriages, becoming despondent. I hear the stories everyday and I wonder...

What exactly, has this pandemic done to our minds?

by Ben Reilly Sat May 01, 2021 12:15 am

I mean, it's hard to hear something like, India's digging mass graves for Covid victims, and not feel the fear and stress.

Fear makes people do two things -- indulge in activities that are stupid but comforting, like overeating or binge drinking -- and look at their lives in starker terms, like, I could die -- am I happy with what I've done with my life?

Men in particular are great at turning fear into anger (it's more masculine). So you get guys who are used to calling the shots getting twisted out of shape at someone who asks them to wear a mask into a shop. No, they don't like being told what to do, but I think they actually are angry at being reminded that something that can't be seen without a powerful microscope could kill them, right in the middle of their story, no matter how big or strong or important they are.

by Syl Sat May 01, 2021 12:47 am

The fact is no one on this earth has ever had to face anything like this before.
An unseen killer, one that has devastated so many families, so many businesses, so many lives in every country.

It's not surprising that suicides, domestic violence, child abuse divorce and depression has soared.

by Maddog Sat May 01, 2021 1:08 am

It's created PTSD in some folks.

by Syl Sat May 01, 2021 1:19 am

Has it affected anybody really badly on here I wonder.
Will it have a lasting effect even when life gets back to normal?

In all honesty, I cant say it's had much effect on me.
A few down days when the weather has been gloomy, but nothing a glass of wine or a game of scrabble wont cure.

I know I have been lucky that no one close to me has died or been left with ongoing illness.

by Maddog Sat May 01, 2021 5:49 pm

I know a handful of folks who's lives are still being modified by this plague.

I'm beginning to feel sorry for them because most people I know have moved on. Was out last night. The world looked exaclty as it did before the virus. Only difference is the service industry needs workers. Places are slammed and not enough folks are wanting to work.

by Tommy Monk Sat May 01, 2021 6:11 pm

Syl wrote:The fact is no one on this earth has ever had to face anything like this before.
An unseen killer, one that has devastated so many families, so many businesses, so many lives in every country.

It's not surprising that suicides, domestic violence, child abuse divorce and depression has soared.

Syl... That is just not true!

There have been numerous serious diseases and viral infections that have killed millions upon millions over time, and are well documented in history.

by Maddog Sat May 01, 2021 6:15 pm

Tommy Monk wrote:
Syl wrote:The fact is no one on this earth has ever had to face anything like this before.
An unseen killer, one that has devastated so many families, so many businesses, so many lives in every country.

It's not surprising that suicides, domestic violence, child abuse divorce and depression has soared.

Syl... That is just not true!

There have been numerous serious diseases and viral infections that have killed millions upon millions over time, and are well documented in history.

I think she meant no one alive.

But even that's not true. There are people alive that experienced the plagues of lethal governments run by Hitler, Mao, Stalin or Pol Pot. Those plagues killed millions of innocent people.

by Syl Sat May 01, 2021 6:43 pm

Maddog wrote:
Tommy Monk wrote:

Syl... That is just not true!

There have been numerous serious diseases and viral infections that have killed millions upon millions over time, and are well documented in history.

I think she meant no one alive.

But even that's not true. There are people alive that experienced the plagues of lethal governments run by Hitler, Mao, Stalin or Pol Pot. Those plagues killed millions of innocent people.

Yes, I did mean no one alive now.
History has worse catastrophes than this, but in more recent history, apart from WW2, no one has experienced this way of living, and even then families were allowed to mix together for comfort.
Also in wars, people know who the enemy is....with this pandemic you could be infected by anyone at anytime.

by Maddog Sat May 01, 2021 6:56 pm

Syl wrote:
Maddog wrote:

I think she meant no one alive.

But even that's not true. There are people alive that experienced the plagues of lethal governments run by Hitler, Mao, Stalin or Pol Pot. Those plagues killed millions of innocent people.

Yes, I did mean no one alive now.
History has worse catastrophes than this, but in more recent history, apart from WW2, no one has experienced this way of living, and even then families were allowed to mix together for comfort.
Also in wars, people know who the enemy is....with this pandemic you could be infected by anyone at anytime.

In a war, you could be sitting, drinking tea, and your house explodes from a bomb.

That's why wars cause PTSD. It's all the stress of living in a war zone.

Outside of my already, very ill mother dying from this, I don't think this disease has impacted me anything like being in a war zone.

But I'm somewhat of a stoic and a fatalist.

by Tommy Monk Sat May 01, 2021 7:06 pm

"...One of history's deadliest diseases, smallpox is estimated to have killed more than 300 million people since 1900 alone..."

by Syl Sat May 01, 2021 7:13 pm

Maddog wrote:
Syl wrote:

Yes, I did mean no one alive now.
History has worse catastrophes than this, but in more recent history, apart from WW2, no one has experienced this way of living, and even then families were allowed to mix together for comfort.
Also in wars, people know who the enemy is....with this pandemic you could be infected by anyone at anytime.

In a war, you could be sitting, drinking tea, and your house explodes from a bomb.

That's why wars cause PTSD. It's all the stress of living in a war zone.

Outside of my already, very ill mother dying from this, I don't think this disease has impacted me anything like being in a war zone.

But I'm somewhat of a stoic and a fatalist.

This hasn't been a war as people perceive wars to be. Most of us have sat in the comfort of our own homes, no one was going to drop a bomb on us and no one had to kit up and go off to fight.

I am not saying this is worse...I am saying it's different, and no one has had to go through this before ...not in our lifetimes anyway.

by Syl Sat May 01, 2021 7:15 pm

Tommy Monk wrote:

"...One of history's deadliest diseases, smallpox is estimated to have killed more than 300 million people since 1900 alone..."

And you do know how smallpox was eventually eradicated presumably?

by Maddog Sat May 01, 2021 7:16 pm

Syl wrote:
Maddog wrote:

In a war, you could be sitting, drinking tea, and your house explodes from a bomb.

That's why wars cause PTSD. It's all the stress of living in a war zone.

Outside of my already, very ill mother dying from this, I don't think this disease has impacted me anything like being in a war zone.

But I'm somewhat of a stoic and a fatalist.

This hasn't been a war as people perceive wars to be. Most of us have sat in the comfort of our own homes, no one was going to drop a bomb on us and no one had to kit up and go off to fight.

I am not saying this is worse...I am saying it's different, and no one has had to go through this before ...not in our lifetimes anyway.

It was different, no doubt.

Time to move on and put this hiccup in life in the rear view mirror.

by Syl Sat May 01, 2021 7:35 pm

Maddog wrote:
Syl wrote:

This hasn't been a war as people perceive wars to be. Most of us have sat in the comfort of our own homes, no one was going to drop a bomb on us and no one had to kit up and go off to fight.

I am not saying this is worse...I am saying it's different, and no one has had to go through this before ...not in our lifetimes anyway.

It was different, no doubt.

Time to move on and put this hiccup in life in the rear view mirror.

Yes. We (the UK) have taken it more cautiously than Texas it seems, but we are moving on, and hopefully we won't have to take one step back again.

by Maddog Sat May 01, 2021 7:52 pm

Syl wrote:
Maddog wrote:

It was different, no doubt.

Time to move on and put this hiccup in life in the rear view mirror.

Yes. We (the UK) have taken it more cautiously than Texas it seems, but we are moving on, and hopefully we won't have to take one step back again.

Moving on is also a personal thing. The government can open everything up, and people will still be affected.

That's why I say a certain percentage of folks have a form of PTSD.

Same as people who were in a war zone, but are in relative safety after the war.

Some folks can't turn it off.

I have a riding buddy who is about to loose his GF over this.

It controls his life and drives her nuts.

Oddly enough, she served in a war zone.

by eddie Sat May 01, 2021 8:30 pm

It’s the general feeling that hangs like a fog, over most people I see and talk to. It’s changed a lot of people, mentally and spiritually, the world over.

by HoratioTarr Sat May 01, 2021 8:58 pm

eddie wrote:I work in a customer service position and meet many people from all walks of life on a daily basis.

Covid19 has affected people badly. People haven’t only physically lost loved ones and friends to this disease but they’ve lost relationships, a feeling of safety and in some cases, common sense. It has made a lot of people fearful, angry, mistrusting, paranoid and in some cases, irrational. It has caused depression, angst and fatigue. It has created overeaters, binge-drinkers and over thinkers.

It has become the Black Dog that breathes down your neck.

I am a positive, happy person who always sees a glass half full but lately, the Black Dog has been drinking from my cup.

The stories come from different people but they’re all the same...people are tired, lonely, depressed, irritable, stressed, breaking up their marriages, becoming despondent. I hear the stories everyday and I wonder...

What exactly, has this pandemic done to our minds?

To be honest, I think the general trend in the news and media is just doom and fucking gloom. Going on Twitter is enough to make you suicidal.

by HoratioTarr Sat May 01, 2021 8:59 pm

eddie wrote:It’s the general feeling that hangs like a fog, over most people I see and talk to. It’s changed a lot of people, mentally and spiritually, the world over.

I don't feel that badly affected. I'm sick to death of being in lockdown but only coz I can't socialise....but as I know it's only temporary it doesn't bother me that much.

by eddie Sat May 01, 2021 9:00 pm

I agree, which is why I don’t tend to read much news or the garbage on social media. Don’t have Twitter, I don’t like it.

by eddie Sat May 01, 2021 9:03 pm

HoratioTarr wrote:
eddie wrote:It’s the general feeling that hangs like a fog, over most people I see and talk to. It’s changed a lot of people, mentally and spiritually, the world over.

I don't feel that badly affected. I'm sick to death of being in lockdown but only coz I can't socialise....but as I know it's only temporary it doesn't bother me that much.

I work with the general public, so I am seeing and hearing it, all day long. I am like a sounding board for the public.

by Syl Sun May 02, 2021 12:20 am

Maddog wrote:
Syl wrote:

Yes. We (the UK) have taken it more cautiously than Texas it seems, but we are moving on, and hopefully we won't have to take one step back again.

Moving on is also a personal thing. The government can open everything up, and people will still be affected.

That's why I say a certain percentage of folks have a form of PTSD.

Same as people who were in a war zone, but are in relative safety after the war.

Some folks can't turn it off.

I have a riding buddy who is about to loose his GF over this.

It controls his life and drives her nuts.

Oddly enough, she served in a war zone.

It has certainly affected some people far worse than others.
I think if anyone spent hours watching and reading the Covid news stories every day, it could have the
effect of brain washing.
Hopefully when restrictions are fully lifted, and the infection rate doesn't start soaring up, most people will relax into their old lifestyles again.

by Syl Sun May 02, 2021 12:22 am

HoratioTarr wrote:
eddie wrote:It’s the general feeling that hangs like a fog, over most people I see and talk to. It’s changed a lot of people, mentally and spiritually, the world over.

I don't feel that badly affected. I'm sick to death of being in lockdown but only coz I can't socialise....but as I know it's only temporary it doesn't bother me that much.

I feel the same.

Apart from....quite worryingly, I actually social distance in some of my dreams now.

by eddie Sun May 02, 2021 1:38 am

Syl wrote:
HoratioTarr wrote:
eddie wrote:It’s the general feeling that hangs like a fog, over most people I see and talk to. It’s changed a lot of people, mentally and spiritually, the world over.

I don't feel that badly affected. I'm sick to death of being in lockdown but only coz I can't socialise....but as I know it's only temporary it doesn't bother me that much.

I feel the same.

Apart from....quite worryingly, I actually social distance in some of my dreams now.

When you are working with the general public all day, every day, and you speak to them...they feel very, very, differently to you.
People are fucked up Syl. I hear this every fucking day of every fucking week.

I am a direct, honest speaker. People talk to me. I hear them.

And they are fucked up.

by Maddog Sun May 02, 2021 7:03 am

https://www.cnbc.com/2021/05/01/tips-to-fight-pandemic-fogo-fear-of-going-out-and-get-back-to-life.html

This just popped up. Even a term for what some folks have.

FOGO. Fear of going out.

by Syl Sun May 02, 2021 12:11 pm

eddie wrote:
Syl wrote:

I feel the same.

Apart from....quite worryingly, I actually social distance in some of my dreams now.

When you are working with the general public all day, every day, and you speak to them...they feel very, very, differently to you.
People are fucked up Syl. I hear this every fucking day of every fucking week.

I am a direct, honest speaker. People talk to me. I hear them.

And they are fucked up.

I believe you 100% Eddie.
I have worked with the public, I know how easy it is to build up trust with people if you are open and friendly, and people are often eager to talk to a sympathetic listener.

I don't doubt many people have been affected badly by this virus, we have all had to live a very unnatural life for over a year.
I can't imagine how bad it has been for people who live alone, live cooped up in a flat, have no means to keep in touch with family, etc etc....a million reasons why some people have found it very hard.

I would be lying if I said it had affected me badly though, I was only talking about how I felt, I understand everyone is different.

by Syl Sun May 02, 2021 12:13 pm

Maddog wrote:https://www.cnbc.com/2021/05/01/tips-to-fight-pandemic-fogo-fear-of-going-out-and-get-back-to-life.html

This just popped up. Even a term for what some folks have.

FOGO. Fear of going out.

That's almost as corny as YOLO. Rolling Eyes

by Syl Sun May 02, 2021 12:13 pm

Maddog wrote:https://www.cnbc.com/2021/05/01/tips-to-fight-pandemic-fogo-fear-of-going-out-and-get-back-to-life.html

This just popped up. Even a term for what some folks have.

FOGO. Fear of going out.

That's almost as corny as YOLO. Rolling Eyes

by Tommy Monk Sun May 02, 2021 1:04 pm

Syl wrote:
Tommy Monk wrote:

"...One of history's deadliest diseases, smallpox is estimated to have killed more than 300 million people since 1900 alone..."

And you do know how smallpox was eventually eradicated presumably?

"...Internationally, malaria is responsible for approximately 1-3 million deaths per year. .."

by Syl Sun May 02, 2021 1:57 pm

Tommy Monk wrote:
Syl wrote:

And you do know how smallpox was eventually eradicated presumably?

"...Internationally, malaria is responsible for approximately 1-3 million deaths per year. .."

That wasn't the question. Rolling Eyes

by Tommy Monk Sun May 02, 2021 4:00 pm

T.B.

Worldwide, one-third of the total population is infected; 9 million are ill and nearly 1.5 million people die from TB each year.

by Original Quill Sun May 02, 2021 4:01 pm

Syl wrote:
Maddog wrote:https://www.cnbc.com/2021/05/01/tips-to-fight-pandemic-fogo-fear-of-going-out-and-get-back-to-life.html

This just popped up. Even a term for what some folks have.

FOGO. Fear of going out.

That's almost as corny as YOLO.

Shouldn't that be FOGD, fear of getting drunk? That's why RW'ers wanta go out so bad. Razz

by Maddog Sun May 02, 2021 4:58 pm

Syl wrote:
Maddog wrote:https://www.cnbc.com/2021/05/01/tips-to-fight-pandemic-fogo-fear-of-going-out-and-get-back-to-life.html

This just popped up. Even a term for what some folks have.

FOGO. Fear of going out.

That's almost as corny as YOLO.

Well, I'm more.partial to FAFO. Cool

by Maddog Sun May 02, 2021 4:59 pm

Original Quill wrote:
Syl wrote:

That's almost as corny as YOLO.

Shouldn't that be FOGD, fear of getting drunk? That's why RW'ers wanta go out so bad.

God you're lame.

by Syl Sun May 02, 2021 5:06 pm

Maddog wrote:
Syl wrote:

That's almost as corny as YOLO.

Well, I'm more.partial to FAFO.

by Maddog Sun May 02, 2021 5:23 pm

Syl wrote:
Maddog wrote:

Well, I'm more.partial to FAFO.

The Black Dog that Coronavirus created Screen53

by Original Quill Sun May 02, 2021 5:49 pm

Maddog wrote:
Original Quill wrote:

Shouldn't that be FOGD, fear of getting drunk? That's why RW'ers wanta go out so bad.

God you're lame.

Too abstract for you? I told you to lay off the booze, and stay in school.

by Maddog Mon May 03, 2021 12:19 am

Original Quill wrote:
Maddog wrote:

God you're lame.

Too abstract for you? I told you to lay off the booze, and stay in school.

Nah, just fucking lame.

by Fred Moletrousers Mon May 03, 2021 10:50 am

Syl wrote:Has it affected anybody really badly on here I wonder.
Will it have a lasting effect even when life gets back to normal?

In all honesty, I cant say it's had much effect on me.
A few down days when the weather has been gloomy, but nothing a glass of wine or a game of scrabble wont cure.

I know I have been lucky that no one close to me has died or been left with ongoing illness.

I’m afraid the first lockdown affected me badly. Living where I do I rarely, at the best of times, see people walking past, and because the support bubble system did not exist then my isolation as a highly vulnerable person (age, diabetes and artificial heart valve) really was isolation.

My partner and I have separate homes so I was unable to see her; I couldn’t see my family; my dearest cousin, who suffered serious emphysema, was an early victim of Covid...and I developed sudden serious weight loss and other symptoms which indicated the high probability of cancer (subsequently proved negative, but only after a long wait for a face to face doctor’s appointment followed by a scary scan and tests in a hospital under pressure from a large number of cases.)

Sad to say I had a breakdown...a bad one. That’s why I was AWOL from here for a long period. I was lucky in that I got away with nothing more lastingly serious than a clinical diagnosis of anxiety (as I told the doc at the time, anyone who is NOT anxious right now must be barking mad) and I’m now back to full health and bucolic contentment.

But, by God, I wouldn’t want to go through that again.

by Syl Mon May 03, 2021 11:58 am

Maddog wrote:
Syl wrote:

Ahhh....we live and learn. Laughing

by Syl Mon May 03, 2021 12:06 pm

Fred Moletrousers wrote:
Syl wrote:Has it affected anybody really badly on here I wonder.
Will it have a lasting effect even when life gets back to normal?

In all honesty, I cant say it's had much effect on me.
A few down days when the weather has been gloomy, but nothing a glass of wine or a game of scrabble wont cure.

I know I have been lucky that no one close to me has died or been left with ongoing illness.

I’m afraid the first lockdown affected me badly. Living where I do I rarely, at the best of times, see people walking past, and because the support bubble system did not exist then my isolation as a highly vulnerable person (age, diabetes and artificial heart valve) really was isolation.

My partner and I have separate homes so I was unable to see her; I couldn’t see my family; my dearest cousin, who suffered serious emphysema, was an early victim of Covid...and I developed sudden serious weight loss and other symptoms which indicated the high probability of cancer (subsequently proved negative, but only after a long wait for a face to face doctor’s appointment followed by a scary scan and tests in a hospital under pressure from a large number of cases.)

Sad to say I had a breakdown...a bad one. That’s why I was AWOL from here for a long period. I was lucky in that I got away with nothing more lastingly serious than a clinical diagnosis of anxiety (as I told the doc at the time, anyone who is NOT anxious right now must be barking mad) and I’m now back to full health and bucolic contentment.

But, by God, I wouldn’t want to go through that again.

I remember the post you wrote a while ago Fred, you said you were having a hard time, you got through it though and thankfully, things are looking up again for you.
Reading your posts over the years, I'm sure living where you do, connecting with nature and the beauty that surrounds you, it must have given you some comfort in those lonely days.
Losing people close to you from Covid must be really frightening, knowing people who have died from this bloody plague heightens the anxiety that must be natural in most thinking people.

I now know three people who have died from it. My neighbours two brothers and my husbands ex workmate and friend.

by Tommy Monk Mon May 03, 2021 2:46 pm

Syl wrote:
Tommy Monk wrote:

"...Internationally, malaria is responsible for approximately 1-3 million deaths per year. .."

That wasn't the question.

I am just showing how what you said is simply not true.

by Maddog Mon May 03, 2021 4:52 pm

Fred Moletrousers wrote:
Syl wrote:Has it affected anybody really badly on here I wonder.
Will it have a lasting effect even when life gets back to normal?

In all honesty, I cant say it's had much effect on me.
A few down days when the weather has been gloomy, but nothing a glass of wine or a game of scrabble wont cure.

I know I have been lucky that no one close to me has died or been left with ongoing illness.

I’m afraid the first lockdown affected me badly. Living where I do I rarely, at the best of times, see people walking past, and because the support bubble system did not exist then my isolation as a highly vulnerable person (age, diabetes and artificial heart valve) really was isolation.

My partner and I have separate homes so I was unable to see her; I couldn’t see my family; my dearest cousin, who suffered serious emphysema, was an early victim of Covid...and I developed sudden serious weight loss and other symptoms which indicated the high probability of cancer (subsequently proved negative, but only after a long wait for a face to face doctor’s appointment followed by a scary scan and tests in a hospital under pressure from a large number of cases.)

Sad to say I had a breakdown...a bad one. That’s why I was AWOL from here for a long period. I was lucky in that I got away with nothing more lastingly serious than a clinical diagnosis of anxiety (as I told the doc at the time, anyone who is NOT anxious right now must be barking mad) and I’m now back to full health and bucolic contentment.

But, by God, I wouldn’t want to go through that again.

Which is why I called it a form of PTSD.

Now the challenge is accepting we have moved past the risk and get on with life. That's the difficult part for some people who have gone through trauma.

by Syl Mon May 03, 2021 4:55 pm

Tommy Monk wrote:
Syl wrote:

That wasn't the question.

I am just showing how what you said is simply not true.

It is true, you just choose to misinterpret what I meant

No one is alive today that has gone through this kind of global lockdown. Deprived from seeing family and friends, being unable to be with dying relatives, millions of people being confined to their houses, etc etc.

by Tommy Monk Mon May 03, 2021 5:17 pm

The lockdowns are unprecedented here in UK... And an overreaction I personally think... The most at risk of serious illness groups should of course have been shielded, but everyone else should have been allowed to carry on much as normal.

by Syl Mon May 03, 2021 5:24 pm

Tommy Monk wrote:

The lockdowns are unprecedented here in UK... And an overreaction I personally think... The most at risk of serious illness groups should of course have been shielded, but everyone else should have been allowed to carry on much as normal.

So what I said in my previous post you now admit was actually true.

Thank you for acknowledging that....almost.

by Tommy Monk Mon May 03, 2021 5:47 pm

You didn't specify lockdowns... You actually said this...

"...An unseen killer, one that has devastated so many families, so many businesses, so many lives in every country..."

by Syl Mon May 03, 2021 5:53 pm

Tommy Monk wrote:

You didn't specify lockdowns... You actually said this...

"...An unseen killer, one that has devastated so many families, so many businesses, so many lives in every country..."

Stop trying to be slippery Tommy, it's not working.

I was responding to the posts about how Covid has caused depression in so many people. My full post was...

"The fact is no one on this earth has ever had to face anything like this before.
An unseen killer, one that has devastated so many families, so many businesses, so many lives in every country.

It's not surprising that suicides, domestic violence, child abuse divorce and depression has soared."

by Maddog Mon May 03, 2021 6:25 pm

Syl wrote:
Tommy Monk wrote:

You didn't specify lockdowns... You actually said this...

"...An unseen killer, one that has devastated so many families, so many businesses, so many lives in every country..."

Stop trying to be slippery Tommy, it's not working.

I was responding to the posts about how Covid has caused depression in so many people. My full post was...

"The fact is no one on this earth has ever had to face anything like this before.
An unseen killer, one that has devastated so many families, so many businesses, so many lives in every country.

It's not surprising that suicides, domestic violence, child abuse divorce and depression has soared."

The problem with this is, that many folks, like myself, experienced minor inconveniences that were still less onerous than those experienced by many others on this planet, sans an epidemic.

I only missed work when I had the Rona. Never missed a meal. Suffered far less than someone in a war zone. Probably had a much better year than millions of Chinese or Indians had well before the virus hit.

I guess it's all relative to what you're used to.

by Syl Mon May 03, 2021 7:51 pm

Maddog wrote:
Syl wrote:

Stop trying to be slippery Tommy, it's not working.

I was responding to the posts about how Covid has caused depression in so many people. My full post was...

"The fact is no one on this earth has ever had to face anything like this before.
An unseen killer, one that has devastated so many families, so many businesses, so many lives in every country.

It's not surprising that suicides, domestic violence, child abuse divorce and depression has soared."

The problem with this is, that many folks, like myself, experienced minor inconveniences that were still less onerous than those experienced by many others on this planet, sans an epidemic.

I only missed work when I had the Rona. Never missed a meal. Suffered far less than someone in a war zone. Probably had a much better year than millions of Chinese or Indians had well before the virus hit.

I guess it's all relative to what you're used to.

You lost your mum to it and caught the virus yourself, so in fact you have had a worse time than many.
You obviously have the kind of character to not allow yourself to be dragged down by this....HT and myself have said the same, obviously it's affected a great many people differently.
This pandemic is not like in wartime, I dont think anyone pretends it is, it's still something that none of us have experienced before, and it's something than many people wont be able to shake off as soon as the all clear is given.

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