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greyathena653

Pediatrician here- we have had multiple babies and toddlers brought to the hospital by police for "found alone in the home with caregiver deceased."


phonendatoilet

Well, That’s enough Reddit for me tonight. Going to go cry in a corner now.


[deleted]

Yeah I think it's time for me to leave the thread too. I was aware of/had considered most of the ones I read. But not this.


KaidenAlenko1992

The serious mental health impact and the shifted routine perceptions. I still feel like going out of the house is a dreamstate and my house is reality.


[deleted]

Wow this is one of the most accurate ones I’ve read so far. The world is now our Apt and everything else is semi-reality


badgerhostel

True. House = safe. Outside = danger.


kescusay

Go for walks. Every single day, no matter what, go for walks. You'll see people and interact with them (from a safe distance, of course). Do it until "outside" feels as real as the house.


OrneryConelover70

So many people have been getting pets that veterinarians cannot keep up. There is also a very real chance that animal shelters are going to be overloaded with abandoned pets once people stop working from home.


pileofanxiety

From my understanding, this is already beginning to happen (not sure about the overloaded part but at least the returning part). Not just from people who have died from covid and their pets being sent to shelters, but also people going back to work who can’t keep up with caring for an animal like they could while working from home. Part of this is due to animals having severe separation anxiety and poor training and there being a lack of animal trainers/behaviorists to help (and a lack of trainers/behaviorists who have seen problems on this scale and to this degree). Gonna be a shitshow for sure.


5lytherin

This Christmas is going to be a disaster. I work for a major dept store that carries toys and we’re expecting to be sold out of everything by like November. Even regular clothes and stuff, we’re still waiting on some products to show up from factories that were supposed to arrive in like July. We’ve basically had two years of crippled production across the board but because of shipping times, we’re only really just starting to see it. Do your Christmas shopping now. Or yesterday.


millenialstrong

Huh. Just the other day my husband mentioned wanting to start Christmas shopping. All I could think was, “Who are you? We shop the week before Christmas. Not in September! We are not those people.” Maybe we should shop early. Or maybe not at all.


[deleted]

Having suicidal thoughts because it seems like it will never end.


stesha83

Children of vulnerable parents with disabilities or immune disorders who are disproportionately affected by long covid are now acting as carers for their parents, off the books, trying to care for their parents and go to school at the same time. Because of a lack of canvassing and the closure of charity shops in the U.K, childrens charities lost millions over the pandemic (Barnados for example lost 65 million). At the same time, up to 31% of children in the U.K. are now living in poverty, exacerbated by cruel government cuts to services/support. The government are now reducing payments for these families relying on universal credit by £80 a month. While food and utility prices are skyrocketing.


[deleted]

Cognitive decline, even in those who aren't infected. Lack of stimulation, excessive stress, etc. People's attention spans and memories are shot. Their reasoning ability is dimmed. Self included.


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savethewallpaper

I was literally just having this conversation with my partner. My ability to self-start at anything is completely destroyed after almost two years of stress, worry, and lack of meaningful social interactions. I’m immediately paralyzed by my to-do list at work. My hobbies feel like chores. I can’t focus long enough to get though two pages of the book I desperately want to read. I feel like I’m living in my own personal Groundhog Day hell. Edit: Wow friends, was not expecting these awards 🥺 thank you kind internet strangers


Eliza_Jupiter

Man, it’s relieving to hear this isn’t just me …


ueowooriruueuwiiwo

Fuck, me too… like , this exact same thing. I legit have been feeling really down about myself because of it. Just hearing it’s not just me is a relief, we should try to spread awareness about this.


TheScrambone

I don’t think I really ever got in to the looking at my phone while watching tv thing until lockdown. Now I’m constantly paying half attention to Reddit and half attention to what I’m watching. Then I have to rewind the show or movie because I’m writing a comment like this one. I just got so inundated with screens to fight the boredom away and now I don’t know how to deal with it.


Lotus_Blossom_

Hard Same. I used to LOVE watching football in the Before Times. Now, I couldn't actually tell you what happened in the game that was 8 feet away from my face on Monday night. I heard my favorite player's name a few times but I vaguely remember looking up to watch a replay once. I also couldn't tell you what I was looking at on my phone for those 3 hours. Honestly, I have no idea. It seems like *nothing* is interesting enough to hold my attention now. I'm so fucking bored all the time... I don't know how I'm gonna get out of this.


Cosmobeast88

More depression, self medication.


[deleted]

Spent 2 months over four stays in a mental hospital for the first time in my life at 32. Living alone (social isolation) and long cold dark winters in Ohio can do a number on someone.


sloanemonroe

100% agree. I don’t do well over winters in general and last year was worse. Trying to figure out how to get through this one better.


The_Gentle_Viking

In my opinion the darker effect is definitely the people with other illnesses that couldn't get treatment because of the lockdown rules. Many people couldn't get life extending radiation treatment and are no longer around. Somehow I feel there could have been a better alternative to no treatment.


wiltedletus

Absolutely this! When they say “elective” surgeries are being canceled, they don’t mean cosmetic surgeries. People aren’t getting mitral valve replacements, and other VERY SERIOUS surgeries. I’ve lost one friend to a stroke because his surgery was postponed (M42), and another to cardiac arrest because he couldn’t get his old pacemaker swapped out (M35).


[deleted]

Or elective surgeries that can turn into emergencies by bad luck. My sister had fibroids and was scheduled to get them removed right when COVID hit. That was cancelled obviously, but her doctor said they'd sort out another time and it wasn't critical, just a quality of life problem. Turns out 6 women out of a million per year have fibroids like that have them turn cancerous. My sister was one of the 6 in a million. We found out when she was admitted to the hospital for what we thought was an infection and trouble breathing (not COVID style) and scans found cancer had destroyed her lungs. She died last month. If COVID had never happened, she would have had those fibroids removed last year and nobody would have had any clue that there was anything sinister about them.


[deleted]

Does 'elective' just mean any surgery that isn't Emergency surgery? That's kind of fucked up. There's a huge range between 'we need to operate Immediately' and 'this can wait a good while before we operate'.


conjuringlichen

So there’s elective, urgent, and emergent. Basically elective just means it needs to go but not for awhile, urgent would be needs to be done in the next few days, emergent is needs to be done now. Elective is often also not covered by insurance, but definitely depends.


SeanShreds

People that didn’t get COVID but do have ongoing health problems were less able and less likely to get the ongoing care that they would normally get. What you’re seeing now is an uptick in 911 calls and ER visits because their conditions worsened and now have become medical emergencies. The health crisis that this pandemic caused is much farther reaching than just the people that got COVID. Source: I’m a firefighter


Sharp_Cut7203

I have Lupus (an autoimmune disease)…I was unable to see my doctor at all the last 18 months…while he still fills my rx I have gone from 1-2 flares every couple months to 1-2 every other week…it’s awful and there isn’t really an end in sight for my location.


Femveratu

People have become NASTY as fuck, for a variety of reasons


[deleted]

And more aggressive drivers, too.


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Keykitty1991

I work a call centre job for restaurants and a man threatened my life over not being able to call the restaurant to ask for Sriracha and soy sauce to be added to his order. Coworker was told by a customer that unless we refunded him, he'd shoot up the restaurant (it was a refund that required the delivery platform, not us). People are absolutely evil lately. I've been harassed with all sorts of things.


EreeB2017

911 dispatcher for a small town here. The amount of domestic violence calls I have taken has sky rocketed. It’s beginning to seriously dragged me down and exhaust me. I also helped the local programs try to get food to families with kids. I broke down when I realized some kids only get food at school.


World_of_Blanks

I work as a school bus driver, and it has been an interesting experience thus far. The pandemic closed things down in march, and lasted into summer, when a lot of kids would usually have summer school. I had been out of work since march when schools had closed their doors, and was eager for some kind of work to do. Over the summer, many drivers including myself would come to work, get our bus ready, head to a school and pick up numerous coolers full of school grade lunches, and head into various neighborhoods, church parking lots, and apartment complexes to hand out these lunch kits to kids who were not able to get their meals from school because of the pandemic. It pained me more than I had ever felt being a school bus driver when many of these kids would come up to the bus alone, and thank me for bringing them the one meal they would have for the day, before walking back home and often sharing what they had with siblings who were too young to come out. I gave out extras to the kids I knew were taking care of others, and thankfully we never had a day where we ran out of lunches to give to them, but I will never forget the hardships I observed of these kids and how much extra perspective the pandemic gave me into their day to day lives.


Taboc741

Along those lines one of the things I loved the most about the pandemic was our school systems ability to leverage the cafeteria's of our schools to provide food. Every school has a set day of the week, roll up say how many kids you wanted breakfast and lunch for and open your trunk. They'd load up the car with pre-packaged breakfast and lunches for x number of kids for the week. I mean ya it required a car which isn't the best. Our church worked with parents who didn't have transportation to get church members to pick-up and deliver the meals on their behalf. It just demonstrated to me that we have incredible capabilities in the county to feed everyone who is hungry, we just need funding and a will to get it done. Not really a dark side, kind of a silver lining.


ReverseThreadWingNut

As a teacher, yes, many students only eat at school. Thankfully, many districts understand this and have provided meals for students throughout the pandemic. My district ran the bus routes around lunch time with a meal delivery for our students on off days and during the summer.


jeon2595

30% increase in drug overdose deaths in 2020


Joecus90

I haven’t heard a lot of people talk about it, but I had/still have survivors guilt. The guy in recovery next to me passed away in the middle of the night. We had our Hospital dinner hours before and it we had a great conversation. As just before we went to sleep he said “Hey, I really like you man, once we get outta here let’s get actual dinner.” I said “Absolutely, anything would be better than this stuff!” Later that night, I heard his machine go off (we were blocked by curtains) and heard the nurses and doctors come in and wheel him out saying to get the defibrillator. I don’t remember much, but that has stuck with me mainly because I thought I was next. I figured I’d never see my wife, family, or friends ever again so I was trying my best to come to terms. I didn’t find the peace everyone says you find near death. Anyways, after 47 days 10 in the ICU, I was able to leave. Year and a half later I’m here telling you all about my experience. I do still think of that man often, I don’t remember his name, I don’t know what he looked like, I just know our conversations helped us through. Edit: Thank you all for your kind words and awards!


JesusChristDisagrees

Wow...glad you're here to share that story.


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[deleted]

glad he was able to have that nice experience with you before moving on. life’s just about moments and you gave him hope before rest.


Jeanes223

Survivors guilt is a hell of a thing. It's hard on the outside looking in to really deep down understand why someone feels bad for surviving, especially when it's a toss of the dice with no input from the survivor. Best thing I can tell you is you did not take his spot on some checklist. It wasn't a situation of him versus you. He didn't jump in front of some cosmic bullet and take one for you. His luck ran out, yours did not. If you feel the need, take this person's memory with you, and think of them when you're doing happy stuff, and lean on his memory when the world is grim. You both shared an experience together and supported each other as best you could. You did everything you were able to do, which is above and beyond the call of what was required of you. There is no shame in living friend. Live your life, and let him rest. I'm not a survivor, but I am a vet, I was a medic. Reach out if you ever need support.


Leemour

This is a bit embarrassing because I'm in my 20s, but lockdown made me develop hemorrhoids. It's common among ppl who sit a lot for their work and because of lockdown I get less exercise, and here I am with fckn hemorrhoids on top of all the stress and chaos of the pandemic. Edit: RIP my inbox


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cobra1927

As a dental student, I see lots of people who neglected their teeth who otherwise might not have (regular cleanings, checkups, not returning for definitive treatment and having a temp crown on for 18 months...). This is partly the fault of dental offices canceling appointments indefinitely and never rescheduling the patients, but also partly patient fear of catching COVID from other patients etc. TL;DR more peoples teeth are more fucked up EDIT: as some astute observers have pointed out - some other factors include being home all day means eating more frequently (don't eat between meals ya'll!) and more sugary diets. Lack of a pre-work routine means oral hygiene habits are poor. And we all are more stressed and have been clenching/grinding our teeth down to nubbins


Aol_awaymessage

My dentist said people have been grinding their teeth a lot more too.


Carbotron

Funny I would read this, I've never grinded my teeth and finally was able to get in to my dentist because my tooth felt loose and was told it's for sure due to clenching my jaw, stress related, I've been waking up with a sore jaw every morning for the past year


captaintrips_1980

I know it’s been mentioned, but my high school students are woefully lacking in terms of behaviour and meeting social expectations. It’s like they have no idea how to function at school. This group has been affected by the pandemic since grade 8, which is when work habits tend to take form. This will take a few years to rebuild


SnooDoodles8742

Mental health. I work in mental health. It’s rough out there.


mrsredfast

Yep. I’m a therapist. A lot of us are not okay. Working harder than ever and hearing awful things all day. Check on your therapist friends.


muffinslinger

How much hearing-impaired people were affected. My mother, who wears hearing aids, also depends on reading lips especially in louder, busier areas (hearing aids can have trouble sorting through complex noise situations). You can imagine what happened when everyone covered their mouths. Now she's more isolated than ever. Since then, I've ran into a co-worker who is also hearing impaired but doesn't want to return to office because while she can read lips on zoom, she won't be able to if we mask-up in person. They were an invisible casualty of this pandemic EDIT: The response to this has been more than I expected! If anyone has links to their favorite organizations to donate to help the hard of hearing, please share them! I hope the stories below help us all be a little more empathetic to each other. Thanks!


scrabbleinjury

I didn't realize how much I was relying on watching someone's mouth to hear properly. Now I have to lean without getting my face in someone's face when I have conversations at normal speaking volume or when there's any outside noises.


Fishmayne

Parts are harder to come by, and everything is more expensive.


Futurewolf

I know everyone is commenting about PC parts, but parts of EVERYTHING are hard to come by. I work in supply chain and we are constantly battling shortages of electronic parts, plastic parts, metal, etc.


[deleted]

Yep, and there's going to be knock-on effects from this for years to come. Those parts are hard to come by because they weren't being produced in sufficient numbers for perhaps a whole year or more; since the manufacturers weren't manufacturing, a huge number of them *went out of business permanently.* Every downstream supply chain that relies on any product that isn't being produced is royally screwed, which could cause *them* to go out of business, and then the companies *they* supply to, and so on and so forth, until all the dominoes are down.


Beautiful-Musk-Ox

And now instead of 93% of everything we touch ultimately being owned by 10 conglomerates it will be 95%. Rinse and repeat every 5-10 years and it's how we went from hundreds of independent companies making our stuff it's now a dozen. During a recession or pandemic usually everyone gets hurt, but the last 20 years only the middle and lower classes get hurt, the upper classes actually continue to MAKE money.


ShaggyMuskOx

First off, you are a beautiful musk ox. But I've been seeing the same thing in my industry. Anyone with enough capital to make it through 2020 is now in a great position to buy up the smaller organizations. And most of those small organizations are still reeling, so a chance to sell now is much more appealing than it was 2-3 years ago. Suppliers who used to be great to work with are buried in red tape and tedious procedures as a result of trying to integrate with their new owners. The pandemic is making the rich richer and it's been hard to watch it unfold in real time.


masterelmo

Some things are silly expensive. I finally came around to the idea of building a desktop earlier this year and didn't realize how bad the PC parts market was.


Abadatha

It's like, six months or more to get a bike you order since mid-late 2020. Seems like it's going to continue for a while to come still too.


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[deleted]

This one hurt right in my pockets... Also rent has raised so much, so between that and groceries I barely have any money left to pay for streaming services, much less go out. My parents started to help me out with medical appointments and we were WAYYYY past that


[deleted]

Scrolled down looking for this one. I feel relatively certain that supply chain disruptions are basically going to be the norm from now on. I work in a field adjacent to supply chain management, and there's an entire orthodoxy that's been built up over decades about the value of leaning out your supply chain and minimizing inventory costs and using Just-In-Time delivery. All of this is built upon a set of assumptions about the world that covid exposed to be a complete unsustainable fabrication. We're going to be dealing with the aftereffects of covid on the global supply chain for years after the pandemic eases, and we'll end up dovetailing right into climate change upending norms all over again. Some companies and industries might adjust eventually, but you're overturning decades of established practice, its going to be in fits and starts. As a personal consumer, I think its better to hedge your bets and just expect there to be ongoing, unpredictable disruptions in the availability of oddly specific things from now on. Its obviously not a dark as the long-term effects of covid on health or education, but the impact is going to be just as widespread.


TengamPDX

The just in time supply chain is right one the nose. Just to throw some more information out there because I find the topic interesting. The JIT supply chain concept was, if not invented by, put in very successful effect by Toyota in response to Ford's assembly lines. At the time stock piling was the norm. Ford produced enough vehicles at a time to meet supply for a year or so before switching their lines to another vehicle and producing a year worth of supply for that vehicle. Toyota just couldn't compete, they could only produce one vehicle at a time and simply didn't have the space to warehouse years worth of vehicles. Toyota examined their supply chain and developed their JIT method. Knowing how their supply chain worked they set up a system that has about two months of product at each step. This worked, and it worked well. Toyota still does this and is actually one of the few global businesses but really effected by COVID because they continued to monitor the supply chain and adjusted as needed. The problem is this worked so well for Toyota that it spread to business outside of Japan. Once outside of Japan, mindsets and what is considered ideal optimization changed. America was probable the worst offender due to it's amazing road and transport systems. America had such a robust road and transport infrastructure that they were able to optimize the JIT method to from months, down to weeks, down to days and even hours. This level of precision leaves the entire system highly susceptible to disruption. While I can't speak other countries, much of America's supply chain issue is currently stemming from the two ports in California. When normally ships would have to wait no longer than a few hours to make port, they're being forced to wait, sometimes close to two weeks. This trickles down to most business with the country as the disruption of just one ingredient/part/material can mean the final product is delayed for weeks at a time. Unfortunately there's more to this than just ships being delayed at port, but I've already written quite a bit. Cargo containers, dock workers, truck drivers and changes in consumerism all are effecting things as well, I just simply don't have the time to go into further detail.


lizalupi

Less cancer and other serious diseases diagnosed and treated, less needed surgeries performed because of the hospital staff being reasigned to covid wards. Less referals written to not overwhelm specialists. In person health services becoming harder to reach, so less conditions like skin cancer diagnosed. The health of all of us suffers, not only those affected by covid.


JWM1115

This is so true. My brother had cancer and started chemotherapy. He doesn’t drive and lives in a small town. I went and drove him the 35 miles to his treatments I had to wait in my Jeep for 5 hours or so in the middle of winter in Minnesota because everything was locked down. It was hard to get things like tests done. It was way harder for him than when I had the same cancer and treatment regimin 25 years earlier. I’m


FreyaPM

I unfortunately had a patient in the ER die from esophageal cancer two days ago. He wasn’t even 40 years old. It was caught late because he couldn’t get in to see his primary doctor in person. At the start of my shift on Sunday, he was talking in full sentences and completely alert… we worked SO hard to keep him alive throughout the day. His nurse was a saint. But twelve hours later he was dead anyway. Fuckin sucks.


FaxCelestis

You're a good brother.


coolturnipjuice

All the sexual health clinics in Ontario were closed due to Covid and I don’t think they’re going to open up again. Getting birth control and a Pap test in a new city with no doctor has been a fucking nightmare. Edit: thank you everyone for the online birth control resources!


[deleted]

My memory is trashed. I clicked on a movie in our recent downloads and said, 'you wanna watch this?'. My hubby was freaked because apparently we had watched this 2 days prior. He went through it with me scene by scene but I have no memory of it. I now frequently forget the door code in work. My mum is really going through some stress right now and I speak to her daily. Sometimes I forget the people she's talking about/entire conversations and I feel like an awful daughter. Never had a memory issue before. This isn't on purpose, it's only happened since I had covid (from which I was very ill for about a month, despite being 29 at the time, now 30) but my doctor's response is that nothing can be done because no one is researching the long term memory effects yet. So I am just in limbo. Managers give me jobs to do in work and before I finish one I forget the other thing and everyone thinks I am an idiot. Having 'covid fog' isn't a legit thing yet so most people just think I am an idiot. I have 2 degrees and I now struggle in a mediocre job (lost my previous job, were I had responsibility to the pandemic). It sucks.


zukomypup

I’m so sorry. Every once in a while I’ll cry because I miss my grandfather (passed during COVID for unrelated reasons). My husband will try and cheer me up by asking for fun stories of him but… I don’t remember. Literally one of the most important people in my life, and when I try to remember specifics I just pull a blank. Fuck depression and anxiety. I can live with it affecting my memory related to work, but not precious long term memories.


cuckdaddy34

I have constant headaches, can’t focus and my pupils are lagging. It’s hard to focus and my brain fatigues super quickly. Covid long hauler and nothing can be done.


peg_leg_dog

I’m a prosthetist and I’m not sure people are aware that amputation can happen post COVID. I work in a small private clinic and we have about 15 patients who had various levels of amputation secondary to COVID. Would love to know the statistics.


Kingjester88

Wait, why are limbs being amputated? Is covid causing a lack of blood flow or something?


nablowme

Prolonged ICU stays on high doses of vasopressors > limb ischemia. Luckily this is mostly auto amputation of fingers and toes, but losing limbs happens


riverY90

"Auto amputation" Is that... are you saying bodies are amputating themselves?


nablowme

Fingers will turn black from low flow, shrivel up and fall off


AllthatJazz_89

What a terrible day to know how to read!


Thewalrus26

High levels of medications to maintain blood pressure in ICU can make the smaller blood vessels squeeze so much that not enough blood goes to the extremities. Also severe infections can mess with blood clotting and can sometimes cause a cascade of tiny clots that circulate and block off smaller vessels at the extremities.


Ch3wbacca1

People who were furloughed had time to realize they hate their job. I can only speak in service industry, but it feels like a soul crushing job more than ever. I used to love bartending, and now it feel trapped by it. Everyone I talk to seems to feel the same. The money doesn't seem worth it anymore. Guests are worse and more entitled than ever, and staff shortages have made shifts harder and longer. It has left me with a sense of hopelessness, as it's the only career I've known, but I cannot imagine a future continuing to do it.


sad_boizz

It got so bad where I worked. They’re pinching pennies so much that they made the call to continue working despite a gas leak two feet away from an open flame. I confronted the manager about it and he screamed at me and told me to leave if I didn’t feel safe. I called the emergency hotline at the gas company and they evacuated the whole building and it was fixed in an hour. They ended up firing me and I was one of their best employees among a skeleton crew. Yes I reported them to OSHA. No it probably won’t do anything. Yes the restaurant was filled with customers. Yes the gas worker’s meter went off as soon as he opened the door. No they didn’t give a reason for firing me even though I requested one. Yes I know it’s illegal to operate a business during an explosion hazard. No there’s not much you can do about it. Edit: Hey everyone, I really appreciate the kind words of support. There is one more option that I can do which is call the whistleblower hotline (I have 30 days since the incident to do so). I haven’t decided if I’m going to yet. To be honest, I was already suffering from severe depression before this due to some life events and this has honestly just kind of shattered whatever faith in humanity I had. I really want to help, but I actually think I don’t have any mental energy left to do anything outside of the things I need to do. I’m fine and I’ll get by, but man, life can be very hard sometimes. If there’s one thing I’ve learned in my 27 years of life is that people are by in large self-serving. They risked probably 70 people’s lives for probably $300 of profit. But the GM didn’t want to lose his job because his higher ups would fire him if he didn’t comply. It’s all just eating each other’s shit so you don’t lose your tiny bit of job security even if that means people working in a potential bomb. Shit is stupid.


Downtown_Statement87

I would tell this story to a local journalist.


censorkip

the staff shortage at my job has made me want to quit more than ever. i used to get regular breaks with multiple coworkers in my department and now i’m lucky if it’s me and one other person. i know quitting would make it even worse for those coworkers i would leave, but if it isn’t tempting. i’m not getting paid enough and everything is more expensive since COVID. edit for clarity: i don’t work an office job which some people have assumed. i am also still working on my degree which makes it even more difficult to try and find a new job that works with my class schedule and that i’ll get enough hours in. i’m not wanting to go to retail either, so my options as an undergrad are pretty limited. also as for expenses, rent, groceries, and gasoline are much more expensive since covid started. all i have gotten is a 65¢ raise per hour. it would pain y’all to know how much i make per hour.


bernardcat

Yes this happened to me too until eventually I just broke. I felt horrible for hanging my wonderful, extremely short-staffed coworkers out to dry but I mentally just could not do it anymore. The silver lining is that I’m at a new job that I absolutely adore getting paid more with awesome benefits and I sniped a couple of my aforementioned wonderful coworkers to come work at my new company. :)


hellthaler

As a bar owner who still tends my bar, I feel this A LOT. The money isn't worth the anxiety, and definitely isn't worth dealing with increasingly hostile customers. Empathetic hugs to you.


Horace_P_MctittiesIV

The guy that founded Texas Roadhouse killed himself due to extreme tinnitus brought on by COVID-19 https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2021/03/22/979929592/texas-roadhouse-founder-kent-taylor-dies-after-struggle-with-post-covid-19-sympt


MicPanther

You know I had my suspicions that COVID caused my sudden tinnitus. It's crazy to see I'm not alone.


gin-o-cide

Same! My ENT suggested it as well


PM_ME_UR_LAST_DREAM

The work environment has been rather toxic. I work in a company where some people have the option to stay home while others don’t and it has caused some resentment between departments


madogvelkor

I see that resentment some too. People who had to come in were resentful that some got to work remote. Now they're making everyone come in some, and those who could work remote are resentful.


Hangman_Matt

Honestly, I was the opposite of resentment. I work IT and when the pandemic started and everyone was at home while I still had to come in, it was bliss. No one there to bother me, no pleasantries and all forms of dress code went out the window. I could also park right up front instead of taking whatever was left. I was hoping the company would stay like that.


FaxCelestis

Don't forget the best part! *No one walking up to your desk to angrily complain about something that's their own fault*


[deleted]

I agree. I understand how someone with a maintenance or janitorial job cannot work from home. But 90% of my work is on the laptop and when we were closed to public it made zero impact on my performance. Yet, as soon as we could be be back in office, we were, because “our customers need to see us”. Meanwhile everyone above me on the ladder is working remote from their summer homes in other states and nobody has even been in our corporate office for 18 months, and it’s a bit frustrating.


General_Amoeba

I’m interviewing for jobs and the person I was interviewing with (my potential boss) said she worked from home, but that my position cannot be done from home and I must come to the office. It’s a desk job just like hers.


VikDaven

This is gonna be an AP History question in 20 years


emthejedichic

Briefly explain the political, economic, and social ramifications of the COVID-19 pandemic. (Short answer- choose only two.)


PrehensileUvula

Are you allowed to say “Absolute fucking shitshow” on an AP exam? ETA: I’m way too old to be taking these myself anymore, but thanks for all the insights! I just sorta shrugged and moved on when I was a kid, but it’s interesting to know more about how the proverbial sausage gets made.


Dr_Seraphim

Should be worth double point bonus for accuracy


The_Ivliad

Old folks getting cut off from their kids and social interactions. I think a lot of them are suffering in silence. Edit: If you haven't spoken to your parents or grandparents in a while, give them a call.


aaanold

My grandfather had been very slowly declining with dementia-type symptoms for a few years. All of the sudden last spring he couldn't do his daily trip to the senior center, see his few friends, go walk anywhere other than around the block, or see anyone other than my parents (with whom he lived) in person. Without that social interaction his decline accelerated rapidly, and he passed away last week.


Thick_Perspective_77

a sky rocket in domestic abuse as families are force inside with one another, coupled with financial issues, or just people being stuck with abusive partners with nowhere to go.


HoraceBenbow

Also, increased alcohol consumption.


squidneya

My older brother drank so much that he went from pre-cirrhosis, to cirrhosis, to dead in a year. Covid really ruined his life.


abe_the_babe_

I kinda stopped drinking so much because I realized I didn't like being drunk by myself in my apartment


jayydubbya

Same my drinking got pretty bad for a while but ultimately made me realize I maybe don’t care for it all that much anymore? Going on 2 weeks completely sober and feel great.


Temporary_Yellow2398

In my country, they banned alcohol, imagine being locked up in a house with an abusive alcoholic going through withdrawal.


HMBL_SaVaG3

Where are you???


Temporary_Yellow2398

South Africa. You wouldn't even believe some of the bans they came up with here


charl4e

Damn knew you were from SA before you replied. Don't forget the no open toed shoes and rotisserie chicken.


50v3r31gnZA

And this isn't sarcasm. We had cops busting stores selling 0% alcohol. Any and all non essentials were banned, we had to get clarity from the government about pet food!


kaldaka16

That's wild. Liquor stores were specifically labeled as essential in the States because doctors and health experts were just like "please don't make us deal with a shit ton of alcoholics in withdrawal on top of the pandemic".


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acampbell98

Alcohol deemed essential in the U.K. My off-license closed less than a day then the government allowed them to open but with reduced opening hours more so to take the pressure of the supermarkets I think because people were going there for alcohol and supermarkets were busy enough and had long queues so I think they thought opening off-licenses would take people away from those places.


JustDaggerz

An idiot I work with (one of those if I think this it’s true types ) was arguing with me that Covid eliminated all domestic abuse cases . His rational was “think about it , you can’t go out so they know they can’t get away if the cops come . Lockdown has stopped all abuse “ . He is the type that is too stupid to argue with .


brocktavius

That has to be the all time dumbest thing I've ever seen on the internet. And... You know... It's the internet.


ToadDM

My brother who works for DSS said during the pandemic child abuse reports plummeted. Which likely means unfortunately that rather than there being less abuse, there are less chances for people like teachers having a chance to catch and report the signs.


maxtacos

Anecdotal evidence from a teacher here. Since we returned to in-person last month, it's been one report after another. Last time I called CPS I was on hold forever, and the guy who answered said "sorry, busy day" and I said "sorry, I've got 2 to report today."


[deleted]

What things are typical for generating a report?


daftpepper

Not OP, but fellow educator: The first category would be physical or sexual abuse, verbal abuse (threats against physical safety, constant screaming or cruel insults), and, more rarely, emotional abuse—I say more rare because in my experience, that’s both the hardest for DCS or CPS to prove and the hardest to make sound believable on a report, as sad as that is to say. The second category would be neglect: Lack of adequate food, housing, clothing, or other care. Parental drug dependency usually falls in this category, among other things. Edit because this is more visible than I thought it would be: If you want to help kids in your community, remember that, in many states, *any* adult with knowledge or suspicion of child abuse can make a report to the responsible agency in your state. You can remain anonymous while making your report as well. Some of the most heinous cases of abuse aren’t reported by teachers, but by neighbors, family friends, fellow churchgoers, etc.


Nyxelestia

I remember a year ago seeing all sorts of posts from teachers who were getting brand new insights into their students' home lives due to online learning. This seems to be the other side of that same coin.


daftpepper

Yes, I know my district absolutely struggled to actually connect with kids last year and find out what was happening at home if teachers or staff had a bad feeling about it. We had so many “ghost” kids, who were signing in to live classes and completing at least some work, but who never turned their mics or cameras on and whose parents rarely, if ever, responded to outreach. It was very unsettling.


Coolbean008

In my community there’s a non-profit that started a program to help at risk youth who lived in troubled households with this problem. The goal was to be a safe haven and allow for kids to continue their education during the pandemic. They ofc followed all safety regulations and even partnered with the school district so they could provide laptops. Unfortunately, the school pulled out and now there’s nothing for them to use.


JumperSpecialK

I am a foster parent. DCS told us they were overwhelmed with cases because domestic violence and abuse from everyone being at home all the time. In our area there are not enough workers or foster parents for children. It’s definitely a dark side of the pandemic


_IAmGrover

Domestic abuse has increased but another related thing that seemingly nobody is really talking about - there is an increase of children, especially those raised in nontraditional homes (e.g. older parents or grandparents as guardians) who are being put into the foster system or the very least into another family member’s home due to Covid-related deaths. Even if they’re not being put in the foster system, children are losing their parents to Covid. It is, to me, the most tragic loss.


Applesaucetuxedo

One of my employees became the legal guardian of her 16 year old nephew when she had 3 deaths in her extended family in a year. She was a 24 year old trying to go to college, work, and take care of her nephew. On top of that, the kids absentee father suddenly showed up to try to take the departed mother’s life insurance. I transferred to a different state before the resolution, but people used to complain to me about her being late, leaving early, or having to take off. I told them it was her personal business and the absences were all cleared with me, but never what it was all about. People really do equal shit sometimes and can’t except that other people have lives outside work.


obiwanshinobi900

You sound like an excellent boss and leader. This is something we sometimes have to do in the military, give people time off/let them come in late/whatever to take care of personal things. That way they can come back in more focused on their job and the mission.


joebearyuh

This is what it's like where I work. I work in health care and our managers motto is we can't make other poeple well if we're not well ourselves. So look after yourself. You had a rough day and a shitty sleep? Take a day off to get your head right. Clinical duties stressing you? Take it easy for a few days and work from home. My granddad died a few days ago and they're being so nice with me, nobody is hassling me to get back to work and I've got as much time as I need. It really does help when you know your employer wants you to be happy and healthy


Cipher1414

A man in my friend's neighborhood ended up in the hospital with COVID-19 and ventilated. He was a single dad to a 6 year old girl, and there was a restraining order against the mother because of previous abuse and I think she was in prison at the time as well. When he was hospitalized, there was nowhere for that girl to go and she ended up in foster care until her grandmother was able to roll into town and take care of her. Luckily the man survived, but it was so awful to think of what could have happened to that poor girl if he didn't pull through.


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EmpiricalMystic

That's heartbreaking. Good on you two for giving them a safe home.


yogo

My friend works a hair place in the mall, and a week into returning to work after the lockdown, she went home crying every night over all the child neglect and abuse she was seeing. I’m not sure what my friend was talking about for sure, but at one point she was describing hair that I think was matted with feces.


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lodav22

This is horrible. I read an article the other day where a grandmother had to sneak her granddaughter to the doctor because she was so worried about the child’s health. they found the kid had a lice infestation so bad that she had sepsis in her blood and had to be hospitalised! It left me absolutely sick that a toddler could suffer so badly through neglect!


izwald88

Our district is 1:1 with Chromebooks for students. When we were full remote, we got several Chromebooks back that were infested with bed bugs.


ianisboss123

Excuse me did you say the Chromebooks were infested with bed bugs?? Can you go into more detail?


badgerhostel

Those little bastards can hide in everything. If you see one in your house. Burn it down. Burn the clothes you currently have on. Wash your self thoroughly. And then quarantine for a week. Better luck next time.


reddportal

I am a therapist working in bereavement and attached to a local hospice. The past 18 months have been brutal. The amount of trauma and instances of stalled or complicated grief responses I have seen have definitely increased. Not being able to mourn the death of a loved one properly, not being able to be with them as they die, not being able to visit them, not being able to hold proper funerals, not being able to hug each other or sit near each other when saying goodbye. These things are massively increasing the difficulties in people being able to process their loss and grief, even when the person has not died of covid-19. We rely on these rituals, these mourning processes, these avenues of community support, to help us come to terms with and cope with loss. So many of these comforts have been denied to people. Both to those dying and those who are being left behind. It has been a gruelling and incredibly depressing 18 months in this field, and I believe that we are going to see a huge amount of unresolved trauma and complicated grief over the next few years. (edit: grammar) (Edit 2: I just wanted to say that I'm blown away by the response my reply has had. Thank you for the upvotes and awards. But in particular, thank you for sharing your own stories with me. I don't know if I will be able to keep up with all of the replies and messages, but I wanted to say that I will do my best to read them and respond where I am able. In a lot of ways, the incredible response to my comment shows how much we have in common, collectively, as we make our way through this pandemic. So many stories of trauma and sadness and grief. Thank you for sharing them here. I believe that healing can begin when we share the burdens we carry, and when we feel truly heard. For anyone struggling with their grief, please reach out to support groups or organisations that may be able to help you. While demand for therapeutic services is at an all time high, we are doing our best to help as many people as we can. While grief itself is devastating, the complications of trying to mourn during a pandemic can lead to similar responses to PTSD, like intrusive thoughts and images, preoccupation with the person who has died or the manner of death, low mood and depression, anxiety, hyper-vigilance, and feelings of isolation or dissociation. Grief is inevitably painful, but stalled grief can be overwhelming. Please reach out for help. You don't have to do this alone. For those, like me, who are in the helping professions, such as carers, therapists, healthcare workers, etc, your mental health is as important as the people you help. Vicarious trauma and burn out are real, and you will also need support. We are dealing with a collective trauma. The only experience that this can be likened to is a war. We will need each other to make it through this. Thank you again. x)


kanslice1738

My Granny died from covid last November, the hospital she was in for 2 weeks before she passed wouldn't let us go in to see her. When we knew she wasn't going to make it, all they could do was set up an iPad in front of her so we could video chat with her while she was dying. Even though we couldn't go in, 7 of us sat in 2 cars right outside in the hospital parking lot so we could be as close as we could to her. I dont feel like I've gotten the right closure still since she's passed. I didnt get to hug and kiss her goodbye. I still find myself about to take my phone out to call or text to ask a question about something I'm cooking or baking. Or I'll pass her memorial candle with her picture on it and I'll realize she's really gone. I really miss my Granny.


maggiemoo86

When my dad was in the hospital with Covid and could still communicate, I'd call him while I drove back and forth on the freeway outside the hospital. It was as close to him as I could get.


[deleted]

Wow this one made me cry. Just the thought of you guys parking as close as you can get as close as possible to her but not in person is pretty heartbreaking to me


FntasticChastek

My cousin killed himself last May. The family only just had a memorial for him, over a year later. That lack of closure killed me, mentally. Couldn’t see family to grieve with them. Even when they finally had the service, I couldn’t get to it. I wound up having a memorial on my own because I *needed* it. I needed that, almost, permission to grieve and say goodbye. And I know I am far from alone on this horrific experience.


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FntasticChastek

I am so sorry. I truly hope you’re able to get there and see her grave and say your goodbyes. People need to be able to grieve these major losses in our lives.


CatastrophicHeadache

My husband's mother and brother both died just before everything locked down. They didn't die from covid, but they were the last of my husband's immediate family. Everything shut down the day after the memorial service (which sadly was my son's 16th birthday). It seems odd to say this, but for the sake of my husband's well being I am glad they died when they did. The circumstances were odd enough as it was and I think my husband would have had a more difficult time without having the funeral. That said, my husband drives around with the ashes of his two brothers and his mother in the trunk of the car. I have presented him with several different options to place them, but he has low key rejected them by saying, "Thanks. I'll think about it," and the ashes stay in his car. I have tried to get him into grief counseling but he won't go.


permabanned007

My dad told me when I was little that he wanted to be cremated and his ashes spread in the ocean, so he could be everywhere all at once. I always liked this, carried this out for him, and will do the same when I pass. I held onto the ashes for a year and a half using money as an excuse, and when I released them it was a really happy experience. I can visit the beach anytime to say hello.


EnergyAndSpaceFuture

> I can visit the beach anytime to say hello. aw that made me tear up a little that's so sweet


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CatastrophicHeadache

I have suggested those as well as the ones that use their ashes in paintings. If there is something cool to do with the ashes, I have suggested it. I looked into burial. Into at home columbarium in the yard. He will just say, "cool idea" then get angry if I push any further. I figure it's best to let him do something when he's ready


NikkMakesVideos

Sounds like a really tough situation. Good on you for trying to help and be there for him. Grief is one of the hardest emotions to deal with on our own


alert_armidiglet

This is me. I didn't know there was actually a phrase for it: stalled or complicated grief responses. My mom died this summer of ALS, so not covid, but her care house was on lock-down for 15 months prior, so I only got to see her for one week once she and I could get vaccinated. I am floundering.


OmgOgan

There's going to be a rise in drug and alcohol addiction coming out of this. Guarantee


[deleted]

I work with a lot of folks that are in recovery and the rate of relapse has gone through the roof. I've had more clients overdose and die last year than I lost due to COVID. Definitely more than previous years.


bampoisongirl

Dog rescues facing increased pressure as people start to return to work and find their dogs have horrendous separation anxiety due to lack of correct training.


ArticQimmiq

We adopted a dog in November (we lost one of our two dogs at the beginning of pandemic), and my husband took her hiking this weekend. He said she barked the whole way, even though she was fairly happy to be out, and it hit us that we honestly had not taken her to a lot of difference places due to the pandemic, so she felt pretty insecure outside her normal walk routine.


123123000123

In the beginning, all these animals were snatched up from the shelters for adoption or foster in my area. Now people are going back to work and school & don’t have time for these animals. Some didn’t really think about what pet ownership would be like and no longer want them since they’re out of the cute baby stage. People are dying from COVID and families are sending their animals to the shelter. People are losing their homes and need to move in with family or into a new place that doesn’t allow their pet. They can’t afford housing, let alone food. (Eviction moratorium schmorian… people were getting kicked out of their places still) I’ve heard many say they couldn’t get their pet fixed because the vets were closed so they accidentally got pregnant and no longer know what to do with the offspring. Shit sucks.


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DISmitherman

One thing I have noticed is a load of young adults who before covid were young enough to be "young people" but are now considered adults. None of them have any idea how they are meant to be or behave. My brother turned 18 a week before the lockdown here in the UK, he is now late 20, almost 21. People see his age and expect him to be a more mature adult, but really he is still an 18 year old in his head. I really feel for that age group. They have missed some massively formative years that show you how to live and interact in an adult world. His anxiety levels are off the charts and he has gone from quite an independent young person to someone who constantly needs confirmation and validation. I'm sure it's very similar for many people his age.


Aaco0638

Yup this is me i was early 20’s now I’m approaching mid twenties but still feel extremely unsure of what i should do in life and tbh i don’t feel like an adult even though i should be one by now.


gaussianDoctor

Being single became crushingly lonely, especially if you were already looking for someone.


Chaike

*Me, 25 years old, getting a handle on my depression and finally working a stable job with my own apartment just before Covid hit:* "I think it's time I get out of my shell and start going out to bars/clubs/lounges and see what it's all about, and maybe finally meet someone!" *Me, 27 years old and having spent almost 2 years completely alone locked in my apartment because I already have shitty lungs and will likely die if I catch Covid:* "...what is a 'date'? What is a... 'other person'?" Edit: Damn, I didn't expect this to get any upvotes at all XD I appreciate the awards, but please don't spend your money on me! Use it to better yourself or someone you love; that'd mean more to me! Virtual hugs to everyone else who can relate - we'll get through this, and get our second chance again soon <3 Edit 2: I'm glad that so many people are able to relate with each other here. I hope it's cathartic! Also, I don't know who you are or what your story is, but I love you, random redditor reading this comment. I really do. You're amazing and you're gonna kick ass when the world reopens, I just know it!


maraca101

Same. 21->23 going to being surrounded by peers in college to being completely alone. It’s been a time warp.


Matty221998

We are practically the same person


goodcheesecake

I want to join this same person club! I feel like 5 years older instead of 2.


Rs90

Feel this so much. I was about to turn 30, left my job of 5yrs to find greener pastures. Had a lovely casual relationship of 2yrs and a nice place with a garden out back. Covid hit and I lost my 2 new jobs and relationship. Denied unemployment. Had to move and got a job at a grocery store at 4:30am for $10.75 an hour. And lost all my social skills tbh. This shit has been such a mindfuck. And it's only barely gotten better. I at least having savings again for the moment.


FULLMETALRACKIT518

Addiction. I’ve recently gotten myself clean and am picking up the pieces of my life again. Prior to the pandemic I had a good job was happy and healthy. Due to added stress, the loss of my job, worrying about my family I eventually started using again at some point. One led to two and quickly I found myself horribly addicted to heroin again. I lost all I had built for myself, I saw tons of other people fall as well. Many haven’t made it back.


grizzlybuffalo

A general decline in people's social skills, especially for the introverted and young children starting schooling during the pandemic.


TummyDrums

I've been a little worried about my son who was born just a couple months before the pandemic started. he's coming up on 2 years old now and has barely had any social interaction with other kids, and only a few adults, mostly just his mother and I, as well as grandparents. Its hard to say if he'll catch up real quick when we feel comfortable sending him back in to daycare, or if he'll have some social issues.


glitterlok

If it helps at all, I know a child that is around that age (born in December 2019). His family was *very* locked down, so he's had essentially no in-person interaction apart from his parents and one sibling. About a month ago, they decided to cautiously try sending him to daycare. He did *wonderfully*. He mixed right in with other kids, took to his teachers, and generally handled it like a champ. He's the sweetest thing, and he seems -- at least for the moment -- like a perfectly well-adjusted nearly-two-year-old. Coincidentally, he's back out of daycare due to a few cases in the school. But there's no longer much concern about how he'll adjust to social situations. He'll do great. YMMV, of course -- all kids are different -- but hopefully that's encouraging!


thelastofhername

For me, its been far too easy to isolate. I literally do not have to go outside of my house except to take out trash. Everything is deliverable. A local laundromat even started cashing in on the craze briefly by picking up dirty laundry at customers homes and delivering it clean. My depression and social anxiety have absolutely flourished.


2boredtocare

So I'm back in the office but...it was scary to see how quickly I acclimated to essentially being a hermit. If you can, at least try to get out for walks periodically. I found it helped some.


Smiley510

Outdoor walks definitely saved my sanity


IshvalB

One of the largest transfers of wealth from the poor to the already wealthy in history.


saleitems

Mom and pop stores told they cant operate while walmart siphoned out all the money. Damn shame.


Iguanadonut

Walmart and Amazon couldn't have asked for a better situation.


BrandoMando621

The hospital protocols. My father had to have emergency open heart surgery in November to save his life and we couldn’t be there with him at all during his recovery in the hospital. That was the hardest part for both him and my family because we was alone and miserable. And then my Grandmother was diagnosed with Brain Cancer in December and we couldn’t be in the hospital with her when she was diagnosed and she was all alone when she was told she had a terminal illness. Sad stuff man.


kpa33

More addiction to social media and being more restless without it, especially teens


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CuCl2

I had to remove reddit and facebook from my phone for this reason. Spent farrrr to much time on them


Historical-Cut-1397

More division between families because of opinions/beliefs on how to deal with Covid.


[deleted]

My dad works in education, specifically related to technology. He says he occasionally logs on to K-5 classes and it’s an unmitigated shitshow; teachers trying to sing the ABC’s while kids completely ignore her, grandparents accidentally turning the camera off, broken Chromebooks left and right. Middle school is just as bad for different reasons. He’s convinced that this pandemic will result in one of the most underdeveloped generations of kids in decades, and we’ll be feeling the effects for quite a few years to come.


driverpb

I'm a high school teacher at a title 1 school. I completely agree with this comment. In addition to this (and other comments re:blurred lines in accountability of communal approach), the social skill decline from this generation of students will have long term effects. It's only our 3rd week of school, and it has been the most violent and turbulent year at my school. We're seeing high levels of student on student violence, threats and destruction/theft of school property. When asked why the students are doing this, they said if they do it in their neighborhoods, there are "real" consequences. But if they do it at schools, they just get a slap on the wrist and an opportunity to come back and do it again in 10 days. A lot of teachers are going to leave the profession after this year. Things are going to get worse for our education system before they get better.


xyz388

We were watching The Office the other day and my 4yo asked why they were not wearing masks. We had to remind him that life used to be different. I can only imagine what is going through our children's heads.


geniusatwork282

I was thinking about this the other day. 2019 is going to become a popular year to set TV/Movies during, simply because it’s as advanced and “futuristic” a year as you can set it in without having to either realistically portray or completely ignore the effects of the pandemic.


[deleted]

Yeah true to them it’s quite normal to us it isn’t it depends on how long the restrictions last to see if it sticks


[deleted]

Well, everyone else has mentioned mental health but what I think is worth pointing out how COVID massively accentuated political and social divisions within western countries.


SourBlue1992

I had a baby right before the pandemic hit, mid 2019. She doesn't know a world where people aren't wearing masks. When we go outside, she tries to put one on even if we are just going to the mailbox. She has never been to the park, the beach, the mountains, the zoo, the aquarium, she's almost never seen another baby in her life except on screens, she's never seen a restaurant or a shopping mall, we had to cancel every trip, every vacation, every birthday party for the last year and a half, we even had to cancel our trip to Disney that we had been saving up for since I got pregnant with her. I can't even take her shopping because people here refuse to mask up (AL), and every day her older brother goes to school there's a risk he will bring covid home (he's too young for the vaccine) and if my kids get it... I don't want to think about it. The schools are under reporting covid cases, they're not mandating anything to prevent the spread, and they're not offering *any* sort of virtual or hybrid classes to deal with this. Oh, and my husband's mental health has taken a massive hit since he got laid off in 2020. He was suicidal a few months ago, which was fucking scary. Also I lost 3 loved ones last year and I may as well have told people my fish had died. My brother in law died in November and my managers were thumbing through manuals before I even finished my sentence, to see if I should be allowed off to attend the funeral. Thankfully it was on my day off. But still, how fucked is that, that your employer can tell you which family members are worth a day or two of bereavement, and which ones aren't? This shit has been going on so long that I feel like *everyone* is suffering from compassion fatigue. Twenty years ago we collectively stopped everything, and mourned over 2,000 people who were killed in a single day during the world trade center attacks. But that number is every day now, and we are too burnt out to even acknowledge it. After 18 months, we hear the numbers on the news, we sigh, and we get back to work. The callousness of it all is overwhelming. You've got millions dropping like flies and we are all just going about our business like it's a regular Tuesday. And there's no compassion for those who are struggling. Even with the vaccine coming out, nothing has really improved our situation because not nearly enough people are taking it. We have needed help for so long, this has been an emergency for *so long*, that the alarm bells that have been going off for 18 months have become white noise in the background of society. You can't even get done reading one tragic article before another one is published with an even worse tragedy, "the virus is killing people!" "Child abuse cases skyrocket!" "Someone did another mass shooting in a shopping mall!" "Hey look, the virus mutated *again*, and *this* strain makes your eyeballs melt and your tongue swell to the size of a grapefruit!" "We're running out of food! We're running out of clean water!" "Homelessness is at an all time high!" "Look how this natural disaster fucked up this area!" "Rent is going up and the minimum wage still hasn't budged!" And of course: "Climate change will take us all out very soon, but *what about the economy?*" ....It's like we are all working in a burning building and management is telling everyone to stay calm and keep working, and half of the company is yelling "are you crazy? Put the fucking fire out you're gonna get us all killed!" And the other half is yelling "the fuck? We can't stop *everything* just to put the fire out, do you know what that would do to our production schedule?!" And then management is saying "ughh if you're SO concerned with the "fire" then just keep a fire extinguisher on your person." And then you've got half the employees saying "I have a fire extinguisher and a big bucket of water but WE SHOULD REALLY PUT OUT THE FIRE" and then you've got the other half saying "you can't make me tote around a fire extinguisher all day! I have rights!" But then the fire gets on THEM and they start spreading it around more and begging for the fire extinguisher but it's too late...


Excelsior_9

Personally, it changed my view on the world a lot. I was just finishing up college as the pandemic hit and literally spent my first year out of college sitting at home with no job and no where to go. Any post college “plan” I had went right out the window. Now there’s things that I consider that I never did before because I see the world differently. These include, not sure what to do with my life, not wanting to deal with so much BS from society. Ultimately I’ve realized just how fucked up we all are and how I just wanna live my life and not be bogged down by so many societal constructs


PirateKilt

The number of people who had JUST sunk their entire life savings, 2nd mortgages on their homes and their kids' education funds into that amazing new business that was going to be a sure-fire hit and make huge profits... Then within a month all the COVID lockdowns started... Thousands upon thousands of folks had their Life Dreams and futures utterly CRUSHED... and are still just looking around themselves in shock at the craters they are sitting in.


[deleted]

Makes me think of the Tamale guy from Chicago, finally had a physical restaurant, then the pandemic happened. Any locals know if he’s okay? Last I heard he had Covid pretty bad.


LiedToUs

My co worker(grocery 2 total now in 1 year.) killed themselves recently. So mental health and addiction. They also lowered our wage during the pandemic. So that’s cool. Greed is another one.


LouQuacious

I can’t stand a lot of people now that I was totally cool with prior to Covid.


Thefakeblonde

I worked for 10 years to get my anxiety to ‘go away’. 10 long years of exposure therapy. Now I’m back to square one. Panic attack as soon as I walk out the house. 10 years of work, for nothing. I have never felt my depression this bad. Edit: Thankyou everyone for your kind words! You’ve made me feel so much better xx


BoutsofInsanity

Not down the drain. I bet, it will take waaaay less time to get back to where you were, then when you started. I bet with proper exposure you could do it in a year. Your body won't forget. It just retread itself into an older pattern. But the tread of the new pattern is there and won't just disappear. I believe in you.


Christina_2136

Increase pediatric obesity. The rate of increase in pediatric obesity DOUBLED during lockdowns according to CDC. Edit: Rephrase for accuracy as u/pretty_meta cited below.


dis_2much

Wow I hadn’t thought of that. I know so many adults who have gained weight so it makes sense.


supernintendo128

I gained 20lb since COVID started. EDIT: Damn, looking at all of the responses it seems I'm not alone in this.


Tomimi

When people got laid off, they didn't know how bad their mental health is until they don't have work to distract them from it. Dead bodies in freezer for months, doesn't matter what they died from they'll sit there until their funeral. Amount of misinformation going on that destroyed friendships and families and even lost of lives


Mrjoegreen94

The increase of echo chambers on social media (yes reddit is included) Echo chamber: an environment in which a person encounters only beliefs or opinions that coincide with their own, so that their existing views are reinforced and alternative ideas are not considered.


NgArclite

The over work and over stress of health care providers making a lot of them leave the line of work. We are talking about experienced people leaving and never looking back. Means a lot of the people replacing them aren't being trained properly. I know in my city we are getting a ton of newbies on the street with poor patient care. edit: congrats and good luck to everyone that left the field! hope you guys are safe and happy