tempted to do a short rant about support bubbles. sorry, you’re probably fine but seeing as i’ve been living alone for the last year, support bubbles have been a complete life life to not succumb in to deep depression and i don’t think people get what it means

1. you can only have a support bubble if you meet specific criteria: you live alone, are a single parent, have a child under 1, or have a disabled child. if you have flatmates and your partner has flatmates, that’s not a legal bubble. seeing your family is not a bubble

2. it is a massive fucking responsibility bubbling with someone. it’s not just a random other mate you get to chill out with. for someone who lives alone a bubble becomes their everything. dont take it lightly

3. if you’re bubbling with someone that person is your household. anything that happens in that flat then affects everyone in your household. someone wants to see their partner? mention it your bubble. it’s a decision that affects your whole household

i’ve destroyed two relationships this year due to support bubbles. there is an unhealthy dependency you end up having when one person becomes your entire life and if you’re signing up to be someone’s entire life you need to recognise what that actually means

i haven’t had a hug in months. one of my bubbles visited me once a month because he was in a lower tier area and was enjoying going to the pub.

between the isolation of sitting alone in your flat all day, you end up feeling like a burden on your bubble. they want to have their own lives but they’re dragged down with a dependency on this lonely person sitting about alone all day stopping them from seeing who they want

support bubbles exist because people who meet the criteria are “at increased risk of loneliness and isolation”, that doesn’t detract from how shit anyone else feels, but you have to recognise that if you’re bubbling they require extra care, you’re not in the same boat.

if you have a legal bubble and are a lifeline for someone who’s lonely just bear in mind the role you’re playing in their life. you’re their mother, father, best friend, boyfriend, and enemy all in one.

if you have an illegal bubble, no judgement at all. this is a rough time and i get it. but remember that people in legal bubbles are at increased risk of loneliness and isolation and don’t equate you’re all in the same boat

for me? i’ve decided not to bubble with anyone. it’s stressful being so dependent on people who don’t really get the responsibility that comes with being a bubble. it’s not fair on other people to have that strain, and i immediately feel like a burden on them.

anyway that’s it i think. main takeaway is: if someone asks you to bubble with them legally recognise what that comes with. and if you have people in your life who legally require a bubble, check in on them and see they’re ok. everyone’s having a shit time but theirs is shitter

oh also! don’t check in on people with pity it doesn’t come across like you think it does. we already feel like charity cases as it is, just like have a normal chat? “hope you’re ok xoxo” isn’t as comforting as you think

this has now happened for the.....third ....time so resurrecting this thread to add a few more bits of guidance if you have someone in your life you’re bubbling with

i know it’s difficult and scary right now. london in particular is dying and going to shit. if you’ve made a commitment to bubble with someone they are also just as scared as you are and really need a hug and some company

when making a decision on what things you’re going to change while things get scarier, cutting a support bubble off should be lower down on the list. switch to online shopping first. don’t take tubes or public transport

this is a scary and horrible time for everyone and it’s a time to reach out and look after the most vulnerable people in your life who are most isolated, deciding it’s too risky to see someone and abandoning them while still going to tescos is a real dick move

i’m devastated to be back in this position for the 3rd time. i’m so lonely and was really looking forward to see a friend as part of a bee support bubble but it hasn’t worked out again. i’m lonely and haven’t seen anyone in weeks. it sucke but man does it suck a little more

bridget jones diary but with “why can’t i hold down a support bubble” instead of a man and “dying of chronic loneliness” instead of alsatians