Covid anxiety is here to stay, for many ...

No shit, Sherlock

After more than a year of dodging the virus there is bound to be some anxiety around. It will take time for some people to feel comfortable mixing with others.

Yes, of course. Fear is normal- but for some, including those with OCD and germ/ anxiety, it has gone beyond that- and will be difficult to get over

''The anxiety syndrome is characterised by compulsively checking for symptoms of Covid, avoidance of public places, and obsessive cleaning, a pattern of “maladaptive behaviours” adopted when the pandemic started. Now researchers have raised the alarm that the obsessive worrying and threat avoidance, including being unwilling to take public transport or bleaching your home for hours, will not subside easily, even as Covid is controlled.

“Fear is normal. You and I are supposed to fear the virus because it’s dangerous. The difference, however, in terms of developing a psychopathological response is whether you end up behaving in … overly safe ways that lock you into the fear,” said Spada. “My expectation is we’re going to have … chunks of the population that are avoiding re-engagement and constantly worrying about the virus for months to come, whether they are vaccinated or not.”

Possibly just as well. The virus hasn't gone away, and even if like me you have had both vaccinations, there is no guarantee a variant won't turn up and require more and different vaccines.
I don't intend to go daft now, just because someone says we can.

Are you Mimi op?

Or maybe we just found out there were only a few people that we actually wanted to mix with?

Ha ha I know what you mean peas blossom. There is a t shirt going around that says when all this is over I still want some of you to stay away from me.
I have toned the message down a little

Want one?

And sometimes it can go the other way I was quite scared at the beginning but after all this time and with the vaccine I am ready to start living again. Covid isn't going anywhere so we have to live with it.
For one I shall be so glad when we can if we wish stop wearing a mask they probably do a bit of good but I absolutely hate the things and will stop as soon as possible

It’s weird. I’m not a nervous person but we went to a big city today. I don’t know what I expected but the volume of people quite overwhelmed me. I felt a bit anxious and it took a while to settle into it. I can well imagine a lot of people will feel uncomfortable for a while.

I am feeling more hesitant coming out of this lockdown than previous one.

I fill in an occasional survey for Virus Watch and I realised doing the latest one how little interaction I am having. I’m very much staying in a very small comfort zone peopled by those I trust. I really cannot imagine going into a supermarket for example.

We are taking it very carefully. Nowhere busy, all outdoors. Haven’t eaten in a pub/restaurant garden yet.

Just booked a self catering few days away in May. Not happy about hotel yet.

For me, it is not covid.

It is the realization of how fragile our daily balance is and the single point of weakness that breaks our society structures

I think that the way to manage fear/anxiety around Covid is to look at local data and how it changes, and work out one’s own risk assessment.
According to the Zoe app, there are 82 people with active Covid in Northumberland where I live, and which has a population of roughly 300,000.
Roughly translated that means that I have a 1 in 3600 chance of bumping into anyone with Covid.
I’ve had my second vaccination today.
So although I’ll still comply with rules about social distancing & mask wearing, I’m not at all worried that I’ll become ill with Covid.

Good point- but the article is not really talking about people who are able to rationalise risk- but have long term OCD tendencies, etc, and will find it really difficult.

I know several people that have had a traumatic event when they were young, usually losing a parent or sibling, and they all seem to suffer from ocd at varying levels. Can’t help but feel that many young people will be affected by covid for the rest of their lives.

I’ve got used to living the way I do now and will find it difficult to live normally again. Or, as a friend said to me, I think I’ve probably been practicing for this for most of my life. Me too I think. I don’t know what I’d do without the internet though.

Anxious people will always find something to worry about. if COVID wasn't around they would be worried about something else.

It upsets me to think that having lost a year of their lives to this covid stuff, some people will now lose even more time worrying about getting their lives back to normal.
Isn't the advice to get back on the horse and tackle fears head on?

Just come back from eating in the garden of one of our local pubs. Tables well spaced, staff masked, felt really safe. I could only get a 5.30 booking, was glad it wasn't later as it felt very chilly when we left at 7.30! Really glad that life is feeling a bit more normal now.

Been out now for the first time with hubby for our anniversary. Went for a drive and. A walk and a cuppa outside not fabulously exciting but it’ll do for the moment!

I keenly want to reacquaint with each of my former lunching companions but I do want much less of the huggie greetings. Confess I'm nervous of this without seeming churlish or causing offence. Slight aside - my son was asked for £10 to enter a pub garden today. Thank heavens he didn't go in much as he fancied a pint.

I’m joyous that restrictions are lessening. I’ve been to the Trafford Centre twice this week, met friends in a pub garden for lunch on Tuesday and been to a wine bar with Himself since then, sitting in the sunshine, people watching. It’s busy in our town centre like many places but I feel quite safe (and it’s good for the economy!). Roll on 17 May.
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