The majority of people seem genuinely terrified

[thewheelsonthebus23]

I keep reading threads on Facebook and elsewhere, I will also include my own mother in this. There are so many people genuinely petrified of life returning to normal right now.
I can’t get my head around this. Yes, it poses a threat to some, but the survival rate is incredibly high for most of the population. It seems a lot of people think lockdown will eradicate it completely and it also seems that they believe if they get it, they’ll almost certainly die. I know that’s what my mum thinks. She’s adamant if she gets it, she’ll end up on a ventilator.
Someone posted about sending their child back to school and said something along the lines of: “I’d rather pay the fine, than pay for her funeral”.
Has the media been really irresponsible here? I feel the mass media has a lot to answer for.

[AltCarbon]

YANBU - the fear is out of control and not helpful

[barbites]

It completely amazes me that people I think of as being intelligent are convinced that Covid = certain death. Yet they simply cannot see that the damage to the economy actually is probably going to do more harm.

[ChablisandCrisps]

I feel the same way OP. I'll likely get slated for this but I see so many threads on here by teachers/school staff beside themselves with the thought of schools going back and talking about nedding full scale PPE when in reality they are no more at risk than the rest of us who are still working! Good hand hygiene, change of clothes before hugging children, washing down food shop etc and chances are you will be fine!

[Beebityboo]

I'm terrified tbh. In my case it comes from 4YO DD being very, very poorly at the end of last year. We spent 24 hours waiting to see if she had Leukaemia and though it could have been worse (as she didn't!) it was the worst day of all of our lives and I've been incredibly risk averse ever since. Her immune system is over reactive and I worry she would be very ill if she caught it. I have underlying health issues too so my anxiety is just through the roof.
Lors of people have very valid reasons they are afraid. It isn't a matter of intelligence.

[Username164]

I attended an online workshop today about ayurveda. It said the two main experiences of lockdown are loss and fear- things we lost and fear of things we don't know- what will happen. Lots of fears are based in the future. Also fear makes us open to manipulation. The way out of it is areas we have choice and to connect to your body as this is connection to the present. Simple grounding routines, like regular bed/wake up time, etc.

So yeah maybe negative media fuels the fear.

[TheGreatWave]

Yes, even seemingly intelligent people are convinced that lockdown will stop all cases. I am giving up trying to convince people otherwise, they just think that the reason for a second wave will be because number 23 had some friends round for a BBQ.

I am not sure what to make of the meme attached that is currently being shared, but I think it is being used very passive aggressively.

[daisymay133]

It’s fairly relaxed where I am

Most of us are still going to work dispite not being essential

I still shop
I walk dog

It hasn’t genuinely affected my much at all. I don’t know of a single person who’s I’ll never mind who’s died

It’s a massive over reaction given the risk per individual. I do get it but risks are no way as bad as they say. We are a huge population of 66 million and some people need to take a look at themselves and question their level of paranoia

[thewheelsonthebus23]

@TheGreatWave I’ve seen that meme around too, lots of people posting it. It’s meaningless.

[JohnnyMcGrathSaysFuckOff]

Beebity agreed.

My own mum is fit and well - she is actually a real health fanatic - but is terrified of covid. I couldn't really understand why till I remembered her own mum died of a respiratory condition and I am sure that plays a part in her thinking.

That said, in my social circles most people don't seem bothered either way. People don't generally seem too tense and my NDNs are merrily ignoring a lot of the lockdown guidance, so the fear isn't that widespread.

[barbites]

@TheGreatWave gosh, that meme is exactly the scaremongering that is pissing me right off!

[Beebityboo]

Eight residents recently died at a care home I'd been working at too so it made it feel very close and very real. I cared about them a lot and I've struggled with how suddenly it all happened. I pulled the DC's out of school early and I've not been out much with them at all.
I've realised today though that I'm beginning to feel quite phobic and possibly passing that on to the DC's so am going to have to massively adjust my mind set and try to cope better than I have been moving forwards.
I'm not stupid, I just feel a bit traumatised .

[justtb]

I was really ignorant to the virus until my friend went to a supermarket, caught it and almost died.. she's 25, like me..
no it doesn't mean you're going to die but it scares me especially because I'm pregnant and most of my family are over 60
I'm not mentally prepared to return to 100% normality just yet

[Redolent]

People in general are very poor at assessing risk, eg relative risks of dying from Covid vs driving. It doesn’t help that the government inflated its messaging to get us to comply. ‘The virus doesn’t discriminate’...err actually it does.

That being said, there ARE people dying who are healthy and relatively young. There are many, many more who are sick for 4 weeks +. The recovery can be very long and you can still be counted as a ‘mild’ case.

Personally I’d just like to delay getting it for as long as possible. Not til there’s a vaccine, but at least until we have decent anti virals, or a more effective and earlier management of symptoms in the UK. No more 111 ‘wait til you’re blue in the mouth’ nonsense.

[LordOftheRingz]

I know people who have had it, I know of people who have died. However, education and not fear should be used to achieve compliance, the gov will reap the whirlwind of over egging the fear factor.

[Fluffymulletstyle]

I was fairly blase about my family and my own health at the start of this. The more I've seen, the more concerned I am. Not just for vulnerable groups. I am a frontline NHS worker. Seeing previously well nurses in their 30s die with young children has made me a bit less relaxed about the whole thing.

This virus is so new we don't know the long term consequences yet. There could be permenent disability or lung disease. This Kawasaki type illness in children is very new and emerging. We see lots of strange reactions to viruses in healthcare. I've seen spinal injury, brain injuries, life threatening sepsis. It's so unknown.

Teachers are at huge risk. They come into close contact with hundreds of children on a daily basis, many of whom will not be able to socially distance.

I completely understand why people are terrified!

[TheGreatWave]

I'm not mentally prepared to return to 100% normality just yet

We are a long way off 100% normality, and it will be a slow easing of conditions. The trouble is it is not just people thinking the current lockdown should stay in place, they are telling about it being stricter, army on the streets and more fines.

[Hedgehog44]

The point is you don't know how your body will react to it.

[TheGreatWave]

No we don't (even if I am possibly on day 3, I don't know what is potentially in store) but we can't continue as we are until one day, at some point in the undetermined future we find a vaccine.

[ChablisandCrisps]

Teachers are at huge risk. They come into close contact with hundreds of children on a daily basis, many of whom will not be able to socially distance They are not the only ones, prisons, secure childrens homes, courts, nurseries etc are in the same boat and managing despite very close contact with others and no PPE. Generally healthy people working in these professions are at no increased risk. There will of course be exceptions who are at greater risk because of other factors, but you cannot keep schools, workplaces etc closed for the few when the vast majority will survive CV. Individuals will need to have discussions with line management about their personal situation, but everyone else needs to try to stop worrying so much.

[P1nkHeartLovesCake]

It doesn’t worry me tbh. In my friendship I’ve got 2 paramedics, both have tested positive for Covid and I admit they tell me they felt/feel fucking awful so I’m under no illusion it’s horrid but most healthy people will be fine it will NOT kill them, they will have a rough time but won’t need hospital and won’t die.

The media doesn’t help, it’s hyped it up in to something it isn’t. We get posters on here that are scared to go out the front door ffs!

The hospital local to here even had a pregnant woman admitted with it...she’s just been let home.

[barbites]

@Hedgehog44 true, you don't. However the chances are you will survive it, especially if you are younger with no underlying conditions (not say that these people are not important, just statistically younger healthier people are likely to be ok)

[Mynydd]

I can't read anymore of these lift lockdown threads without Kurt Cobain running through my head on a loop... I feel stupid, and contagious...

Shall we watch and see how France fares first? Or should we dive straight back into socialising and working because we've had enough, the economy is suffering, it's been 6 weeks, kids need to get back to school, the death rate seems quite reasonable, we're all gonna have to get it anyway, and only the weak and old will die.

[MajesticWhine]

I have quite a few friends who are too terrified to leave the house and it seems rather out of proportion. They are going to really struggle to start going out again.
I do know someone who died which did make it quite scary, but I'm not that worried myself. I am still going to work some days so desensitised to the risk. Also I maybe slightly complacent because I believe I have had Covid19 already so might have some immunity. I am far more worried for others such a DM, In-laws, who are over 70 and have health conditions. DM will not be very careful for long so that scares me.

[campion]

the gov will reap the whirlwind of over egging the fear factor.

Yes, they succeeded beyond their wildest dreams in terrifying the general public. So how are they going to undo that? The situation with the virus hasn't materially changed.
A bit more relative risk assessment might have helped. Along with proper testing and enough PPE, but that's another discussion.

[ScarfLadysBag]

It's not just the fear of dying, though. My healthy, fit friend in her mid 30s is still recovering from it, and she started displaying symptoms almost a month ago. She was absolutely knocked for six, spent two weeks basically bedbound and now is still exhausted and breathless. That's what worries me, and I am generally quite pragmatic about it. But seeing how it's affected someone I know and who has no underlying health conditions is worrisome.

I'm not particularly worried DH and I will die, but I am worried we will both get it at the same time and become so unwell we can't take care of our toddler. We don't have any family support nearby so it would be very difficult if we both were struck badly with it.