I think the fact that coronavirus is a new risk has really messed with a lot of people’s heads, and they can’t rationalise it properly or put the risk into perspective.
Yes it does seem this way with the people I know who appear to be going quite overboard. I mean, last night a woman I know posted pictures of her childs hands off constant sanitising (like after touching each of his toys and such, like really over the top) asking for advice on cream or something she could use that she can also use sanitiser at the same time as :( She seemed to genuinely think that putting the child through this was needed. Its so sad. But it IS a brand new risk and it seems some people are unable to..risk assess in a usual manner. Obviously its hard with so little detail to go on, but you would think the line would be drawn when your child is in obvious pain with sores due to your behaviour? I don't even necessarily mean people who wash shopping here, I mean real overboard such as the example I just gave. It seems obvious to most that its ridiculous behaviour and doing more harm than good, and she has never had comprehesion issues nor seemed particularly anxious or anything but..this has her totally screwed seemingly. I was honestly baffled when she posted it, had heard nothing from her for ages and then that, and her description of her average day since lockdown...her sister seemed bewildered by it and I actually had a long convo with her sister about it to check she was going to help in some way and she agreed that she is going to to speak to GP/mental heath team asap as its clearly not normal behaviour at all and honestly, the child must be in serious pain with sores like that and getting MORE alcohol put onto them constantly. Her sister also said she would report to social services, though she did not want to do this for obvious reasons as when this is over it might cause issues but the child is..in need of help definitely. This was after sister asked if she could come and talk, and was told that she might bring the virus into the house so no. Asked if she could talk at the gate. No, particles could be in the air. Turned out she has not been outside, AT ALL since lockdown started!
Obviously not all are as bad as this^ But this type of behaviour seems..not as uncommon as it should be. This to me is serious mental illness (at the very least extreme anxiety) to be honest. Yes a pandemic is happening. Yes some will be more worried than others, yes people deal differently. But some of the behaviour being almost normalised is bizarre. What was more shocking to me was the amount of people who instead of expressing concern..agreed that she was doing the right thing and those behaving more rationally were putting themselves and their children at some huge risk? Someone who said they were getting their child to wash hands hourly (regardless of activity) was told thats not enough. Where to me..thats overboard too?! I don't know, sometimes it feels like its me thats way too lax. But for non shielders, I am not really seeing washing hands after loo and before eating (as usual) but doing a bit more cleaning than usual..and using sanitiser every now and then as 'lax' at all? But according to a few last night, me doing this is really really irresponsible and my 'kids deserve better protection'.
Meanwhile, one of my friends a few weeks back was proudy telling all that this is nothing at all to worry about, never was, deaths are hugely exaggerated..etc, and has been allowing her 13 year old to go out with groups of friends ever since start of lockdown and regularly seeing friends, sometimes overnight! Was told by some that thats the best way, its really nothing etc. Which is..again to me..way too lax obviously!
The extremes of behaviour just seem like peoples risk perception is really off right now. And yeah its understandable with such an unknown risk. But..its weird seeing it play out.
I don't mean to take the pee or anything with this post. People have their own reasons for doing what they do. I am simply talking about obvious extremes as witnessed among my friendship group and how so many seem to think its..'normal'.