Feeling scared for the future

[Noimusntforget]

I’ve just read a post here about an article by the BBC, stating things won’t be back to normal for at least 5 years and we may wear masks, social distance etc for decades. Can someone please put my mind at rest as my anxiety has shot through the roof at the thought of a future like this and what kind of world it will be for my baby daughter. Just so tired of feeling scared all the time, scared of Covid, for my parents, seeing talk of a New world order, scared of it all.

Right at the start of all this we were advised at my work that it will take us “around five years” to recover fully from this (I work for an airline). At the time I thought that was a stretch but I now think it’s true for many aspects of life.

I live n the US. Our state went into shutdown on March 6 and is still not open. So that’s almost 8 months in shutdown and no end in sight. We have been told it won’t be lifted until there is a vaccine, which could be years. We have been in masks everywhere (not just public transport or shops) for everyone over the age of 2 since April and no end in sight for that either. The masks my friend made me in April have now become frayed from 6 months of wearing and washing. Never thought I’d be asking her to make us a second batch of masks!

Unfortunately we are in this for the long haul. Concentrate on the things you can control, and stay safe.

@BritWifeinUSA Where in America are you? That’s shocking!

It depends what you mean by "normal". If you're talking about restrictions on socialising etc I think five years is a bit pessimistic. We should have a vaccine for some people (NHS frontline workers and the elderly and those at high risk) within 6-9 months, I think, and this will derisk things to some extent.

I would guess that within 18 months the vaccine will be more or less universally available, though based on the data we've seen so far people will need to be revaccinated pretty frequently.

So I would say probably two year rather than five: five seems very pessimistic and that would rely on none of the vaccines and therapeutics in development working which I would say is unlikely.

Also the virus will go in waves, so we are likely to have periods of higher restriction offset by periods like we had over the summer which are close to normal.

But I think you're right that the economic recovery from this could take a long time. Some restrictions on social behaviour will have to remain for some time even after mass vaccination begins.

But masks and social distancing for decades? Why? 🤷🏻‍♀️

Remember that in many countries it has been quite normal to wear masks for years. We'll just accept life with it. We'll give people space. It doesn't mean that 5 years down the line we won't be able to get close to our families. Life will be relatively normal but changed in some ways from what we lived like before.

@Noimusntforget west coast. There are some things I will gladly keep - the shops can keep those markings on the floor to keep customers apart. I have always hated it when strangers stand so close to you that you can feel their breath on you - it’s disgusting! And all this cleaning is probably a good thing in many places.

@Doyoumind You think that’s normal? That we’ll live forever with masks on when shopping etc and in crowds? That’s not normal, it’s not a life I want to live

[quote Noimusntforget]@Doyoumind You think that’s normal? That we’ll live forever with masks on when shopping etc and in crowds? That’s not normal, it’s not a life I want to live[/quote]
Is a thread like this going to heko your anxiety, at this moment? You might be better off turning off the internet and taking a break from Covid chat?

Of course no-one WANTS a life with masks, but there’s no point in getting hung up about it - working it up in your mind about “normal” and the world for your daughter.

Masks, for the vast majority of people, really are no big deal. And as a PP says, have been widespread in other places for years.

Think about the diagram of what is within your control and what isn’t. Wearing masks isn’t, and wearing masks is also just not the end of the world.

The BBC might say we will but in reality folk are going to stop giving a shit by Christmas. You’ll still get the over invested cheerleaders scaremongering doom and gloom and telling you you’re literally killing people, but from what I’ve seen in real life no one really gives a shit about Covid anymore and the tier announcement for Scotland did nothing more than make folk roll their eyes here. My community is carrying on as normal, no social distancing, barely any masks, everyone just getting on with their lives. Life finally feels normal again round here

OP the masks won’t be compulsory for everyone forever - it will just be a more normalised choice for those who want to wear them. In countries like Japan and China it is not an uncommon sight but plenty of people do not wear them.
Remember, this isn’t the first pandemic and others have come to an end in the past. Those which are ongoing are managed when we know more about them.

Does that make you feel a bit better?

I don’t believe the masks will last for decades. We may be looking at a complete restructuring of society. Buildings and transportations systems could be reimagined. The way we obtain goods and services will change. What we are seeing now is a way of coping with the world as it is. If a vaccine doesn’t happen, it will be time to focus on the world as it can be. Becoming an architect, engineer, or city planner suddenly seems much more appealing.

The vaccine won't take years. It should be available mid-2021.

I know people are not fans of masks (and even though I am for them now, I don't think I would be so chilled if I had to wear them for ever), but there are massive benefits.
Bastards now can't openly sneeze and cough all over the free veg and fruit in shops! And bakery! Small blessings... Small blessings.

I don't think it will be for decades. I do however believe that economically it will take a while. A long and hard while.

Right, ok so this thread isn't going to help you feel better is it?

The BBC article didn't say that things will stay exactly like this for five years. Just now is a particularly rough patch but it will pass and things will begin to feel much brighter again. Every difficult patch passes.

We might well keep some of the low level things like masks, distancing in public and extra hygiene around for the long term but your dd will grow up with them and won't give them a second thought.

As for masks, think of it like this. When you first wear glasses, or a bra they feel alien and uncomfortable. You fuss with them constantly and can't wait to take them off. Over time though, you adapt, you get used to them and eventually you feel odd when you're not wearing them. Masks might feel awful for you just now but you will get used to them I promise. Give it time.

The thing is that we might not ever return to the exact way that life was in 2019 but that's ok because life is constantly changing and evolving anyway. Even without a pandemic 2025 would have been different to 2019 but the changes might have been a bit more gradual.

There are many, many things to look forward to in the future, just keep doing a day at a time until then!

[quote Noimusntforget]@Doyoumind You think that’s normal? That we’ll live forever with masks on when shopping etc and in crowds? That’s not normal, it’s not a life I want to live[/quote]
If your feelings are that strong about it, I think you should maybe think about speaking to your GP about your anxieties. Nothing we say is going to help.

Even if it is not the world that you know- think about it- your daughter wont know any different so it wont have the same impact.

I think there's a helluva a lot more to worry about than masks and social distancing so If that's what worrying you - then it really isn't too bad in the grand scheme of things- its all about perspective.