to think Covid is changing people in unusual and disturbing ways?

[tttigress]

Have you noticed Covid changing you friends? Effecting their mental health?

Couple of examples of friends who have been very vocal on social media:

Friend1:
previously: quite left wing, into animal rights.
now: sees Covid as a scam, posting stuff from right ring/conspiracy oriented sites, attended a protest where people like David Icke was in attendance, many comments about "do your own research, don't listen to the main stream media"

Friend2:
previously: quite relaxed (maybe too relaxed), bit of a stoner, bit of a drinker, life of the part, quite sociable.
now: hardly leaves the house due to Covid, thinks people should wear masks at all times - even when outside, thinks people are taking Covid nowhere near seriously enough, thinks the media is underplaying Covid, thinks doctors are underplaying Covid etc. Although they think their life is in imminent danger from Covid still smokes and drinks at home

I am am bit concerned about the mental health crisis Covid could be causing

I’m not particularly worried about catching the virus - no more than I worry about catching other illness and accept I could be quite poorly if I do. Just as if I caught a myriad of other illnesses.

However, the changes to society have affected me more than I realised until I start to analyse it. I’m naturally quite happy to stay home and this has become much more marked since masks were introduced as shopping with fogged glasses is miserable. I’ve become more anxious about the idea of going out (although usually enjoy it when I do) so tend not to any more even to places I can go. When I do I want company even though I’m usually perfectly fine to go alone.

I work in a nursery so the world feels normal while I’m there but venture into town and everything is so different that it deters me from bothering.

No, don't think it's changed people at all. All these "unusual and disturbing ways" were already there in people expressing them.

I agree with @Thelnebriati about the friend the OP first mentioned.

Your friend number one hasn't changed as much as you think, he sounds like the usual kind of authoritarian bloke who gravitates to the latest cause. A lot of people who hang around in the left aren't left wing at all, they just want the kudos of being seen as right and just, and its not popular in their circles to be conservative.

Then the OP's second friend, who's a stoner and drinks, is being paranoid? Is that honestly a surprise?

I've had the unfortunate experience recently knowing four people commit suicide. Sadly, with none of them, was it out of blue.

Also I really don't think acknowledging that the Lockdown in the UK wasn't as intense as other countries is "screaming" for a more intense lockdown.

Very hyperbolic response.

The UK's lockdown really hasn't been that intense. And it's not just "sneering" people in the UK that think that. People in other counties can recognise it.

Yep. People have become overly paranoid and obsessed about other people's business.
There's been a complete lack of compassion and understanding.

*Countries not counties

@RaspberryCoulis

I am absolutely flabbergasted by the lack of resilience in this country. I read similar forum and testimonies from people in other countries, usually with a real lockdown experience, not the washy version we had in the UK, and my god the difference!

This is the attitude which has come to the fore in lockdown which just shows how it has changed people. Screaming for a REAL lockdown, preferably with people locked into their houses with optional soldiers patrolling the streets. A sneering at anyone who DARES to express the opinion that actually, lockdown is a bit shit and they're struggling to cope. The shitty idea that everyone else is doing it so much better than Britain, which is plainly bollocks.

The only one screaming for a real lockdown is you

The need for drama and wanting to paint yourself as the hero of a dystopian society is childish and tiring. We know you are bored, but come on.

@VinylDetective

You are of course right in the correct definition of left wing / right wing politics. But I was using the popular definition of left wing / right wing (which I admit is wrong) which equates fascism/ Nazi with right wing when in reality it has more in common with the far left and communism. Although that will create bowls of indignation from the far left.

It has always bemused me to see left wing protesters shout fascist at free market economics politicians.

The covid anxiety is insane. I get that it's a risky thing to some people but the fact remains to the perfectly healthy there is less than 0.5% chance of death. My aunt is terrified of covid. Before lockdown she used a sunbed once a week! You couldnt write it

‘The covid anxiety is insane. I get that it's a risky thing to some people but the fact remains to the perfectly healthy there is less than 0.5% chance of death. My aunt is terrified of covid. Before lockdown she used a sunbed once a week! You couldnt write it’

I have severe anxiety. I’ve had it all my life. It’s hateful and wearing. I hate it. Won’t leave the house. I’m with your aunt, even though you ‘couldn’t write it’

Such compassion. Anxiety usually manifests itself as avoidance of triggering situations. But you’re ok Jack👍🏻

Yes I agree - most people I know are extra careful. But as a result can at times be judgmental,

Social media in general is a mental illness.

@tttigress

It is quite scary, friend1 in particular has had a political conversation from being a bit too far left to a bit too far right/conspiracy orientated in a matter of months. (although possibly you could say, that the two extremes are similar).

Friend2 fairly apolitical, just obsessed that they or their family are about to die.

Far left and far right are very interchangeable. Extremists are extremists. They have more in common than people who are moderate.

@SomewhereEast

Yes definitely! Funnily enough I don't actually know a single conspiracy theorist type, but I do know a few who have massive Covid anxiety, despite being at minimal risk demographically. I also know a few who seem happy enough, but have drifted into isolation (WFH, shop online, never go out). I worry more about the latter group than the conspiracy theorists TBH.

You don't know their underlying illness risk. Most people I know don't know mine.

I've what YOU would call 'drifted into isolation', stop being so bloody patronising, we're doing what's sensible, we don't need your 'worry' 🙄

@Rollingpiglet

I have seen some previously fairly calm sensible people have screaming rows about minor issues. I agree that there is going to be a massive impact on mental health. I just hope the Government are willing to throw some money at mental health services, although I am not convinced that will happen.

This is partly why I fear a return to normal happening too quickly (as much as I want normality to return next year).

It'll need to be a phased return because people will need time to readjust. Whether it be health anxiety or general anxiety. For example, if pubs and bars suddenly return to normal you'd get a lot of fights and trouble with all the pent up aggression. Same with football matches.

Next year will be about readjusting as much as 'let's just forget 2020 ever happened and go back to 2019' on Easter weekend.

Not to mention how many people have lost their jobs, their livelihoods, or friends and family to the virus and the mental toll that's took.

@Cyw2018

A friend was asking my advice recently regarding her DH. He is early 70s fit well except for very well controlled type 2 diabetes and an active mountain walker who normally has a balanced world view and ability to risk assess, and has never suffered health anxiety before in his life. He now won't even hold his newborn grandchild because he thinks they are a risk to him, and this is causing sadness and concern for the whole family.

Is such a shame because a quick vaccination injection isn't going to instantly reverse the changes and damage done to peoples mental health.

Whether your diabetes is 'well controlled' on a day to day basis or not is largely irrelevant wrt Covid because it can very easily go right out of control when you are ill, irrespective of anything. Being in hospital doesn't change that for the better, it generally makes it much worse (medication/stress/food). He's very sensible to take the precautions he is

I'm a sucker for a cuddle with a baby, so I'd probably not have his steely resolve over that, but other than that, I'm being as careful as I possibly can be.

Hopefully he's still doing his hill walking? The best thing his wife can do, if she actually wants to help, not mither, is encourage him to go hill walking.

The baby won't know or care & there will be years to bond if he stays well through Covid.

@NoPainNoTartine

I am absolutely flabbergasted by the lack of resilience in this country. I read similar forum and testimonies from people in other countries, usually with a real lockdown experience, not the washy version we had in the UK, and my god the difference!

It's not like people are especially happy or patient, but nowhere have I read so much moaning than the UK about mental health, being unable to wear a mask... and not coping when really NOTHING has happened to them!

It's embarrassing.

It's partly why our death rate is so high. Too many can't face sacrifice or being told to follow rules. Usually the same people who bleat on about the war all the time.

I am absolutely flabbergasted by the lack of resilience in this country. I read similar forum and testimonies from people in other countries, usually with a real lockdown experience, not the washy version we had in the UK, and my god the difference!

Thanks for clarifying my point!
There's been a complete lack of compassion from the Covid paranoid.

It's not like people are especially happy or patient, but nowhere have I read so much moaning than the UK about mental health, being unable to wear a mask... and not coping when really NOTHING has happened to them!
It's embarrassing

And another one!
The lack of compassion displayed is embarrassing, not those with mental health issues.

Just how cruel and lacking in empathy people can be.

Read a thread a while ago over mask wearing, a couple of posters tried to point out how non mask wearers isnt just due to a physical illness but survivors of sexual/domestic abuse may not be able to wear one. Fuck me, the cruel comments on that thread were awful. Just the nastiness declaring how selfish these ladies were being by not wearing one no matter what!

People are losing their jobs, their homes over a virus which of 99% of people survive and even "Long Covid" is still a very very minimal risk and I say that as someone who ended up completely bed ridden for 5 months after glandular fever and another 18 months of not being able to work and I was only 19!

Phoning the police over a a bake sale for fuck sake! All the posts on here asking if they should report their neighbour, I mean, my god keep your nose out of others business..

Finally, I didn't realise how utterly delighted I would be yesterday to be in a packed shopping centre, surrounded by actual human beings that I dont know just going about their life, Christmas shopping. I used to hate crowds, now I love to see them!

My hope is that this virus eventually will make people realise how important close human contact is to humanity and that it shouldn't be made illegal.

I've every sympathy with people who are suffering from mental health issues due to Covid; whether it be health anxiety, general anxiety, stress from losing or threat of losing job, depression or grief from losing a loved one etc. These all need to be taken seriously.

It's the selfishness of people that's been annoying. People who think the rules don't apply to them, don't like being told what to do and have concern for the health and wellbeing of others.

I'm definitely in that latter category - its now Saturday evening and I've just realised I haven't left the house since Monday afternoon. Loving WFH, always happy to avoid the supermarket and am quite happy to wait to meet up with friends/family until things calm down a bit. But then again, I was always quite happily antisocial so very little has changed :)

@Porcupineinwaiting

Well it changed some people I know into dead or disabled people and I find that pretty disturbing. I' e only seen that once before (measles epidemic in Nigeria) and it was pretty disturbing then too.

Exactly, @Porcupineinwaiting.

Changed over 270,000 Americans into dead people. VERY disturbing to say the least, and no end in sight. Supreme Court said it’s going against people’s rights to keep them from congregating in large groups in church.
They’ve lost their minds.

Because the government is making such a mess of it people are having to think for themselves about really serious things and make decisions. It’s hard to know what to do. Some go to extremes like your friends. The rest of us try to negotiate a tricky path. We’re all getting a bit OCD about hygiene and now there’s the will we/won’t we fear about the vaccine, Christmas to sort out and the isolation some of us feel. We’ve been conditioned by circumstances and it will stay with some of us a long time

I am 73 and therefore in the vulnerable group. My life has changed very little except for extra handwashing and a visor to shop. I have walked my dog twice a day. Very early am and pm and spoke to people, usually public service workers, at a distance when I saw them. I have really missed the library and have left read books ouside in a box for others.

With the phone and internet to contact friends I haven't felt lonely. I have a DW dear ward who lives with me and when she went back to school I was a bit anxious but so far, so good. Had my first flu and pneumo jabs last week but I don't take my good health for granted.

If I'd had to self-isolate I'd probaby be insane by now.