How has Covid changed you?

[L0stinCyberspace]

Been working in spare room for 18 months with some massive stressors during that time (including a friend taking her own life) and I realise I'm a profoundly different version of myself returning to the office.

I'd imagine I'm not alone in this? How different are you?

Realisations include:

I can dress comfortably but still rock my own style.

No matter how bad shit gets, every day I get pleasure from choosing clothes and makeup.

I own far too many dressy clothes.

My f*cks have flown a long time ago.

I'm quite resilient.

I'll need retraining before I can eat in front of non-family members.

I went through a dark phase where I read media and social media too much before coming to the realisation that most if it is just crap. Now I avoid news, so I think it covid has taught me an unsettling lesson that the media is not truthful and are happy to sell any negative story that will increase viewing/reading figures. I feel sad about losing trust but other than that I'm still the same person after covid that I was before. Except a bit fatter, living in a messier house. 🙄

It has completely changed how I feel about government, the level of not giving a shit if the country's population get seriously sick has really shocked me. I worked in politics, I understood politics, but covid in the UK has been batshit - the level of lying and deliberate exposure to harm.

It is like the wacky fringe anti-maskers from other countries actually run our country.

for those dealing with health and bereavement impacts of covid. It has been brutal.

This pandemic has changed me, 100% for the better.

Pre pandemic, I was germ phobic. I'd sanitise every surface and my hands were cracked by over use of sanitiser. When this first kicked off, I slid into the worst place I've ever been. I did however get some counselling. I'm less scared now than I was before the pandemic. I'm careful but not to the same point I was.

Im more comfortable with expressing I don't want people in my space.

I put up with less from people. Honestly, the pandemic meant I had little to do with most people, I've found that it wasn't worthwhile getting back into contact with a lot of people, and others I tolerate in small doses.

I lost weight for my health. My lifestyle has been overhauled.

I've given up planning too much, because this pandemic has shown me how some things cannot be avoided. I remember saying to DH that there was a savings guide, to have between 6 months and 1 year of expenses saved incase the very worst should happen. As Self employed contractors, when covid hit we were out of work before the lockdown even happened. Every time there was a new contract DH would be on his way, and the site would be shut. It happened 4 times in a week... were over 18 months in now, and still things are still quite affected.

@Summergoat

It’s taken the joy from everything with a weird hyper vigilant feeling that now permeates everything. I’m not even that worried about catching it. It’s just somehow all the shine has gone from everything. I can’t be bothered planning or doing anymore because I don’t actually like going out now. Used to be out all the time. It always feels like everything is going to come crashing down again. No one has anything much to say either anymore.

I feel exactly the same, and I do wonder if I will ever return to "normal"

Our country is generally such a hazard free natural environment, it was a shock to the system for me to realise that acts of god can happen here, they can affect me, and the government won't always protect us.

I am way more intolerant of other people than I used to be.

Yes. I work retail and it is fine when I’m at work because most still try to give space. Outside of that and public transport, I find it ridiculous the amount of people who ignore others personal space and must get as close as possible now because the pandemic is seemingly over to them.

I'm self-conscious when I sneeze and/or cough in public. Which sucks, because I have terrible allergies and asthma, so sneezing and coughing are practically hobbies for me.

It hasn't changed me at all, apart from the realisation that I've lost a year of my life and I've got a lot of making up to do for it!

Fatter and lazier (how are people WFH finding more time for exercise?)
Missing the vibe of my workplace
Life is smaller and less spontaneous

I'm heavier.
I no longer watch the news.
My marriage broke down.
My teenage son has stopped going to school and I can't get help for him.
Yeah, lots of changes.

I'm less of a people pleaser. On zoom calls you have to be blunt and direct so people probably think I'm ruder.

Health wise I’m screwed, long covid, not exercising like I used to and I just want to move or have old life back. Surprised how much I miss my old level of busyness. Used to achieve so much.

Attitude, I love the new me. I got bolshy and a backbone and will stand up to people and learned to say no for the first time. I get to not have to spend time with people I don’t want to. I apologise for other people less.

Career on hold due to being ill but have a plan for something I really want to do that I wouldn’t have realised if not for lockdown. Am completing courses online so I’m ready when I’m well enough.

Life before covid was hectic. Through the week juggling kids and work then weekends of kids clubs/classes, cramming in social activities and days out. Life slowed down during covid and I had chance to see things differently. I enjoy the moment now and the little things. I don't have cram in as much as I can.

I'm autistic and have sensory processing disorder, so I don't handle the real world very well and am much happier in a quiet haven at home. These days I'm generally thinner, stronger and healthier.

Despite all that, obviously I wish that covid had never happened - and I also wish the pandemic was really over. Other people are acting like absolutely everything is back to normal again but I can't see how it is, I don't get how they've just managed to switch the threat off in their heads. It's a really strange and alienating sensation.

I feel both more fragile ( had a month off with severe anxiety) and stronger. My lifelong antipathy towards the body politic has been reinforced.
DH and I are closer as we’ve both suffered mentally and have greater mutual empathy now.

I developed major paranoia and ocd during and after my first pregnancy.

And it made me miserable and not trusting of anyone around me.

It was bloody exhausting and ruined my experience with my first born that I will never get back.

Nothing really changed for me work wise, other than some additional PPE, the job and working outside the home remained exactly the same.

I discovered how much I really love and appreciate my job. I’m a teacher and am enjoying every moment back in the classroom with my pupils. I appreciated having a job in lockdown that got me out of the house and kept me busy and focused.

I discovered I’m quite content to make the most of a situation. I discovered new hobbies during lockdown, I learned new technologies to teach from home. I definitely didn’t want to stay in that world forever and I’m relieved to be out of it, but I was able to make it work.

I didn’t want children before lockdown, but always wondered if I was making the right choice. The pandemic compounded my decision. The world seems to unstable and unforgiving. I don’t want the responsibility of raising my own children in this unpredictable world.

Like others, I’ve also discovered nature and I’ve pushed myself hard into fitness. I feel strong and healthy. Relationships with friends and family have strengthened and I think we are all kinder to one another.

My mental health is utterly destroyed. I get panic attacks, and severe anxiety which works alternate tag team shifts with horrible depression (it's depression's turn this week).

I now know a bit more clearly which people I know are utter turds and which are utter gems I can rely on.

It's aged my mum about a decade in a few months.

I've lost a lot of the ability I previously had to mask well (waiting for an autism assessment to get formally diagnosed) and now really have to think really hard about every turn in conversations.

I realise I worded my OP badly and I should have asked "How has the pandemic changed you"? As some of you had Covid. One part of me wonders how life will be now that so many of us found a huge inner strength despite everything...

I have no trust in any government present or future, and any respect I had left in the police force is long gone.

I don't think it's really changed me at all, except that I'm slightly more inclined to bother to go out and do things (socially and hobby-wise) now, because I appreciate being able to! We had a pretty easy ride through lockdowns and all dealt with it quite well. I was a bit worried about the effects of the dc not getting out and seeing people, but they are back to normal now.

I didn't realise how much I needed the small excitements in my life. Last year the only festival we go to plus a big picnic were cancelled, this year we got the picnic and no festival. I'm over cautious with masks, sanitising and social distancing because I really want to see DS 31 again before he dies. I haven't seen him since February 2020. He's anxious about video calls, so I can't even do that.

To some extent I feel like I don't know who I am anymore. I had my first baby just before lockdown 1 so all I've known as a mother until very recently is covid restrictions, and even now things are different. I don't know how to be a mother in 'normal' society. I don't know how many of the changes in my life can be attributed to covid and how many to becoming a parent. I don't know how to go back to being normal when my son has changed my whole world and the whole world changed as soon as I had him.