Do you think there will be people who mentally struggle to recover from this?

[Blackisthecolour]

I'm just thinking about a couple of friends and one family member I know who have been so militant about reducing their risk of catching covid that they've pretty much been nowhere and seen noone since March, even when it's been 'allowed' or within the rules at various times.

One of these has asthma (though controlled and no attacks as an adult) and I do appreciate that catching C19 might be far more risky for them than someone with no health conditions, so no judgement whatsoever. I totally get that people have a right to protect themselves.

All this said, even with a vaccine, I wonder if some individuals have internalised the risk of 'other people' to such an extent that they will have a hard time adapting to the concept of being with others again even when they can safely?

These are the things I think about when I should be going to sleep!

I wonder about this too OP - whether people will get a kind of pandemic-related PTSD, or alternatively whether humans are so strong and malleable that they'll swiftly forget it all and be as they were. Maybe a mix of both. For some people this will have been the worst time of their lives - for a lot of people I think. They'll probably not forget that in a hurry. But I hope people aren't mentally scarred by it all.

I think there will likely be as many who prayed their entire lives for something akin to social distancing, are enjoying the minimised social contact, and who will suffer mentally once things slip back to 'normal'.

So in answer to your question OP, yes, I think it's inevitable that some people will struggle to return to being in close proximity to other human beings, but for a myriad of different and contrasting reasons.

I'm a bit confused about some of your post - when you say you don't understand why your friend is being extra cautious, but then add she has underlying conditions. It's hardly strange that somebody at increased risk of hospitalisation, death, or long term disability is concerned!

As for PTSD. Yes quite a few frontline NHS workers have developed it. We had intensive care nurses so traumatised from the first wave that they were sectioned. And experts think Long Covid can cause PTSD and other psychiatric issues.

So yes there will a mental health impact. The hope is that the newfound public awareness will lead to long needed better funding and treatment for MH issues.

Me! 🙋🏼‍♀️

Well not really in the way you describe, as I’ll definitely feel better as soon as restrictions ease and life becomes normal, but it has definitely been a difficult year and I know I’m not the only one who hasn’t had the best time. Some people can get knocked down once then find it difficult to recover mentally for years to come.

I’m sure some people will be scared of others etc but on the whole this pandemic doesn’t seem that deathly dangerous for the majority.

I wonder this too. I take immunosupressants so have been sheilding etc., but you can't eliminate the risk entirely, it's life. I've had an awful year., like many and you're right, I won't forget it. But I haven't felt particularly worried going out and about. I've shopped at quieter times etc., but not been overboard. As a consequence I don't think I'll be too bad. I'm looking forward to it.

I know perfectly healthy people though who have disinfected deliveries, not opened letters for 3 days etc. etc. (I'm definitely not judging them, btw all reactions are valid I think depending on circumstances). I don't see how they can switch from being this cautious, to normality. I do worry about it. It's been such a monumental upheaval for so many people I can totally see how it won't be possible to go back for some.

I've wondered if there are parallels to being de-mobbed or released from prison... such a huge change that people cannot adjust.

@SheepandCow I've written to my MP to ask what support is in place for NHS workers who se mental health must have been slammed by this. I think there needs to public pressure brought to ensure they have ready access to this.

@XDownwiththissortofthingX

I think there will likely be as many who prayed their entire lives for something akin to social distancing, are enjoying the minimised social contact, and who will suffer mentally once things slip back to 'normal'.

So in answer to your question OP, yes, I think it's inevitable that some people will struggle to return to being in close proximity to other human beings, but for a myriad of different and contrasting reasons.

Yes. A family friend has a school refusing ASD child with severe social anxiety. They had to fight hard over the years to access support for home schooling. Thankfully they got it sorted a few years ago, but I should imagine the social distancing has been welcomed by others in similar circumstances.

Perhaps, post pandemic, we'll see more acceptance, tolerance, public awareness and empathy for people?

I think lots of people will never recover mentally. The reason you identify- internalising a “do no harm to others” mindset wouldn’t be my top candidate for what causes that though. I think other things will take a bigger toll. So for example:
Grief from losing loved ones and being able to be there/have a funeral
Medical professionals seeing so many people die and feeling powerless.
Sheer isolation. A lot of people will have realised they don’t really have anyone they can rely on.
Being pushed into poverty through the loss of employment and not being able to get another job, either quickly or ever.,
Realising just how callous and selfish so many people are.

And like @XDownwiththissortofthingX, I think there are a lot of people who will have been needing this for a lot of their lives. Who will suffer when they have to go back to a normality that is far from comfortable for them.

And some people will have been able to get to spend some time with and on themselves which was sorely needed. So anything from processing part trauma to just getting used to enjoying their own company. These people will emerge stronger, as they will be able to understand what is truly important to them in life, or they will have had the space to come to terms with things that have been a source of suffering for them for a long time.

*not being able to be there

I think there will be many people who will struggle for many years mentally. I know 2 people in particular who have gone from outgoing, social, relaxed adults to nervous, miserable, terrified wrecks. They dont leave the house, mostly by choice but also as they now wfh, but they are just so low, have no social interaction, and are saying things like 'I am not stepping foot outside my door until I have a vaccine'. They arent vulnerable in any way, but one does live with slightly vulnerable parents. Its completely changed who they are. I can see lots of people on antidepressants, struggling to mix in crowds, suffering with anxiety, showing tendencies of a hypochondriac and agoraphobia.

[quote housemdwaswrong]@SheepandCow I've written to my MP to ask what support is in place for NHS workers who se mental health must have been slammed by this. I think there needs to public pressure brought to ensure they have ready access to this.[/quote]
I agree. I hope the government ensures they get the support they need and deserve.

My agoraphobia has definitely flared up to a point that it's far worse than at any time in the past ten years. My partner is the same.

The weird thing about it is that it's not driven by 'fear' of going outside, or 'fear' of the virus. The lockdown and restrictions have severely curtailed our social lives. People who are inherently agoraphobic are reluctant to venture out at the best of times, so once you remove most of the impetus for them to actually leave the house, it just results in an increased apathy towards the thought of going out. Covid has been an enabler of agoraphobia in pre-existing agoraphobics.

It's not even disabling either! Both myself and my partner are happy with things the way they are, but I will admit I am starting to miss the trips to the pub here and there. The problem is facing the prospect of having to leave the house more regularly once the pandemic is beaten back. Both of us have already made arrangements to work from home more frequently and have no intention of scaling that back once this is over.

I think it just comes down to being natural introverts and socially reclusive. The current scenario suits us both, and we prefer it to an extent, even though it's clear it doesn't come without some negative effect on mental state.

I'm a bit confused about some of your post - when you say you don't understand why your friend is being extra cautious, but then add she has underlying conditions.

She said her friend has asthma. Asthma does not appear to increase risk for COVID19.

Me and a friend were talking about this the other day. Her DM is bordering on agraphonic now after being previously very outgoing. I also think there will be alot of OCD regarding hand washing and germs etc

As and autistic person who has always struggled with and avoided social situations but had also worked very hard over the the last few years to socialise more, lockdown 1 set me back years. Pretty sure I'm not the only one in that situation. And that is why I am in a support bubble now with someone, so I don't go back to not talking to anyone outside my house. I lost lots of social skills in just a few short months and finding myself having to stick to the rules meant I struggled with the idea of seeing people. I just wish that they had publisized that vulnerable adults could still have support from outside their household, even during the first lockdown, it was only when I started reading "the fine print" that I realised that I was allowed that help and support. (Of course I don't like to think of myself as vulnerable, but I actually am)

I agree about the potential for OCD related to hand washing. I think in particular of children in their formative years who are becoming habituated to washing their hands so frequently at school that they are red raw. Will these children be able to drop the habit without heightened anxiety when we come out of this?

I am a high functioning person with complex PTSD and I hear voices hence the "mad" catlady.
I still hold down a full time medical job in the NHS and manage ok with the minimum of medication and I'm ok. I don't have relationships because they send me round the bend so to speak.
However I did go through a rough patch recently after months of isolation with just my cat for company. You would think a high risk person like myself would be able to access services easily but no. I got a young woman form the crisis team visiting who had no clue how to communicate with anolder woman and just sat there asking me daft questions then left, an offer of strong drugs that if I'd taken would have left me incapable of doing my job and I was told I'd wait a year or so for some talking therapy which is my best bet for treatment.
I just cannot rely on the NHS to give me the treatment I need to manage my condition, I have had to pay privately to get over this episode and back to what is normal for me, I can only afford to do so because I have a good job.
My trust is supposed to be the best trust for mental health treatment in the UK and it has utterly failed me.
I'm resigned to paying for my own treatment to get me through a crisis, I have no idea how people who can't afford to do so will manage after this is all over!

@madcatladyforever

I am a high functioning person with complex PTSD and I hear voices hence the "mad" catlady. I still hold down a full time medical job in the NHS and manage ok with the minimum of medication and I'm ok. I don't have relationships because they send me round the bend so to speak. However I did go through a rough patch recently after months of isolation with just my cat for company. You would think a high risk person like myself would be able to access services easily but no. I got a young woman form the crisis team visiting who had no clue how to communicate with anolder woman and just sat there asking me daft questions then left, an offer of strong drugs that if I'd taken would have left me incapable of doing my job and I was told I'd wait a year or so for some talking therapy which is my best bet for treatment. I just cannot rely on the NHS to give me the treatment I need to manage my condition, I have had to pay privately to get over this episode and back to what is normal for me, I can only afford to do so because I have a good job. My trust is supposed to be the best trust for mental health treatment in the UK and it has utterly failed me. I'm resigned to paying for my own treatment to get me through a crisis, I have no idea how people who can't afford to do so will manage after this is all over!

Just wanted to say I have the same - complex ptsd, voice hearing and also multiple personality disorder. I've had them since childhood this said and no one has ever known how to deal with me. I have finally after years of being stuck with crisis teams asking me daft questions(like you say) ended up with an ongoing complex mental health team who can "deal" with me, but it's probably taken about 15 years of trying to find someone and failing epically until now. Anyway I've never heard of anyone saying they have some of the same things as me, and I thought perhaps you hadn't either. So I thought I'd reach out. Whilst I'm not fussed by lockdown and never have been it's been a battle since forever and quite frankly horrible

@XDownwiththissortofthingX

I think there will likely be as many who prayed their entire lives for something akin to social distancing, are enjoying the minimised social contact, and who will suffer mentally once things slip back to 'normal'.

So in answer to your question OP, yes, I think it's inevitable that some people will struggle to return to being in close proximity to other human beings, but for a myriad of different and contrasting reasons.

This is definetly me. I have asd and the relief of removal of all social pressure was amazing, but I'm already struggling to build back up to being social as its a skill you need to keep on top of. Haven't gone past the garden gate in a while as I keep catasrophising about meeting someone (not because of catching covid but just having to talk to them. It's been a year of complete highs and lows for my mental health with zero just normal middle bits.

Yes I think so. At the very beginning of this, before we really knew how serious it all was about to be. I cried to my husband and told him I thought we were about to live through a massive event in history and that I just felt like things would never ever be quite the same again (he laughed at me and told me not to be dramatic 🙄).

I think a lot of people will be ‘scarred’ in a way by this year and it’s hard to think of some things ever returning truly to normal. We were watching a Christmas hits countdown on MTV last night while decorating our tree and the videos of friends and families all cuddled around having massive dinners and presents etc, going to parties, all seem like this weirdly distant past.

Yes, and I think we maybeneed to get our heads round the fact that this may not be the last time we have a new virus like this anyway.

I think it'd be sensible to be cautious for another six months while we observe the vaccine impact.

I do hope we become cleaner - masks when sneezing and fewer handshakes would be positive changes.

But I hope we can get back to crowded places soon, I do miss going to so many things.

Hi Ophelias, nice to meet you yes its a very difficult condition to deal with. There is no magic cure you have to see what works for you
Some have ect but Im not keen. Drugs don't work on me so I bore a psychoanalyst to death frequently and it helps. I'm resigned to no cure but just managing the condition.

Absolutely there will be a massive MH crisis going forward. Personally I have never had any MH issues before this year but the stress of juggling my crazy busy NHS shifts with home schooling 3 DC and no childcare was just too much and I have been left with anxiety. Not debilitating by any means, but its there. I can't imagine the impact it must have had on anyone with pre-existing conditions.

I would suggest being a good friend to anyone struggling and support them with reintegrating.

Ds has severe autism and learning disabilities and struggled greatly with the sudden change in his routines needing increased anxiety medication etc. He has also been around very few people due to trying to avoid having to self isolate as much as worries about covid itself. He will again struggle as things start to return to normal. His psychiatrist said they expect many young people like him will experience difficulties with the change back.