The pandemic being created of health anxiety

[User158340]

This is going to be bad next year in itself with the constant fear racked up.

I'm under 50, not ECV and over the summer was quite relaxed about Covid. I followed the rules but thought 'If I get it I get it, it's highly unlikely to affect me much'. I only really feared passing it onto elderly relatives. Now though another 6 months on and i'm left more terrified than in March.

I don't fear death from Covid as it's a statistical anomaly in my age profile and i'm more likely to die in a traffic accident, or of other things. However, i'm left to fear the Russian roulette of a long term disability; and i'm just shutting myself away till further notice, while simultaneously hoping things get back to normal. Even when things do open up a lot more again at, say, Easter, how will we all deal with the health anxiety of being sitting ducks (if we haven't had the vaccine)?

This pandemic has definitely led to collective mental health decline.

I think most people are fairly elastic and will resume their usual outlook once the relentless bad news is replaced by vaccine successes and with each small step back to a more familiar way of living. I think others have been stretched too far and will need more time and help.

@FourTeaFallOut

I think most people are fairly elastic and will resume their usual outlook once the relentless bad news is replaced by vaccine successes and with each small step back to a more familiar way of living. I think others have been stretched too far and will need more time and help.

I'll feel a lot more comfortable once my elderly relatives are vaccinated.

I just realised this week though i've gone from being comfortable in a pub in the summer to refusing to even walk in a shop if I can avoid it.

It may be a long time before I feel comfortable in any sort of crowd though.

Whatever the treatment for health anxiety is you need to pursue it now -- if not covid, you would have got het up about some other exaggerated fear. Covid really isn't to blame, it's just a focal point for 2020.

I can easily find myself feeling like this if I watch too much news or read too many speculative option pieces or people's speculations on social media. The remedy? Step away from it. Skim news headlines for changes to rules only and then pay no attention to the rest of it. Then I sort of just forget and get wrapped up more with day to day practicalities. I also find if I have some less life or death problem to mull over such as skincare, exercise quandaries or house decoration then that is enough to keep me distracted.

Opinion not option.

I've lived with long term disability since I was about 19, covid has no bearing on my life whatsoever. Im classed as CEV but I have lots more to worry about that actually does happen.
I think if you're that anxious that you couldn't go in a shop, you may want to seek help, I'm not sure that's a realistic way to live.

I think it is pretty common to start feeling like this because the mass media exaggerates it all. You could be distracted from it but will be brought back to thinking about it if you turn the news on or look at a social media feed where everyone is getting upset about it. It's really insidious. Honestly, just take a break from the news etc. Lots of people have talked about having to do this and it really does help.

I agree with news and social media exarcebating it all.
Now is the new variant...
I have been reading a bit about it, as all sounds so doomed around it, and it does say that the reason behind it spreading faster is that affects the upper respiratory system, so nose and throat.
Now... that is a good thing, isn't it? If it stays in the upper respiratory track it will not produce pneumonia? So, yes more contagious, but less health damaging? Hopefully it will settle in another common cold symptoms strain? Like other corona viruses have done?
It is all so negative, with months of lockdown looming over us (read that earlier). I do understand that they have to be cautious, of course, till they study this variant more, and the hospitals are getting full now, so tier 4 and cancelling pla0ns for Christmas make sense to me.
I did have lots of hope for next year, with the arrival of the vaccine. But today's comments about months long lockdowns..... it has left me quite ironed.

This YouTuber's channel is great for making me feel cheery! (& more christmassy at the mo!)