People aren’t scared anymore?

[Gruffaloandmouse]

From a purely psychological perspective, people can’t live in a state of fear indefinitely. The other issue is that most people are becoming extremely fatigued now. Morale is down and most are trying to claw back any sort of normality they can.

Of course there are people still frightened, but the majority who were in March, just aren’t now. Possibly because they now know people who have had it and been fine and partly because most who get it severely or die from it are elderly or vulnerable. I know there are exceptions of course.
These aren’t my views, but I’m pretty sure this is one of the biggest factors we aren’t seeing the same compliance as in March.

It's not that people can't live in fear
It's that many reason their personal risk is low

People have seen others catch Covid and survive. Maybe they’ve caught it themselves and survived. They’ve read news reports about new treatments being available which reduce the risk of death. So you’re right, they’re not as scared any more, and that’s reducing the level of compliance.

I'm CEV, i'm past giving a shit.

God yes, I actually think that those who are still terrified are mentally ill sadly and that this will proabably plague them long after the pandemic has passed.

There's a lot more permitted now than in March.

-childcare bubbles
-support bubbles

• more people classed as keyworkers, so more kids in school
• more businesses open

More sport still permitted

I think personal risk is higher now, but having survived several months people think their risk is lower than it is,especially with more transmissible variants.

@hamsterchump

God yes, I actually think that those who are still terrified are mentally ill sadly and that this will proabably plague them long after the pandemic has passed.

Nasty comment

My mental health is fine thank you.

I'm over 50 & diabetic. I don't care if you think me being scared of getting it is justified or not, but don't be so ducking rude about my mental health.

@WitchesBriychesPumpkinPants

So you think being constantly terrified isn't affecting your mental health? It certainly seems to be affecting your mood but ok then love.

I am terrified this time when not so much as March immuno comprised son has his usual winter worsening chest problems that usually ends us up being blue lighted to hospital and in resus my local hospital is a Covid centre the a&e we’d have to go to is 20 mins fly ether away so when he’s turning blue and not breathing is a significant difference not counting how long we’ll wait for the ambulance I also personally know 3 people who have died this week one a family none over 60... so I am more scared now then hth

I think you’re right but I hope that restrictions as they are prove enough to bring down infection numbers because the next thing to scare people will be lack of emergency healthcare for anything.

I don’t think we’re far away from that tbh and am waiting for reports of people succumbing to perfectly treatable illness and injury due to stretched medical resources.

@hamsterchump

God yes, I actually think that those who are still terrified are mentally ill sadly and that this will proabably plague them long after the pandemic has passed.

Whilst I don’t think people need to be terrified (statistics are still on your side even if your CEV or in one of the risk groups) I think those who are blasé about it lack comprehension skills.

There’s a middle ground that treats the situation with the respect it needs.

I am not, and never have been, terrified (or anywhere close), in fact I have been pleasantly surprised by my own resilience and ability to recognise that compared to many, I have been affected very little by the pandemic so far, but I’m more concerned now than ever before. The main reason for this is the state of hospitals. I am concerned for myself, mainly because I would hate to pass COVID to someone vulnerable if I caught it, and for members of my family more vulnerable than myself. I’m also concerned that if an elderly relative had a different illness or an accident they might not get treatment.

Funnily enough I do have a history of mental health problems, but thankfully my comprehension skills, understanding of risk and ability to accept reality are not affected

You're right -- the human brain and body simply cannot sustain the high levels of fear that we all (or most of us) felt in the early part of last year.

The adrenal system offers only a very short-term response and can only pump out so much before the body either becomes accustomed, or the adrenal gland stops. Fight, flight or freeze responses only last a short time.

People haven't stopped being 'scared' per se, they have become weary or disillusioned or cautious. Different situation, but it's kind of the same psychological response that we see in kidnap victims -- after a while they stop being scared at that heightened existential level, become resigned to the new situation and just try to work with it as much as possible. (Of course that manifests in different ways in different people.)

There's a lot more information around now about coronavirus and covid that there wasn't in March and April last year. So people can be better informed about their personal level of risk.

Plus, there's also a potential way out. The vaccines are here, the vaccinations are starting to happen. Another two or three weeks and things will start to change, quite rapidly I believe.

@WitchesBritchesPumpkinPants

Yes it's a terrible time to be diabetic and people have no idea how they would feel at that level of risk and they don't want to know just in case they feel any empathy that might make them think harder about thier actions

Yes, I am pretty sure you are right. Even though I have not left the house since 2020. I know people who are much more relaxed.