How hard will it be for you to go back to “normal”....

[Imhermione]

I’m really struggling with the idea of going back to normal life and I don’t think I can do it 😭

I became a first time mum right at the same time as the first lockdown.

I remember being petrified and thought I was going to be taken away from my new baby.

I still feel as scared now as I did last March.

I’m frightened to be around people, we go for walks to the park and I panic if someone walks past me.
I wanted to take my son on the swings last week but I was too scared to touch the gate to the play ground.

I wash my shopping every week, check my temperature daily.

I’m absolutely petrified. My son starts nursery in 2 weeks and I don’t know now I’m going to cope with the idea that he could pass Covid to me.

I’m obese and I have inflammatory arthritis. Both put me into group 6 but I’ve not had my vaccine yet.

I just cannot imagine going back to life as it was where we can just relax and not think about avoiding people.

Pretty easily I think

But I know you won't be the only one struggling I know a few who will really struggle to return to normal and mixing

With kindness, you need to speak with your GP about health/postnatal anxiety.

I think your reaction is OTT. I mean this is a kind way, you need to contact your GP and talk about these fear.

Very easily, and I can't bloody wait!

I’m frightened to be around people, we go for walks to the park and I panic if someone walks past me.
I wanted to take my son on the swings last week but I was too scared to touch the gate to the play ground.

I wash my shopping every week, check my temperature daily.

This is not normal behaviour OP. You really need to get a grip on your anxiety for your sons sake. Chances are you’ll be fine if you caught it, even if you’re obese - you may have already had it and been asymptomatic.
You have let “project fear” infiltrate you (not surprising given the rhetoric shoved down our throats for a year). But now it’s time to take your son out into the wide world and think of him and his needs.

I think there's going to be a fair few who struggle. We'll probably be going away, self catering, but I can see us taking the Dettol wipes. Also, not sure I'm quite up for a family/friends gathering inside. I mentioned recently I owed a friend coffee or a glass of wine at the local pub in the sumer, and she was adamant it'd have to be one of our gardens. There are many who've had to shield and I imagine it's not going to be easy for them, as well as other like OP.

Can you delay your son starting nursery until you’ve had your jab?

Very easy.

I've never been that worried even though I'm asthmatic. I have stuck to the rules, but with every bit of freedom allowed last summer, I took it and used it.

So last year saw me holiday, go to the cinema (everyman was open near us) go to the theatre at xmas, go to work (school), go to the pub for meals, get a train and go into London for lunch.

What I am annoyed about is having to return to coking up with excuses not to see people again - eg school mums for coffee because frankly I'd rather be on my own instead of be polite!

I hope you feel better soon OP, washing your shopping might be taking it a bit far now that cases are so low again.

Similar situation, 12 months old baby, and was thinking along the same lines today.
I am equally excited and petrified for things going back to normal.
This last year has been so surreal, all cooped up with a new baby, it is a bit scary because as a new parent I haven't experienced the 'normal' life with a child (no playgroups, activities, childcare, seeing family etc).
Hopefully you will get the vaccine soon and will feel better about it.
And second what everyone said about talking to the GP. Could help with the anxiety.

I can’t wait, I can’t imagine I’ll have any problems at all. It helps that I’ll have been vaccinated.

Very hard if I'm honest. I just can't see me travelling on a crowded train or doing anything 'non-essential' indoors with lots of people for a long while yet. I'm not sure what will have to change for me to become less anxious- hopefully after I've had both vaccine doses and there is more evidence that the vaccines are working. I'm not in a major hurry to get back to doing 'normal' things and am ok to wait and see how things go over the summer/autumm.

I'm also afraid of getting long covid but hopefully the vaccines will also help with that.

We have shielded ds all year, so yes I think I will struggle to go back to normal...I'm all not sure how 'normal' normal will be, until ds is vaccinated.

I remember being petrified and thought I was going to be taken away from my new baby.
I’m frightened to be around people, we go for walks to the park and I panic if someone walks past me.
I wanted to take my son on the swings last week but I was too scared to touch the gate to the play ground
This sounds really hard for you @Imhermione ...and a level above standard worry due to shielding/having a baby. I think a chat with your GP about the level of anxiety you are feeling, would be a good idea. Wishing you all the best, and lots of strength

Can't wait. I'm going to slide right back into it with the biggest grin on my face. It's going to be bliss.

Op thats not normal. There is low risk of transmission outside. I take my kids to the park. I don’t touch my face with my hands. At my park families are sensible and it’s one family per piece of play equipment. I use hand sanitizer when I leave the park and wash my hands with soap and water when I get home.

@OverTheRainbow88

Can you delay your son starting nursery until you’ve had your jab?

@OverTheRainbow88

I’ve already delayed him starting, he was supposed to start at the beginning of Feb and I was due back to work beginning of March.
I’ve changed my return to the end of March and he’s going to nursery mid March.

Ideally I wanted him to go sooner to settle in. 😞

I feel similar (minus the new baby). I’ve started to have what feel like panic attacks, if I find myself near a few people who are not distancing (eg a busy supermarket or a waiting room).

But what could the gp do? Would they really prescribe anti anxiety meds for a couple of weeks until we get our jabs? Maybe other posters could give us an idea of what a gp could actually offer?

I can't bloody wait for life to return to normal.
I won't be eligible for the vaccine for some time yet.
I've never had a fear of covid and always tried to carry on as normal.
Maybe you should talk to your doctor.

There are presently about 160,000 infections in the UK. 160000/66000000. That's a 0.24% of catching it. About a 2% chance of dying - 0.0048%. I think you are OK op. However, you possibly need professional help for your anxiety.

I'm ready now.

Covid or no covid OP, you have a mental health issue here. Possibly postpartum anxiety. Covid has just sadly added to all this. Please please speak to your GP. It’s actually pretty common for anxiety to overwhelm new parents, you are suddenly in charge of a life and all the things that go with that!

But you have to get help for your sons sake. He will get ill at nursery. God, the first winter we went through at nursery was horrendous. Virus after virus after cold after cold after sick bug 😫 6 solid months of germs. And it’s perfectly normal & actually really good for your child’s immune system. Kids need germs, it makes their immune systems stronger. Bit shit for parents who catch it all 🙈 but not everything. I didn’t catch every cold etc as my immune system is fine.

I had a baby at the very start of lockdown, luckily my second. My heart genuinely goes out to first time parents. I’d have found it incredibly tough. But not so much with my second. Life has been as normal as possible when allowed. DD1 went back to nursery in a June & has been going 3x a week ever since. The risk to children is tiny & informs my decisions. We actually all had covid in December, including my then 9 month old. Caught it from the removal men when moving house we think. We were all fine, 9 month old probably the most ill with what appeared to be a heavy cold (she tested positive though). I have moderate asthma but have been bumped off the vaccine list it appears. I don’t let it worry me, life is to life & I want the best possible experiences for my kids! I cannot wait to get them out to softplay, the cinema, swimming! There is so much to enjoy with your son, so please seek that help 🙏🏼

I suppose it might take some people a while, they will probably need to do it gradually.
During the first lockdown I remember being worried about just going into shops. It became normal and I went back to work and to the pub and on a train!
Some people never did that and are stuck at home still worrying after all this time!

I go back to normal tomorrow if allowed. I'd burn my mask right now.

Can't wait.

I work in a school and have done since June last year. Dh travels on public transport daily and we happily ate out to help out last summer along with a couple od short hotel breaks. We'd have gone on planes had Europe in August not been just too damn hot but are crossing our fingers for something in May and counting down the days to eating out again.

We have both had first vaccines (work and medical condition related)but even if we hadn't we'd have every intention of sliding seamlessly into proper normality.

I’ll continue to use sanitiser whilst out and about and wash my hands when I come in. Also wash my hands after I’ve taken a delivery - especially a food shop one.

I didn’t use public transport much before hand and I think it’ll be a while before I go back on the trains. We’ve not booked a holiday abroad this year and I think we’ll hold off, neither DP or I feel like it especially with how the unpredictable the situation is at the moment.

I’m not sure how I feel about large gathering (although both my kids are going back to school the week after next) I’ve got a feeling it will be something that will just creep up on me and I’ll feel comfortable about it. I’ve bumped into a few people in the park today and we were all stood around chatting and it felt very normal, and have felt like that for a long time now.

I suppose the next big hurdle is being indoors in close proximity to others for a period of time.

Op have you spoken to your GP about your anxiety, what you’ve described doesn’t sound normal and your GP may be able to help you.