I’m outside. I need a push to go in....

[fireflylanegirls]

Today is the day. I’m back at work.

My son has been at nursery for 3 weeks and today I’m back in the office.

I’m currently sat in the car park and my heart has not stopped pounding.

It just all looks so normal. I’ve seen a few of my colleagues walk by and everyone just looks the same, happy.

I don’t know what it’s like in the office in terms of Covid, I have a meeting as soon as I go in to discuss the changes.

I don’t think I have ever felt so nervous.

I’m 19 days post my 1st vaccine so not even at the 21 day mark.

I feel like turning around and going home! 😩

Are you not taking into account your protection from the vaccine at all? And the fact that cases are low? And the fact that you’re more likely to be ill a host of other things other than covid?

Because it’s like you think covid is going to leap onto your desk and jump down your throat. Which is very obviously not going to happen. I get you have anxiety, and I’m sorry it’s so debilitating but you are making some ludicrous assumptions.

Yes this is absolutely about anxiety

@SmidgenofaPigeon

Are you not taking into account your protection from the vaccine at all? And the fact that cases are low? And the fact that you’re more likely to be ill a host of other things other than covid?

Because it’s like you think covid is going to leap onto your desk and jump down your throat. Which is very obviously not going to happen. I get you have anxiety, and I’m sorry it’s so debilitating but you are making some ludicrous assumptions.

I had my vaccine 19 days ago! I won’t have protection yet as it hasn’t been 3 weeks.

The vaccine isn’t 100%. It won’t stop me having or passing on Covid.

Them chatting in the kitchen is not putting you at risk, or sitting with your manager 2m away.

What do you want your employer to do? What measures do you think are reasonable? You can wear a mask, everyone is cleaning stuff, your all sat apart.

So what else do you want apart from being special and being able to work from home when you’re vaccinated.

This is absolutely your anxiety talking because your last thread I read said you would be happy to go back to the office after your vaccine.

@MazekeenSmith

Yes this is absolutely about anxiety

@MazekeenSmith

Yes I’m anxious because it’s nothing like I expected.

Last year I went to a baby class (when they were opened)
All mats were 2m apart. You could remove your mask once on your mat, but once you left your mat you had to put your mask back on.

That was a baby class! I actually felt really safe there!

No one came near me, no one was walking around or stood talking without masks.

I don’t understand why this thread is full of people telling me in over reacting. We’re in a pandemic!!

The vaccine isn’t 100%. It won’t stop me having or passing on Covid.

Exactly. So are you expecting everyone to social distance forever? You might think that would assuage your anxiety but a) it won’t and b) the majority of people will not comply with that.

@MynameisJune

Them chatting in the kitchen is not putting you at risk, or sitting with your manager 2m away.

What do you want your employer to do? What measures do you think are reasonable? You can wear a mask, everyone is cleaning stuff, your all sat apart.

So what else do you want apart from being special and being able to work from home when you’re vaccinated.

This is absolutely your anxiety talking because your last thread I read said you would be happy to go back to the office after your vaccine.

@MynameisJune

You do know Covid is airborne?....
Aerosols linger in the air.

Masks reduce aerosols!

@waterlego

The vaccine isn’t 100%. It won’t stop me having or passing on Covid.

Exactly. So are you expecting everyone to social distance forever? You might think that would assuage your anxiety but a) it won’t and b) the majority of people will not comply with that.

No, but once everyone is vaccinated and cases are much lower then I will feel safer

It’s been 19 days. It doesn’t suddenly jump to better protection at 21 days. Surely you realise it’s gradual? Honestly if you’re still this worried and it hasn’t helped your jet so state at all I’m not sure why you bothered having it. It’s like you think it does nothing for you.

*mental state sorry

Yes I do know thanks, I’m asthmatic but can’t get a vaccine. I’ve been in my office since returning from Mat leave last September. When there was no vaccine, there’s 22 of us in the office. I know all about it.

But I’m not moaning about it because my anxiety is well controlled and I can assess the risk properly.

You quite clearly can’t

Oh god me too @fireflylanegirls!

We'll get through the initial shock, let's support each other. Might take a few days to normalise and get used to it.

It is your anxiety over riding logic. What is the case rate in your area now, how many in the office have been infected and how many times has the bubble needed to isolate? It is falling, you are young, vaccinated and taking sensible precautions, as are those around you. Vaccination protection is cumulative, just because the snapshot is at 3 weeks does not mean protection only kicks in then. It is proven that even one dose protects against severe disease and death.

It's pointless trying to help someone like the OP. Until she admits the real issue is ANXIETY not covid then it's just pointless trying to reassure her.

OP, I don’t know what you want from this thread (or indeed these threads as I gather there have been several).

We are not all going to agree with you that you’re at huge risk of getting Covid, let alone becoming very ill and dying with it. Because the facts just don’t bear that out. Many posters have patiently and kindly told you about their own experiences of anxiety, which is why they’re able to spot anxiety a mile off.

Other posters have outlined the practical solutions (carry on as you are/speak to management/quite you job).

I don’t see what else anyone could say that would help you.

What were you hoping to read in the replies?

*quit your job that should say

*I had my vaccine 19 days ago! I won’t have protection yet as it hasn’t been 3 weeks.

The vaccine isn’t 100%. It won’t stop me having or passing on Covid.*

You do realise protection builds cumulatively right? It doesn't just all kick in on day 21, by day 19 you will likely be very very protected. Add to that you're young (as age is the single biggest risk factor for covid), your baby is in nursery where there is no SD at all, children do literally lick each other, and it sounds like your office is taking precautions. You can ask people to stand further away from you but you don't get to moan about other people going about as they see fit, your anxiety can't control everyone.

And no vaccine in 100%. Before this did you go into your office everyday scared to death of flu? Because that's as much a risk factor to you as covid given your age.

I can’t help that I don’t feel comfortable with all of that.

Yes, you can. Literally nobody else can.

Do you expect your colleagues to change their behaviour to make you feel comfortable?

Is your comfort level more important than theirs?

I feel extremely uncomfortable around people I see wearing masks AND face shields AND keeping huge distances from me. They make me feel like a leper. Would you have me feel this way to save your discomfort? You’ve been vaccinated - I haven’t. You’re in an at risk category - I’m not. And yet you sound as though everyone else is in the wrong but you.

@LIZS I've always been in a low risk area and unlikely to get severely ill even if I caught COVID. But I have to be around CEV people and so have to be ultra careful.

Anxiety is anxiety though. Even if you didn't have it previously you might do about the current situation. There's a huge difference between anxiety in general and specific things. This has parallels with Spanish flu 1919, 100 years ago, we just don't react quickly enough to pandemics.

No, but once everyone is vaccinated and cases are much lower then I will feel safer

This will never happen. Specifically, baby and toddler vaccines are only being tested now. What then?

You need to get a handle on your mental state. This cannot be enjoyable or easy for you. Perhaps you should take sick leave until you get this sorted out?

I feel extremely uncomfortable around people I see wearing masks AND face shields

I'm the same. They freak me the fuck out, its been a fun year trying to avoid them.

@LIZS

It is your anxiety over riding logic. What is the case rate in your area now, how many in the office have been infected and how many times has the bubble needed to isolate? It is falling, you are young, vaccinated and taking sensible precautions, as are those around you. Vaccination protection is cumulative, just because the snapshot is at 3 weeks does not mean protection only kicks in then. It is proven that even one dose protects against severe disease and death.

@LIZS

In my area it’s 135 per 100,000
In the area I work it’s 146 per 100,000

1 person in my office had Covid last year.
Everyone isolated. Only 1 person had it.

The more you do it the better you will feel.

I've worked the whole time (teacher) and just get on with it, no social distancing at all and no masks. I've come to the conclusion what will be will be. I work with special needs children but haven't been offered the vaccine so to me your set up sounds so much safer than mine.

Try and see someone about your anxiety

So if only one case in a year that indicates the precautions are working.

@LIZS

So if only one case in a year that indicates the precautions are working.

@LIZS

Or that people have just been lucky.

The person started with symptoms on a Monday so wouldn’t have seen any of his work colleagues 48 hours before!