Made the decision not to have the vaccine yet, worried I’ll be treated like a leper

Triffid1 · 26/05/2021 12:49

Personally, I'd understand if someone has serious health anxiety. However, I'm always less sympathetic to people with MH issues who refuse to deal with them. If someone has cancer, they seek treatment. Wh not do the same for health issues. So that's an issue only you can navigate or decide - is your health anxiety something you're managing?

whataballbag · 26/05/2021 12:51

@Daffodilsinthewindow

I have debilitating health anxiety and it’s ruined many years of my life. I’ve currently got it control and haven’t had a ‘relapse’ for a while. I’m absolutely terrified of the vaccine. I’m 31, so my age group has just been called up. All my friends and family keep asking me if I’ve booked it. I just keep saying “I will do”.

My health anxiety has meant several trips to A&E when I was on the contraceptive pill a few years ago, over fears of a blood clot, so that in turn has meant I haven’t been on it since.

I’m making an informed decision, taking my mental health into account...just like somebody would do if they had a physical health issue.

I’m not saying I’ll never have the vaccine, but I do want to wait a while as I feel it’s too soon for me personally. I’m not an anti vaxxer, I don’t believe in conspiracy theories about Bill Gates or microchips or anything like that. This is just a personal decision I have made about my body.
Pre covid, me making decisions about my body and mind to benefit me and not cause my mental health to spiral out of control, would be supported. Now I know I will get judged, talked at, made to feel small and as though I’m doing the wrong thing, not helping society etc etc.

Just wondering if anyone else is in a similar position?

I'm in the same position.

Speak to your GP (if you haven't already) and ask them to refer you for CBT in the first instance, and medication if you feel comfortable taking it.

In many places you can self refer for cbt through the nhs if you'd rather do that :)

NatashaWilson123 · 26/05/2021 12:52

The Op has to do what is right for her, a few screeching banshees on mumsnet where anyone who states they don't want the vaccine is subsequently reported/banned leaving a disproportional number of vaccine obsessors left banging on about ant vaxxers foaming at the mouth in rage isn't reflective of wider society thankfully. I don't want the vaccine and neither do around half of my friends/family

Fleek · 26/05/2021 12:53

I'd say it's not anyone else's business and do what is right for you. There are so many people being vaccinated that it's ok for some not to go ahead with it. It's your body.

With that said, are you getting help for the health anxiety? There are things that help. And ultimately you don't know how much Covid poses a risk to you - it would be a huge shame not to get jabbed because of the anxiety, then you get Covid and end up being unlucky with complications further down the line. That could end up being far more problematic than the anxiety, unfortunately, although that's probably a small risk.

FrankensteinIsTheMonster · 26/05/2021 12:53

I’m making an informed decision, taking my mental health into account...just like somebody would do if they had a physical health issue.

No, you're reinforcing your anxiety by continuing the avoidant behaviour. That's not your fault, but it is a symptom of your mental illness. It's up to you if you want to get treatment for that, but don't kid yourself that you're doing something good for your mental health by avoiding the vaccine. You're entrenching it.

Bluntness100 · 26/05/2021 12:55

Are you getting help for your anxiety op?

Hopefully the answer is yes, as I’m sure you know it’s not to avoid medication that will help you. So not getting the vaccine is irrelevant, the key question here is are you getting help for the mental illness issues?

NatashaWilson123 · 26/05/2021 12:55

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FrankensteinIsTheMonster · 26/05/2021 12:56

Natasha, the OP has explicitly said that they have a mental illness and that's why they're avoiding the vaccine.

sergeilavrov · 26/05/2021 12:57

You need to continue wearing a mask and ensuring those around you are comfortable (especially with children) given you pose a risk. While it’s your right to bodily autonomy, you have an equal responsibility to ensure others have the information that they need to protect their own. This is especially true as there are people who cannot get vaccinated due to immune system issues.

I’m sorry you suffer from health anxiety, hopefully you can get treatment and get the vaccine as soon as possible - I agree this is ultimately reinforcing your health anxiety. I’ll be honest, while it might make you feel like a ‘leper’ I probably wouldn’t have any contact with you in person if we were friends due to you not being vaccinated. It’s just not a risk I would take with my family.

XenoBitch · 26/05/2021 12:57

I am not having the vaccine as I have severe needle and medical phobia. It wont be safe me or the vaccinator to attempt it. I am not saying never as I read a nasal spray is being worked on, although by the time that comes out then there probably wont be any mad rush to get vaccinated. Like you, I am taking my mental health into account.

Anxiety is irrational, and no one telling you about how low risk the vaccine is etc will make much difference to you. It is difficult though, when most conversations include the "have you been jabbed yet?" and similar.

Bluntness100 · 26/05/2021 12:58

The only behaviour that needs to be addressed is implying someone is mentally ill for not wanting a vaccine probably down to people like you spewing out vitriol over your computer about " anti vaxxers " again

Why are you attacking this poster? The op says right off she’s mentally ill. And the poster said nothing about anti vaxxers

If the thread is triggering for you then it’s maybe best to hide it. Attacking people for what they didn’t say isn’t going to help.

siestalady · 26/05/2021 12:59

@NatashaWilson123

The Op has to do what is right for her, a few screeching banshees on mumsnet where anyone who states they don't want the vaccine is subsequently reported/banned leaving a disproportional number of vaccine obsessors left banging on about ant vaxxers foaming at the mouth in rage isn't reflective of wider society thankfully. I don't want the vaccine and neither do around half of my friends/family

Its interesting though isnt it, because would you make these "you do you" statements if you were talking about lockdowns? or did/do you expect everyone to comply with lockdowns for the greater good of society?

chickenyhead · 26/05/2021 13:00

The OP has made it clear that they are not an anti vaxer, so can the anti vaxers get back under their rock now?

The issue is OP that this is one of those situations which leads to anxiety whatever you do. So whilst your health anxiety may be manageable for a while, your social anxiety may peak as people challenge you.

I would definitely suggest speaking to the doctor if you can.

NatashaWilson123 · 26/05/2021 13:01

@FrankensteinIsTheMonster

Natasha, the OP has explicitly said that they have a mental illness and that's why they're avoiding the vaccine.

yes fair point, although there are many on this site ( not necessarily you ) that imply anyone not taking the vaccine is all manner of things insert whatever insult what constitutes despicable bullying to people that don't wish to have the fcking vaccine

TeamRick · 26/05/2021 13:02

Does having Covid or suffering from Long Covid trigger your health anxiety or is it just the vaccine you're worried about?

NatashaWilson123 · 26/05/2021 13:02

@siestalady your post makes no sense, can you elaborate?

Botherfreedays · 26/05/2021 13:06

Are you looking for validation for your decision? (Genuine question) because if you are, a general online discussion forum is really not an appropriate mental health management tool.

KaptainKaveman · 26/05/2021 13:06

siestalady's post makes perfect sense. Your frothing, feverish hyperbole, however, does not.

HTH

PinkDaffodil2 · 26/05/2021 13:06

Are you getting help for your anxiety geared towards this directly? It will surely be easier for you in the short run to not have the vaccine right now, but unless you are taking steps to address this anxiety then you are risking worsening your mental health down the line. Health anxiety is a horrible condition as you well know, and it will likely find another focus either covid or something different if not addressed.
Some people likely will treat you differently, but they have to balance their own risks for physical and mental health just as you do, we won’t be seeing people who aren’t vaccinated indoors without lateral flow tests for now, but I do try to communicate that without coming across as judgy, just trying to manage my family’s risk.

NatashaWilson123 · 26/05/2021 13:11

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siestalady · 26/05/2021 13:12

[quote NatashaWilson123]@siestalady your post makes no sense, can you elaborate?[/quote]
i think you know exactly what i'm getting at, but just so you're crystal clear - I'm wondering whether people who are choosing not to have the vaccine because they dont fancy it, apply/applied the same attitude to lockdowns?

FrankensteinIsTheMonster · 26/05/2021 13:12

I'm not interested in the "vaccine" part of the post. My answer would be the same whatever it was that the OP was avoiding. Working out what's feeding, reinforcing and perpetuating the problem is a fundamental principle of managing anxiety-based disorders. In the short term, avoidance relieves anxiety. In the longer term, it can result in a constricted, shrunken, fear-bound life. The only way to deal with the problem is to recognise that the actions you feel like you need to take to prevent anxiety are actually making your underlying problem worse. Brains are clever, and will come up with seemingly reasonable justifications for the behaviour, like telling you that the avoidant behaviour is healthy because it's protecting your mental health. The Covid jab is just the most obvious place OP's problem is currently manifesting but is essentially incidental.

FrankensteinIsTheMonster · 26/05/2021 13:15

Natasha, your post to me seemed pretty much like "despicable bullying", since you decided to go off at me for something I didn't say. Maybe get off your high horse.

NCtitleofyoursextape · 26/05/2021 13:15

@FrankensteinIsTheMonster

I'm not interested in the "vaccine" part of the post. My answer would be the same whatever it was that the OP was avoiding. Working out what's feeding, reinforcing and perpetuating the problem is a fundamental principle of managing anxiety-based disorders. In the short term, avoidance relieves anxiety. In the longer term, it can result in a constricted, shrunken, fear-bound life. The only way to deal with the problem is to recognise that the actions you feel like you need to take to prevent anxiety are actually making your underlying problem worse. Brains are clever, and will come up with seemingly reasonable justifications for the behaviour, like telling you that the avoidant behaviour is healthy because it's protecting your mental health. The Covid jab is just the most obvious place OP's problem is currently manifesting but is essentially incidental.

Bang On

confuseddotcomma · 26/05/2021 13:16

I actually don't think you need to have severe health anxiety to make this decision, and for it to be valid. We don't yet have long term outcomes for this vaccine. In the past, rigourously tested vaccines have had side effects emerge months or years down the line. For people who have no personal risk factors, on a personal level I can totally understand deciding not to have the vaccine. On a population level, of course it's bad for people to remain unvaccinated, so we would recommend everyone to have it.
But if this is the decision you make, there's no need to tell anyone. Just say you've had it. It's noones business but yours.