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Original poster

Finding that freedom is actually causing more isolation?

86 replies

Missfelipe · 18/08/2021 10:12

I’ve always been in the camp of wanting restrictions to be eased. We live far from family and found the never ending lockdowns and living in the North West under longer restrictions really tough. It really took a toll on my mental health.

However now that the restrictions have eased and we can do all those things we missed I’m finding that we are spending more time restricting contact to avoid missing out. We have a number of big family events we will be travelling to and are terrified we will miss out and not be able to see everyone, especially if there are restrictions going into autumn/winter.

The result is we aren’t really seeing friends close by or going into the office which we are now allowed to do and which we had really benefited from.

Does anyone else find this? I’m now really struggling again and I don’t know what to do to make it better.

OP posts:
FourTeaFallOut · 18/08/2021 10:20

No. Not at all. I think now the guidelines don't include close contacts being asked to isolate I'm more confident that plans won't be undone by being out more.

QueenStromba · 18/08/2021 10:21

Yep. More freedom for people who aren't bothered about covid and less for those who are wary.

Original poster
Missfelipe · 18/08/2021 10:26

I know we won’t have to isolate now if close contacts but it’s more if we actually do catch it! Neither of us have had it thankfully and I’m not worried about necessarily getting it from a health perspective I’d just be devastated to get it and miss out on big life events with family we haven’t been able to see for so long.

OP posts:
ThorIsAGod · 18/08/2021 10:26

We're just going to outdoor things where risk is low

Waxonwaxoff0 · 18/08/2021 10:51

No. As it is I currently have Covid - not to minimise it but in a way it's a relief knowing that I'll have some immunity for a while when I recover! Glad to get it out the way before DS goes back to school as well.

Original poster
Missfelipe · 18/08/2021 10:55

As I said I’m not worried about getting COVID from a health perspective. What I am concerned about is missing the chance to see my family if I get it just before we travel to see them. It’s both sides we need to go and see over a few weeks so not just a one off event and if we don’t see them now I worry it will be a while before we get another chance. I obviously wouldn’t go and see them if I had COVID.

OP posts:
Lua · 18/08/2021 10:58

I am with you OP. With everybody being less careful, i feel like I have to be more careful, especiealy with DCs still unvacinated....

MinesAMassiveSalad · 18/08/2021 11:00

Op I agree.

FloFloFloFloFlo · 18/08/2021 11:38

I’ve reduced my activities this week and next as I am going away abroad next weekend and don’t want to test positive before I go so I understand what you’re saying.

It’s difficult isn’t it because we have been bombarded with scary messaging for 18 months nearly and it’s hard to get past that fear for some people.

RobinPenguins · 18/08/2021 11:43

No, I’m not doing that at all. We could all get locked down again at any time, I’m not going to waste my life staying at home “just in case”. There’s a chance I could catch Covid and miss a big event but it’s far more likely that I won’t. The adults in my household are double vaccinated, I will wear masks etc but I’m not going to restrict our lives any more. The end of contact isolation has meant I no longer need to fear a phone call from nursery, and we can get out and about and enjoy ourselves again.

Savannahnanana · 18/08/2021 12:35

Not at all. We’re out and about seeing people near and far and booking things in on the calendar. I’ve been stuck indoors so long that I’m not going to start worrying about something that might not happen anyway. Relax and enjoy your freedom. 💐

NannyAndJohn · 18/08/2021 12:39

Yep. We're basically staying at home now and only leaving for essentials.

30000 cases a day and rising, no SD, minimal masks, waning immunity...

No thanks.

TheGenealogist · 18/08/2021 12:47

Look at it another way, @Missfelipe. Pre-Covid, the whole family could have come down with flu, chicken pox, norovirus or something which would have wrecked your plans. The car might have broken down the day before a trip to family which you then had to cancel. Or any other number of scenarios which wrecked plans and meant you couldn't go ahead as you'd hoped for.

But did you spend your time worrying about all those sorts of things?

I'm very much in the camp of just getting on with things and not worrying about the "what-ifs". Get your jabs. Don't waste your life considering dramatic possiblities for the future, everything is OK now and that's all that you can control.

nether · 18/08/2021 12:50

CEV person in the household, and yes life has become narrower

Hiheyho · 18/08/2021 12:50

I understand your feelings, try some meditation, really helps me at the moment. You should go out even to get vitamin D and just try to relax and this, even in its own, boosts an immune system.

NoMoreTractors · 18/08/2021 12:56

Yes definitely. People around here seem to have forgotten covid exists, very little mask wearing, social distancing and it seems sanitising meaning levels are awful here. With me being CEV and an 8 week old DD it doesn't feel safe. 15 children at our local summer school have come down with covid in the last week so I'm too worried to take DS to the park. I actually felt much safer going away for the weekend.

Moonface123 · 18/08/2021 12:58

The people that are determined to move on and live their life should be applauded. This country would be at a comp!ete standstill right now if we all shared your negativity. They are not being less careful, they have the courage to want to make progress, not stay in this uncertain land of limbo. Thank God we aren't all brainwashed by fear of covid.

Neverrains · 18/08/2021 12:58

@NannyAndJohn

Yep. We're basically staying at home now and only leaving for essentials.

30000 cases a day and rising, no SD, minimal masks, waning immunity...

No thanks.

Lucky you that you don’t have to leave the house to earn a living. All the people providing you with things you need to stay at home don’t have that choice.
Aposterhasnoname · 18/08/2021 13:00

@Moonface123

The people that are determined to move on and live their life should be applauded. This country would be at a comp!ete standstill right now if we all shared your negativity. They are not being less careful, they have the courage to want to make progress, not stay in this uncertain land of limbo. Thank God we aren't all brainwashed by fear of covid.
This
Neverrains · 18/08/2021 13:00

I was extra careful the week before we flew to Spain (here currently seeing family who we haven’t seen since Christmas 2019, it’s great!), but that was my choice so I didn’t actually feel restricted, I was just choosing low risk activities.

Aposterhasnoname · 18/08/2021 13:01

Lucky you that you don’t have to leave the house to earn a living. All the people providing you with things you need to stay at home don’t have that choice.

And this

DizzySquirrel90 · 18/08/2021 13:02

I am pregnant and unable to do anything, no one else seems to give a crap who they are mixing with and it's scary.

FloFloFloFloFlo · 18/08/2021 13:04

I think we ought to try to have a little bit more sympathy and compassion towards those who are more cautious than others. They aren’t doing it deliberately - they genuinely are scared.

QueenofKattegat · 18/08/2021 13:05

I'm very much in the camp of just getting on with things and not worrying about the "what-ifs"

Yes me too. What is the point in worrying about what could happen. Deal with what is happening and live life before it's passed by.

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 18/08/2021 13:07

@NannyAndJohn

Yep. We're basically staying at home now and only leaving for essentials.

30000 cases a day and rising, no SD, minimal masks, waning immunity...

No thanks.

This sort of smug, 'I''m alright Jack' comment really pisses me off. It's all very well for you to stay at home but it's a good job not everyone thinks like that isn't it?
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