Panic/anxiety attacks at the thought of another lockdown

[forinborin]

I am not usually prone to panic. I have a scientific degree, I work professionally with data and statistics, including biomedical data. So - rationally - I am not that worried.

However, just a thought of another lockdown throws me into a cold sweat and my heart starts racing. I lost a job after the first lockdown (due to taking excessive amount of unpaid leave - single parent of two young children, one with SEN, sole carer) and was on the brink of a breakdown during the second with a full time intense job and homeschooling.

Juat read the recent article by Dr Whitty where he strongly hints at the need for new restrictive measures and have something that feels like a bad panic attack again, with heart palpitations and a sense of doom. I know how stupid that might sound, but it is the first time in my life.

If you experience something similar, can I please ask you for your managing techniques?

I too feel panicked by another lockdown. My child has learning disability and does not grasp when he can't go out and I struggle to occupy him inside at home all the time. He does a lot of sport about 12 hours a week and when it all gets cancelled he does not know what to do with himself.

He wasn’t hinting at restrictions - only referring to the positbility in the same way as any sensible scientists have all the way through (OK he’s been more restricted in what he can say than most of them). And what he actually said was that he thought the public would stick to guidance if they were given the truth.

If this is the first time you’ve felt like this OP, maybe you should talk to a professional? Employee support line or other MH support?

Take care of yourself, it sounds like you do important stuff.

The government were talking about Plan B being home working, Covid passports and masks. Lockdown hasn't been mentioned so far. I think everyone gets in a cold sweat if they think about another lockdown.

Have you told the head teacher of the children’s school about your situation? I think ours would take your children into school in a lockdown scenario. The places are meant for those who can’t cope. I doubt they would close schools with no places at all.

I haven’t read the article but will have a google. If it comes to it (which I doubt it will) then focus on your job. Don’t stress about home schooling - easier said than done I know but lots will feel the same if it happens again. Just read with them at bedtimes and if that’s all you manage then that is good enough!

@HaveANiceFuckingDay

If everything shuts again people have to comply, they can’t go where’s closed

@HaveANiceFuckingDay - if you have covid now, why would you still not go to crowded places etc? You’ve had it. You are not going to get it again anytime soon! Go wild.

I had it in October & I was living life completely normally anyway. Covid isn’t a worry to me. But there was always the what if everytime I got a bloody cold. But now that’s gone. I can have a cold in peace. Got some nice antibodies to protect me for a while 🙌🏼

If everything shuts again people have to comply, they can’t go where’s closed

You'd be surprised. Plenty of things were open on the quiet where I am, during the last lockdown.

It's probably just going to be masks and shit OP. I doubt we'll have another lockdown. Nobody will take any notice I don't think.

Personally I'm not arsed. I don't work school hours deliberately. I can understand the stress to others though. I really wouldn't worry that much. Masks and SD which are a good idea anyway.

@OnceuponaRainbow18

People mean that they will comply as little as possible if another lockdown is imposed.

I will visit anything that is open. I will also absolutely refuse to be told ever again that I cannot visit my family. If I had continued to pay attention to that fucking stupid rule in the first couple of lockdowns then I would have lost the chance to say goodbye to my Dad and see him alive for the very last time. He died earlier this year and it wasn’t anything to do with Covid.

I will also refuse to let anyone tell me who and how many people can be in my house, whether at Christmas or at any other time. All of my three DDs will be with us this Christmas. One might even have a girlfriend with her. My elderly, increasingly disabled and recently widowed mother will also be visited during that week too, come what may!

Good post by WireyGirl

Op take it easy, listen to calmer stuff like R4 More or Less rather than media headlines

But also I didn’t get that sense from Whitty re lockdown

He was just talking generally I think

I cannot do it again. My mental health will not take it.

Going to try to take Wirey’s advice.

@WireyGirl

Please be a bit kinder to yourself. You start by talking about your scientific background and then mention your irrational reaction.

I would say that your reaction is entirely appropriate and rational. As you say yourself it’s not the pandemic that is causing your fear and anxiety but the thought of another lockdown.

Your past experience of lockdowns meant losing your job and trying to manage pressure from school with kids with SEN whilst isolated. That was not a good experience and your brain is very rationally letting you know that this is something that will be a bad experience for you.

Have you acknowledged to yourself quite how hard it was for you? What you and your family went through? It sounds like it was really tough and I am not in the least bit surprised that you are wry anxious about maybe having to go through it again.

Thank you. This is a very wise post indeed. Yes, it is rational to react like that to a potential lockdown - it is that on the personal level I seem to overestimate the likelihood of it occurring massively. With the rational brain, I fully agree it is not very likely (due to all good reasons mentioned by PP. But it is somewhat akin to the fear of flying, where the irrational wins.

Boris speaking at 5 apparently.