Thinking covid anxiety is just as big a problem

[EeeICouldRipATissue]

I thought right from the start of the pandemic that all the lockdowns and constant stay at home messages would create a lot of mental health problems/anxiety and looking at some of the threads on here, and attitudes from some I know in real life, I think it's true.
Don't get me wrong, I have 100% stuck to all the rules right from the very beginning and always have (and will keep on doing so)
I know this isn't AIBU board, but AIBU to think covid anxiety and issues aren't being taken seriously enough or recognised?

Yanbu. Dh is a paramedic and the amount of mental health jobs in lockdowns 2 and 3 shot through the roof (and ironically put a huge strain on the service).

I dread to think of the amount of people still scared of the virus. My friend's mum still won't see her young grandchildren unless outside and wearing a mask. What a waste of life.

It's a huge problem, yes. When state policy is to frighten people into compliance, that can't just be switched off. It's going to have lasting effects.

I dread to think of the amount of people still scared of the virus
Yes, I know someone who is still disinfecting shopping and another who doesn't like to really go out anymore.

I'm no longer washing my Tesco shopping or only socialising outdoors, but I do feel anxious now in crowded indoor spaces. I met friends at the pub last night and took the DC swimming today. I felt quite on edge in both places as they were busy and no one (including me!) was wearing masks. I do wonder how long it will take me to feel blasé about that sort of thing again.

I think that looking back, we were pelted very quickly into the mindset of “don’t go outside - you’ll die” and now equally quickly to “back to normal chaps” after a very very long time. I personally am finding it hard to uncurl - possibly if the first stage had been shorter it would be easier but after two years, there does feel some long term/ permanence to mindset

I think that looking back, we were pelted very quickly into the mindset of “don’t go outside - you’ll die” and now equally quickly to “back to normal chaps” after a very very long time
Exactly
You can't just expect everyone to just automatically switch from that

so whats the answer?

Of course. At the most extreme end, my friend is an OT and one of his patients has not left her house for almost two years now. She's so terrified of covid she won't leave to get a vaccine or let a HP into the house to give her one. He's hoping to build her up to the stage where she'll have a socially distanced conversation with him at the door. That would be significant progress.

Obviously that's a very extreme example, but many people internalised the 'you will die if you get covid' and are struggling to get over that.

MiL had some anxieties pre pandemic, but the last two years have made things so much worse. I don't know if she will ever properly recover. She will at least see close family now, and has accepted hugs from her grandchildren - she wouldn't come near them until she was vaccinated, I found that very hard.

The messaging and media reporting at the beginning was terrifying as a way of making us all comply. The loss of regular routines, way of life and social contact triggered a lot of mental health issues. I think the longevity of it hasn't helped and the subsequent mixed messaging and erosion of public trust makes people continue to feel very unsafe. All of this has meant an explosion in mental health difficulties for children and adults.

I have massive anxieties around covid, I'm cev. I won't socialise indoors. I hate feeling like this but can't seem to shake it! I look at friends getting on with life and going back to normal, I can't even go into a supermarket.

so whats the answer

I don't know
I can only speak from my perspective, which is where I'm following the rules/guidelines but at the same time making sure I make myself go out, as the more I stay in the more I feel the need to have to stay in if that makes sense?!

My only MH concern with Covid is that I clearly know now that noone gives a shiny shit about me and my profession. I say that flippantly but it really has triggered depression.

I look at friends getting on with life and going back to normal, I can't even go into a supermarket

YANBU. I sometimes share an office with someone who compulsively sanitises her hands all day. I think she’s starting to get better but it’s slow progress.
Some children in my kids class have clearly been affected by their parents anxieties too.
Sad.

It's had a huge effect on young people, I think in particular the pre-teen and young teen group. Many that were prone to things like anxiety have had it ramped up to the max.

I also know quite a number of people who were previously inclined to be somewhat anxious about things like germs or health, and they have really become overwhelmed by anxiety or obsessive type behaviours.

It's a big worry. There are some people I know who.... I just don't see a pathway out of this.

They spent 2020 hiding at home reading panic-porn on the news--Eric Feigl Ding/Indy Sage types.... the kind who post stuff all day long about how the virus invades your brain and harpoons internal organs and even mild cases are going to give you chronic disability.... all that kind of stuff. And I suppose they based their actions on the idea that "When covid is gone, I can get back to normal."

And by mid 2021, I think everyone was finally starting to wake up to what should have been obvious for a while--that the virus is going endemic, it will never disappear, and everyone's going to keep catching it throughout their lives.

I am honestly not sure how these people are going to return to normality---they've read too much scary stuff. The fact the virus has been mostly defanged with vaccines is not enough. The mere knowledge that the virus IS OUT THERE is enough to ensure that they can't do normal stuff again. And the virus always WILL be "out there."

I think they have essentially signed themselves up for a lifetime of terrible mental health (because of the fear itself and because they are basically going to wind up living in this incredibly isolated manner). It's really quite awful to think about. And it's not just a few people either.

I also know quite a few people who have fallen down the opposite rabbit hole--- they started off being skeptical about covid and it's become the gateway drug for believing in more and more conspiracy theories. They are so angry at governments, at other people, at their own friends and families. That's worrying too.

I'm one of these people. I lost several family members in 2020 and so my mindset is stuck in that time really. I socialise outdoors most of the time (not a problem) and feel incredibly panicky around people (horrible), avoid going out with people who don't take a LFT that day, don't wear masks etc. I'm really not sure how to adjust to living with the fear. I don't want Covid, am afraid it will cause me irreparable harm and that's at the forefront of my mind every time I think about going out. It hasn't stopped me leaving the house but definitely impacts on my wellbeing.

I’m a HCP, and have been seeing patients face to face throughout the pandemic, very few of whom can wear masks. Somehow I ended up in a situation where I was trying to offset this risk by drastically reducing my risk of catching covid in other areas of my life, and I was also terrified might pass it on to family or friends if I had caught it at work. I was going to the petrol station or supermarket late in the evening and having no social contacts at all. I am slowly getting back to doing more but I always wear a mask in shops etc and I still rarely see friends. Relaxing of the rules is great but has heightened my anxiety again. I had covid in the summer, wasn’t unwell and didn’t pass it on to anyone, even my household, so I should be a lot more comfortable about it than I am.

It's a huge problem for a lot of people including children. My ds aged 11 is autistic and the last 2 years has really heightened his anxiety as well as other thinks going on non lockdown related (like death of a relative and other things). He is struggling badly and we aren't managing as a family anymore. We are going to be referred to Camhs but been told the waiting list is at least 2 years 🤯

I have one friend I think is heading this way, she’s still very tense about it all. Completely freaking out about compulsory isolation ending.

@BitterTits are you a teacher by any chance?

The government did stat they set out t o do - fear in People not to go out - fear in people to not see loved ones - fear in people to get the vaccine.

What are they doing about the people that are still utterly terrified?? Nothing!! Huge mental health crisis!

It's a huge problem. When you look back at the very scary 'could you look them in the eyes' posters which were around at the same time as the government who signed them off were partying it makes me sick.

I think this was always going to happen if you drill into people that they will die if they leave the house because of something that no one can see.

Hopefully those not too affected will see everyone else getting on with life and FOMO will eventually venture out and realise that they didn't die.

For those severely affected I suspect may just end up becoming more and more isolated.