Vaccine anxiety

[User24689]

Hi.

I have suffered from anxiety most of my life but have surprisingly done really quite well throughout the pandemic and my mental health has been pretty good.

The last month or two I seem to have nosedived into terrible anxiety. Not sleeping, constant knot in stomach and a general sense of 'doom' I can't shake. I was not expecting to feel this way when restrictions began to end, it has really surprised me.

Anyway I think a large part of this is a sense of horrible impending panic about the vaccine. I also recognise that this is a socially unacceptable thing to feel fearful of so I I think feel shame attached to it as well which doesn't help. I can't speak to anyone about it at all, so thought I'd post here to stop it going round and round in my head.

I am only 34 so I am not able to book a vaccine yet but most of my friends are older and have already had a vaccine. They do have all had quite severe side effects. My closest friend had hers two weeks ago and couldn't get out of bed for 2 days. I went to visit her during that time and she looked absolutely awful.

I don't understand why these vaccines are producing these side effects and other vaccines dont seem to? I haven't ever had severe side effects from a vaccine before (and I'm normally totally in favour of vaccines btw and dont have a needle phobia or anything) but it seems totally accepted that these covid vaccines make you feel terrible and the school gates chat at the moment seems to be a lot of people saying how shit they made them feel which makes me think they are different somehow to other vaccines and increases my fear of them.

I have 3 v young kids so can't afford to be wiped out by it for days but it's more than not being able to cope with the feeling crap, I think it's the sense that something isn't right and that could very well be my mental health talking, I know.

I think my anxiety comes from the fact I know I can't turn down the vaccine because although they aren't compulsory I feel that they are compulsory in society, just totally expected everyone will have them .in fact the question seems to be 'have you had your vaccine?' like one with my name on is waiting somewhere and I can't remember a time before that medical stuff was so openly discussed and it was expected you could ask this about other people. I don't think I'm making much sense here but basically I'm afraid everyone will be furious with me for not having it so I'm going to have to be forced to do something producing huge anxiety for me due to social pressure. A lady I hardly know marched up to me at the school gate yesterday and told me I could now book my vaccine, before even saying hello. I was quite surprised and said 'um, I don't think so' and she demanded to know how old I was. I just find this whole situation super weird and unsettling.

Is there anyone else out there who can relate to how I'm feeling? Just feeling really alone and tearful this week.

Yes I can relate and feel the same also an anxiety sufferer and needle phobic. I'm older than you so have already been asked to book an appointment for the vaccine. I also totally have experienced the social pressure but I am determined not to have the vaccine until I'm forced to do so by the government and not social pressure. Just tell people you've had it how are they going to know if you've had it or not.

Well firstly you don’t have to have the vaccine, I am older than you and just because of circumstances I haven’t had it yet. I’m not against it I just haven’t had it.
No one has asked.
If they did I would either say “oh yes it’s booked” or I would say “no not yet” depending
Who was asking. Then change the subject.

What help are you getting with your anxiety? Are you having therapy? Medication? Mindfulness? All the usual things?

There is a lot of information out there about why you get side effects with the vaccine, for what it’s worth I also know people who haven’t had any bad effects past an achey arm.

I suppose you have to balance the risk that yes you may end up unwell for a couple of days but you may also get covid and end up very unwell for a few days or more.

You don’t owe an explanation of your health and medical decisions to anyone. Ever. It’s your body and your choice.

I have 3 v young kids so can't afford to be wiped out by it for days

Have you thought about how your look after the kids if you get Covid?

The "side effects" could be far worse, and longer lasting than those you experience from the vaccine.
At least you can plan for the vaccine, and put a plan in place in case you're so ill you can't cope (unlikely). You could catch the illness at anytime, and be v v ill for a long time. Also unlikely, but it seems odd to worry about one scenario and not the other, particularly when one can be planned for.

I can see that if most of your friends have had bad side effects, that would exacerbate your anxiety but anecdotal evidence doesn't necessarily correlate with the statistical picture nationally.

I've been vaccinated as have many of my family, friends and colleagues (some have had 2 doses). Reactions have been either none at all, bit of a sore arm, feeling very tired (but still able to go to work) or a bad headache. I've got my 2nd jab booked for next week and can't wait. Like your experience, this is just anecdotal but it does show that not everyone is wiped out by it.

It might be worth thinking about how you would cope if you caught covid. At the moment, infection rates are pretty low but the risk could go up again because of the Indian variant and because society is opening back up.

It would be hard to cope with 3 young kids if you are unlucky enough to suffer from bad side effects from the covid vaccine but you'd struggle more if you are unlucky enough to catch covid.

By getting vaccinated (against covid but also against other diseases), we protect ourselves and we also protect others as we're less likely to transmit the disease. If a sufficiently high percentage of the population is vaccinated then we can achieve herd immunity and can protect people who have clinical conditions which prevent them from being able to be vaccinated themselves.

You don't have to have it and you don't have to tell anyone whether you did or didn't have it. If they ask then you can just lie if it's a school gate mum being nosy.
It's your own decision.

The side effects are just your immune system kicking in to make antibodies. It's 24hrs of a temp, headache and feeling a bit crap for most people. I've had colds worse than that. Side effects do not in any way indicate that the vaccine is damaging you or anything like that. Flu vaccine has similar side effects.

I have had Covid and I could barely get out of bed for most of 2 weeks. That is classed as a mild case. I was nowhere near being hospitalised but thank goodness my kids are older and that DH and I had it one after the other and not at the same time because I was in no fit state to care for a child and of course no one can help because you have to isolate. Some kind friends did drop off meals.

TLDR- it doesn't harm you, covid is far worse but it's still your own decision and no one else's business if you have it.

Thank you for all your replies and for not being judgemental.

I am on Sertraline for anxiety, yes. A low dose at the moment but maybe need to up it.

Thanks for reassurances on side effects, I just just be unlucky as I know 6 people who weren't able to get out of bed the day after their vaccines. A couple of them aren't good friends and may be exaggerating!

You're absolutely right that covid could be worse, I know this. I think the thing muddling me up is that if 80% of cases are asymptomatic as they reckon then there's only a 20% chance I get any symptoms from it at all let alone get sick enough to not be able to look after kids. Coupled with the fact that in my area there's an 0.011 infection rate just seems so much less likely I'll both catch it and get sick than get sick from the vaccine. But it's true the rates could rise and if I got unlucky I would feel double as bad if I'd avoided the vaccine.

I think I will speak to gp about Sertraline dose as I may be catastrophising and would be able to think clearer if anxiety wasn't talking.

You're right it's none of anyone's business whether people have had the vaccine but certainly in my area it seems to be everyone's business and the main topic of conversation so feel like I was the only one with any concerns at all.

Thank you all for being kind.

Many also have the vaccine with little or no side effects I had AZ nothing but a little tired
My daughter also had AZ she felt had flu like symptoms for 24 hours but as she said far better than getting covid
You can pick up a viral infection in every day life and probably think nothing of it and if you have young children you manage

I have mine next Thursday and I have been stressing myself out about it. Am not bothered at all about the needle its just worrying me about feeling not well the next day. I have work and I can't take he day off and I am worrying that am going to feel poorly. I donhave health anxiety anyway and am on sertraline to try help deal with that. Just hoping am one of the lucky ones who is fine x

It’s an unsettling time for sure, and with such a variety of data coming out about the vaccines that’s confusing too.

I think you know a disproportionate number of people who’ve had significant side effects. I can think of 3 to 4 dozen people I know who’ve had one or both, and only one person who has felt pretty unwell with it (he’s also had long Covid). Everybody else had nothing or little.

It is important to have it I agree. Try not to worry too much.

I suffer with anxiety too and was worried about the side effects. I am early 40’s but have had both vaccines now due to my work. The first one I felt cold and like I was coming down with something about 12 hours after vaccination but took paracetamol and got to sleep okay and woke up feeling off and tired but was well enough to go to work.
Second vaccine all I had was a sore arm. This was with the AZ. I know lots of people that have had AZ and the majority have been fine. Try not to worry X

I suffer with anxiety as well Op and was very nervous about walking into the vaccine hub.
Everyone was very friendly and I actually felt alright having it.
I did feel a bit nervous afterwards and had a racing heart beat, but pretty sure it was anxiety and a few deep breaths and I was ok!
The nurses and staff were lovely and I’m so pleased now I had it.

No side effects so far, I had it yesterday afternoon.

The way I think about it, covid would be worse and I want to be a good role model for my kids. That pushed me to do it!

I have stress and anxiety and I am also a MAJOR needle phobe.

I was more worried about the pain of the actual needle going in my arm I’m absolutely petrified of them. It’s a miracle I even made it to the vaccination centre!
Thankfully, the nurses there were super nice and drew a curtain around me for privacy and got me in and out as soon as they saw my nerves (eyes closed, heavy breathing, knee bobbing, hand tapping ).

I had my first jab yesterday (Oxford/AZ) and I took paracetamol throughout the day afterwards, to try and minimise any effect today.

I’ve woken up with a sore arm and I feel shattered, but so far that’s all 🤞🏼

The side effects are actually just your immune system kicking in.
For what it’s worth, there are other jabs that have these kind of side effects. I know many people who have the flu jab, feel rough after it.

I'm anxious too. I don't take any medications, barely drink and don't smoke. I get anxious about putting anything harmful in my body. I'm also worried if the side effects could set me back in recovery (ED). I've had Covid and wasn't in bed (or sofa equivalent in quilt or anything) for even one day, while many colleagues were in bed for a day or two with the vaccine. I'm never normally unwell so being unwell, possibly for weeks, is a fear for me.

@cariadlet

I can see that if most of your friends have had bad side effects, that would exacerbate your anxiety but anecdotal evidence doesn't necessarily correlate with the statistical picture nationally.

I've been vaccinated as have many of my family, friends and colleagues (some have had 2 doses). Reactions have been either none at all, bit of a sore arm, feeling very tired (but still able to go to work) or a bad headache. I've got my 2nd jab booked for next week and can't wait. Like your experience, this is just anecdotal but it does show that not everyone is wiped out by it.

It might be worth thinking about how you would cope if you caught covid. At the moment, infection rates are pretty low but the risk could go up again because of the Indian variant and because society is opening back up.

It would be hard to cope with 3 young kids if you are unlucky enough to suffer from bad side effects from the covid vaccine but you'd struggle more if you are unlucky enough to catch covid.

By getting vaccinated (against covid but also against other diseases), we protect ourselves and we also protect others as we're less likely to transmit the disease. If a sufficiently high percentage of the population is vaccinated then we can achieve herd immunity and can protect people who have clinical conditions which prevent them from being able to be vaccinated themselves.

"By getting vaccinated (against covid but also against other diseases), we protect ourselves and we also protect others as we're less likely to transmit the disease.*"

• Or you might a bleeding brain and die.

@MottTheHoople - that's a helpful addition to an old thread. Well done.

My pleasure.