Anxiety about lockdown lifting

[pulisa]

I think there's been a lot of "can't wait to start socialising again" stuff in the media and newspapers and for those who need to be constantly around other people the last year must have been awful. For those of us who are more "private" it just makes you feel as if you're the exception to the rule but I'm sure there must be loads of people like us who can live happily without socialising or being out and about all the time.

All I've done is shop frequently in a "safe" supermarket. I'm looking forward to being able to go to a tea room but that's about it to begin with. As for people coming into my house..I'll delay that as much as I can!

[glassgirlw]

Well said, Pulisa!! And I agree! I’ve had groceries delivered since the beginning of last March. I haven’t been in a store since then either, except for maybe 3-4 times - and they’re very small stores with few people. I don’t really miss getting out and about. I go to work every day, that’s all the socializing I need. Although I do have a very small group of friends that I do miss being able to sit indoors with, so that part I’m looking forward to. We would get together every couple of weeks and play D&D or board games - that was always fun. So if I’m looking forward to anything, it would be doing that again soon! It’s just not the same playing online!

[ankietyjoe]

I think it's probably important to take a step back and have a think about the reality of lockdown.

It has been widely reported that people have suffered greatly in terms of their mental health, and that human beings are social creatures.

I've never been massively social, I've never needed a wide circle of friends, but that doesn't mean I never socialised, quite the opposite. I used to be 'out' all the time when I was younger and the first time I lived alone I realised how lonely I was. Oddly, it was during the time I was living alone that my first bout of serious panic hit me, like a ton of bricks. I was able to notice the change, from feeling lonely and wanting to be out with people to being a complete hermit and not even wanting to leave one room. That only took 3-4 months.

In some respects I think lockdown has been a stealth bonus for a lot of anxiety sufferers as it allowed the agoraphobia to become normalised. I know for myself I absolutely made sure I was out every day (permitted) and I was the one that went shopping when needed, just in case I started slipping back into old habits.

Although I can understand the anxiety of going back to normal, it does have to happen. We do need to be out in the daylight, interacting with other people. Not doing so is a problem, even if you feel it's more beneficial.

[Pamplemousse]

Although I can understand the anxiety of going back to normal, it does have to happen. We do need to be out in the daylight, interacting with other people. Not doing so is a problem, even if you feel it's more beneficial.

For you, maybe. But for some of us, *not* having to tolerate the average mouth-breather we encounter on a daily basis has been a blessing.

[ankietyjoe]

For you, maybe. But for some of us, *not* having to tolerate the average mouth-breather we encounter on a daily basis has been a blessing.

I agree, but you're missing my point. Not having interaction with anybody isn't good for you at all. Even being in lockdown with 3 other people (me) isn't enough.

[Lencoboy]

For you, maybe. But for some of us, *not* having to tolerate the average mouth-breather we encounter on a daily basis has been a blessing.

I totally understand what you're saying PM, but we cannot carry on shutting ourselves away forever more.

Yes we still need to continue wearing masks indoors, social distancing, and keep sticking to all the existing Covid rules in the meantime, but we need to bite the bullet at some point.

And if things happen to go pear-shaped we just reinstate the restrictions again, if necessary, plus the vaccine manufacturers will attempt to tweak them hopefully in order to address any possible ineffectiveness against new Covid variants, should they arise.

People are still entitled to continue shutting themselves away in their own homes if they so wish to do so, as it's a free country.

[Pamplemousse]

I agree, but you're missing my point. Not having interaction with anybody isn't good for you at all. Even being in lockdown with 3 other people (me) isn't enough.

I must have missed the bit where you became a qualified expert in mental health. Again - this is in YOUR opinion. Once again, you're applying your personal view to everyone - and you are WRONG.

I will repeat - some of us have welcomed being able to avoid opinionated arses IRL and are dreading being put back into contact with selfish and imbecilic morons.

Today I am working alone - and it's bliss.

[ankietyjoe]

I must have missed the bit where you became a qualified expert in mental health. Again - this is in YOUR opinion. Once again, you're applying your personal view to everyone - and you are WRONG.

I will repeat - some of us have welcomed being able to avoid opinionated arses IRL and are dreading being put back into contact with selfish and imbecilic morons.

Today I am working alone - and it's bliss.

Wow, calm down lol.

I might remind you that ONE of us is recovered, and whether you like working alone or not, it ain't doing you much good.

You can't pull the 'you aren't qualified card' every time you disagree with something or don't like what they say. Well, you can....can't you.

[Pamplemousse]

Wow, calm down lol.

"Lol" - are you a child?

Don't pretend you speak for me, you know nothing of me.

[pulisa]

I think we need to accept that we all have different emotional needs and it's ok not to want or need social contact.

Some people don't want to be hugged..It's not a crime or a defect-it's personal choice and should be respected. I always remember my son saying that he'd rather stab himself than have me hug him. It's an invasion of personal space for him but I get that and appreciate him telling me how he feels.

I think it's more important to be aware of people's choices and to understand and abide by them without bringing personal opinion into the equation.