Eleven days into 2022 and my anxiety is again up and down. Decisions being taken by the UK government, and dealing with autism and anxiety around Covid-19, are sending my mental health into overdrive.
Keeping us protected
I like many, are vulnerable and high risk, need the UK government to keep the physical procedures in place so that we can stay protected. It may be that we become pawns, with the PM set to outline his plans for the UK, for us ‘to live with Covid-19.’ I am hoping this pie in the sky decision, will be another u-turn.
Two years in, and there will be thousands of people inevitably less protected now, unless they continue to vaccinate. Many people were settled on a double-jab and booster, but may now begin to re-think the jabs. For those who are continuing to vaccinate, they may even be on their fourth vaccine.
Withdrawing protection for everyone
Many of the provisions in place, such as Lateral Flow Tests and self-isolation are going to be reduced, or withdrawn, as the country is being told to live with the virus. The vulnerable and the high risk, the people who rely on lateral flow tests to meet up with family, may struggle to successfully do that if the mandatory tests are scrapped.
Although they are still expected to be used in high risk settings such as care homes, hospitals and schools, cost cutting measures such as these, will start to affect our physical and mental wellbeing, particularly for those who are no longer eligible. (Source: https://uk.news.yahoo.com).
Even if you're not high risk, avoiding the virus will continue to prove difficult. Any potential chaos of the PM's decisions and of the likely human and economic cost if and when restrictions are lifted, may come later with the further rising of Covid cases, it is difficult to see how what is intended, can be anything but good.
In the meantime, people who are high risk, rely on others to keep them safe. With the 'test and trace' scrapped, not everyone will accurately know if they are positive for Covid, until they present with symptoms.
Countries who have already relaxed restrictions such as the Netherlands and Israel have reimposed social restrictions again, so the UK may also have to reimpose social restrictions. (Source: https://www.theguardian.com)
What is happening is a dangerous start to 2022, but each of us have the power to rise above the problems. When it comes to the virus, being mindful is everything. It is important to take control of your physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing.
A need for us to rethink
I need to look at Covid-19 differently, so that I am more chilled and less anxious about it, but it is difficult with anxiety. I need to get my head around the fact that for me, life is permanently on hold.
I have struggled with that, but I know I can’t change the politicians who have made it clear, they're not willing to keep the precautionary measures in place to keep us safe. Now we have to ask, what kind of government does that?
Right at this point, I wish they would make up their minds about what they're going to do about Covid-19. Restrictions are put in place and the next, they are basically trying to tell us that we should 'just get on and live with it,' and they take the restrictions away.
Those restrictions are there for a reason! The reality is that life isn't going to just magically go back to the way it used to. Politicians are quite insulated from the real world, and what goes on for us, and therefore don't live our lives.
The only way the virus is going to decrease, is if we all do the right things, but sadly that isn't happening. It would be great if we could all work together, so that perhaps we may get back to a somewhat normal life once again.
Thanks Randy. Yes, it makes no sense. I find the whole situation not only stressful, but unnecessary, considering what the scientists have and continue to ask us to do.
The government in the UK introduced the slogan, face, hands, space and it worked to a point, but the messages were continuing to be diluted and I think this is part of the problem.
There are things we can all continue to do, but until governments take Covid-19 seriously without changing their minds on the restrictions, we could reduce Covid significantly, to be able to just live along side it.
There is no hardship masking up, keeping our distance, but still seeing friends or remembering to hand-sanitise. We just have to want to protect ourselves.
With lifting restrictions, which is what we potentially have here in the UK, you're ignoring the science and you want nothing more to do with it. It will be up to each of us to use our own common sense.
I believe restrictions will need to be lifted, but not right now when Omicron is so widespread. As you say countries, which have tried this have had to subsequently reintroduce measures.
I can understand why you may struggle more with your anxiety, given the decisions that are being taken. Looking at the pandemic differently is likely to help with your anxiety.
I have reconciled that it is here to stay, but I am also hopeful that a change in government might see the introduction of common sense into UK public policy. We shall see.
I agree with you. I personally think the face, space and hand precautionary measures should stay together with LFTs for everyone, so we can all comfortably continue to live our lives.
If needs be also we should be distancing where necessary, but not sure I agree with nightclubs etc being opened full time.
We need to see a change in government, hopefully new blood will come with a different attitude and as you say, common sense into UK public policy.