Is anybody else scared of 'freedom day'

CJ61

I struggle mentally with leaving the house at the best of times but now Im terrified to go out at all. I need to go to the Post Office to get some cash but Im too scared to go in case a person gets close to me or breathes on me. My usual state of anxiety is in overdrive and Im not sure how to deal with it. Im double jabbed but have several health conditions that probably make me vulnerable to Covid. I just dont know what to do. I also have an Occupational Health appointment via Adult Social Care next week to see if there are any aids that might help me. I also have my first Pain clinic coming up and I dont know if I'll be capable of attending because Im scared. Am I the only one who is scared?

janer1967

Hi there 

I am sure you are not alone 

You can still wear a mask and distance your self where possible and i am sure others will be too 

The ot i would think will respect your wishes on entering your home 

At the appointment again you can keep your distance and wear your mask and I would imagine they are still cleaning surfaces and checking temperature before entering 

Oxonlady

Hi @CJ61, I'm sorry to hear that you feel this way and I'm sure that there are many other people who feel the same.

My personal view is different, but that's just me, I wouldn't expect others to think in the same way necessarily.

The way I see it, whether I'm afraid or not makes no difference whatsoever to the way events pan out. It just makes me feel much worse to be in a state of fear. So I might as well just carry on regardless. Unfortunately, we've now come to view the outside world and other people as possible sources of infection and that is not a healthy state of mind. It will take some people years to overcome this and see the world as benign and normal again. 
Since I don't see fear as serving any useful purpose, I prefer to keep calm and hopeful instead. But I won't pretend it's easy if you tend to be anxious. I've been consciously practicing calmness for a long time! 
. 

Cher_Alumni

Hello @CJ61 and thanks for starting such an important thread.  I was wondering how our members were feeling about today as Scope, in conjunction with Yougov, recently carried out some research which found:

... high levels of worry among disabled people over the changes to rules on Monday, with more than half of respondents (54 per cent) saying they felt concerned about their risk of becoming seriously ill.

The survey of 565 disabled people found only 2 per cent of disabled people said they feel safe, 48 per cent said they feel actively unsafe, and 22 per cent will continue to follow restrictions after 19 July, when social distancing will be scrapped and wearing face masks will no longer be mandatory in the majority of public places.

I can appreciate how unsettling this time is, and as the statistics show you unfortunately aren't alone in feeling anxious.  Would a chat with your GP about your concerns help so you could get their input in relation to your individual circumstances?

In terms of your healthcare appointments, I'm sure the staff will be observing best practice still around wearing personal protective equipment and following NHS recommendations.  Although, you might wish to make the staff aware, ahead of time, of your worries so they can offer more insight and reassurance into what will likely happen at the appointment and make provision for any added measures that would help.

Do you have anyone you trust who could go to the post office for you until a time you feel less anxious?  If not, being stringent with wearing a mask, social distancing, hand washing etc are the best precautions.  I know this isn't ideal and I really wish I could make it 100% safe for everyone out there  Do you feel you'll be able to get some cash?

calcotti

Frames Ryan, as usual, has nailed it in this article
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/jul/18/clinically-vulnerable-people-ministers-covid

CJ61

@calcotti Thank you for the link. A very interesting and poignant article. I agree with everything it said and can relate to it.

@Cher_Scope I dont have anybody to get my cash so I have to do it myself unfortunately. Im with the 48% who feel unsafe. I will wear a mask if I go out again even though I know it protects others and not me. It just seems the right thing to do.

Just to make my day even better my car broke down on route (its underused) so had to get it taken to the garage and get a taxi home which I absolutely hate hate hate doing having had a bad experience with a taxi driver in the past. I had no choice this time  due to my spine problems and general anxiety I just cant walk far anymore. I had to ask the driver to wear a mask as he took it off ?????? when I got in the car!! He did do so but I could tell he wasnt happy. I felt physically sick when I got home. Im happy for people who feel safe about things but I do not. I think Id bet a good amount that we will be back in full lockdown again soon. Im all for opening everywhere up but surely it just makes sense to keep masks and social ditancing indoors and that way everybody gets to live a bit more normally again.
Hope you all stay well and are enjoying the sunshine........too blooming hot for me 

Lisatho11987777

Glad we still have to follow rules in wales masks and social distancing 

Leigh14

I’m on the clinically extremely vulnerable list, have had both jabs, but feel terrified at the thought of going out. We all know that vaccinations aren’t a ‘magic cure’, and at first I did feel a sense of relief when I had the 2nd one, but as we’re all aware, people are still dying despite having been vaccinated.

janer1967

I am getting concerned about the rise in cases 

Toby came home today from school saying out of 90 pupils in his year only 24 are in school all others are isolating or got covid 

This is the worst it has been throughput the whole pandemic 

Only 3 days left of school thankfully 

We are due to go away in 11 days and will be gutted if we cant go 

Lisatho11987777

I am on a short break in my camper van with my mum at porthcawl for my birthday hsveing a fab time 

MarkM88

lisathomas50 said:

I am on a short break in my camper van with my mum at porthcawl for my birthday hsveing a fab time 

Enjoy it!