The historic COVID crisis is officially over but still present and is causing anxiety, especially for those of us over 50. Variants continue to pop up. Most people are no longer masking but it pays to be on the safe side especially if you are in a crowded space.
According to psychiatric research, the angst it has caused has resulted in avoidance, compulsive symptom checking, worrying, and threat monitoring.
It’s not all in our imaginations
No one wants to get sick even if the symptoms for those who are vaccinated are mild. You don’t know if it will affect you badly so why take chances?
COVID-19 anxiety may even cause you to believe you’re sick or cause a panic attack every time your stomach gets upset, you sneeze or feel an odd pain somewhere in your body.
As seniors, we worry about how we will be taken care of if we have a heart attack, stroke, or appendix attack because we don’t want to be in a hospital with sick people. We hold off talking to our doctors and put off making appointments when something less serious is wrong.
COVID-19 anxiety will forever change the way we do things
It may make you fear taking public transportation, going to events, touching things, and seeing loved ones even though it is no longer an emergency.
How many times have you taken your temperature in the last few years only to find you’re normal? Do you freak out if someone near you coughs or sneezes? I can’t count the number of times I’ve stuck a thermometer in my mouth every time I felt a little warm.
I get jittery walking into a drug store and avoid the flu and cold aisle because people with COVID may have contaminated the shelves. It sounds alarmist but you can’t always help what comes into your mind after what we have all been through.
Still, there are others who pretend it never happened
They refuse vaccinations, don’t mask in crowds, and don’t care if they cough all over you. They are convinced it was never real or was a hoax designed by the government to frighten us.
We still have to live our lives despite the fear
At certain points during the pandemic, I flew in airplanes, took trains and subways, watched movies in movie theatres, went to a concert, and ate in restaurants. I am fully vaxxed but take precautions when necessary. After a trip to the grocery store, I still slather on hand sanitizer when I get in my car and wash my hands when I get home. I never came down with COVID and hope to stay that way.
It’s hard not to have anxiety when others minimize the danger
As seniors, why screw up your respiratory system if you don’t have to?
I understand that people have the right to choose whether or not to be vaccinated but I have zero sympathy for them if they get it. Vaccines have eradicated diseases that used to kill people on a regular basis like polio, measles, tetanus, and smallpox. 98% of those who became deathly ill with COVID were not vaccinated when the disease first broke out or refused to take the shot after it was available. They also complained about wearing masks.
Our new normal will never be the same
COVID anxiety will continue for years. The best thing we can do is take care of ourselves by eating well and exercising, keeping up with vaccinations, and protecting those who are most vulnerable.
After a time we hope that our anxiety will melt away like warm ice cream.
This post was updated on 8/2023.
Have you been stressed out because of the pandemic? How has it affected you? Please leave a comment below.
Carol Cassara says
I think life has changed forever, too. At least our lifetime.
Rebecca Forstadt-Olkowski says
That’s for darn sure!
Karen BakingInATornado says
Yes, it would be stressful even if we were all doing everything we can for the greater good, but to be in the opposite situation and with the death toll sky high, I can’t imagine anyone not being anxious about it all.
Rebecca Forstadt-Olkowski says
I completly agree Karen.
Alana says
Yes, I’m anxious. Not in the same way I was in April of 2020 when I would call family in New York City and hear ambulances continuously wailing in the background (and thought of what they were going through down there). But even now, I have curtailed travel and indoor dining. I’ve also delayed my colonoscopy into next April, which hopefully was not a mistake. I don’t hide in the basement but I never stopped wearing masks indoors when I shop or go to a museum or library. New York, where I live, never dropped masks in medical settings and I am grateful for that (our statewide mask mandate is back, too, at least into part of January.)
Rebecca Forstadt-Olkowski says
It sounds like you are doing everything right, Alana. I had a colonoscopy during COVID. They tested me before hand and it went well. I’m glad I did it as all was okay.
Lauren says
I’m not longer stressed about it. Maybe because I got it? With this new strain I figure chances are good most will get it. I do what I can though to make everyone as comfortable as I can. I wear a mask everywhere or I stay home.
Rebecca Forstadt-Olkowski says
That’s great that you are still masking and being careful but sorry you got it. I hope it was a mild case.
snow rider 3d says
At least our lifetime.
usps tracking says
Many thanks for the insightful information you provided. It has been difficult for me to come up with numerous queries pertaining to this matter. I shall walk in your footsteps!