[splitimage]

Things are slowly opening up here. We still have to wear masks indoors and on transit, but a lot of services like hair salons have been finally able to reopen, but most of my health care appointments are all still virtual.

But last week, I was asked to be in a video for my psych hospital. I assumed it would be recorded over WebEx, which is how all my work for the hospital has been since March 2020. But when I said I'd do it, the staff member said great I'll meet you in the main building lobby. And it kind of freaked me out a little bit.

And on Mon. I start work at my new job, and I have to go into an office to do it. I also have to take transit to get there. Being on a subway makes me nervous, even though I'll have a mask on and I'm fully vaccinated.

I don't know - I'm glad things are opening up and restrictions lifting, but it feels vaguely unsettling.

Anyone else feeling this way?

splitimage

[WovenGalaxy]

I live in the states. I felt this way for a long time as things opened up. I've been feeling much better about it all lately. Maybe even just the time that's passed and I've gotten more used to things. I went into the grocery store here without my mask (its not required anymore for vaccinated people - though I dislike this "vaccine honor system" - in my view, the people least likely to wear a mask are the unvaccinated). Anyway, I can totally relate, though I've also acclimated to the change now.

[Mountaindewed]

I’m glad things are better and that things seem for the most part under control in the United States. I like that I can do in person therapy sessions and go out to eat now. However, I am terrified about returning to work soon. And that’s the kind of normalcy that scares me a bit.

[downandlonely]

We opened in Texas way too soon. It is kind of scary, because many refuse to get vaccinated or wear masks. And it has become very political. The governor is on the side of those who are not being careful. I'm fully vaccinated, so not so worried about me. But I bet the virus will continue to spread through the unvaccinated and mutate.

I have been using covid as a bit of a safety net. for once in my life, I didn't feel so bad about doing nothing with my life- everyone was doing the same thing

but now everyone is returning to their lives and their jobs, and I don't have anything to return too.

that's the unsettling part for me- before covid I had nothing, after covid I have nothing

I feel like my life was in lockdown way before the pandemic..

[*Beth*]

I am beyond delighted to leave pandemic living in the past. Good-bye masks (for the most part), good riddance to teletherapy!


I will mention, though, my therapist said she's helping several clients to cope with the return to "normal." Some people are having a hard time adjusting.

[The_little_didgee]

I'm happy society is returning to normal. Almost everyone I know is happy about it.

My only worry is being on packed city buses with sick people. I don't like people breathing on me, nor do I like smelling them, so I'll probably keep wearing masks on public transit after the mandate is lifted.

I've been taking the bus to work since May 17th. It hasn't been too bad. Most people are still maintaining a wide space around them. I haven't noticed any ill person on the bus which is really odd. Prior to the pandemic, it was a common sight. There is a lot more "sick etiquette" now, even at work. I really appreciate that.

[eskielover]

I never left normal in my little country farm community in the first place so nothing is different except finally seeing others not wearing masks in stores. Social activities are happening again but then had social events with close friends anyway just the level of social has increased & I am limiting it anyway due to the work load around my farm. Nothing has changed one way or the other during this

[Breaking Dawn]

I feel nervous seeing the grocery store clerks not wearing masks now. On tv they say there are new covid strains out there that the vaccines don't include. So it seems to me like I should continue being careful. And I worry about the clerks being in contact with so many people throughout the day, then going home to their families & friends. I still wear the mask & use rubbing alcohol on my hands when I leave the store.

[Skeezyks]

For me, the pandemic was a support for my reclusive lifestyle. It was no longer just my choice to isolate. It was required. Now, with things opening up, it's back to being more of a personal choice, which I can live with. But it was nice having that pandemic back-up. So, from that perspective, yes... having things open back up is vaguely unsettling for me as well.

[MuseumGhost]

I'm experiencing the same kinds of jolts and worries that others here seem to be having. The un-masked and the too-close-for-comfort people are back out in force already, even though we really haven't reached our ideal second-vax percentages yet. And they are the same people who probably flaunted the guidelines all along, so yes, I give them a wide berth wherever possible. Just going to get groceries lately does raise my blood pressure, too, I can tell. I know I would be extremely affected if I also had to rejoin these same people in a work environment.

My depression has backed off considerably in the last two years, but I still am plagued by a fair amount of anxiety--- and yes, especially social anxiety. So, for everyone who is feeling uncomfortable outside of their homes, and at work and out in public generally, I feel you!

Your best bet is getting that second dose ASAP, and continuing to follow guidelines from scientific and medical experts, not opinion-makers. I had already developed a more stringent hand-washing and sanitizing routine to protect myself from the germ-laden public (because I'm getting older, fast), months before Covid became a household word. I will have no problems carrying on doing that. And, isolating? Ha! It's my middle name.

[Mountaindewed]

I still wear my mask everywhere. I’ve been fully vaccinated for a month and 2 weeks. I sometimes get strange looks from people who don’t have masks on. I did forget my mask a couple weeks ago on a quick trip to the gas station. The employees weren’t wearing masks either. I didn’t panic or worry about it. I’m not caught up on the news and the variants though.

I guess my biggest fear right now is things getting bad enough that places like therapy offices will go fully back to telehealth. Since they were the first places to shut down. Telehealth sessions were the only things that truly screwed me over last year.

One therapist I was thinking of working with isn’t going back to in person until December.

[lizardlady]

Splitimage, I'm struggling too. I read an article that said a lot of people are struggling. So we are not alone.

I'm slowly starting to relax about not wearing my mask, but still wear it in a lot of places.

[poshgirl]

What's unsettling is it will be the new normal, not the old normal. Perhaps something positive will come out of it.

Here in the UK, the government has made many mistakes. Not shutting borders immediately is the main one. Appears a trade deal with India was more important than protecting UK residents. Not being racist here, as borders should have been closed to everyone, until they could sort out who could safely be let in.

After 19 July, it seems we won't have to wear face masks. Another mistake. Even double-jabbed people can still be carriers.

How will I react? Will I still wear a mask if I judge my surroundings warrant it? YES! Will I socially distance in queues such as supermarket checkout? YES! It's really easy with a trolley, lol! Even pre-Covid, I didn't want the person behind breathing down my neck.

There's a lot to be learned from this pandemic but for some, it will fall on deaf ears.

[Breaking Dawn]

Thank you, @poshgirl, for your comments! I feel the same way here in the U.S.

[downandlonely]

It has not been handled well in certain states in the US.

There was a church camp last weekend near my city, and many of them caught the Delta variant. I bet most were unvaccinated and not wearing masks.

Good news is that they have found that all the vaccines available in the US (Pfizer, Moderna, and J&J) will at least keep you out of the hospital if you get the Delta variant. But with so many unvaccinated, I won't be surprised if there are many more deaths.

[MuseumGhost]

There are an awful lot of mixed messages out there. I think it's wise to pay attention what your County/ Regional health experts are saying about how to continue through all of this. If one only watches national news outlets, the picture can get rather confusing.

To illustrate: The vaccines here in Southern Ontario (we're very close to border crossing in New York State, and Michigan, for those unfamiliar with the geography) were not as widely available as they were in NYS, for example. People in NY are assuming that since Canada is also a first world country, we're also all up-to-date-with BOTH vaccines by now, and many are shouting for the Border to be opened and have done with it. But that does not take into consideration any of the facts of life for us here in S. Ontario, where the picture is very different from NYS. Only older people are eligible, at this point, where I live, for 2nd doses. We have a way to go before we are all caught up to the level of doubly-vaxxed folks in NY. It's like we're a little island here, secluded all on our own.

I wish people would check news outlets besides all the big national ones, I really do! They're flipping out before they have all the facts.

Plus, I don't think throwing everything open so quickly is a great idea. So much of the world hasn't even had one shot, yet. Don't even get me started on the potential for further worries, there (because 'Worry' is my other middle name!).

[lizardlady]

Splitimage, I saw my pdoc today. He told me he encounters a lot of people who are struggling with the changes.

[unaluna]

Yeah im still staying in. A neighbor told me that one or more apartment maintenance people are not vaccinated. She goes, "he's a disease vector!" I laughed, but... yeah. I am keeping my distance and keeping masked. Its not over. Because its only ever over for YOU when youre dead. So stay alive. Dont worry about what other people think or do.

[MuseumGhost]

Yes, the unvaccinated crowd is a troubling modern fact of life. They obviously don't understand the risks they're posing to everyone --- to the whole world, in fact.

The variants being more easily transmitted, and causing such worse infections, is enough to keep me at home, still.

It's all very worrisome for me.