FabSwingers.com > Forums > The Lounge > Post Covid Social Anxiety
Post Covid Social Anxiety
Jump to: Newest in thread
 |
By *acey_Red OP Woman
over a year ago
Liverpool |
So I've always been at least a mildly socially anxious person but it's definitely been a lot worse since we've come out of the pandemic. My already clunky at best social skills have withered away. I hoped that socialising more would mean it would come easier as I got back into the swing of things at that muscle memory started to come back but I've just found my anxiety increasing despite wanting to be around people. Anybody else finding the same? |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
|
By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
|
"So I've always been at least a mildly socially anxious person but it's definitely been a lot worse since we've come out of the pandemic. My already clunky at best social skills have withered away. I hoped that socialising more would mean it would come easier as I got back into the swing of things at that muscle memory started to come back but I've just found my anxiety increasing despite wanting to be around people. Anybody else finding the same? "
Can't say it's the same for me. But then I've been out and about the entire time as I'm a key worker. My partner is also a nurse and runs the local covid unit. So I'm well informed about it and what's going on with it.
You'll get there soon enough. But try not to be anxious about it. You have to remember a lot of the fear mongering on the news is just that, fear mongering. |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
|
By *aitonelMan
over a year ago
Liverpool |
If I'm honest, I've found my confidence has grown over the covid period. I'm still socially awkward in a way but my anxiety has shifted slightly for the better. I'm still not a fan of crowds and I much prefer one on one but social interactions are much more relaxed and natural to me than now than they have ever been.
As to why I can't really say why. Nothing has changed much for me as a reason for the shift in mentality with regards to this. |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
|
By *aitonelMan
over a year ago
Liverpool |
"So I've always been at least a mildly socially anxious person but it's definitely been a lot worse since we've come out of the pandemic. My already clunky at best social skills have withered away. I hoped that socialising more would mean it would come easier as I got back into the swing of things at that muscle memory started to come back but I've just found my anxiety increasing despite wanting to be around people. Anybody else finding the same?
Can't say it's the same for me. But then I've been out and about the entire time as I'm a key worker. My partner is also a nurse and runs the local covid unit. So I'm well informed about it and what's going on with it.
You'll get there soon enough. But try not to be anxious about it. You have to remember a lot of the fear mongering on the news is just that, fear mongering."
Unless I'm wrong, it's not covid that has her anxious (though may still could) but actual social interactions regardless of covid. After having almost 2 years of limited socialising, lots of people have become less naturally social and the anxiety comes from that. |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
Yes definitely, was ok managing it pre pandemic and always made sure I'd socialized with people on a regular basis. With Covid that stopped and I just can't seem to push myself into a routine again.
|
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
"If I'm honest, I've found my confidence has grown over the covid period. I'm still socially awkward in a way but my anxiety has shifted slightly for the better. I'm still not a fan of crowds and I much prefer one on one but social interactions are much more relaxed and natural to me than now than they have ever been.
As to why I can't really say why. Nothing has changed much for me as a reason for the shift in mentality with regards to this. "
Weirdly I have found this to be the case for me too. |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
|
By *acey_Red OP Woman
over a year ago
Liverpool |
"So I've always been at least a mildly socially anxious person but it's definitely been a lot worse since we've come out of the pandemic. My already clunky at best social skills have withered away. I hoped that socialising more would mean it would come easier as I got back into the swing of things at that muscle memory started to come back but I've just found my anxiety increasing despite wanting to be around people. Anybody else finding the same?
Can't say it's the same for me. But then I've been out and about the entire time as I'm a key worker. My partner is also a nurse and runs the local covid unit. So I'm well informed about it and what's going on with it.
You'll get there soon enough. But try not to be anxious about it. You have to remember a lot of the fear mongering on the news is just that, fear mongering."
I've worked in clinics and hospitals the whole time myself and my mum worked in ITU. It's not that I'm anxious about covid, it's interactions with people. Weirdly, professionally I don't have that issue but I think that's more having a "work persona" in a way and I'm comfortable in my job and what I'm saying to people. The topic of conversation is familiar, often predictable and comfortable. I guess the dynamic is also different. Even in work though a lot of interaction has been reduced. A lot more is via teams and over the phone and face to face interaction is minimal and mainly with colleagues. I get a bit of anxiety about interactions with colleagues but that's always been the case. |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
|
By *acey_Red OP Woman
over a year ago
Liverpool |
"If I'm honest, I've found my confidence has grown over the covid period. I'm still socially awkward in a way but my anxiety has shifted slightly for the better. I'm still not a fan of crowds and I much prefer one on one but social interactions are much more relaxed and natural to me than now than they have ever been.
As to why I can't really say why. Nothing has changed much for me as a reason for the shift in mentality with regards to this.
Weirdly I have found this to be the case for me too. "
It's definitely interesting how it's gone the opposite way for some. |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
|
By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
|
I've become much more anxious about interactions with people too. And I am a very sociable kind of person. It's just so much harder now and I find it quite exhausting.
At a conference in November, with a couple of hundred people, a lot of people I know said they felt the same. We avoided the extra social events as it was just draining. I think we are all out of practice. Natural to feel more anxious as a result. |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
|
By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago
|
"So I've always been at least a mildly socially anxious person but it's definitely been a lot worse since we've come out of the pandemic. My already clunky at best social skills have withered away. I hoped that socialising more would mean it would come easier as I got back into the swing of things at that muscle memory started to come back but I've just found my anxiety increasing despite wanting to be around people. Anybody else finding the same?
Can't say it's the same for me. But then I've been out and about the entire time as I'm a key worker. My partner is also a nurse and runs the local covid unit. So I'm well informed about it and what's going on with it.
You'll get there soon enough. But try not to be anxious about it. You have to remember a lot of the fear mongering on the news is just that, fear mongering.
Unless I'm wrong, it's not covid that has her anxious (though may still could) but actual social interactions regardless of covid. After having almost 2 years of limited socialising, lots of people have become less naturally social and the anxiety comes from that. "
Fair enough. In that case may I suggest talking to someone. My youngest sister used to have horrendous anxiety. Her therapist used to give her tasks. Simple things like. Spark up a conversation with someone in the supermarket or at the bus stop. Little steps. Anxiety thankfully for the most part is really to overcome. But you'll need some professional help to organise a suitable structure to help you. |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
Work related interaction not an issue, social interactions are another matter. I've never been particularly good at small talk but that becomes exponentially worse as the group become larger, I withdraw into myself. I also hate pissing contests that groups of blokes (and some women though it's a lot less)seem to fall into in these groups. |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
|
By *assy69Man
over a year ago
West Sussex and Powys |
"So I've always been at least a mildly socially anxious person but it's definitely been a lot worse since we've come out of the pandemic. My already clunky at best social skills have withered away. I hoped that socialising more would mean it would come easier as I got back into the swing of things at that muscle memory started to come back but I've just found my anxiety increasing despite wanting to be around people. Anybody else finding the same? "
Yep. Have always been a bit socially awkward. Working from home for past two years has just made me feel more self conscious about it. Started back at office for two days a week, and this is the second week I have been getting out of the house and mixing with people. Like you, am hoping it will get better but will just have to wait and see. |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
|
By *acey_Red OP Woman
over a year ago
Liverpool |
"Work related interaction not an issue, social interactions are another matter. I've never been particularly good at small talk but that becomes exponentially worse as the group become larger, I withdraw into myself. I also hate pissing contests that groups of blokes (and some women though it's a lot less)seem to fall into in these groups."
I feel exactly the same. I'm fine with work or people I know very well but when it's people I know less well it either can feel a bit awkward and jarring or other times like I'm on the outside trying to keep up or pick up on subtleties that feel like another language other people just know. |
Reply privately, Reply in forum +quote
or View forums list | |
» Add a new message to this topic
