Light at the End of the Tunnel of Covid

[Debi]

We're all beginning to see that light at the end of the scary tunnel we've all been traveling this last year. It's been a really dark walk and used up a bunch of the batteries in our life flashlights and melted a few candles leaving us stuck in a puddle of quarantine wax here and there. But...the light is there.

Many of us have been vaxed and we are beginning to venture out into that light one wary step at a time. Some of us are experiencing some very strange feelings....anxiety, concern about how safe things really are, and some confusion. It's been noted by the experts that many of us may be dealing with a bit of PTSD.

This thread is here so you can voice your feelings as we take the first steps and to offer insight as we move forward. To make it clear, it's not for arguments over what or who caused all this or why we should or should not feel what we are feeling. Whatever you feel right now is valid and real to you. Are you not yet comfortable eating out? Still worried about mask on or off? How do we interact in the "in between" time of still in tunnel but almost out?

It's also to offer up insights on how to navigate forward out of the tunnel. With that, I offer you the first interesting and thoughtful article about The Light at the End of the Tunnel.

Dr. Sanjay Gupta and his wife get personal about the pandemic in 'Chasing Life' | CNN

"Well, thank you for doing my podcast," CNN Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta says to the first guest in "Chasing Life." "Did you know I had a podcast?" "Yes," replies his wife, Rebecca. "It comes on my Alexa every day."

www.cnn.com

 

[Debi]

As a Window Opens, a Plea for Patience and Grace

A sobering anniversary coincides with guarded optimism about the road ahead.

www.wsj.com

 

[GoneWestUtah]

My wife suffered a concussion in an auto accident over three years ago, so has been stuck at home since then. The Pandemic for her only meant that we didn't go out to eat or do much of anything on weekends. Otherwise life wasn't changed much for us. I work for a company considered an "essential service" by the government so never had to face a layoff, or even work from home, for which my job currently has no such option. With my hands full taking care of my wife anyway, the pandemic actually made certain things a lot easier for me.
One daughter lives locally but is in the thick of her career and also an "essential worker" on the engineering team for a local medical manufacturer, and during normal times we were lucky to see her once or twice a month. We allowed her to visit during the pandemic but we all remained masked except to eat. However another daughter lives in Tampa and it's been nearly two years since we last saw her. She is flying out around the end of June for a couple of weeks so that will be great. When the local daughter became "fully vaxed", the masks came off at home and that was wonderful.
I did lose some acquaintances to COVID, sadly.
We became very good at scrounging and making-do, habits that I hope stick with us into our dotage as my earning potential evaporates.

I am just living life as best as I know how, regardless of the circumstances. Nothing ever remains the same. Increased freedom and choices this summer are welcome, it will be interesting to see how long it takes to put pandemic habits in the rear-view mirror. Will it ever return to the way it was completely? I doubt it, but maybe we can come close.

 

[Debi]

My wife suffered a concussion in an auto accident over three years ago, so has been stuck at home since then. The Pandemic for her only meant that we didn't go out to eat or do much of anything on weekends. Otherwise life wasn't changed much for us. I work for a company considered an "essential service" by the government so never had to face a layoff, or even work from home, for which my job currently has no such option. With my hands full taking care of my wife anyway, the pandemic actually made certain things a lot easier for me.
One daughter lives locally but is in the thick of her career and also an "essential worker" on the engineering team for a local medical manufacturer, and during normal times we were lucky to see her once or twice a month. We allowed her to visit during the pandemic but we all remained masked except to eat. However another daughter lives in Tampa and it's been nearly two years since we last saw her. She is flying out around the end of June for a couple of weeks so that will be great. When the local daughter became "fully vaxed", the masks came off at home and that was wonderful.
I did lose some acquaintances to COVID, sadly.
We became very good at scrounging and making-do, habits that I hope stick with us into our dotage as my earning potential evaporates.

I am just living life as best as I know how, regardless of the circumstances. Nothing ever remains the same. Increased freedom and choices this summer are welcome, it will be interesting to see how long it takes to put pandemic habits in the rear-view mirror. Will it ever return to the way it was completely? I doubt it, but maybe we can come close.

My story is similar as I have been essentially homebound for almost 3 years as well. I was "isolating" before it was a "thing"! lol So I adapted fairly well for myself, but it sent our household into a turmoil when our bonus child had to move out to keep us safe.

Those that have OCD or germaphobic issues have suffered a lot during this. My son is one of those and although now fully vaxed, his mind set has an increased anxiety from this whole thing. He has extreme social anxiety so he was already at expert level of social distancing before this started. It's going to take awhile for him to come back down to his own "normal".

Not seeing my out of state children and grandchildren has been a real issue for us. We are planning for a late August visit from them. Due to a medical issue with my daughter in law's mom it will be about then before they can make the trip out here but Peoria son may plan for a weekend here on his own before then.

My biggest issue now is relaxing when I go somewhere and feeling "safe". After not feeling "safe" for over a year, it's something I'm working on.

 

[garnetsilver]

I was mostly housebound before this all started, too. My health issues actually worked in my favor, since I didn't have to give up a job (or cancel a lot of social obligations, lol.) I am retired from working in healthcare; ironically, due to health issues. Mr. Garnet's work is essential, having to do with medical equipment. So I am extremely grateful that we were not impacted by financial hardship, as so many were.

Debi, thanks for posting those articles. I suddenly broke down crying as I realized that it is finally okay to acknowledge that a light is showing at the end of the tunnel! And as I realized how much I had been afraid. I know that we shouldn't entirely abandon caution, but I find that I am still nervous about doing things like dining out, or walking in a park with lots of people. I have gotten slightly agoraphobic!

The good things that have come out of this pandemic is that I have three new cats in my family, two came to me right before March, when things got scary, and the other during the pandemic. I also have read of people losing loved ones and friends, and marriages that just couldn't bear up under the strain. So there is lots to be thankful for. And best of all, I am not sure how well I could have held up without my PNF family. It is truly magical that we are able to reach out and support each other here!

 

[GoneWestUtah]

I remember how deserted the roads were last March. For a few months, I had my commute mostly to myself. But with fewer cars on the road, speeds started picking up. Now traffic is back to pre-pandemic levels here but speeds haven't come back down, and the state troopers have been very busy as a result.

 

[Debi]

I remember how deserted the roads were last March. For a few months, I had my commute mostly to myself. But with fewer cars on the road, speeds started picking up. Now traffic is back to pre-pandemic levels here but speeds haven't come back down, and the state troopers have been very busy as a result.

I've heard from my son about this. We live in farm country so we have had a lot of warnings from all over to remember the "tractor factor" and slow down with all the tractors on the roads between fields. Plus, it's Indiana so the road crews are in full swing right now. Traveling just 15 miles to and from a doctor appt. yesterday took over twice the usual time because of all the road crews out there so that's slowed things down a bit here.

 

[Debi]

The CDC issued new guidelines on masks yesterday. If you are fully vaxed, you no longer need to wear a mask indoors or outdoors except where it is specifically stated, ie planes, hospitals, etc. HOWEVER, as one doc told me yesterday, you do what makes you feel most comfortable right now mentally. Bill Maher was fully vaxed and still got Covid. The vaccines are not 100%...no vax is.

This is one of those situations of moving towards that light that may take you some time to trust. That's OK. If you are a compromised patient, you do what makes you feel secure right now.

 

[garnetsilver]

Oh, I love watching Bill Maher! And I, for one, am not going to be giving up that mask just yet. Not until the numbers of infected have dropped drastically from what they are now.

 

[Lynne]

I think I have done ok handling this mentally. I am a social person but know how to self entertain. I am happiest with my horse and knitting. Also I love to read. I do miss being able to smile at people and see faces. I was really feeling hopeful until the India pandemic situation.