I was watching an episode of 9-1-1 last night and it was the first episode of season 4 where they're just starting to come out of the initial lockdowns in 2020. Reminded me of what a terrifying time it was for many people and also how that even 3 years later I've only just started feeling safe about going out in public more and not wearing a mask all of the time. Still mask up in hospitals. at the GP surgery and on crowded trains, but I actually now feel safe going into public spaces without masking up first.
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The Aunty Social Forum. A place for introverts, quiet folk and those who want to escape the chaos of social media. Autism - Social Anxiety - Introversion - Neurodivergent - United Kingdom - UK
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Yes, the hybrid approach to life has definitely made things easier and feels like the new normal now. And yes, the feeling of risk and risk assessing everything is still there at the back of my mind.
It was really scary. I think the very worst part for me was throughout last year, because I had settled into being away from people and throughout 2020 and 2021 I had learnt a lot about myself since my autism diagnosis. I knew I couldn't go back to what I was before, and it was unbearable being forcefully pushed back into "oh it's fine now" when it really didn't feel fine. It felt like someone screaming at me to overtake a car with a huge lorry hurtling towards me, one that only I could see. It's not so bad now, but a hybrid approach to life is definitely more manageable for me.
So, I think it was a double force of fear, social anxiety and virus anxiety. Like you, I don't feel wear a mask as much now but risk in general is always at the back of my mind. This crisis era makes you continuously wonder what is coming next.
I don't think we will ever really go back to life as it was, but if people can find happiness and calm in a way that works for them in the here and now then that's great.
How did everyone else find it?