Has Covid changed life for you?

Thank you annisixty for this post . Reading other peoples experiences had made me more sympathetic to my older friends and family members who are still very anxious 4 years on from the pandemic. One couple 78 loved their holidays and would have 4-5 trips a year . They haven’t been away for 4 years , not even in the uk . They avoid crowds , trains and buses . They used to love going up to london to the theatre and exhibitions . They’re not CV , have had all the jabs and haven’t had covid .
It’s well documented that school aged children have mental health issues due to covid , so it’s interesting that older people are also affected.

I agree Tenko.
I think we were all driven into such a state of acute anxiety during the lockdowns that many people have not been able to throw off that fear. Combined with the state of the NHS and lack of care in the community many are fearful of falling ill.
Maybe this should be studied and resources put in place to help people get back into some form of society. But as there are few resources available for child mental health I doubt if that is likely.

I take my hat off to my 84 year old friend who has had several quite serious heart problems over the last few years, but that has not stopped her from going to a local spa every day to swim and also to chat to everyone and anyone there. That has kept her buoyant. I think the just getting out if you can daily for a short walk and a chat to anyone is a help. So many little things we took for granted before Covid. So many changes since including favourite shops closing for good and the High Street changing.

Just adding to my comment about favourite shops closing, our local MS closed. And that was a place to have a wander, have a coffee and often have a chat to a stranger with whom for just 10 minutes you build up such a rapport. You didn't need to even buy anything clothes wise just have a good look. That's probably one reason why they closed.

My life has changed a lot since Covid. Had volunteered for over 27 years in a Charity shop after being told that I could no longer work due to the state my spine & hips were in after an early hip replacement. When Covid Lockdowns hit the shop had to close then just as we were picking up again another Lockdown! So not being as active as I had been seemed to give Rheumatoid Arthritis a chance to jump in & join the Osteo Arthritis I had been told at age 21 I had. So became harder to get about. Moved to be nearer to family & now spend most days just reading or doing nothing as everything now hurts more thanks to RA! Have no friends locally & had only one nearby after 3 friends died in one year! Even with not going out I still caught Covid. Horrid experience as felt so ill! So my life has all but disappeared thanks to Covid! Miss my volunteering but at 79 do not feel capable of starting again!

Covid changed me. I have Long Covid. Many people have LC worse than I do, but I can no longer do what I did. Helping my daughter choose her wedding dress meant spending almost a week on and off the sofa afterwards. The fatigue means no proper walks any more. No more Am Dram as it affected how my brain worked for a while. Before L C I could memorise pages of script (main character roles) with no problem. I couldn't remember 4 lines afterwards. LC has had some benefits. I think I'm less inclined to rush into decisions and less immediately reactive to irritations. It's made me much more aware of my own mortality - but that's a good thing.

yes I suffer long covid,affected my whole system from head to toe, cannot read for long,brain fog, life sometimes feels like it is in lock down, it's grim......

I totally agree with you. Before Covid I was a very happy cheerful very active person.
Now I’m the shell of myself. I hate going out. I make plans to go to community activities and then when the time comes I can’t go - no motivation. I hate going to the shops, rarely go for ‘coffee’ - very low morale. My two eldest live in France where before Covid, I’d go to see them 2/3 times a year. I’ve been once since! I feel I’m waiting for God!
Money is tight, but just no motivation. I had counselling which I loved but it’s so expensive, I’ve had to stop. Not a gym goer.
Daytime tv is my friend as is Gransnet -
Thank you

Annsixty I empathise. I didn't get Covid until December 2021 and was virtually symptomless BUT:
I knew people who caught it and died. A family member was on a ventilator for 3 months, although she survived but has subsequently died.
In 2020 after months of being depressed with restrictions, my OA worsened resulting in a great lack of mobility and a total hip replacement in 2021. Second hip had to be replaced early 2024.
My job ended by chance at the beginning of the first lockdown and my husband retired in 2021. Plans for travel were cancelled and at 72 and 74 we have not so many years ahead of us when we can travel abroad.
I remain not as mobile as before the pandemic and mentally will never be the same.

Hi annsixty thank you for posting, I had little idea that other people had similar results in lifestyle post covid.

If a person had asked me 4 years ago, would I be a mostly indoors person, I would have thought the comment was strange.

But now I don’t go out, felt shakey and unsteady the last two times I did, so prefer staying in.

A friend comes around for tea once a month, my pastor pops around every three weeks or so plus most of my human contact is by social media.

A very different world.

Warm wishes to others here on GN living with changes post covid.

I moved house during lockdown 100 miles away nearer our son. 12 miles from him. Knew no-one else just his family.
Had to stay locked down with grocery delivery for 1.5 years.
Thanks to government warm initiative giving money for daytime clubs for the elderly we have three a month nearby. One funded by the church. Made friends . Enjoy chats, card playing, quizes, dominoes, bingo once or twice. Taken my neighbours and expanded their social circle.
Other things are on too occasionally in the hall now yoga, line dancing, bowls. Just hope it doesn't stop with government changes coming. Local bus to town for shopping used to be hourly. Changed to two hourly last year. Three hourly this year sadly.
To nearest town times are 5 am, 9am when bus pass can't be used if elderly/disabled. Then 1pm lunchtime! Then 4pm too late if you need a Dr or dentist! When they talk of encouraging cars off the roads bus services are decimated and lost altogether in Many towns and villages.
Many over 50s clubs in neighbouring villages and towns. Supplying hot drinks and food too if people could only get there.
Donations welcome but not necessary.
Isolated by government neglect.

Definitely after covid my husband aged 73 decided marriage wasn't for him I was post total knee replacement op when he left a note divorce it is. Walked off with 1/2 the money from our house never mind I had been widowed at 34 and I owned 75% of the house.

I personally do not know anyone whose life is significantly different now to what it was before the pandemic.

Things are back to normal, children back at school, adults at work etc.

Obviously, life was different during the pandemic, but surely no-one is still isolating themselves, fearing infection?

I am going to make myself very unpopular now.

I do think that we are all responsible for our own lives and have to be determined to take ourselves in hand when we get pushed back.

Like many here my life became very insular during COVID and frankly left me very lazy when lif opened up again, it was too much effort to get up and go to meetings, if I could zoom them, and if I can't I couldn't be bothered. I hardly drove so I began to feel lacking in confidence there as well.

Now I was also dealing with DHs health problems, but I was stressed and low and decided that the only way to iproce matters was to grit my teeth and do something about it. So I forced myself to go to meetings, to attend gatherings. I took over all the driving for aa month when we had at least long round journeys on motorways and by night and day.

The result is now all my confidence driving has returned, I have just returned from a weekend away, which included a special tour of a historic site with a group I belong to. I am attending two musical events in churches today and tomorrow and we are currently booking a holiday.

I appreciate that for some ill health and disability will limit what they can do, but for most people, it is a question of forcing themselves back into normal life or else living the rest of their lives in seclusion and, from the sound of it unhappiness.

The title asks "Has Covid changed life for you?"

I answer: Nope, not a jot except perhaps to make me feel more rebellious about authoritarianism from politicians and others.

But I'm really talking about lockdown and idiotic rules, not covid.

Covid itself didn't affect me either as it happens.

I was surprised to hear my mother say that living thru covid was worse than living thru WW1 in London. Her mobility had deteriorated in her last two years but had many social contacts from friends, family and neighbours. But then it was 'garden visits' and talking thru the patio door and those living abroad could not travel. She celebrated her 100th birthday with a carer and one family member, thankfully at home. I notice how zoom is still a feature of groups I used to attend in person.

Well it is changing life for me right this minute!

I am still testing positive, and, whilst the major symptoms have subsided, I feel as though I have been switched off at the plug. I am not dressed yet and am dragging myself about. Add in the cocktail of drugs that I am on for my heart which lower my BP and pulse to nothing, and it is all a pig's ear.

It is hard to imagine feeling well again at the moment. I am supposed to be going to my DD's 90 miles away tomorrow and sharing a singing day with her on Sunday - lord knows how I might do that. I am going by train and they are awful on that line - rammed with people and nowhere to sit. I would have to wear a mask if I am able to go - I can't bear the idea of infecting someone else who might be vulnerable.

Yes It has today!
Yesterday my DH tested positive for it, so yes - things have changed. He's totally wiped out, exhausted, running a temperature, coughing and spluttering and weak as a kitten. He's really very poorly, and he's not someone who whinges when he's ill.

I'd been wondering what was the matter with him for a couple of days until I heard someone in the group we were out with on Sunday had covid, so he did a test.

This girl (woman) works in the local doctor's surgery (admin) and says staff are expected to keep going and to treat covid as you would a cold! Apparently its only a mild affliction now its 'mutated'.
I can't believe it!

Surely that's wrong?

I had an epiphany during Covid.I found that I am a solitary soul despite having a husband,three children and six grandchildren.I now block out huge swathes of alone time and am happier.Shielding during Covid worked for me.

I missed your post Luckygirl but couldn't agree more. I think we'd forgotten what a horrible affliction is can be.
I'm not sure all the rules were 'petty' - we were dealing with an unknown threat and strong methods were justified at the time.

It certainly is not a mild affliction for many; my DGD for example who is immune-compromised by her treatment for Crohns Disease.

It certainly is not a mild affliction for many

Of course not and I sympathise with anyone who is badly affected.

But it's practically nothing for many (possibly even most) as well. This has always been understood but largely blocked out.

Also, I understood the title question to be more general than just about the illness itself.

Immunosuppression will affect people's ability to fight off a whole host of infections.

I do all the things now that I did before covid. So , no it has made little difference .
I have some health issues which means I am slower than I was and some days are more painful than others but I and thankfully my family and friends seem happy to keep on keeping on.

This thread has made me realize that it isn’t just me.
I have lost my confidence with driving. I don’t read anymore because I can’t seem to concentrate. I hope gradually to be able to get my confidence back !

I’ve sort of changed my routine since Covid - but not unhappy with these changes! I’ve now become a more regular (and constant) morning participant at my local gym ….I’ve also joined another tennis club a little further afield and it’s been a really nice experience, meeting and playing with new and different people. I’ll still drive on the highways - but only in my husband’s car now because mine is definitely a ‘potter around the town’ type vehicle and I just feel more secure in his! I refuse to let the Covid years diminish the quality of my life - which, like it or not, is on a timeline! I’m in my eighth decade so therefore keeping active ( even though I know I’m slowing down) along with the importance of socializing is really what gets me out of bed these mornings!