• Replies 18 replies
  • Subscribers 10 subscribers
  • Views 5129 views
  • Users 0 members are here
Options
Related
Hints and tips
  • To quote someone's message, first select/highlight the relevant text, and then use the Quote button that appears
  • To "mention" someone, type @ followed by the start of the forum name, and choose from the list; that person will get a notification of being mentioned

Sensory/Crowd Issues Post-COVID

Luftmentsch

Does anyone feel like their capacity to cope with crowds or sensory overload has got worse since the COVID lockdowns? I seem to struggle with things like shopping centres and synagogue attendance much more than in the past. I was diagnosed in 2021 and I can’t work out if I’m just more aware of my sensory/peopling triggers now I have a diagnosis or if I’m actually struggling more now I’ve seen what it's like to spend months living in quiet with only my parents for company. Certainly my social anxiety has got worse since lockdown.

Parents

  • I don't know if lockdown reduced my tolerance but it made me see what the world could be like and this was more suitable for autistic people, introverts, sensitive people etc. I was told by a mental health professional when discussing I felt the world was overwhelming again that I lived in a bubble because I wanted the peace and quiet of lockdown back. I think just bevause something is how itsalways been doesnt mean it always has to be that way or that its right. Mental health resources on MIND and at work told me people were anxious for lockdown ending because they didn't want to catch covid not because the world would get fast and loud again. I couldn't find any official material that agreed with my world view.

  • in reply to Deleted User

    Exactly. I hated lockdown because of the fear of catching covid and cos of sports not being on etc but I do remember hearing everyone keep saying they couldnt wait for life to get back to "normal" and I remember I kept thinking "but I dont want life to get back to normal. I hated normal, normal didnt work for me!"

Reply Children
  • in reply to Billy87

    YES!! I also found less anxiety because I didn't feel obliged to see people and when I did it was often a much shorter visit wit less expectation. This Christmas I've been discussing with my partner, when doing the rounds delivering presents why we can't just do what we did in lockdown which was a quick chat on the door step then goodbye. 

    I think because I got my diagnosis in lockdown I could see just how much things had affected me by their absence and the difficulties they gave. I think this is one of the good things to come out of the pause because I might not actually had seen just how much things affected me if the world was "normal". I've got the added bonus of additional health matters now so I can use this and people seem to understand more when I have to pace myself, altho I wish I could say otherwise.

    The fact that everyone else seemed to want it all to go back to loud and fast made it harder bevause I felt a bit alienated.