Could surviving Covid make us socially anxious?
Last weekend, I had an invite to a gathering. I was quite excited to go as I have been working from home for months with very minimal social connection. I have been at a phase in life where I craved that connection hence, I told myself,
“This would be a great idea to connect with more people and just have a good time”.
I lie.
As I stepped into the park, which was the venue of this event I had longed to attend, I was petrified by the multitude I saw from my vantage point. Without thinking about it, I found myself dashing into the car park. I drove home.
Thing is, pre-Covid, I would usually identify myself as a social butterfly, engaging fully with the circles my interest resonates with. From open mic nights, exploring the arts, to cultural festivals, traveling to getaway destinations, exploring new places and events. I felt blessed. I could finally live the life of my dreams- being able to subtly afford the lifestyle I hoped for and meet people of similar interests.
Then COVID happened.
I caught the virus. The harrowing experience I felt fighting to just breathe was a wake-up call to social anxiety. I moved from a social butterfly to someone engulfed with fear of physical interaction including the fear of physical meetings, and of crowds (every human interaction beyond my loved one involves considerable preparation). I have survived that horrific COVID phase but it seems to have left fragments of fear especially of being reinfected especially as the world has moved to the second and more drastic wave of the virus which seems to be taking more lives in Africa than we anticipated.
Here I am in the comfort of my workstation, sincerely concerned for my well-being. Am I just being paranoid for nothing? Are other survivors experiencing this challenge as well? Would I ever be that social butterfly again?
I don’t know.
