New Year, New View?

I want to inject (pun intended) some hope into the covid safe community. I hear a lot of sadness, despair, anger but I do hear about and I do have... hope. I'm not talking miracle cures or infalliable vaccines but a shift in people's thinking as they realise getting repeatedly sick is no way to live. We cannot take away post viral illness that existed long before covid-19 and had no treatment BUT we can advocate for systemic change, bring back masking and introduce clean air policies in public spaces for the good of everyone's health.

Will 2024 be our 'join the dots' year? This is the year, statistically speaking where the post viral illnesses will start to really skyrocket. Jobs will be lost, mortgages forfitted, marriages ended, homelessness amplified. And the children who have no say in the matter, they will get more infections. We need to lay the blame wherre it belongs instead of at the feet of vaccines. That's a common thread I see "I'm sick because I got vaccinated. Covid didn't make me as sick as the vaccine." Oh it did! Both can be true. Humans struggle to hold two compeating ideas in our heads a lot of the time. It is absolutely true vaccines can cause injuries AND ALSO, covid also causes internal mayhem. What we HAVE to get into our heads is that covid is always a bad option best avoided.

And speaking of post viral complications, It's less than 1 in 10 cases now. ONE stint of covid could mean it is curtins for your career, your ability to care for yourself and the mass exodus of those family and friends you thought loved you and would move heaven and earth to get you well. If you don't believe in chronic post viral illnesses like ME/CFS, don't be surprised when your people choose indoor dining and drinking over sitting in a dark room with you while you struggle to handle pain that can't be soothed. You probably know someone who is in this miserable state right now. They likely won't tell you. Maybe they don't trust you. If you embrace the change that is coming anyway, you can become the best kind of friend. Be that person someone with post viral illness turns to.

As for housing and medical instability, these too are closer than you might think. This is capitalism on steroids my friends and no one hires the sick person, the disabled person over the genetically blessed workhorse or the rich white guy whose family knows the CEO. Life IS actually unfair, you are allowed to accept and realise this. You should be getting paid sick leave, you should be getting time off specifically for funerals. In a global pandemic, these things only get more important. So if you don't believe in covid or vaccines but want a house and a job... I've bad news. It's not going to get better in terms of your dice rolling. Every round is closer to poor health, no work, mortgage default, inability to care for children etc. It is BLEAK. You know what isn't bleak? Respirator masks and HEPA filters. You can change. You can just decide to change right now. I'll virtually shake your hand.

2024 can be the year of solutions. We can fall in love with the concept of clean air. Clean air like clean water is a human right and we CAN achieve it. Respirater masks are pretty comfortable and help with allergies like hayfever as well as covid, flu, colds etc. You DO NOT have to get sick to improve your immune system. That is a myth. Stay masked, stay well. Your body will thank you for the holiday. With clean air, we need to continually push for that in our private and public spaces. The sheer number and designs of HEPA filters available now mean they can be utilised in all spaces from homes to schools to hospitals. You can visit this excellent site to read about all things air purification: https://co2radical.com.au/about/

Australia, at least in some parts, has stepped up it's messaging regarding advice over the holidays. One infographic from Victoria even features a respirator mask! Imagine! The hospitals and doctors aren't united, they are still bare face or in baggy blues but sometimes you see a photo like this and see glimmers of what could be again.

If you, like me have a less public facing life now due to 'personal responsibility', keep going. If you need to talk, get some extra support, get in touch with myself or someone form this list: https://www.covidconscioustherapists.com/ Remember, every time you don't get covid is doing your body good. Every time you show care by wearing a respirator mask is doing both you AND others good. Thank you, have a New Year and may 2024 be the Year of Truth: "If one tells the truth, one is sure, sooner or later, to be found out." Thank you Oscar Wilde. You were a good egg and would have rocked an N95.

If you need to talk about anything to do with pandemic stress, grief and how life in general has got you on the back foot, please get in touch. I see clients worldwide and am based in Melbourne, Australia.

Add your hope in the comments...