Cathy says she has become a hermit.
Transcript
There’s also the psychological effects of the fear of getting it again. Because some people get it two and three times and then they get very sick and they get sicker. And there’s no way to tell. So then once again I have to be very careful to protect myself. You know, I’m masking and other people aren’t so, again, you stick out in the crowd, right? But I have to do that for my safety. If I want to go out and kind of do something normal, be around people. So it’s like I am now having to try to reintegrate myself back into society because society’s moving on and I – we – we are just kind of being forgotten. So it’s – I have referred to myself as a hermit, and that’s not my personality but that’s what I’ve had to do to control my – or manage my symptoms. But I just – I can’t take it much more. It’s just too lonely. Too sad to not be normal.
More from: Cathy 2
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- Getting Care for Long COVID – CathyCathy was under pressure to go back to work full time. A long COVID clinic signed her off work completely.
- Symptoms of Long COVID – CathyCathy says her symptoms "control her life."
- Additional Supports Needed for People Living with Long COVID – CathyCathy receives psychological support through workers' compensation but the support is limited and she has to fight to keep going.
- Support From Employers, Colleagues, and Worker’s Compensation Boards – CathyCathy was given the wrong information about making a claim by her employer and, initially, inappropriately limited support from WCB.
- Support From Employers, Colleagues, and Worker’s Compensation Boards – CathyCathy's boss was angry when she couldn't cope with her job full time.
- Additional Expenses – CathyCathy says she is paying out of pocket for what long COVID has done to her.
- Advice to Healthcare Providers – CathyCathy's doctor was open to her suggestions.
- Impacts on Friendships – CathyCathy notices that, after a while, people just forget about you.
- Psychosocial Impacts – CathyCathy says she has become a hermit.
- Impacts on Self and Daily Life – CathyCathy feels she has had to dumb down her personality.