Every since the Covid-19 pandemic began, I didn’t have a single cold or bout with the flu. Thanks to all the masking, social isolation, and hand sanitizer, my body was shielded from those nasty cold viruses for a year and a half. In fact, the last cold I experienced was in February of 2020—right before we found out we were facing a pandemic. It was a really bad cold that went on for a month (might have even been the virus). But then the world got turned upside down, and I forgot what it was like to be sick. Now, the common cold makes a comeback.

Common cold makes a comeback and it is scaring people who think it might be Covid.

Common cold makes a comeback.. Now that people are taking fewer precautions, they’re getting colds more often.

In case you’ve forgotten, a cold creeps up on you gradually. You’re unusually tired for a couple of days. Then you feel a sneeze coming on. Next day, you’re feeling achy and just plain awful. It’s scary. Are you coming down with the virus? No temperature yet, or other symptoms like a cough, fever, diarrhea, etc. However, you make up your mind if it gets any worse, you’ll get tested. Lose a good night’s sleep with worry.. And then, you wake up, sit out in the sun, (yes it’s back to 80 degrees) and start feeling better. And that’s when realize you just had a plain, ordinary cold. On top of allergic rhinitis, maybe., because this is ragweed season. It all feels the same.

They say a change in weather makes you more susceptible to sinus problems. Last week, the weather went from 90 degrees, to an overnight 46. Cold rain thrown in to the mix. Being a fresh air nut, I’d left the windows open. Apparently, abrupt changes in temperature lower the immune system. It didn’t help the next day when I went grocery shopping during a cold, windy downpour. Only half the people at the supermarket were wearing masks. No one was social distancing in the long lines at the checkout.

Our defenses have gone down this past month, even though Covid cases have increased. People have stopped using hand sanitizer and started going to restaurants and shops. Most have quit wearing masks. The weather is often cold and rainy. And even though we’ve been vaccinated, we’re being exposed to germs that cause the common cold and the flu. The scary return of the common cold is a reality. Be careful. Mask up. Use hand sanitizer. Don’t catch a cold if you can help it. .

Have you been feeling more than a little anxious lately? Or maybe a bit depressed? What’s wrong, you wonder. You look out the window and see flowers blooming, and the sun shining. That’s should make you happy, but it doesn’t. Take comfort in the fact that you’re not alone. You’re feeling those August Blues.

Feeling Those August Blues? The sun may be shining, but you're feeling depressed. — FEELING THOSE AUGUST BLUES? Many people feel anxious and depressed at summer’s end.

Psychologists have various explanations. First of all, you’re sick and tired of the heat and humidity. The hot weather was fun at first. You could walk through the park, go on picnics, and watch the fireworks on the 4^th of July. But come August, there’s nothing much to look forward to, and Labor Day seems a long way off. Many people are posting pictures of their wonderful vacations. But you’re stuck at home for various reasons. Everyone seems to be having fun but you.

Worse yet, in the middle of August, fall allergies start to kick in. Sneezing, and feelings of fatigue are dragging you down. The various antihistamines offer some relief, but all come with side effects. You’re either groggy or wired, depending on what you decide to take. All you can hope for is the first frost, which kills the nasty pollen. But with global warming, that day may not come until November. So you’re facing a couple of months of taking meds and feeling woozy.

August is also a time for going back to school, which may trigger bad memories. That was often a difficult time for many of us who dreaded the routines, the interaction with “mean girls,” and the loss of freedom that comes with in-person schooling.

This month, the outlook for the Covid-19 epidemic seems dismal. Last summer, we thought it would all be over by now. But it’s getting worse with the delta variant that’s caused a surge in hospitalizations.

And now, there’s the bad news coming out of Afghanistan. No matter how you felt about our involvement in the war, you can’t help but mourn the way it’s turned out. The abrupt withdrawal, with men falling to their death from airplanes while trying to escape. The cruel fate awaiting women. The executions and beheadings. This is like reading The Diary of Anne Pfrank. How can this be happening in our modern world?

According to psychologists, summertime depression often brings insomnia, loss of appetite, weight loss and feelings of agitation or anxiety.

Like any other form of depression, you can use various coping mechanisms. Meditation. Yoga. Distractions. Self Care. You might even seek counseling. Meanwhile, you’re feeling those August Blues.

Tag: allergies

COMMON COLD MAKES A COMEBACK

FEELING THOSE AUGUST BLUES?