Find peace of mind this flu season

Enjoy festive gatherings, embrace family and friends, and live life to the fullest with our guide to managing post-Covid angst

- By Larissa Chapman

The hum of laughter and clinking of glasses at the office drinks, the warmth of hugs from extended family as they pile into the living room, fire crackling and mulled wine steaming as children play during the firework display... there's so much to love about winter and the events it brings with it. We've missed out on a lot of laughs over the past two years, and many of us are itching to get back to it - but perhaps with a little more trepidation than before. With months of masks, hand gels, social distancing and restrictions, it's only natural that many of us are on high alert since Covid. For some the thought of navigating a fresh winter flu season only adds to the anxiety. Whether it's festive family gatherings, bustling shops or packed out trains, many will be wondering how to handle these situations in a post-Covid world. Suddenly, it's not only our physical health we have to manage, but our mental wellbeing too. Covid-19 has left us feeling anxious when it comes to winter bugs - the common cold that we may have shrugged off without a second thought in a pre-Covid era now fills us with dread.

'If you've found yourself experiencing higher anxiety levels since the pandemic, particularly around how to avoid catching Covid or other viruses, you're not alone,' says clinical psychologist Dr Aria Campbell-Danesh. Recent research has shown that many people have been affected by the pandemic, which has caused a significant spike in anxiety related concerns,' he explains.