This is what Doncaster people think of the ‘new normal’

As the world started to open back up I’m afraid that as someone who suffers from anxiety I have not been able to enjoy the experience as much as my friends and family.

Since the lockdown was announced I only left my home in Cusworth once a week to go to the supermarket.

It took me until mid-June to venture out on walks as I had heard horror stories about my local park and I didn’t visit a retail shop until the end of July.

I had become an anxious hermit who was afraid of the outside world and those who were happily frolicking in pubs and restaurants.

But in the last few weeks, I have pushed myself to break down that barrier as there are truly only so many books you can read and TV shows you can binge before you start going a little bit mad.

I have visited a cafe to see a family member which felt almost normal even though half of the tables were cordoned off with tape - it was worth it to taste coffee that came from a real machine.

I enjoyed getting six months of dead ends chopped off my hair and having a good catch up with my hairdresser which was not impeded by the visor and mask she wore.

Sam Alton, aged 16 from Bessacarr got his hair cut at Sporting Cuts, he said: “It felt so refreshing after having hair growing for months and months, and looking like a mop.”

Ashlea Butterfield, aged 27 from Scawthorpe, said: “First time in the hair salon was surreal.

“They have had screens put up to separate stations and are running a one client policy per stylist at any time and the stylists are working at different times so the place never feels overly full/busy which is very reassuring.

“You feel safe but it’s still bizarre that this is how we are leaving wearing masks.”

I have not yet been brave enough to visit a pub or restaurant but I have been on public transport and been into the town centre.

It was refreshing to see that Doncaster people were adhering to social distancing and wearing masks.

However, I have had one jarring experience which left me feeling like I wanted to crawl back into the safety of my home and never leave again.

I was surprised to get a call from my local doctors asking me to come in for a cervical cancer screening this July as I assumed those appointments would be cancelled due to Covid-19.

As I believe it’s extremely important to get tested I forced myself to go, booking the day off work and mentally preparing for an uncomfortable experience.

Unfortunately, it did not go as plan.

Every resource online tells you that it’s not a big deal and would be painless.

But for me that was not the case I experienced quite a lot of pain which led to my breathing being hindered.

As I had to wear a face mask during the procedure I was unable to breathe properly which led to me having a panic attack.

Which as you can imagine in that circumstance was more than a little embarrassing.

The nurse was lovely and understanding but it took a long time to be able to manage my anxiety and get my breathing under control - not the best experience for a first time screening.

I completely and utterly believe that masks are necessary and important but during this experience, it was certainly a hindrance that I wasn’t expecting.

But overall the new normal is majoritively positive even for someone like me who suffers from anxiety.

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