New year, new COVID variant.

If you're not under the weather, you may have noticed that a lot of people in New Jersey are.

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Typically during the winter months, there is a spike in cases of the flu, infections, and common colds.

We can now add COVID to the list.

New variants of coronavirus get a lot of attention, but it should be known that new and different variants of other airborne viruses are constantly developing. It's just what they do.

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But, COVID is still relatively new and we continue to learn.

I tested positive on Tuesday. I took the test when I started to feel rundown with a fever and dry cough.

This will be the third time I've gotten COVID, and this time it really knocked me on my butt. And, yes, I was vaccinated.

There were also a couple of new symptoms that I never experienced before.

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After doing some research, it seems these bizarre new symptoms are being experienced by people who catch the new variant.

JN.1 is the new dominant COVID variant.

According to the CDC, up to 30 percent of COVID cases are JN.1.

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COVID-19 symptoms can range from shortness of breath and a sore throat to a loss of taste, smell, and appetite.

I didn't experience loss of taste and smell this time, but I did the first time. It was downright strange and it took a while for those senses to return to normal.

The virus can also cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, aches, and a headache.

This time around I noticed two new symptoms.

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Insomnia

Even though I've been rundown and tired. I have had an extremely hard time sleeping.

According to Newsweek:

In England and Scotland between December 7-13, 10.8 percent reported tiredness.

You may be saying "Of course you're tired, you're sick." I'm with you. The difference is that people are reporting being tired but having difficulty sleeping.

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Anxiety

I've been dealing with anxiety and depression for most of my life. It's just something I monitor and deal with.

I noticed that this week while ill my anxiety was way worse than normal.

It turns out anxiety is another newer symptom of COVID-19 that's been reported by patients.

The CDC hasn't officially made these two new symptoms "official" saying:

Sleeplessness and mood changes could also be attributed to other potential causes at this time of year, such as an infection by another respiratory illness or a lack of vitamin D.

Be well!

Answers to 25 common COVID-19 vaccine questions

Vaccinations for COVID-19 began being administered in the U.S. on Dec. 14, 2020. The quick rollout came a little more than a year after the virus was first identified in November 2019. The impressive speed with which vaccines were developed has also left a lot of people with a lot of questions. The questions range from the practical—how will I get vaccinated?—to the scientific—how do these vaccines even work?

Keep reading to discover answers to 25 common COVID-19 vaccine questions.

Gallery Credit: Stephanie Parker

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