Health: Fear of coronavirus

[PerditaPickle]

Alongside the existing Coronavirus thread, https://ecauldron.com/forum/health-and-medicine/coronavirus/, this thread is specifically to do with fear of and worry about the novel coronavirus, COVID-19.

How are people coping with the worry?

I'm especially interested to hear from those, like me, who have pre-existing issues with worry & etc, as we tend to ruminate disproportionately (but no-one is excluded, here).

As mentioned in the original thread, the seriousness of the threat of this outbreak seems to have only just hit me - it's possibly what I get for reading about the topic late last night before bed; I dreamed that the swimming pool was deserted when my friend & I arrived (presumably because everyone had stayed home out of fear of the spread of coronavirus), and all I've been doing so far today is ruminating/borderline obsessing.

Part of my thought processes is about making practical plans -- because, for example, if I did become exposed to the virus I wouldn't want to self-isolate in my home because my husband already has weakened lungs due to having had whooping cough as a child, but where else could I go to self-isolate?

But at the moment, every time I try to stop thinking about it I find I can't seem to do so, and my mind just circles back to the topic again.

Suggestions or just commiserations welcomed - thanks in advance!

[Hariti]

I've been a shut-in lately anyway, and this has just made me even more of one. I don't know how I would cope if I caught the virus and I don't want to find out.

[Anon100]

Alongside the existing Coronavirus thread, https://ecauldron.com/forum/health-and-medicine/coronavirus/, this thread is specifically to do with fear of and worry about the novel coronavirus, COVID-19.


Suggestions or just commiserations welcomed - thanks in advance!

Strange you should create this post Perdita. Both Kylara and I created blog posts about the fear of Coronavirus independent of each other just the other day ( links can be found in this thread - https://ecauldron.com/forum/social-discussion-forums/recently-blogged/msg226946/#msg226946 ).

I think the best thing is to focus on helping others around you so that you keep the fear at bay for now. It is a killer BUT worrying ( as Kylara pointed out, very wisely ) will only make you weaker. Getting your social and work network as ready and supported as possible ( within government guidlines of course - https://www.gov.uk/government/topical-events/coronavirus-covid-19-uk-government-response ) will A give you a barrier and B hopefully mean you wont have to worry about those you know and love getting ill.

I don't live that far from you as far as I can work out and I'm dealing with a lot of elderly/ill customers who are also scared ( also my grandparents in Wales are both ill and elderly ) so I can understand the worry and sympathise but keep holding on to positive thoughts and try your best not to get too fearful. If we all stay calm and work together we can hopefully get through this. 

[PerditaPickle]

Strange you should create this post Perdita. Both Kylara and I created blog posts about the fear of Coronavirus independent of each other just the other day ( links can be found in this thread - https://ecauldron.com/forum/social-discussion-forums/recently-blogged/msg226946/#msg226946 ).

That is a coincidence (apologies I'm behind on my blog reading).

[Ashmire]

Alongside the existing Coronavirus thread, https://ecauldron.com/forum/health-and-medicine/coronavirus/, this thread is specifically to do with fear of and worry about the novel coronavirus, COVID-19.

How are people coping with the worry?

I *was* doing fairly well, until I just now found out they are closing all public gyms, pools, libraries, etc and while I understand the rationale, that leaves me with absolutely zero stress relievers whatsoever. 

[Uneryx]

How are people coping with the worry?

Badly!

I was fine on Tuesday, until things started getting shut down. And then more things were shut down. Now my province is advising people not to travel outside of the country, at all. Big expensive corporations are shutting down things that will definitely lose them A LOT of money. Schools in my parents' rural town are being closed. All this combined is freaking me out a whole heckin' lot.

(I did get surprised with a butt-ton of extra responsibility at work (with little training and handoffs, so I kind of have only the vaguest idea of what i'm doing) so there's extra stress in the picture.)

[ehbowen]

I *was* doing fairly well, until I just now found out they are closing all public gyms, pools, libraries, etc and while I understand the rationale, that leaves me with absolutely zero stress relievers whatsoever. 

A stressor for me (albeit mild) is that my oldest niece is currently out of the country, leading a Spring Break student tour group in Scotland. She left knowing full well about the news at the time, but was unwilling to cancel. In light of recent events, I'm hoping that she will have no difficulty re-entering the country....

[Kylara]

How are people coping with the worry?

I'm highly conflicted at the moment.  My logical brain reminds me that panic and worry is no good, and that basic precautions are stuff we already do, and that the recovery rate is quite good for most people.  I try not to read the really sensational news, but I also want to stay up to date, so I am reading what I can (and seeing what reads true across multiple sources).

I know that high-risk people are being told to stay in, because my friend got told that by his doctors.  I know that our state schools (KY) are on standby for closures (for several weeks).  I know some colleges are shutting their doors and some are doing digital classes for next semester.  I know that Disneyland has closed (which is shocking in it's own way).

My son is away at boot camp, and just called yesterday.  There is one confirmed case on base, and they have canceled visitors for his boot camp graduation. 

I think of myself as having a healthy baseline, I don't tend to get sick that often (hubby and son would, but I normally got a mild version if anything)...but I also read an article yesterday that said people with heart conditions are at high risk (because the lungs working harder makes the heart work harder...I don't know enough medical stuff to know how true that is), and I have tachycardia episodes fairly regularly (like 4-8 times a month average) so that is personally very scary to me.

I read an article about why people are buying up all the toilet paper, and it talked about how it gave people a sense of having done something, a sense of control.  And that makes a lot of sense.

One thing I am going to do is actually pack a hospital bag.  I have no clue if you get to bring a bag if you are hospitalized, but I do know that not only will having it packed make me feel better...but if I were to go and need to ask hubby to bring me stuff, saying "Grab my backpack by my desk" is so much easier than trying to explain to him where the stuff I want actually is.  Mostly it would just be me packing stuff to do.  But I am very much a "Plan for the worst, hope for the best" kind of person, so doing stuff like this helps me relax and be less stressed.

[Noctua]

One thing I am going to do is actually pack a hospital bag.  I have no clue if you get to bring a bag if you are hospitalized, but I do know that not only will having it packed make me feel better...but if I were to go and need to ask hubby to bring me stuff, saying "Grab my backpack by my desk" is so much easier than trying to explain to him where the stuff I want actually is.  Mostly it would just be me packing stuff to do.  But I am very much a "Plan for the worst, hope for the best" kind of person, so doing stuff like this helps me relax and be less stressed.

Having a hospital bag is a good way to take some of the edge off. Like you said, there's a lot of panic because there's not much the average person can do, and we all feel like if we can just do something then things will be better. Also being someone who works in a hospital I can tell you our personal hygiene supplies are shit and you're better off bringing your own.

After a conversation with my mom I'm now really worried about my dad. He's absolutely convinced that this whole thing is a hoax and people are freaking out over nothing. He refuses to change his daily habits (which includes going out every single day for fast food and shopping) and think's we're all fools for using hand sanitizer everywhere. He's also over 80 and has several health comorbidities.

The good news at least is my mom takes this seriously, and strangely enough I can say thank the Gods for my sister's OCD because she already had a hoard of Costco sized boxes of hand sanitizer, disinfecting wipes, and latex gloves that she's sharing with my mom. So at least I know they're taking care of themselves.

[Dynes Hysbys]

Alongside the existing Coronavirus thread, https://ecauldron.com/forum/health-and-medicine/coronavirus/, this thread is specifically to do with fear of and worry about the novel coronavirus, COVID-19.

How are people coping with the worry?

Suggestions or just commiserations welcomed - thanks in advance!

Still pretty much in denial here.

We've just had our first case in the county but life is going on more or less as normal.  I went into one of the local shops and they had toilet rolls, antibacterial hand wash and pretty much everything else that the supermarkets are sold out of.

I can pretty much hole up at home if I need to but I am worried about elderly relatives in Cardiff. CV19 will certainly be very serious for my father who has multiple health issues.

Not having a TV really does help I think - I'm not being subjected to the media hysteria and their desire to fill every moment with speculation which may or may not be true.

[Kylara]

Still pretty much in denial here.

We've just had our first case in the county but life is going on more or less as normal.  I went into one of the local shops and they had toilet rolls, antibacterial hand wash and pretty much everything else that the supermarkets are sold out of.

I can pretty much hole up at home if I need to but I am worried about elderly relatives in Cardiff. CV19 will certainly be very serious for my father who has multiple health issues.

Not having a TV really does help I think - I'm not being subjected to the media hysteria and their desire to fill every moment with speculation which may or may not be true.

I don't watch TV, I'm getting all my news (and crazy theories) from the internet and social media.  I'm pretty good at figuring out what is valid and what is hype, but it is very scary to see the vast amount of misinformation....especially at a local level.

Speaking of the local level, our area went crazy yesterday apparently.  Schools are now officially out for a month, and hubby was going to stop by the store on the way home from work (at 7pm) but the entire parking lot was full.  He said someone went to Walmart to get a sandwich from the deli for lunch and it was a madhouse there too.  Stores weren't bad when we went on Wednesday.  I don't think we even have any confirmed cases in our town yet.

[Allaya]

I don't think we even have any confirmed cases in our town yet.

Locking everything down and suspending school is how said town will stave off those future confirmed cases as long as possible.

As far as things are in the States right now, it's not about containment anymore. It's about flattening the curve.

[Aisling]

Speaking of the local level, our area went crazy yesterday apparently.  Schools are now officially out for a month, and hubby was going to stop by the store on the way home from work (at 7pm) but the entire parking lot was full.  He said someone went to Walmart to get a sandwich from the deli for lunch and it was a madhouse there too.  Stores weren't bad when we went on Wednesday.  I don't think we even have any confirmed cases in our town yet.

I'm in a region with no confirmed cases as well, but the stores are wiped out.  I keep enough supplies to spend two weeks at home because people here tend to go into panic mode over every minor crisis. If they forecast snow on the morning news, you can forget finding bread or milk in the afternoon. With the potential for CV19, the stores look like they've been looted of essential supplies.

As I was typing this, a notification came through that the state governor is shutting down all public schools. While it's a good move to stem the spread of the virus, it's going to make life difficult for a lot of families here who are already struggling financially.  The economic devastation is as worrying to me as the virus itself.  It's nerve-wracking to see this wave coming and feeling like we're all trying to lash together bamboo rafts in hopes of riding  it out.  I'm as prepared as I can be, but it all feels woefully inadequate at this point. 

[Anon100]

Locking everything down and suspending school is how said town will stave off those future confirmed cases as long as possible.

As far as things are in the States right now, it's not about containment anymore. It's about flattening the curve.

Problem is we can't close everything down until it passes over without leaving people in danger of starving, power supply structures being shut down and small businesses collapsing.
Right now, if I were to stop working for even a few weeks I'd miss all my council bills, energy bills, be unable to pay my two employees who rely on the money to live etc,, I don't want any of my customers, neighbours or anyone in general to die of this but I'm probably quite well off so I don't know how others would deal with things shutting down they need to live on ( financially or, in the case of food banks etc, in other ways ).

[Allaya]

Problem is we can't close everything down until it passes over without leaving people in danger of starving, power supply structures being shut down and small businesses collapsing.
Right now, if I were to stop working for even a few weeks I'd miss all my council bills, energy bills, be unable to pay my two employees who rely on the money to live etc,, I don't want any of my customers, neighbours or anyone in general to die of this but I'm probably quite well off so I don't know how others would deal with things shutting down they need to live on ( financially or, in the case of food banks etc, in other ways ).

I'm aware of the consequences. Very, very aware.

I'm afraid that I can't conjure up much in the way of comforting or useful words. I really wish I could. Best I can do is point out that our grandparents and/or great-grandparents somehow managed to cope with the myriad social and economic traumas left in the wake of a global pandemic about a hundred years ago. It's going to suck just as much now as it did back then, but there's no reason we can't pull it off too.