Coronaphobia - people just have to get a grip

[wakeupitsabeautifulmorning]

I'm really worried that irrational fears are going to absolutely ruin the country as well as putting people at massive risk of dying from other things or developing mental health. And God knows what parents with it will do to their dc's mental health and development (keeping dc off school until there's a vaccination etc.)

[fafffaffmorefaff]

Yes I will keep my kids off school for as long as I deem alright. I don't have to explain it to you or anyone

[DippyAvocado]

Some people have good reason to be fearful of dying if they catch Covid-19. Their fears are not irrational.

I fear that my otherwise perfectly-healthy parents will die in their early 70s if they catch it.

Statistically, the chances of me dying from it are low, but it's killed a number of other 40-somethings so yes, I do worry about leaving my kids parentless.

While there must be a number of people who find this very challenging for their mental health, there are also others, myself included, who are less stressed under lockdown than we were in were in our ordinary lives.

[TJH130]

@wakeupitsabeautifulmorning agreed. Although I think it will get sorted when the government for back to its old ways. Because of what all this has cost and been spent they'll turn nasty. Schools will be instructed to fine parent of missing children, sick pay will dry up as the government will stop covering it.

All this clapping and NHS getting what they need will be a distant memory.

[wakeupitsabeautifulmorning]

This is exactly what I mean.

[wakeupitsabeautifulmorning]

@TJH130 I really hope so.

[picklemewalnuts]

As reliable information comes through, people will become less fearful. It'll be much easier to risk assess.

At the moment there is a confusion between the general 'stay home, help the nhs' advice and the 'stay home you're at slightly higher risk' advice.

Most people need to stay home to protect the NHS and the very vulnerable for as long as possible. It's got nothing to do with their own safety. However, it's hard to process that when the talk is about death rates, death peaks and closing schools.

[user1635482648]

Do you mean developing mental illness? Developing health is usually considered positive.

Being the kind of dickhead who goes round telling people to "get a grip" does not help the situation.

[Greysparkles]

Yup. I'm a healthy 30 something. I have a very small chance of getting seriously ill.

I have an 11yo DS. Who has ASD. I'm seriously worried about his mental health.
His anxiety is through the roof, his routine is out of whack. He's not coping well without seeing those he loves.
This bothers me far more than this virus.
Try statistics for suicide rates for people with ASD (especially boys) is alot higher than out chances of getting sick from this.

But apparently you're not allowed to think logically anymore.

[ToffeeYoghurt]

We need more people like you, OP. It's definitely more rational to continue initial lockdown longer than end it prematurely with all the damage to the economy stop, start, stop, start would bring. It's irrational to ignore caution and the fact that we are set to have the highest death rate in Europe (and much of the world).

It's good people like you are raising concerns over people struggling with MH or anything else. Sadly for too long, way before the pandemic, their needs have been ignored. No wonder they might be finding things extra hard now. Poor MH is strongly linked with physical ill-health. People will be living with the rational fear of suffering serious complications or dying from Covid. Thank goodness for their sakes (and all of ours) they have some comfort in knowing that for the time being we have the protection of lockdown (albeit a half hearted one). We need public pressure from concerned people like OP for the government to provide better support. MH. HCPs count as essential work. Certainly more so than some of the work still going on during lockdown. MH patients should still be receiving treatment and that they're not is a disgrace.

[Dreamersandwishers]

Reality is that once lockdown is lifted, and business gets back to work, those who decide it’s too risky will face a stark choice - stay home and live an impoverished life between 4 walls, or take a risk, albeit one calculated by scientists, and go outside. Long term no government will not ask taxpayers to continue to fund the phobic.
In the ‘good old days’ we faced risk each day with little thought - travel accidents, other disease, even terrorism. Hopefully we will each have the information we need to make our choices.

[Dreamersandwishers]

Story, meant no government will ask...

[KellyHall]

People do seem to be putting a disproportionately high priority on physical health, at the cost of all else (mental health, education, etc). But the problem is no-one really knows how big a threat we're facing because none of the statistics are accurate.

[megletthesecond]

What does "developing mental health" mean? Everyone in the world has mental health 🙄.

My kids only have me. If I go they're chucked over into the abyss. I'm going to be very careful.

[ToffeeYoghurt]

Greysparkles Let's hope for the sake of people like your son the lockdown isn't lifted prematurely. The consequent additional delay to returning to some semblance of normal is clearly not desirable.

It's always so sad hearing how children are being affected by the pandemic. I felt so awful for this poor little kid I read about yesterday. Their mother just died from Covid and the child has had to go into foster care. So sad.

[CrocodileFondue]

It's not irrational to fear getting sick and dying though. This risk is very real. I am vulnerable myself and have a small child with a health condition, a disabled DH and elderly family members relying on me.

Never mind though, we should all just stop being so pathetic and get on with things.

[Chosennone]

There are so many mixed messages though. From the MSM and the goverment. The scary adverts? well... scare people. What are the risks? Which source do we trust? The whole rhetoric will need to change to influence Joe Public

[Unravelingslowly]

DH shielding - climbing the walls
DS 1 Teen - never leaves bedroom anyway somperfectly happy.
DS 2 Teen - see above.
Me -NHS so having to work wearing PPE & terrified I’m going to bring it back and kill DH.

My fears are not irrational and the terror of DH getting it and dying are massively affecting my mental health.

[ThePlantsitter]

"get a grip", as an expression manages to be imprecise, hateful and superior in attitude all in one go. If they're being consistent it'll be the government's latest means nothing buzz phrase OP. Get Brexit done. Protect the NHS. Get a Grip. like it.

[SinisterBumFacedCat]

Get a grip. Classic Dom.

[myangelalex]

It's an extremely dangerous virus for many people. That's the only grip anyone needs to get hold of

[TheCanterburyWhales]

I don't get that the OP is advocating a longer lockdown.
I get she thinks everyone else is a panicking fool.

[wakeupitsabeautifulmorning]

What does "developing mental health" mean? Everyone in the world has mental health 🙄. Sorry I meant to write say damaging mental health.

[PeachOrchid27]

Couldn’t agree more op.

[0v9c99f9g9d939d9f9g9h8h]

I know people who have died.

State your views if you want, they're valid, but don't be so offensively flippant.

From the way you talk about mental 'health', I don't think you know much about it. While I'm not denying there's a level of suffering and risk in this area, psychiatrists are always trying to help people see that being fed up and being mentally ill are two entirely different things. You're not helping.

[missfliss]

'getting a grip' is too harsh.

people have been whipped up into a state of fear by the media and by an anxious government trying to cover their own mistakes.

I do 100% agree that coronavirus has been made out to be more severe than any other ailment - physical or mental and that the amount of terror is disproportionate to the risk most of us face.

I am anxious for the catastrophic after effects of prolonged lock down on jobs, mental health..and the taxes needed to fund public services....