I need a hand hold - horrible intrusive thoughts about this Chinese virus

[Notcontent]

Just made the mistake of reading latest news and now feeling horribly anxious and tearful. I worry about my dd, or something happening to me and dd being left alone.

I am seriously immunosuppressed. The more I read, the less I worry. The WHO are keeping an eye and implementing safeguards. Don’t forget we’ve been here before.

I'm sorry you are feeling like this. I think it's very scary but ultimately other than common sense precautions there's nothing we can do, so why spoil your life worrying now.

Statisically you are more at risk every time you get in a car. Do you worry about that to the same extent?

I understand how awful intrusive thoughts can be, though this particular issue isn't one I have personally. Instead of worrying about the worst that could happen, think instead about what practical steps you can take to minimise the risk - practice good hygiene with regular hand washing, particularly before eating. Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.

As Gilead said, this is a high profile virus, so all possible safeguards will be being implemented at an international level. The risk to the UK isn't high.

Try to reassure yourself that there is nothing more you can reasonably do, and then try to distract yourself by thinking about something else - anything else - when the thoughts come in. I know full well it can be like playing 'whack a mole' trying to tamp down intrusive thoughts, but you just have to keep distracting yourself, again and again and again.

Please do not panic. We have been here before with Ebola & SARS. It is unlikely to reach your area of the UK. I have Germophobia & am immunosuppresed and am not worried. Yet. The Wuhan area of China is densely packed so it is going to spread quickly. The area is now quarantined, we in the UK will probably at most get a handful of cases that will be quickly contained.

Try not to jump on board with the scary thoughts and get carried away OP. Right now you are safe and that’s all that matters.

I’m guessing it’s not in the media’s interest to keep us calm about this sort of thing either, they just want to create headlines 🤷‍♀️

OP when my first dc was born about 12 years ago there was I think swine flu and I was terrified. Watching the news and crying my eyes out thinking that one of us will catch it....

Nothing happens and if disappeared.

Then something else was the new epidemic and it was on the news for weeks and I thought well hopefully it’ll be the same as the last time.... it was and nothing happened!

Then it was Ebola and I thought, shit I hope it doesn’t get us but I’ll trust it won’t and it didn’t....

Now this.... we could be hit by a bus tomorrow so try to focus on the here and now with you dc. I’m sure this time in a few weeks we’ll have forgotten the name of it!!

Thousands of people die from normal flu each year but the vast majority feel shit fur a few days and ate absolutely fine. That’s not in the news though as it’s not new, it’s happened forever. This is a new virus so it’s all action stations. Also from my understanding Ebola was worse and they got that under control.

Don’t watch the news either about it, turn it off, as it would leave the most laidback person anxious!! And don’t google all about it.

🍕🍟 have some pizza and fries abd a glass of 🍷

And I’m the most anxious person most people have met!! 😳

I have had health anxiety before, so I do understand how how you are feeling. The perceived secrecy and rumours about China don't help either. Try not to look at Twitter, only look at the news twice a day. Try to mentally protect yourself.

I have thought about it today but as PP said, people die from flu and we are used to that idea. Of course, it is terribly sad what is going on but if you are to consider what is going on in the world day to day then it is minimal. Unfortunately, we are living in an age where even the most credible sources appear to thrive off the drama. I have not yet achieved my new year's resolution of disengaging from daily news, but certainly think anyone (myself included) who suffers with anxiety should for a while. Ask yourself at the end of the day something along the lines of - how has it affected me/my kids/my home etc? It's a weight off. Of course you don't want to wind up disengaged from the real social issues in this world, but when it comes to anxiety I think you have to force a break sometimes.

Make sure you are reading quality news reporting and journalism. Don’t touch any tabloid sites or anything like Yahoo News (does that still exist)? Reputable news sources, official government reports (including NHS), once a day, and that’s it. Keep yourself busy with day to day stuff.

I'm scared, too. Yesterday at uni I got into a lift with seven Asians and four of them were wearing masks. Do they know something the Westerners don't?

There are 60+ million people in the UK. The chances of it affecting you are negligible. Squeamish - no they don't know something you don't. It's quite common for Chinese people to wear face masks. Keep it realistic. There are over 7 billion people on the planet. The percentage affected by Corona is minuscule.

@squeamishsquamish I frequently use the MTR (like the tube) in Hong Kong. At least 50% of people routinely face masks all of the time.

It’s fine. Try and relax. Nothing is going to happen.

You need coping strategies for when something like this happens.
Breathing exercises, mindfulness, meditation. Have you had CBT? If not maybe check out a self help book. Stop reading the news. Distract yourself with anything, exercise, cooking, cleaning, a good book. Be really busy. Get out and meet a friend. Walk in nature.
I know it's tempting but looking for reassurance from people is a really bad idea. You will feel better for 5 mins then the worry is replaced or the reassurance is never enough. I've been there so i know how tough it is. If it's really bad then a visit to your GP is a good idea.

As others have said you have more risk of something happening just getting in a car. Chinese people often wear masks to avoid infection and to avoid infecting others- we had Chinese students live with us 10 years ago and all of them wore masks nearly all the time...!

I have severe autoimmune conditions, you learn to just embrace the fear and do things anyway - life is for the living.

Queen has great advice.

squeamishsquamish

Echoing what PP have said -there are hundreds of Chinese students at my university, at least half of them wear masks. I was told it's because of worries about pollution, but whatever the reason it isn't something they've started doing since the outbreak of this virus.

Thanks to everyone who took the time to post last night!

I am feeling better about things today.

I work in a hospital and am involved in the emergency planning side of things. We're all over it. It's very similar to flu - which kills many people per year and there's a vaccine yet people don't seem to appreciate how bad flu is because they think it's a bad cold. Only older and vulnerable people with other medical issues have died and no children have been known to have contracted it. The U.K. has world-leading public health and good plans in place.

Some great advice on here. Good to read as I’m feeling very similar. Definitely going to try and stop obsessively checking the news and bookmark this thread too. I’ve found focusing on what I can do has helped. Just the simple things making sure everyone is washing their hands and eating well and taking supplements to keep their immune systems as strong as possible. I have to confess I’ve made sure I have food, nappies, medicine in so I don’t have to rush out and get stuff if it lands here, as that calms my anxiety. As others have said we don’t obsess about the dangers of flu or getting in a car and really we ought to be focusing on enjoying the here and now. Now to take that advice myself!

I think this is a good, calm, practical article in the Guardian today. I think being prepared, and having some understanding of how to minimise risk, helps to maintain control of one's worry and anxiety, OP.

www.theguardian.com/science/2020/jan/27/coronavirus-how-to-protect-yourself-from-infection