Could someone please hand me a grip?!

[AshMeri]

My elderly mum lives in a draughty, Victorian mid-terrace house. Two members of the family in the house next door have just tested positive for Covid.

Now LOGICALLY I know that the risk of her catching it through a wall is miniscule / non-existent. She has no interaction with them really. They don't really speak to her. So LOGICALLY I know that unless she actually goes outside and licks the next-door neighbour's gate there's no real cause for concern, but there's this nagging worry in the back of my mind. What if it's the new super strain? What if there's a big hole in the walls between the two houses? What if...? I know. Even writing it down feels ridiculous.

She is supposed to be shielding - pneumonia damaged lungs. She's weeks away (maybe a month or two) from her jab... We've not seen her other than in one or other's garden for almost a year.

Could someone please shake some sense into me? I'm really annoyed with my inability to respond to clear logic!

At the risk of sounding rude, you need to give your head a wobble and think logically. I suffer from anxiety and know what it feels like to worry about illogical situations. It's really hard and I do sympathise, but you'll drive yourself mad with worry if you keep thinking about it.

Rude is really ok in this context, I know it's ridiculous. Think I just need reassurance and a telling off in equal measure!

I'm sure you will find your grip soon OP
it's more difficult to get a sense of perspective when we have lost normal human interactions to keep us grounded I think
For me, if I felt rubbish for any reason, I'd go to the pub and chat to folks with very different concerns and burdens to my own - not whining on, just being with others in normal conversations- and everything went back to its proper place by the time I left

The virus - even a mutated super powered variant of the virus - can't slither into your mum's house through a gap in the wall. She is safe. Stop reading the coronavirus forum on here - it instils fear and panic into the most sensible of people! Have a cup of tea and a left over from Christmas chocolate biscuit

Thank you lovely people, that was what I needed.

I think it's spot on about perspective coming partly from actually being out and about in different environments and talking to people about "other stuff'. Yes I also need to stay away from discussions about Covid for now I think as am building my own echo chamber.

Ok I think I've found my sanity again. Thank you!