Covid anxiety -how to cope?

[thaegumathteth]

I've copied and pasted this from the MH board as Although I've had lots of kind responses I'm thinking maybe it would be better to have responses from people who aren't to clued in on mental health if that makes sense? Because actually I want to know what it feels like to live through this without anxiety.

I've had health anxiety for years. It peaks and troughs. Was very bad in March April 2020 but has been manageable.

There's me, dh (works from home 75% of the time) and ds (15) and dd (11). Ds had covid (delta?) in October and has had second vaccine last week. Dd too young for vaccines and me and dh triple vaxxed.

Dh is 44 and I'm 40. He is a bit overweight I am severely overweight - massively . I have lost 3 stone but still have a crazy amount to lose. Kids and I have asthma. I'm also disabled with chronic severe pain.

I am CONVINCED I will die if I catch omicron. Just typing that makes my heart race. I am terrified.

Kids obviously at school and seeing friends etc - I don't want them to know how anxious I am.

Ds has a runny nose today and I'm a wreck (in private) imagining all the worst case scenarios. Dh is exhausted from listening to me being in constant panic and paralysed with fear.

I don't really know why I'm posting, I'm struggling. Usual anxiety meds aren't doing anything. I haven't been in a shop or a cafe for almost 2 years, or had a friend in the house etc. I have let the kids do these things and we've done outdoor stuff in summer.

Right now I'm wondering - am I a terrible person for not getting a PCR for ds who has a runny nose and has coughed twice. My mind is whirring and I think I need a bit of a reality check - I don't think most people are feeling like this are they?? Are they?

Thanks @FrozZen imagine how amazing it'd be if I could just post off some of my extra lbs!

You sound really content and happy which is great. Amazed you only know two people who've had it tho. I know so many, mostly symptomatic although none hospitalised except 3 .

Love your post @frozzen ...Op when I get stressed about Covid or bollox in the news and twitter, I think about the stars and our place in the universe and recognise how insignificant I am. The fact that we get a chance at life And our ancestors weren’t eaten by lions, is pretty amazing.

That’s not flippant..it’s CBT..train your minD To stop And think down another path as soon as you get to worrying.

Some people ping an elastic band on their wrist..I Just remember that life’s short and worrying makes it shorter!

..plus I have never owned a pair of scales in my life....

Thanks @MrsPuddle you're right and I have tried that but then my brain gets a bit overwhelmed by it all! I've tried elastic band thing before and didn't get any relief but you've reminded me when I was younger if I smelled Vicks it used to calm me a bit - no clue why!

Just wandered outside to look at the stars. The moon has a lovely halo this eve. We really are insignificant once you look up. I always look up, even walking down the street. All sorts above ground level that you won't see if you carry the weight of the world on your shoulders. As a small example, if you look up in the centre of York, you will find cats, everywhere. Pottery and ceramic, climbing gutters, sitting on window sills, etc. I've no idea the history, but blew my mind!! If you feel down, look up!

Get some Vicks tomorrow!! If it worked before, it can work again. YOU are in charge of YOUR life. Do whatever makes you happy. Will send my PO Box number for every pound you lose!!!! Cold here, so I'd welcome a LOT more protection!!

@mrspuddle you are so right. We are indoctrinated to believe we matter SO much, and yet... Do we?! All that matters is our now. We won't ever understand all of it, the cosmos, etc so... We should just enjoy what we have been given. Imvho.

If you use twitter, regularly visit @buitengebieden for relief from all the heavy stuff!!

Guess who won't be up early!

I often debate laying out some of my issues on MN... Then struggle with how to not drip feed etc. I'm a mum and a daughter, with every problem everybody else has.... Except I've never lost my ironing board - I sold it and have never ever replaced it! And I don't have parking issues as I have penguin bollards!!! (I wish!)

Here for support, if required. Obvs as a Thinny, I can't possibly advise on losing weight, except request you send it to me. I can't stop you panicking except to say post here and you will know that at least 2 people have your back. (I don't always have Internet cos I am travelling, but I will check in whenever I can). See? Suddenly, people care about you. It is what MN is about.

I can't remember the name for this, but if you struggle with something alone you only have a power of1. If somebody else helps, there are 2 of you, so you have a power of 4. 2 Squared. There are 3 of us now, so power of 9. See? Winning!!

@MrsPuddle

..plus I have never owned a pair of scales in my life....

Scales? I'm still trying to work out nail varnish.

@thaegumathteth how are you doing this morning?

Thanks @FrozZen I looked up the Twitter link. Saw a sea otter getting his temperature taken!!! ♥️

@cheeseybeans19 just the same really, it comes in peaks and troughs. Just never know if I'm over analysing everything when I feel like this. Dd coughed earlier so that's worrying me and she sounds like she has a sore throat but is totally fine. I am not saying anything to her about any of it as absolutely don't want kids getting my anxiety.

My period is due (tmi) and I'm always most anxious around then.

@cheeseybeans19 sorry meant to say thanks for asking hope you're doing ok

I am over 50 and pretty much don't know anybody who has ever worried about Covid, even tho some work in hospitals and/or have had it. Children are not badly affected by it, but they will all regularly have coughs and colds. If you are vaccinated, just read the information available from reliable sources, and you will know that the risk is almost zero.
Alternatively, remind yourself that life has to have some element of risk in it. I could be killed in a road accident tomorrow, next week or next month. But I am not going to stop driving or going out, because hiding away from something that "might" happen is pointless.

Please seek help, because living in fear is so damaging for you and your family. And stop watching the news, because that will make a huge difference.

@Hbh17 I found your post hugely reassuring, sometimes for me all I need is someone to come along and put things into perspective for me, so thank you 😊

I work in a hospital. I am obese and over 60, got covid before first lockdown. I was unwell for quite a while but never spent a day in bed. There are 7 wards with covid patients in my hospital at the moment but hardly any in ICU like the first time, apparently only a couple who are unvaccinated. You are young and vaccinated, you do not have anything to worry about it is anxiety. Try mindfulness techniques, I find they help if you wake up at night and your mind won't stop catastrophising. If mine won't stop I start something mundane like doing my shopping list in my mind or deciding what I'm going to cook the next day. Also lavender essential oil is my go to smell like your vick and is suppose to relax and help you sleep, I sometimes put a few drops on the pillowcase. 🌸💐

Thanks everyone. I stopped watching the news mostly a few weeks ago and it has helped.

I do the mindfulness meditations but I can never seem to clear my mind for them so I just end of drifting off on a Tangent

@cheeseybeans19 how you feeling?

@cheeseybeans19 hope you're recovering well

I understand because I have anxiety too and I’m also prone to catastrophising. I was convinced we were all going to be seriously ill when we caught covid last month. We were all fine. I was only double vaccinated at the time and it was 4 months after my second vaccine but I had barely any side effects at all. My sinuses burnt and I couldn’t smell for about a week but that was honestly it. No cough, definitely no breathing problems or anything of the sort and no fever either. Kids breezed through it and now we have all have yummy antibodies- great!

Chances are you’ll all be fine if you do catch it, you may already have had it and not realised. It’s worthwhile reminding yourself that barely anyone dies, especially vaccinated people and those who do are usually over 70.

@thaegumathteth sorry I’ve not been back to the thread sooner, I’ve had a rough couple of days, I lost my dad just before Christmas so have just had an awful few weeks. I am on day 7 and am feeling much much better, I have been a bit anxious the last couple of days but I think it’s just been a accumulation of the last few weeks rather than me having covid. I hope that you’re doing ok?

Might have to don my hard hat here but hey... I have a friend who feels just like you and I'm getting to the point where I'm not sure I can't carry on actively partaking in the friendship. It's just so hard work. The current focus is covid but if it wasn't that it would be something else. She just makes being her friend such damned hard work and her anxiety literally saps the fun out of everything. I've tried for years but have recently realised how much I'm constantly adapting myself to make the friendship work and I'm not sure I can carry on with that level of effort. I have a million friendships and they are positive things, not the negative burden this one has become. That sounds so harsh doesn't it.

Anyway, I guess I'm interested in whether it's just covid that brings out this anxiety in you or if your anxieties in general are taking over life ?

@Hemingwayzcatz glad you were all ok. 😊

@cheeseybeans19 that's ok don't be daft I'm glad you're feeling physically better but sorry you've had a tough time. I lost my dad a few years ago and it's hard.

@Desmondo2021i don't tell my friends about my anxiety for this very reason. I don't really know what else to say to you. I wish I had a choice in feeling this way, I do speak to dh about it and feel guilty about that but for every 1 anxious thought I tell him about I probably have 100 I don't . That's not an exaggeration if a friend had a physical illness would you feel the same?