How do people not worry about catching colds / viruses?

[Cloud44]

I know this is a silly question and I never used to worry about it myself but how do people not worry about catching colds / viruses especially when there is a special occasion/ something important coming up? I seem to have no luck avoiding the germs and it’s starting to get me a bit down and I’m becoming a bit paranoid about it.

The last I thought about catching a cold was. Erm never.

perhaps exploring your anxiety is useful with - with a therapist

Well stocked medicine cabinet we aren't afraid to use.

I think I worry that I won’t be able to carry on with plans and have to let people / work down.

That's because you choose to rest.

It's not a choice a lot of people have but if that's what you're choosing, there's no point in worrying about how it affects others.

If you are frequently getting ill maybe look at what could be causing you to be so susceptible to illness. Poor diet? Stress? Not getting enough sleep? Just an idea, it might be that you’re just unlucky.

I have a history of (quite specific post-natal) health anxiety and even I don't remotely worry about getting colds. If I occasionally get one that's bad enough to make me miss out on something, well... it's annoying but that's life!

Yes I just carry I with whatever I’m doing, unless very unwell which is rare. Just a cold and I’m fine to carry on.

Making sure you eat food with plenty of vitamins, sleep well and have a decent medicine cabinet.

That way you’ll be vulnerable to fewer virus and can treat any you do actually catch.

Also, don’t quack yourself. Take a Lemsip or whatever and get on with life.

Thankfully I rarely catch viruses. However I don't avoid them. If I was in a room with 10 people with a virus it wouldn't bother me.
I get maybe 1 cold a year. But carry on as normal

I’ve got a cold at the moment and this weekend I’ve
been shopping, to a bbq and to a cafe for lunch. It hasn’t affected my plans at all.

I was off work for a week earlier this year with a flu-like horror, which then turned into the 100-day cough of doom. I've taken to using Vicks First Defence diligently and haven't had a cold worth the name since. I wouldn't say I worry about it though.

People's immunity and general health varies. Some have weaknesses / susceptibilities.

I don't generally get very ill with a cold but I do know people who often go on from a cold to develop bronchitis and on occasion pneumonia. It's just the way their bodies are, and it's fortunate that today we have antibiotics.

It’s not something I’ve ever worried about. If I do get something, I just crack on.

If I rested every time I felt I had a cold coming on I'd never do anything! I only rest when I'm actually ill; I complain about feeling crap all the time though - it's when I stop complaining and actually go to bed that dh knows it's bad!

Because I be torturing myself worrying about it. I can usually fight bugs off.

I also don't do anything that exciting.

Sounds like a bit of health anxiety. I’m similar. I don’t like it when I go somewhere or someone comes to me and people are obviously full of a streaming cold.
I usually get painful sinusitis when I get a cold with can take 8 weeks to shift so I don’t want your cold!

I have a new cold every couple of weeks, I’ve had pneumonia and bronchitis since Easter. I never used to be like this. I work in early years and now dread the snotty noses and general leaky fluids of small children because I know I’m going to get sick again and I am so worn down and out. Constantly exhausted and never seem to be well for more than a few days before the next virus takes up residence in my body. I’m taking multivitamins and washing hands a lot. It’s hard when little ones cough directly into your face 😫

I try not to worry about things I ultimately can't control. Then if I do catch a cold, don't let it stop me doing most things - I'd maybe work from home so as not to spread it but that would be the most I'd think about it

People will be understanding if someone is unwell and can't go to work or a planned event. They wouldn't consider it as you 'letting them down'. Everybody gets ill and has to cancel things.

I don't worry about it, I am fortunate though in that I only tend to get a cold once a year at most. I am not a particularly healthy person in other respects, overweight, very unfit, drink too much, diet consists of quite a lot of beige food.

Out of interest do you always bin your toothbrush after a bout of tonsillitis ? a friend started to do this and got it a lot less frequently.

Same here. I worked all through covid and we were never sick then, not the kids and not us. Because we were allowed to send them home immediately if they had the beginning of a cold. It only took a month or two before noone was basically never sick or had a cold. It was great! (I’m not in the UK)

Yes, this. And don’t keep your toothbrush close to the toilet..

Unless you have a poor immune system,are having treatment such as chemo or need to protect someone in these categories, it's a huge over reaction to worry over a cold or virus.

I don't worry because they are minor ailments. I might feel a bit ropey, but wouldn't let it stop me doing anything. It's a normal part of life, so why stress about it?

Sounds like your developing either health anxiety or ocd. Seek some therapy ASAP before it becomes uncontrollable. I know because I've been there