Crippled with health anxiety and now covid.

[Stressedafff]

Posted last night about my mums holiday tomorrow and now me being absolutely overwhelmed and stricken with health anxiety.

My partner has tested positive for covid this morning. He has a headache and sore throat.
We had it last October. DD 3 was okay.
I have emetophobia too and all I’m seeing is this new strain causes vomiting. I hated having it last year, the headache was so bad. I haven’t had the vaccine as the side effects just sent me over the edge but the anxiety of this virus has convinced me otherwise.

I feel like I’m spiralling

Deep breaths OP. What are you most afraid of? The new covid strain is not dangerous.

I don’t even know what I’m afraid of. I’m virtually agoraphobic at this point and I just feel so scared that even my home isn’t safe. I know I have health anxiety and contamination OCD
I feel like I’m afraid of the unknown with covid, like no 2 cases are the same, I’m not so much bothered about me just DD. She’s 3, she was fine last time but I’m so scared that she won’t be this time

She'll be fine. Can you ring the GP on Monday to get help with your anxiety?

You’ve read my mind. That’s actually my plan for first thing. I’ve had 10 years of this and I can’t do it anymore

Try not to worry

Me, my DH, DD, mum and dad all had it last week and none of us vomited. It was a mild cold just with bad fatigue. DD had a cough but she's had a lot worse with regular colds. Try to take the demonised 'Covid' word out of it and take it how it comes. Most likely you will just feel rubbish for a few days c

Just to add my DD is 18m, she also had it when she was a very young baby and this time wasn't as bad. I know everyone gets it differently but certainly in my experience this is a lot more mild than previous strains.

its been less bad than a cold the twice I’ve had it. Have you had any help for your anxiety as this must be crippling to cope with in relation to such mild and minor ailments

I have just had the new strain and no vomiting. I had sore sinuses and ears mostly. I did feel ill but it didn’t last too long. My DD didn’t catch it. Sorry you are struggling with your mental health.

We had omicron last year and DD was absolutely fine. I just worry as this is a new one. I’m so sick of this anxiety. I really am weary

I hope the dr can help

I'm so sorry to hear this. We were on holiday with my mum and dad last month and they both tested positive the last day we were away.

None of us caught it from them!! And they just had sore throats and cold symptoms. I'm sure you will be ok.

Is this the Eris variant? Is it milder than omicron does anyone know?
Thank you for so much support on here. I really do appreciate it. I sound so unhinged and I’ll read this thread back when it’s all blown over and cringe. But I know it’s not normal to react like this, I’m the same when she gets a cold. It’s just stupid. Determined to speak to GP Monday.

I had Covid this week but fine today. I don’t know which strain it is but no vomiting here

Everyone will be absolutely fine. Just stop testing, because it's pointless and will only worry you.

I lost my dad in 2014 to cancer really suddenly. Then DD was extremely poorly when she was born. Since then I have just been getting worse and worse. My partner is also a pig and I’m in that much of a mess with my mental health I’ve not even put a plan to leave. Health anxiety and this contamination OCD is just crippling. I know I’m venting but I’m keeping this to show the GP if I can get in on Monday. I only go to college and home and I really do have no life whatsoever.

I've had it for 2 weeks. No vomiting. Very tired, annoying cough and on and off temperature. Please try not to worry. My son did not catch it from me. It's totally bearable.

You don’t sound unhinged, I have health anxiety specifically around being sick as I also have emetephobia. My thoughts spiral at this time of year going into winter and worry about the same things with covid (if it doesn’t make me sick I can cope with it!).

Omg do you get it around this time too?! I thought it was just me. I’m like this until around March/April. Do you have any coping tips or anything? It’s so shit isn’t it. Xxx

Ah op ocd is awful but the only thing that really helped me in your exact situation years ago was making use of the NOCD app and exposure therapy when I got covid. I was so, so ill but I can happily say now I have zero health anxiety. Feel free to pm me if you're struggling and I can talk you through how I approached recovery

Living with a difficult partner can make you a complete nervous wreck. It will be exacerbating all of your anxiety. Please put your needs first.

Gosh OP are you me?! I could have written pretty much all of your posts! No suggestions, but following with interest, and sending unmumsnetty hugs. I’m here with you.

It’s shit isn’t it! To put it bluntly!

This is the reason the media and the press have made me so, so cross over the last few years - their insane fear mongering and whipping everyone up into a frenzy has real consequences for people like the OP, scaring the living daylights out of people over what is, for most people these days, a bad cold and a few days of feeling rough (emphasis on the MOST before everyone comes at me insisting that everyone who gets Covid immediately drops dead - Omicron was extremely mild compared to the first strains and Eris thankfully appears similar).

OP - it’s hard but remember that this is your anxiety talking. Covid is now a standard seasonal illness and you and your family will be fine. It’s not your fault at all that you’re this wound up; but try to stay calm and rational. Definitely speak to your GP to alleviate your anxiety, and I hope you can find some relief.

I think this unfortunately is what has happened. As I was recovering so to speak, he has been quite abusive emotionally and as silly as it sounds it felt like the health anxiety etc was the only thing I could control , it’s how it’s manifested as since the abuse I have become very anxious anyway. I worry at some point I’m going to have a cognitive breakdown and I’m wasting my life. Like who gets anxious about colds?!

I would say it is normal - a normal response to your trauma. Given your update it is normal to be scared about things that have caused you trauma in the past - people getting sick. Sounds like that is worrying you a lot and anyone getting sick reminds you of that time in your life and panics you it could happen again. This is normal but it sounds like you do need some support with the trauma you have experienced.