To be living in fear of illness this time of year?

[Babyonion]

I keep reading updates on Facebook groups, WhatsApp groups I’m in and so on. Plus the media in general talking about how bad this time of year is for bugs and viruses.
My DH, MIL and FIL are all ill with a cough and nasty cold at the moment that has knocked them for 6 for days/weeks. So far I’ve been fortunate enough not to catch it.
I also keep reading about norovirus and flu that are particularly rife.
I had norovirus a couple of years ago (twice if I recall!) and I was really unwell with it. I felt absolutely shocking.
I have a bit of a phobia of vomiting as it is, so that’s just compounding the anxiety I feel.
I am also dressing illness over Christmas as we have so much planned and are travelling down to see my family too.
I’ll be gutted if everything is ruined.
I’m washing my hands as much a possible but can’t avoid crowded places because of where I work and of course DS (who is 6) being at school and not exactly hygienic.

It's as rife as it is every year. Just don't lick a sick person, and you'll be doing the best you can do.

Im also emetophobic, BTW. Would also be living in fear if I let myself, but I'm honestly so bloody tired of being anxious 24/7 every winter.. i think my brain has just checked out of it this winter. I'm not gonna be attending any parties or such though.. and am also washing my hands constantly.

I’m the same , I’m petrified about getting sick over Christmas, it ruins the build up for me .

@Toomanysquishmallows
I’m the same - petrified of getting ill for Christmas

I'm not scared, almost resigned to the fact I am going to get ill at some point. Every other person at my workplace has been sick in the last six weeks except me and one other. All my Christmas prep is done and its just hoping that we don't get ill.

My two teens and I have so far avoided every sickness bug, cold, cough, covid and flu-like shenanigans this whole year. I get a private flu jab in September usually as I don't have anyone else to take care of them if I'm ill and I cannot afford to be off work (single parent). It feels like sheer luck though.

We have sick bowls hidden in our rooms as our bathroom is downstairs lesson learned from having noro last year and we do our best to wash hands. The house is a normal level of clean and we aren't avoiding anything. Down that road, madness lies.

I’m the same at the moment because I was so unwell over Christmas last year. I couldn’t eat or drink and was off my face on painkillers for a few weeks. It didn’t feel like Christmas Day happened! I’m just trying to avoid anyone who is clearly ill or says they’re unwell, and washing my hands well. I’m not letting myself worry about it too much though.

Same. Last Christmas DH had the worst tonsillitis I've ever seen so Christmas Dinner was me and DS eating pasta with Dolmio. Boxing Day I fainted while out shopping - COVID. All 3 of us had it. We all got better on Jan 2nd.

DS has now got tonsillitis but I'm hoping it will have been and gone by the weekend!

These things happen and we just have to accept it. Don't let the fear of the possible ruin having a good time now! Do have a comprehensive first aid kit in just in case as shops are shut

Were you like this before Covid?

I don't really think about it. 10 kids off sick today in DS's class. He says he feels a bit off. Christmas won't be ruined. We might have to do some bits later on in the Christmas season if he's really ill. Worrying about it won't stop it happening.

Im the same, trying to avoid crowds and washing my hands. I had COVID over Christmas a couple of years ago. It was the first Christmas in our new home and MIL had flown over from Europe to spend it with us. I was throughly miserable and felt like I missed out on the build up and enjoying Christmas. At the time I felt awful and was really angry at whoever had given me the illness. I never want another Christmas like it again and will do what I can to stay healthy.

My anxieties about being ill over Xmas are starting to kick in a bit, my Mum had Covid the week before Xmas last year which sent me into a spin the few days prior to the kids breaking up in case plans had to change quickly on the day or we all got it. Kids have both had colds but thankfully getting over them now and hopefully I've escaped it so far!

I am of the thought that worrying over things we have no control over just adds to stress and stress impacts the immune system.

If I get ill I do but I seem to avoid most illnesses whereas DH who worries about catching everything tends to get them instead.

I have been ill for a few days thanks to mingling with people but that's how viruses transmit.

I never even think about it to be honest. Only ever been ill at Christmas once, so that's probably why.

I am on my death* bed right now and it's my second cold in three weeks. It's possibly covid but I don't test. I feel rough as hell so just hoping that I pick up in the next few days as I finish for Christmas and what a waste of holiday. I can't move for coughing.

*may or may not be exaggerating.

I am possibly the only weirdo in Bristol wearing masks in public transport. My rides are usually at least 45 mins and people usually avoid ME as they think I am unwell.I know i cant avoid germs but cold weather actually hampers the cells in our nasal lining from stopping germs and face covering can increase the ambient air temp. Will not bother that much after a few weeks.

This time of year makes me nostalgic for lockdowns. I'm immune compromised (cancer) and lockdown was the only time I felt truly safe travelling and mingling as mostly everyone was being careful. Now I'm back to 7AM supermarket visits and strange looks for wearing a mask.

Sounds like you have irrational anxiety. It’s really not a normal way to feel. Have you spoken to your GP?

I'm doing up on vitamins and hoping for the best. Tbf, I am always poorly at Xmas but usually just a bog standard cold. 2020 I had covid and so slept through most of it.

Touch wood I'm okay so far. But I figure there isn't anything I can do to stop it so I'm not gonna stress about it.

I always get anxious before Christmas or before a holiday that one of us is going to catch something and our plans will be ruined. I think that's perfectly understandable when you're looking forward to something. Flu and norovirus can be very nasty.

I am trying to learn to just accept that it is what it is. My poor 5 year old has been ill for the last 3 weeks with an ear infection and what feels like a never-ending cold and cough. She was also ill last Christmas, my parents had the flu the Christmas before. It's a shame we can't move Christmas to the summer. Maybe we should all move to Australia!

Try not to read about all the things going round.

I have cancer too and really and truly couldn’t live like that.

I think it depends on our cancer type, not sure which kind you have. I have blood cancer and the particular kind puts me at quite high risk of respiratory and sinus infections. I socialise with friends, but I know they're all vaccinated. So, not paranoid, just ultra careful I guess!

I always stress before something big (Christmas, a holiday) that the DC will bring a bug home and it will be ruined. Vomiting bugs especially!

Glad I'm not the only one who feels like this!

Yeah same here. I’m trying to not overreact and rationalise but it’s hard. Not helped by the posts on Social media about it and even here on MN. But I do try to keep it in some kind of perspective as I know that even IF we all came down with something, we are still healthier than many people who’d love to “only” worry about some winter bugs…

But it is hard…

What I do to try to manage this stress is to make myself a 'cold and flu' kit. I have all kinds of things in it, I use the prevention nasal spray and the throat prevention spray (ColdZyme) if I've been out in a busy place. I make sure I have in paracetemol, ibuprofen, Difflan and decongestants. Tissues, vaseline for noses, throat sweets in every bag. I wash my hands when I get in from outside, and I am happy when it's cold enough to wear gloves, also wash after using the loo religiously so that helps. If anyone gets a vomiting virus, I make them a den in their bedroom, dedicate one bathroom to them (out of two) and dettol all the handles of everything, and it very rarely spreads in our household.

Once I've done all that, I go out and enjoy myself! I find being prepared helps a lot with all the worry of it, and even when I've got sick which is once so far this year, I've been able to carry on pretty much, and so has everyone else as I encourage them to use the cold and flu kit!

I'd much rather do that than stay in.