Asbestos and anxiety

[LottieLou3]

Just wondering if anyone has any knowledge of asbestos.

about 6 years ago I lived in a rental property for about 18 months that was owned by my employer (a school) and on their grounds.

the rooms in the house had stickers on the walls warning about asbestos and I believe it had been treated - encapsulated

the site manager was a very efficient individual and I’m sure would have had all necessary checks done.

however, it does stop me from feeling really worried about the fact that maybe I inhaled it and will get ill.

in definitely more anxious about my health since having my son 12 months ago.

so really I’m just wondering if anyone has experience of this or any advice?

thanks

It will have been in the building materials and the stickers will have been to alert anyone doing building work, so they could undertake appropriate precautions and disposal.

Asbestos poses no danger unless it's disturbed. You can live safely in an asbestos-lined building forever - it's only when you start pulling down the ceilings etc that potentially dangerous particles are released into the air.

Once the building had been correctly treated you have no to low risk of being in contact with asbestos dust and the stickers were there to prevent people from breaking the treatment seal

The web page is a good start point to answer your questions

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/asbestos-properties-incident-management-and-toxicology/asbestos-general-information

The particle has to be small enough to be eaten or inhaled.

So unless you were drilling holes etc in the fabric of the building you will be fine.

This is an extremely common form of health anxiety, linked to OCD behaviours (contamination anxiety is often how OCD presents and asbestos is a very common contamination fear). It would be worth reading up on strategies you can use to manage it, such as CBT. Those stickers indicate it was being well-managed, so you have nothing to fear - it’s your anxiety fuelling it.

It’s not unusual to find anxiety spiking after having a child. You need to find coping mechanisms.

It’s no danger unless it’s disturbed. The stickers are to let you know not to do work to the building without further assessment.

i just want to say thank you to everyone that responded @AnSolas @AppropriateAdult @lottiegarbanzo @RandomButtons @Tygertiger @Wolfiefan . You have made me feel much more reassured. As I said, I have noticed becoming more anxious particularly health-wise since the both of my son and I do think I need to find some strategies. I’m reluctant to go to the gp at the moment but will have a look online. If anyone knows any strategies that have worked particularly well for them
and would like to share I’d be really grateful xx

I found Unwinding Anxiety by Dr Brewer book very helpful

I have lots of experience with asbestos.

The risk from encapsulated asbestos is miniscule unless the encapsulation becomes ruptured or cracked as the fibres are contained.

The stickers will be from an asbestos management survey being carried out, which all non domestic buildings completed before 1999 should have.

I did CBT and use mindfulness. Take time to exercise and spend time outdoors. I also need meds though.