The 'Positive Mental Health' Corona virus thread

[RapidRainbow]

There are a lot of posts of people worrying. I thought it could be helpful to share positive and assuring information in one thread.

For me, the most reassuring thing so far is the fact that of approx. 1500 people in the UK suspected to have and tested for CV have come back as negative.

Let’s imagine they are right

Most people will have mild symptoms. That’s still the size of it.
Do you panic about yourself or your loved ones getting other diseases? Or being in a car accident?

If i wasnt pregnant i wouldnt be worrying so much. Im worried about catching it whilst pregnant or my newborn catching it. Im so worried what the hospital will be like and catching it there. I have two little boys too and whilst i know all the evidence says they will be fine i still worry. X

What they are now suggesting as a worst case scenario is maximum of 100,000 deaths now even if theat number sounds scary what they are effectively saying is worst case scenario is that this flu season will be 3 times as bad as normal... While it's still not idea, it's hardly the horrifying scenario they have been portraying

Tud, glad you said that, when I heard the 100,000 I thought, is that what people are panicking about?!

My teenager has turned off the half hourlynews scares that kept popping up on my phone, thst I dodnt read but the volume of them was getting a bit overwhelming and it has been much nicer since that! Also meeting friends and family who are not overly concerned (altho none of my friends and work colleagues seem particularly anxious)

@tud41 i wonder over how long of a time perioid they mean as well. X

I was just trying to think back to the swine flu epidemic in 2009 and trying to remember if people were as worried back then? I don't remember that they were but I was mid twenties then so perhaps I thought I was invincible!

News articles from the time say that the WHO predicted that up to 7.5 million people could die from Swine Flu but that the total number of deaths in the end was around 14,000.

I'm not saying we shouldn't exercise sensible caution but these thing are not always as much of an issue as anticipated.

Anyone like to hold my hand here, I was doing okay but now my anxiety has rocketed. Youngest son (22) with autism is at local community college studying art, shares art building/facilities with design students all of who return from Florence tomorrow. College has said no need for them to self isolate ( local paper reported this). We're older parents, dh has health problems - son has just had hand foot mouth disease, so tempted to keep him off for a few extra days........

What I'd be interested to know, is when it will turn into community testing. i.e if you ring 111 and say, I've got a cough and a temperature, would they then say- okay-let's get you tested? Because if Korea is testing a lot of people, surely we want to be replicating that.

Sunshine, I remember swine flu very clearly, not least because one friend was angry that I wouldn’t meet up with her while her son had it.

Even though I had elderly parents and couldn’t afford to lose pay etc.

But I think the hysteria is probably due to society having become more hysterical generally and social media. Plus there’s more unknowns here.

But if your anxiety is coming from the main panic thread on here, hide it.

I am feeling a bit better today, still quite anxious but I gave myself a major talking to last night. I am very worried but that anxiety is doing nothing to help the situation, it won't bring the numbers down or change what happens but it will make me very ill. Trying to limit myself to what I am reading and distracting myself if I get an anxiety spike, not working totally but better.

Oh, I'm not anxious at all really! I just don't remember this level of hysteria about swine flu and wondered if it was because the predictions were that it would only have a very small impact but it doesn't seem that way.

I think there was less hysteria (social media not such a thing) but it was still a big deal, my toddler DD developed cold symptoms and the GP dished out anti-virals very rapidly, I remember being very worried (she was fine, just a cold).

@Keynote1 have you given your husband a big hug?

Lovely normal weekend here. Been shopping in town, which was busy, met friend for coffee, lots of walks and supermarket fully stocked! My DS was swimming competitively and had a good day and DH recovered from flu. Definitely makes me feel more cheerful getting out and about and seeing others do the same.

My DS was about 5 during swine flu and had had two hospital stays as a baby with pneumonia and various other things. Lots of panic at the time at primary schools etc. Just didn’t have the saturation coverage that seems to exist now. All three of us have health problems at home, pretty serious for me and DH, but carrying on as normal.

Where I am, it's just toilet roll and hand gel. Every thing else seems fine. I really don't get the loo roll. Been out today and yes you realise that staring at your phone reading updates etc is what stirs up the panic

@tud41, he is still upset with me for the last few days but getting better, a little hug.

What is everybody doing about future plans, we had plans to visit people, go out for days in the next few months but I feel like I have put life on hold, no point planning at the moment as I don't know what the situation will be then. Are people just carrying on plans?

Just carrying on re any plans. We need to pay for our summer holiday this week so will just double check with insurance company but apart from that it is business as usual!

Yep, all plans continuing completely as normal until I'm told otherwise by those whose job it is to work out how to deal with this sort of thing.

We're off to a Butlin's a week on Monday, no plans to change anything.

What is everybody doing about future plans, we had plans to visit people, go out for days in the next few months but I feel like I have put life on hold, no point planning at the moment as I don't know what the situation will be then. Are people just carrying on plans?

Yes.

Up to London mothers day weekend, Friday to Monday. Trains, tube everywhere over days, and seeing a show, meals out and a market.
Less than 4 weeks time, a long haul flight with two changes to get to destination.
Life is far too precious at our age, to put everything on hold. Every day matters to me. Carpe diem and all that.
If someone in authority tells me I can't do these things, I will abide by that. Until then, we carry on as normal.

Will decide about plans day by day. Glamping trip coming up will probably be ok but DC will probably have to come with us instead of going to grandparents.
Evenings out : probably going to go ahead until advice suggests otherwise.
Big decision will be paying for summer holiday in full - due end of May, but a lot can happen before then.

Yes everything as normal atm
Parties, clubs, going out, gym.

I am cancelling a couple of social days out that involve train and/or tube. Just me, going to meet friends each time. DH is mid 70s & in reasonable health but I won't take the risk of catching it or giving it to him for my own pleasure for a day. (And, TBH, one of them I don't mind not going to at all!!) They are both in the next few weeks.

We are booked for a ferry to Europe to go & see family in May & still intend to do that as long as travel is not banned. Holiday booked for September & really hope to go on that.

Four weeks today we have a holiday cottage booked in the Highlands. Fully intend to be there. With lots of wine and chocolate.