To feel like my life is on hold? Anyone else?

[DreamInLavender]

I suspect it is to do with COVID 19. I don't know. I just have this awful bubble feeling, like I'm just on hold for a while.

Similar to the feeling of waiting to test when TTC my son, or waiting to hear back from a job I really want. I just feel trapped!

Anyone else?

[Aroundtheworldin80moves]

Optimistically wrote birthday party invitations for my daughter last night. I know there's a high chance it won't happen. Luckily there's no money invested in it... It's a science/craft party so don't need to buy stuff until a few days before, and all will keep if I postpone.

Pretty much cancelled all our Easter plans.

Preparing for a looonnngg Easter break, with a lot of staying at home.

[YgritteSnow]

@imoan7

DD's hands red raw too. A thin layer of sack on each night before bed so they heal overnight. Also when she gets in from school and has washed her hands if really red then another layer of savlon. If not then Neutrogena Norwegian formula hand cream for very dry skin. Has worked wonders within a day or two.

[YgritteSnow]

Savlon not sack!

[Nquartz]

@LEELULUMPKIN

I feel the same, I'm taking it really seriously at work (massive open plan office) my company are taking it really seriously but there's still people bringing in communal cakes today, others saying it's just flu, old people die of normal flu every year, etc etc.

Different people have different coping mechanisms I guess.

[Paintedmaypole]

It's a bit like a horror movie. I have lung fibrosis and don't do well with chest infections. I am not that old but I am in the "older people" category, so if I catch it it doesn't look good. I refuse to worry but I am reducing the amount of times I go out and handwashing etc. I do think the government should be taking stronger measures. I am really glad it doesn't affect children too badly. All we can do is take all the precautions we can but there is absolutely no point panicking.

[Thedogscollar]

nicelegsshameabouttheface Have you hot all the loo paper and pasta then

[CassandrasCastle]

I am due to give birth mid-April. WTF! My dp's anxiety is through the roof worrying about me, while I am just carrying on plodding off to work (large company but v close to house so no commute), seeing the odd mate in a quiet cafe in the late afternoons...it's all so strange.

[gingganggooleywotsit]

I guess we are really lucky to be here in the uk with our nhs. My guess is it's going to spread a lot faster in the US (despite Trump burying his head in the sand) due to poorer people not having the insurance to be treated properly.

[ShatnersWig]

The fact is with this is that almost certainly there are some of us on this thread who have it already and aren't aware we have it because many people won't only have very mild symptoms but no symptoms at all. The cases are of course way, way, higher than the confirmed ones. Inevitably, as it is with ANY virus.

I think most of us have a weird feeling right now. I'm trying to carry on as much as normal, not just because that's the Government angle, but for my mental health and well being. Because at some point in a few weeks, we will almost certainly all be told to stay home and that's when we'll need our mental strength.

I get what the CMO and CSO say. I can understand it. Some other experts in viruses agree with them, some don't? Which experts are more likely to be right? The problem is with a new virus, EVERYONE is guessing and will interpret data and evidence in alternate ways.

What I do know is that because science is continually improving and what might have taken years to get to grips with in even identifying and understanding something now takes months. It won't be like the Spanish flu on 1918. It won't be like Ebola. Yes, sadly, there are going to be more deaths - inevitable with any virus of this type (as with flu - and no, I'm not saying this is like flu).

The poster who said your chance of dying from it is minute is statistically correct. 5 people die each day in a car accident in the UK. Hundreds of cancer each day. 800 a year from falling down stairs. Yes, we're in uncertain, strange times and it's going to be odd for a couple of months. Which is why we need to ensure our mental health as much as possible by putting it into perspective in terms of HEALTH and being sensible - don't visit elderly family or friends apart from dropping things off for them, don't go to something if you are at all worried, avoid large gatherings if you are concerned regardless of Govt advice, wash hands regularly, wipe surfaces regularly, eat healthily as far as possible.

There are going to be economic issues. Unfortunately, what happens there is up to Government in terms of loss of earnings. I think that's going to be the harder issue than the health one and that's TOTALLY out of our hands, especially harder for self employed and certain industries.

[malificent7]

I am a student in a hospital....there have been a few suspected cases...not confirmed. Luckily the staff are gloved, gowned and scrubbed up. Im expecting to be pulled any day now.

[Flyingpurplepeopleeater]

I feel like the saddest thing (taking bereavement and potential bankruptcy out of the equation) is that the biggest weapon against the pandemic is social isolation.....a thing that for the past few years would have been seen as a major contributing factor to MH issues.

[Valkadin]

I have MH issues so this general underlying fear in others is feeding my anxiety as I soak up vibes off folk very easily.

I do have one other emotion prompted and thats a worry about the supply chain and being hungry. As a child we were very neglected and often hungry. As an adult I have never known that fear and have been lucky enough to be comfortable and not worry about buying food. It has poked those memories horribly. I was making some stuffing mix on Sunday and it reminded me of my sisters eating raw stuffing mix they found as it was the only thing in the house. Knowing hunger and how it feels scares me.

[RosehipRuthie]

OP You ask "Anyone else?" But I would've thought you should've asked "Everyone else?"
Everybody is frightened to some extent, if not for themselves, but what it could do to our society, our economy, our loved ones. Life will never be quite the same again for any of us.
And all those who think it's a fuss about nothing and will be over within a few weeks I say "educate yourself" think seriously what a death rate of even just 1% could mean to your family and friends.
Aside from the worry of illness, death and economic collapse I think too of all those who will be adversely affected in smaller ways – weddings and events cancelled, small businesses struggling, uncertainty about forthcoming exams adding to an already stressful time, not being able to visit vulnerable relatives, holidays booked and look forward to for months but which now won't be able to be taken. Almost everybody will have something that they're a bit gutted about. I was chuffed to bits to get tickets for the 50th anniversary of Glastonbury – very much on my bucket list – but I can't see that happening now, and even if it does go ahead, do I really want to go?

[maa1992]

I feel like this, I've been looking for a way to describe it and you've said it perfectly.

I'm really worried and I can't shake it

[LouMumsnet]

Morning everyone - we're just bobbing on here to say that we've moved this thread to the Corona virus topic as we think it's probably best placed there.

[TheLadyAnneNeville]

We’re about to take a lump sum from our pension savings. Needless to say, we’ve put that on hold. Our “pot” which has been added to since age 20 (now 60-odd) will be worth fuck all at this rate.

[tenlittlecygnets]

@DesdemonaDryEyes - Or do you not think the collapse of the stock markets is a problem?

They'll come back up. They always do. Stocks and shares are a long-term investment.

[QuestionableMouse]

I also feel quite angry because this didn't have to happen. The wet/warm meat markets in China should have been shut down years ago. People have been repeatedly told the risks about eating "exotic" animals yet kept on. People's love of traditions shouldn't trump safely and security.

[Orange89]

@QuestionableMouse

Angry too. It’s gross and unbelievable that they could even still be doing this. Even more so that the same thing has happened before with SARS not so long ago

[GingerAndTheBiscuits]

Well I’m waiting to hear if I’ve got a job interview and I’ve developed a temperature of 39+ so am now in the self-isolating category. Double whammy of nervous energy.

[peeledplumtomatoes]

@QuestionableMouse agree. I think bird flu started there too.

[DreamInLavender]

Ginger I'm in a similar position to you. I have a job interviw on the 24th that would be fantastic for me job wise. Hours great etc. Great career prospect. It is just that I don't think they'll go ahead now

[TopBitchoftheWitches]

I'm scared of dying if I get it. I have asthma. I've bought an extra inhaler online more for my children (all teens) incase they get it. I've cleared my bedroom so they or I can self isolate if needed (girls share a room as do my boys) and I can sleep on the sofa. Feels very odd tbh.

[TheLadyAnneNeville]

@tenlittlecygnets, I agree. But if it were you who were just about to retire and your pension paid into from 21 to 64yrs old was just about to have the guts ripped out of it, you might just feel ever so slightly different.

[tenlittlecygnets]

Sure, @theladyanneneville. But I don’t think the poster suggested that was the case?

And if you were retiring, you could only take a portion of your funds now, not all of them!