Feeling very scared all of a sudden

[RoryGillmoresEvilTwin]

I don't know what I expect from this thread but I'm suddenly feeling very very scared and I have no one to talk to about it.

I have enough food to last about 2 weeks but I'm scared to eat it in case I can't replace it.
I'm terrified of getting so ill I can't look after my son. What on earth will we/he do?! There's no one to call for help because it would be putting them at risk.
I'm very worried about both of our mental healths once we have to completely quarantine ourselves. We live in a small flat. No outside space so there's no pleasant days in the garden in our futures.
And finally, the most insignificant worry. I have an important uni assignment due Thursday and I just can't do it. I can't sit down and concentrate on it.

I've been keeping it together and carrying on with life but it has hit me tonight. I keep crying because I feel so helpless and alone.

& for you.

Thank you.
Tomorrow will be a new day and I'll pull up my big girl pants and get on with it.

This is my first, probably not last, wobble!

I'm also a mature undergraduate, I've an assignment due on Friday which I can't settle down to at all. I have elderly parents plus a DD12 who I've sole responsibility for. After emailing my tutor yesterday I've been advised to ask for extenuating circumstances to get an assignment extension for family reasons. Plus since 4pm today my Uni is closing down until September. So I think if I were you, ask for an extension on your assignment, I think in these circumstances it would be completely understood that students with family responsibilities need some extra time.

I think there are a lot of people feeling extremely anxious, you are not alone.

Do you have any existing health issues? Do you have any of the virus symptoms?

It feels impossible to escape right now but
Turn off the news, put your phone on airplane mode and go and do something that makes you feel good.

Just keep on top of your hygiene when out and about & stay positive. Anxiety and stress have such a huge detrimental effect on our immune system.

Sending you positivity 💕

I’m feeling anxious and tearful tonight too. My FiL is really unwell and I’m so worried. We can’t even visit him

@LizzyELane thank you. I've literally just done an online extenuating circumstances form.
I'm a lp to ds (8) and it all feels too much this evening. My uni closed last friday but all of the missed lectures and labs are being put online so at least I can carry on, as long as I can concentrate on them...

Thanks again and good luck!

I'm pretty anxious, I'm a bit if a prepper due to mn and brexit so foods not a worry but my mum and grandad need to self isolate now and if I'm ill it means my 17 year old is left looking after his 7 and 9 year old brothers. The 7 year old has asd so not great wirh change

@roobledoo thank you. Positivity is very much needed.
I have a sore throat but that's it. I've started taking mine and ds temps each morning just to be safe and so far we're ok, thanks for asking.

I definitely need to step away from it all but not knowing stuff is also scary!

Honestly I feel so silly. I'm generally not an anxious person and I normally just deal with stuff but this has knocked me tonight.

@CanICelebrate it's so awful isn't it. I'm having my wobble while ds is in bed. I need to keep my game face on in the day because I really don't want to scare him.

Sending you some of the positivity that's coming my way

@EveryFlightBeginsWithAFall I'm also worried about my mum and dad. They're both at risk due to age and health.
I need to have a talk with ds about how to look after himself a bit just in case but I know it will scare him.
It's a very odd feeling this, knowing there's literally no one I could call to help.

Good luck and for you.

I suspect people up and down the land (and around the world) will be feeling like this, and there was such an abrupt change of tone from the Government today. I've spent a while on the phone to my dad who is now into his 80s and is clearly terrified that this will be the end of him, and that he might not see us again, but none of us dare meet in case we're incubating. It's heartbreaking. But I have told him to stay off the constant drip drip of worrying news and sometimes distraction can work a treat. I sent him the following links as he's always liked reading and learning:
www.open.edu/openlearn/education/free-courses
www.futurelearn.com

That said, OP, I can completely understand how it's difficult to focus on a uni assignment right now. You're doing the right thing by reaching out though and not bottling things up. Thank goodness for forums like this one. But also, don't be shy if you think you need to talk things through with someone trained to help - there are various good options, just take a look here (and remember, there's no shame in asking for help when you need it - everyone needs it sometimes):
www.nhs.uk/conditions/stress-anxiety-depression/mental-health-helplines/

The best we can do at the moment is take each day as it comes and use networks like this to give and receive support when it's needed.

I feel suddenly very scared today and I am not an anxious person ever. I only have one of my babies here at home(one has left home and the other is with their dad) and I feel like I need them here where I can see them. It's hurting my heart that they're not here.

I feel very anxious this evening too.

My mum is in the high risk category so we won’t be able to visit her for a while. I wish they’d just hurry up and put us on lockdown, although I understand that will bring its own problems.

Have you seen the Positive Mental Health Coronavirus thread on here op?

I know how you feel. Their dad lives in the republic of Ireland so no help there.

I suffer with depression and anxiety which has definitely been made worse by all the panic and restrictions. Having our freedom taken from us, how it will affect the economy with threat of a global recession, many small and struggling businesses (especially our dwindling high street shops and traditional British pubs), people's loved ones dying, living like prisoners in our own homes, shops selling out if essential items... It feels like a third world war.

@DadManners thank you for those links. I'll have a proper look at them tomorrow. I think I'm going to try to sleep soon. Worrying is actually exhausting!

Thank you to everyone. As awful as this is, it's amazing being able to reach out and get support and comfort.
I so appreciate everyone taking the time to reply to my post.

It's normal and very understandable to be scared op. This situation is unlike anything we have faced in our life time. You are definitely not alone

I know it's easier said than done, but it's what you do with the fear that counts! Can you put some practical strategies in place such as:

• keep off Facebook and other sm except when seeking support
• impose a bit of a daily timetable/structure on yourself and your ds including a time for exercise, a time for crafts/reading/play/cooking together and a time for your study
• watch the news once a day only

It must be tough being a lp in times such as this, so could you put out feelers locally on Facebook with a view to buddying up with a few lps in similar circs to you in your neighbourhood and keep in contact with them over WhatsApp or something? That way you would have some support (and offer support in return) and be there for each other and you may not feel so alone

Feeling so anxious too. I feel like it’s actually crippling me! (I’d go to the doctors about it if I wasn’t panicked about the virus!). Have been worrying about it for a few weeks and a lot of people around me have been brushing it off and I’ve stayed quiet because I think they’ve thought I was being paranoid! It definitely stems from finding out my dad had a serious health problem weeks before this all broke and my obsession with reading about his illness has moved on to this. I feel like I’m glued to the news even though I know it’s making my anxiety worse! but I can’t help it. Supposed to be seeing my him tomorrow and he has to go in to hospital for an operation this week so I’m worried about seeing him (I will have to see him to take him to the hospital anyway). I can’t even speak to anyone because I don’t want to be seen as being the negative one or passing on my feelings to friends and family

@RoryGillmoresEvilTwin

I feel for you very similar to you. Luckily we have a little outdoor space but not sure if would use it has shared with several lodgers. If not we are below ground level with very little natural light - not great for the immune system! And no vitamin D drops for my 2yr old son.

I had a cry earlier. I've been stuck in since Thursday evening (cough) and all I've thought about is corona virus.

I've had to tell my mum she can't look after DS anymore which I feel really sad about.

My DH is in the risk category (asthma that requires flu vaccine)

It just feels a bit overwhelming now tbh.

@inselfisolationnow

I hope you get through this It’s hard times. I still have friends that are not worried about this which makes me feel I can’t talk about it but generally these are people with no one in there lives at high risk. I think those of us who have these people in our lives are feeling the anxiety.

I'm feeling the same and don't think I'm ever going to sleep tonight as so anxious.

My DH had heart surgery 4 weeks ago and also has mild copd and asthma and is over 60.... I'm asthmatic and work in a hospital!

I am terrified of catching it and giving to DH but I'm having to use public transport and go to work 5 days a week, I can't just stay at home at this point as I've only just gone back after taking time off to care for DH.
He's been through so much and it was only 4 weeks ago he was in icu on a ventilator for his heart op.

Hugs to all those feeling anxious tonight xx

@WellAintThatAShitbiscuit

Sending hugs! I hope it all calms down for all our sakes! Maybe try to see if there is anything you can do about work.

My dad’s just had to be signed off work due to his illness but his partner is a career and also has cancer herself and both over 60. I doubt she will be able to leave work and she’d feel terrible on her elderly clients but it feels too risky with their conditions.

I hope your husband is ok

I chatted on the phone to my MIL today, she was a young girl at the start of WWII and said this feels very like that time.

People very anxious and scared of the unknown, the underlying fear.