Can somebody please calm me down..

[BiNgOoOo]

I feel really panicky and claustrophobic, pains in my chest at the thought of lockdown. I know it is probably the best thing but it's really panicking me

There's no getting away from the fact this is a very serious situation with no precedent BUT watching the news bulletins is just making me feel very worked up. The media love things like this and they are definitely in my mind making things worse. I reckon the media were partly the cause of the panic buying. Filming it and showing it hundreds of times over made people race to the shops. Constantly watching all the doom and gloom is not good for us!

@RhubarbTea I just want to curl up in a ball and cry and have someone hug me and tell me everything will be alright. And there is no-one to do that.

I don't know if it makes you feel even a tiny bit less alone to hear this or if it might help you to be less hard on yourself about it, but I basically cried the same thing down the phone to Samaritans today. It's really tough, humans aren't meant to be alone.

whoknows17 I really get this as so hard to feel that vulnerable. Are you self isolating as i’d say this is key as I don’t trust any surfaces in public places for the moment. We used disposable gloves for petrol and key pads in shops etc but now at home fully as DH has a risk factor too.
We ought to have a support thread as it’s a lot to cope with and thinking of you

I'm really scared now. My DC are older - 22 and 20, but both are home now and I'm really glad we can go through this together. I'd be out of my mid with worry if we had to be apart. Today the realisation has hit home that my job is under threat of this continues for months (hospitality in a holiday hot spot in the UK) and that worries me too. I've worked really hard to get where I am, and the thought of it all be snatched away is just horrible.

thanks and gin to all to cheer us up and help us cope.

Don't know what happened there - it was meant to be thanks

FFS - Flowers! Gave up on the emojis!

Agree with all those saying social media heightens anxiety. I feel like I have an unhealthy obsession and I know it’s terrible for my mental health!

Some people are still showing such disregard to this whole situation and saying ‘it’s not even that bad its just a cough to most people’ and others showing no personal hygiene. How selfish.

@user1353245678533567 and @Orange89 - thanks, that helps.
I have a few friends who don't live locally to me who don't do social media. I hope they'll be alright and can get some support from somewhere. And also yes, as some say SM can make things worse in some ways. Although any form of online news has the same effect.
I just want to wake up and find that it was all a dream...

I started feeling like this last week, really struggling to keep my emotions in check and just feelings of pure fright but it’s getting a little better although distancing/isolation will be a slog. It’s doable though.

The world has changed, it’s going to hurt and it’s perfectly normal to feel lost and scared, it’s a scary situation.

BUT we will get through this. As a country we’re not taking all these measures because we’re all going to die we’re doing it so the people who need it have the chance for treatment when they need it so they can live. There are already really promising results for treatments with existing medications (look into anti-malarial’s and South Korea).

The economic fall out will be tough but people will do what they’ve always done and rebuild. Importantly you won’t be doing it alone because we’re all in the same boat,

If the worst happens and someone you love succumbs then you will need to grieve and pick up more pieces than most, but you will.

Don’t lose sight of the future.

I don't know if it'll help, but I felt like this last couple of weeks, wanting to take the kids out of school and not doing so. At last I took kids out of school and we went into voluntary lockdown last Thursday, it was tough. Kids were unhappy at the disruption, I was obsessively reading news and social media, not sleeping.

We are adjusting. We're getting outside whenever it's not raining. The kids are working out how to contact friends and family on facetime, fortnite, etc. I've got loads of ideas for lessons, we're having fun, we're calming down. Lots of hugs and we've had some chats where the kids talked about how they were feeling.

I know we're just at the beginning - we will get through this, so long as we focus on the good, keep calm, look after ourselves and those around us.

There is a period of adjustment. Breath through it. Ask for help. Take your time. Be gentle with yourself.

I just feel helpless,everyone's lives have changed with no warning.Im worried about every aspect of it all.Im missing my parents already and I only saw them on sunday! We have agreed not to see each other as we all self isolating.The only thing that is keeping me focused atm is being in charge of our food supplies and most of all alcohol purchasing

@user1353245678533567

I burst into tears in town today whilst with my baby. I felt so silly. It’s nice to know I’m not alone . to fellow mumsnetters

I feel exactly the same! I'm terrified something bad is going to happen to my little girl and I'm torn between wanting to lock us all away and having to go to work as I'm a nurse. It's all I can think about and I'm going over worst case scenarios in my head constantly... Its horrendous! to all feeling this way!

@Romanticrights

Hats off to you for doing what you’re doing! I understand your pain as have a young child but it must be so hard for people on the front line

all I can think about and I'm going over worst case scenarios

me to

Thank you so much for all your lovely replies and recommendations.
I kind of go through phases one minute I will feel like everything is going to be ok and then I'll nutmegs our crying. I really cannot wait until this is all over

@PrincessHoneysuckle

I just feel helpless,everyone's lives have changed with no warning.Im worried about every aspect of it all.Im missing my parents already and I only saw them on sunday!

Same as that. My problem is my dad has 2 hospital appointments he has to go to in the next week. Im not sure he should be going alone but he’s insisting don’t know what I should do..

I need some !

@Orange89 oh bless him hes obviously thinking of you.I wouldnt know what to do either.

@BiNgOoOo

Me neither ! Let’s hope it happens soon. Yes it comes in waves for me. We can keep this chat open for support through it if we’re throwing a wobbly!

I've been holding it together pretty well, until now.

I wanted the schools to close, but now that they actually have, it's like the enormity of everything has finally hit home.

Seeing the pictures today of the makeshift morgue that's been put up in London is downright frightening.

I've had to lock myself in the bathroom a few times for a sob so that I don't break down in front of the children.

I had a weird moment in (totally empty of stock) Tesco just now. I was on the travelator, watching it through my trolley and it seemed to be going slower and slower and I actually thought “oh it’s ok, I’m just dreaming and will wake up any minute”. But it wasn’t a dream. The fact that every channel is broadcasting cv- related stories non-stop is no good for mental health.

@BiNgOoOoBiNgOoOo we truly are all in this together, you are not alone

I'm so relieved to have come across this thread. I don't mean that in a horrible way but I felt like I was the only one on the verge of a breakdown with all this.

I work frontline NHS and all I see everyday at work is Covid 19 related... I have removed all of my social media and news apps/channels. I am trying to not Google the news but to no avail.

I am so scared.

@mumtumdocare

It’s nice we can talk to each other. Massive respect to you. We are all in this together x

So glad I found this thread. I am generally very resilient but have been tearful on and off for days when the thought of it all overwhelms me. I have been thinking of and trying to channel my mum who died a couple of years ago - she lived through the Blitz as a child and I really cannot imagine how she or any of them coped. It helps but also doesn't. Hugs to you all

I feel so frightened and alone this morning.