Having a major major anxiety wobble can anyone help?

[Aberforthsgoat]

I have health anxiety. By some miracle I've managed to keep it under control despite everything that is going on but today I am having a low day.

I know a lot of people are.

I've completely understood the seriousness of it all previously but today I was browsing some clothes for DS when he's older, around winter he'll be a year and suddenly the insidious anxiety voice crept in and said 'what if he gets the virus and doesn't even make it to a year old?' and 'What fi you and DH get it and by the time he has these clothes he's an orphan?'

I know most people must have these dark thoughts sometimes but today I can't lift the clouds, I just keep wanting to cry which is ridiculous, as so many people have it worse than me, are high risk etc so I'm being totally self indulgent and self obsessed here but I can't seem to shake it.

I started another thread about what people have ordered/are doing to get them through and it's helped a little, but I just feel SO SO low. I'm so worried I'm just going to get inside my own head during this lockdown and not be able to get rid of the intrusive thoughts.

Can anyone hand hold or help to cheer me a little?

virtual hug and hand hold. Can you get some exercise, do some yoga or meditation, phone a friend, watch silly boxsets? Switch off for a bit.
I'm not an anxious person at all and yet have spent the last few weeks being very tearful for no good reason, which I guess is a response to the stress. I cannot begin to imagine how hard this is for people who are already suffering with anxiety.

I'll hold your hand if you hold mine I'm having a bad day too. I can't say anything to make you feel less anxious (if I could, I'd say it to myself) but we can just be quietly anxious together

I've been coping well playing endless games in the garden with the kids until today when I had a huge anxiety attack. Just how enormous this situation is and no end in sight. Even the strongest of us will have these moments so you are not alone. We will get through this

I think I anyone who ever had anxiety will have it now. So you need to plan. Let it wash over you and give yourself time to cry. Then, do something to distract yourself - after you have cried.

Can you exercise? Do a run or do an online yoga? Could you skip in your back garden or in a room with the window open? What do you like to do? Reading a novel is a great distraction. I’ve been reading books instead of news items.

Take a long bath. Try mindful colouring - just something to occupy your mind.

I'm so sorry op. I'm anxious too.
Can you to to bed early and read a book, I find reading let's me forget stuff for a while x

I was fine and have suddenly hit a similar place tonight.

Your ds is so so unlikely to suffer badly from this. Really he's the best possible age to get it. You and your dp? Well yes, some younger adults are sadly dying but they are still v much in the minority. If you are staying away from people and washing your hands you're as safe as you can be and if you do get it you have a very tiny chance of anything going seriously wrong. The vast majority of us are going to be ok if/when we do get it.

Have a good cry. Sometimes you just need to. Then try to watch something funny or get stuck into a book to distract yourself. If you can have a phone chat or skype with someone tomorrow who you know you can talk about positive things with, that might help. This is really scary so bad days are normal. In a few weeks this peak will have passed and we will all have more reasons to feel optimistic There is going to be a day when this is behind us properly. All pandemics come to an end.

I totally understand. Was talking to DH before about what holiday to do next year and I suddenly thought will we be here next year, and who will we lose? Awful thought that I can't shift.

I don't know whether this will help or hinder, but life is uncertain in any case. I found accepting that helped me hugely. And as others have said, it's highly unlikely this situation will end up being anything other than annoying/boring/lonely for your family - not good, obviously, but not catastrophic.

4 square breathing is great for focusing the mind and when you are focused in your breathing negative thoughts abate. Try breathing in for 4, hold for 4, breathe out for 4 and hold for 4, then repeat as often as needed.

Thank you so much everyone for taking the time to post and showing me I am not alone. I’m
Sorry that others are feeling this way too, @BamboozledandBefuddled I’ll happily handhold back - it’s a tough place to be isn’t it?

hope you feel better soon just to let you know you’re not alone I think a lot of people are feeling like this

It would be a pretty tough person that wouldn’t be anxious at the moment. We’re all a bit listless and aimless in our house right now. I have the radio on and leap on it to turn off or mute when the news comes on each hour. What I hope is that - the majority of infections will have happened already. We have now taken steps to hopefully break that cycle. It will take a few weeks for that to take effect in the statistics. All you can do is stay at home, limit shopping trips to necessary only, maintain distance & hygiene, enjoy your beautiful boy - sing songs, read stories - look forward to the future X

Handhold OP.
I have never experienced anxiety and am often seen as the 'strong' one in my dysfunctional family! I had a similar wobble when I managed to get an Ocado slot after the initial excitement I then became obsessed with the idea that I might not make it to the delivery date (in just over 2 weeks). Sent myself into a dark spiral and let my inner wind up merchant get me thinking of the worse case scenarios.

Then 'I had a word with myself' and thought the only thing I can control is what happens in this house today. Got some nice food on the go, snuggled up with DC to watch a film and literally forced negative thoughts out of my mind. Try and find distractions where you can.