Corona Anxiety - How to stop spiralling?

[SlightyJaded]

Just looking for some advice really.

Although I would never have said I officially have 'health anxiety' - I always have had on some level. I had a very bad couple of years of panic attacks when I was much younger that were all around health issues and for a while it impacted my lifestyle.

I am older and calmer nowadays and having two young teenage dc means that I have had to step up and squash all the old silliness but I"ve felt myself starting to spiral again, and today I had to shut myself in the bathroom and try and get myself together (I can't even cry and I am so tense) It's pathetic. I'm an adult and have no serious symptoms at the moment - slight sore throat, slightly tight chest, but broadly I am fine. But it does seem that we will all be exposed at some point, and I am not coping with this fact.

I don't care that I feel panicked but it's not fair on my family and I am getting to the point where I am having to physically withdraw because I feel so anxious and don't want it to show. The things that have completely sent me down the abyss are:

I turned 50 this year
I am blood group A+
I've put on weight since heading to menopause (gone from size 12 to size 16)
I live in London.

The blood group one is the worst for me. because I can't do ANYTHING about that.

I have been trying to meditate and focus on the positives, and that usually works for me, but it's not at the moment.

I know this is selfish and needy when I'm not currently ill, but can anyone offer me any reassurance or advice on coping with the anxiety? Especially about the blood group thing? I"m scared to google and I'd be very grateful.

And sorry again - there are people who are ill and going to work - this is ridiculous but I feel a bit desperate. I want to be a rock for my family like all the other mums I know (and like I usually try to be).

They havent mentioned anything about different risks for different blood groups in ireland. Is this just an untested idea /theory some individuals are rolling around, or has WHO or CDC said this?

Thanks all

Feeling a bit better today having avoided the news all day and this is my first visit to MN today.

I have walked the dog, done some painting and let DD give me a 'makeover'. All good distractions.

I nearly lost my way earlier when DS was asking questions about symptoms, but managed to hang on. So far, so good today.

Hi OP I’m exactly the same. Once I read about the type A theory it sent me over the edge, I’m now convinced I’m doomed😆

Typically for someone with anxiety I keep discounting the things in my favour - female, relatively young and healthy. I’m just focused on the fact I’m a bit overweight, the wrong blood group and I also vape which I recognise is ridiculous as it’s one thing I could control - but I’m finding it so hard to knock it on the head when I’m so stressed. Absurd I know.

I totally also get the ‘envy’ thing for those that have had it but recovered - at least they no longer have the prospect of getting t hanging over them. I even felt a little envious of boris when he came out of hospital as his (awful) ordeal is over and he can now (sort of!) relax. I can see this is pretty irrational and also quite insensitive to the suffering he and others have been through, but anxiety is not rational.

Sometimes I can get some perspective and recognise the risks are statistically low, but it’s the randomness that’s frightening.

Re the blood type thing OP, I did read a couple of articles that said those with type A shouldn’t panic as the research hasn’t been peer-reviewed and there’s not enough evidence that it’s anything significant. That’s what I’m hanging onto anyway!! But it’s hard not to spiral into melodramatic thoughts of leaving my 2 toddlers motherless or freaking out about not being able to breathe etc, and it’s hard to motivate yourself to do anything when it all feels a bit pointless in the face of this situation.

I completely understand your feelings I feel the same I have been slightly better this week the last three weeks I lost half a stone that I can't afford to lose anyway. I've found not watching the news helps it's like a denial in a way but I prefer that to the sheer panic I was in last week. I still have anxiety but it's slightly better then it was.

I wasn't too worried until I read this and now I an terrified as I am blood group A!!

Sorry @rc22

The blood group thing does seem to be very vague research based on a very small sample.