To be scared life could be over for us soon

[Pennypopsicle]

I am level headed. With everything I've tried my best to stay positive. But I am so worried for the future. All I see ahead is risk, worry and sadness. I just can't seem to shake of the fear feeling today. I fear this virus because it makes you incredibly sick. I have two small kids. I just don't know what to do. I've got a "coronabox* in my bedroom. It contains Vicks, tissues, paracetamol and cough mixture. I therefore know I have at least 4 days worth of medicine if I get it. I live with my partner too. But I am so scared for our children. I feel like I've got to accept I may well die from this or my partner may well die from this. It is rare. But it has happened.

If anything happens to us I have no idea what I want for my kids. We both have sisters. But ones skint and the other lives far away. Our parents are not fit enough to raise them. We have life insurance but we have not made a will.

I can't see life being as it was ever again. We have parents in their 60s and 70s. I don't know if they will survive this pandemic. They all have high blood pressure. My dad has bad lungs. He worked with asbestos years ago and it's scarred them on the outside and caused one to be damaged at the bottom inside. I am just sad because there won't be a vaccine before things start to lift.

My kids have not been anywhere and neither have we. Just walks. I've had food delivered. But my five year old is starting with a cold and my toddler has a weak voice. I am thinking have we caught it out on a walk. Is this the start of it. Will I be dead by the end of the month. (dramatic I know)

It's just 90 NHS workers have died. The prime minister nearly died. So why should I be ok?

Even going into hospital terrifies me. What will happen to the kids.

How is everyone dealing with the fear?

I'd be more concerned about not having a will than dying from covid19.
And I speak as a 60 year old.

You need a will and to discuss with your family what would happen.

Why are you so scared of dying from it? Do you have any serious underlying conditions?

All of the evidence points to people contracting the virus and having no or very mild symptoms.

Your perspective is skewed.

Thousands work in the NHS, many have underlying conditions/are paret of thhe BAME cohort, and exposed to a massive viral load. Are you?

I aknowledge that I am very ridiculously privileged in not falling into any high risk groups, and am carrying on as normal.

Even amongst the very elderly, most survive.

Most people being asymptomatic etc. not all, obviously.

Proofreading fail.

I think you need to get some help with your mental wellbeing

This level of overthinking and anxiety is not normal or healthy

If you are normally level headed what is causing the anxiety to hit. For a healthy person your risks of getting is and being severly ill arent actually that high.

It does happen but it is rare - they are reported in the news and we see them because they are reported.

I find this thread

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/coronavirus/3893498-Daily-numbers-graphs-analysis-thread-7?pg=24

Is very useful as showing the risks etc

The risk of dying if you're not elderly and have no underlying conditions is very low. The risk is almost nonexistent for children under 10. Yes it is possible, but so is dying from a different illness.

NHS workers are more susceptible as they're around people who have confirmed coronavirus for long periods of time.

It's normal to be a bit anxious but you need to see your GP, this level of anxiety isn't normal or healthy.

You need to face your worst case scenario,
make a will with provision for the care of your children-- and then somehow forget about it. Easier said than done, I know.
I occasionally feel sick with fear. I am a widow- my DCs already have only one parent. My own parents are dead. At least my children aren't small- I have a teen and a pre-teen. I can't bear to think about dying but I have faced it and made a will.
I am being cautious and following the advice. There's nothing more I can do. I lived like this before Corona. When you are an only parent it is always on your mind but you cannot let it cripple you.

I think it's because my son was in hospital with pneumonia last year. That was caused through a mild virus.

Being at home with lots of thinking time. Just feeling down in general now.

Not sure how we will feel confident going anywhere once things are lifted. I am worried my child will bring it home from school.

I'm sure it is a lowish risk of me dying. It's more I don't want to get a nasty case either. My kids need me and my partner has to work. Although ofcourse if I was sick for a week or two we can manage. .

I'm also not sure how many kids have had it. They say it doesn't particularly affect them. But some are getting it I presume.

I understand you all think my post is silly. I'm just struggling at the moment. I don't usually. It's just getting abit much now waiting to be allowed out again but be at risk of getting it whilst trying to "live" again

Frankly this is bonkers, and more of a mental health issue than a viral one. OP, you are certainly not alone, but it's not realistic, and I agree that you should contact your GP.

You need to call your GP and access some help for your anxiety , unless you’ve missed something out about serious underlying conditions you have an extremely low risk of dying from this . You need to get things in perspective before you pass your irrational fear onto your children .

I'm less scared as time goes on. Theres been no big numbers of deaths in Deli or other packed out cities like China. No reports of deaths in townships in Africa. No mass deaths in refugee camps. So I dont think it's as deadly as we thought.

We are five months into a global pandemic and only the west has been hit the hardes. Our BAME community has taken the the biggest hit which is terrible. We should have expected to see big numbers worldwide.

I dont think this is as dangerous as we was told. I'm very slowly, within Gov guidelines still trying to live my life. Fear of catching it now is very low in my agenda. I cant live in prolonged fear

OP do your NHS board/area have any mental health provisions for coronavirus? We have a resilience hub that you can self refer to, plus lots of online resources . The resilience hub is particularly great as a psychologist or MH professional phoned every 2/3 weeks for a catch up and to talk through any concerns . I’ve found this absolutely invaluable in terms of managing my worries (I have a lot of MH going on) and behaviours .

FWIW I’m absolutely petrified of this virus - and of the changes to the world and life just now - but I’m going out for a walk every night, slowly and carefully (if you can imagine me sort of shuffling around with my hand sanitizer in hand peeking round corners for other humans!) . It helps a lot and helping me to realise common sense is absolutely key .

If you’re careful, you wash your hands, you sanitize when advised and you keep your distance then please don’t worry !

Get a will done so that is one less thing to think about - it is something practical that you can do.

I know it probably won't help but think of the wider risks. I am statistically more at risk of dying in a car crash, from breast cancer, sepsis or meningitis than I am am from Covid. In my age group the death risk is 0.4%

We have 67 million people in this country 28ish thousand have died but that's an awful lot of people who are still alive!
Is it just that you haven't really thought about dying before?

The prime minister did NOT nearly die. He was very poorly but he’s exaggerating to gain sympathy and coverage in the press instead of them focussing on the number of actual deaths.

I think that you are way too much overthinking this. I do know, that some people will be like you, and only have thoughts like yourself, concentrating on all the doom and gloom. Some people may not even be able to change their mindset about everything. But you just have to try and stop worrying, because all this never ending stress,will do you more harm than good.

I was where you are now five weeks ago I'm a highly anxious person by nature I've always had health anxiety which I have got under some kind of control the last few years but hit me like a ton of bricks when this happened.
I have felt my anxiety starting to decline as the weeks go on and stopped myself getting into a complete state as time has gone on.
I'm pregnant so had to go to the hospital Friday for my second scan and I was anxious but not overly I just kept thinking most people aren't carrying this virus over and over and that helped and washed my hands regularly whilst there.
I don't go shopping but I'm even thinking of braving the shops again as my partner never gets the right items I want which I didn't see me ever wanting to do again. My three boys aren't my partners and their dad has little contact I worry about them as I'm all they have so I need to make a will regarding them I've thought about this and it is something I will do ASAP so I know my mom can have them if something happens to me.
Anxiety lowers your immune system especially lack of sleep etc can you try doing activities that take your mind off it all? Like reading or colouring helps me bit boring but it helps my state of mind.
I would also stop watching the news I've had to for me state of mind I have a quick look once a day then turn it off because worrying won't change the outcome if I catch it and you have to think if you do get it you will fight it off like most people do.
I also don't believe Boris nearly died I agree with a posted above that said it was over exaggerated slightly.
Make a will for your own piece of mind and try to carry on with life as we know for now I know it's hard but you must try or your going to make yourself unwell with it all.
Chances are your going to be fine please believe that and just wash your hands and avoid busy places take care

Get a will done so that is one less thing to think about - it is something practical that you can do.

completely agree with this. cancer research offer a free will writing service to everyone, here. I would get in touch, it should help ease the anxiety a little.

The chances of you dying from Coronavirus are approximately the same chance of you dying in the next year.

This graph may help.

Well, I had it. It wasn't pleasant and it was frightening. But I recovered. Our immune systems are amazing - 98% of us will fight it off, and largely many people will have a very mild version or be asymptomatic.

Your kids are actually safer at the moment - lockdown is reducing the normal risks that we face in everyday life!

I recommend practising rigorous self care. Exercise, healthy eating, fresh air, sunlight (vit D). Mindfulness, contact (whether that's phone, or zoom or writing a letter). Little tiny things, but do them daily. Recognise that you are anxious, those fears about your kids are pretty unrealistic. Meditation app like Headspace might be useful.

Your kids are actually safer at the moment - lockdown is reducing the normal risks that we face in everyday life!

I wouldn't be so sure about that. I suspect the long-term risk to their mental health will not be good. (Not to mention their material well being.)

You just have to keep remembering that most people don't get it, and even if they do, they survive. There are 67 million people in the UK - let's say 40,000 have died (not actual figures, but added a few for effect), so that's a 0.0006% chance of dying. Of course that goes up exponentially if you take age into account, but it is still very true to say, that you shouldn't really be concerned unless you are a male over 65, with underlying conditions.

I am fairly relaxed about the whole thing, but I fully accept I am probably in the minority.

it makes you incredibly sick

No, it CAN make you incredibly sick. I know 3 people officially diagnosed with corona (all nurses) and the one who suffered the worst said she’s had worse colds.