Someone tell me I’m thinking crazy thoughts

[doireallyneedaname]

I’m 31, pretty healthy, but a smoker. Had a baby in Feb and have pretty much stayed away from everyone and everything, apart from a daily long walk with baby in tow. Partner works but wears hospital grade mask & visor (necessary for his job if we want to keep safe)

Anyway, the other day when crossing the traffic lights an elderly lady was shouting at me to help her cross the road. Well, I couldn’t not so I ended up walking this woman across the road and was with her for ages until we could establish what she wanted, which was a taxi to a shoe shop.

I’ve now come down with a STINKING cold, I’m on day 3. It’s a bad cold but now I’ve convinced myself this must mean my immune system is whack and if I catch Covid it will surely be serious for me. It has also highlighted the fact that Covid isn’t entirely unavoidable despite extremely strong precautions.

It doesn’t help that my partner hasn’t caught it from me

I haven’t been sick since last October, so maybe I’ve forgotten what it feels like but if I feel this bunged up with a cold then what chance have I got with Covid? I’ve had the flu maybe twice in my life and it was horrible, I got through it obviously without any medication but my mind is (I hope) playing tricks on me now....

You are thinking crazy thoughts.

Do you normally catastrophise?
Catastrophising habitually can be an important problem.

Yes, I do. It actually resolved itself for me and I felt a new lease of life when despite my absolute belief that my birth would end in emergency csection, it didn’t...... then Covid, this deadly virus that is basically a game of Russian roulette with your life. I had been doing relatively ok and maintaining rational thoughts about it all, still a little fearful of course, until I got this cold.

I read an article in the TES about how cold viruses are spread differently to Covid, so the covid precautions may not prevent cold spread. I also had a cold a few weeks ago and I hardly ever get them. I was glad as it gave my immune system something to do!!

I know where I caught it from and I think that I did so because my immune system has not been used in the way it would normally.

Yeah? I did have a read but basically came to the conclusion that they spread in the same way. Interestingly I came across an article which talked about a current lab study, where they suspect having rhinovirus gives you some level of immunity against Covid for 2-3 weeks following infection. All research of course, but it was interesting.

Still, didn’t change my thought procsss

Yes you are at risk from COVID because you are a smoker.

Yes, this makes you crazy. Just stop.

Smokers take longer to fight off colds, but if you stop today it won't take long at all for your immune system to return to normal.

@ILookAtTheFloor

I read an article in the TES about how cold viruses are spread differently to Covid, so the covid precautions may not prevent cold spread. I also had a cold a few weeks ago and I hardly ever get them. I was glad as it gave my immune system something to do!!

I know where I caught it from and I think that I did so because my immune system has not been used in the way it would normally.

That's interesting to know. I have had three colds since Sept - I'm a teacher. Could you link the article? Because I was wondering how despite precautions I constantly have colds.

And yes OP you're catastrophising . Have you sought any help for it?

Looking back, I get quite morbid when I have a high temperature, I usually start thinking about my will and getting rid of things I don't wish my children to find, --big massive dildos... Paracetamol helps! Get better soon OP and try to give up smoking.

I have to wear full PPE for work. I’ve been back since September and am on my second bout of illness. First was a stinking head cold and now some achy joints and sore throat number.