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Original poster

Freaking out please help me calm down

147 replies

Freak1ng0ut · 20/05/2021 21:23

I had to go into office the office today because we are being asked to come back- was very uncomfortable but went in at 9- sat there with masks on etc...there was an idiot yes I’ve called him an idiot as he sat in front coughing the whole time I was there. In these times do I need to say how anxiety inducing this is for snorkel person let alone someone like me who suffers from anxiety. My vaccine appointment is next week so not vaccinated- he was facing in front and I was behind him - both wearing masks
I’ve attached a bad diagram but sat here freaking out that he has passed on something to me...possibly Covid

Freaking out please help me calm down
OP posts:
Original poster
Freak1ng0ut · 20/05/2021 22:27

@SuziQuatrosFatNan he IS my line manager (interim) but yes he is my line manager

He is the one who asked me to come in

He is the ‘blue eyed boy’ so no matter what I say o one will listen...but if I catch Covid and get to know that he has as well will make an official complaint - if I don’t end up on ventilation or dead

OP posts:
Ready4abreak · 20/05/2021 22:27

OP I understand your concern but it could be anything. You don't know that he's not had a test. My mum currently has a stinking cold with a cough but has been tested and is negative.

It's horrible at the moment as you assume the worst. Try and put it out of your mind if you can (I realise that's maybe easier said than done).

PinkSparklyIncorrigibleDunce · 20/05/2021 22:28

@Doomsdayisstillcoming

If I was hacking my guts out at work, I’d apologise profusely and assure everyone it’s hay-fever/an acceptable reason to be coughing. I’d be telling everyone that I’ve done a test and it was negative.
I do that (apart from the PCR test) and thankfully I've been there long enough for my colleagues to know from February to September I cough!
SmidgenofaPigeon · 20/05/2021 22:31

For goodness sake. You might want to check the covid rates in your area OP, then have a rational think about how likely it is that he has covid rather than one of the myriad of other things that cause you to cough. You know, before the ‘logical’ conclusion was just covid every time Hmm

SuziQuatrosFatNan · 20/05/2021 22:34

Hmm ok then @Freak1ng0ut that does make it more tricky.

I don't know what your workplace culture is like but really nobody at mine would break the guidelines anyway. If I thought they were I'd maybe joke about it in a bants way with someone who knew him well enough to be able to get what I was driving at but that could backfire for you. HR? They can't go blabbing about who's chatted to them and they'd know if he tested, for sure.

purpleme12 · 20/05/2021 22:34

.... But why are you assuming the worst?
I think the majority of people would know if you have a cough you get a test before you go anywhere... And I would think if he's like manager he'd have to be more aware of this re coming into work
You could always say oh that's a bad cough or something to lead up to it...
But like I say surely it's more likely that it's the opposite of what you're thinking

SuziQuatrosFatNan · 20/05/2021 22:43

Jesus, some of these replies are harsh. Do none of you remember what it was like going back after you'd been at home? I'd only been at home for a month when I went back in last year and I was really nervous when I did. It was quite alienating too, being in such familiar surroundings but with all the marks on the floor and rules about distance and so on. I see it every time a colleague comes in who hasn't previously - they're scared. It's normal.

You will get used to it though OP. And if your colleagues are nice people or even ok people I think you'll enjoy being able to interact with them again.

As said previously I don't know about your place but at ours it's all of us low paid plebs who are in and while yes it's annoying that we aren't important enough to protect from THE FUCKING PLAGUE there is a certain freedom that comes with it. Even with masks and distancing.

purpleme12 · 20/05/2021 22:48

No I wasn't scared

Armi · 20/05/2021 22:49

OP - ask at work about your air con. Apparently it’s pretty simple to alter it so air is not being recirculated. Find out if this has been done. Ventilation is the most important thing and it might help to know you aren’t like those computer simulations that show folk being showered with Covid particles due to air con units.

Are you all doing lateral testing at your work place? If not, there’s nothing stopping you getting hold of tests and testing yourself twice a week and I would suggest it to your coughing line manager, too.

I’d be worried and upset, too. You might need to broach it cheerfully with your line manager, ‘Crikey. That’s a cough and a half! Have you had a test?’

Hope you get it sorted and feel less anxious soon. Please don’t get upset about people telling you you are over-reacting or need help for your anxiety. You really aren’t over-reacting and anxiety is a normal response to someone nearby coughing up a lung during a pandemic.

RhubarbCustardy · 20/05/2021 22:54

With all the rain we've had, there's a lot of hayfever around so maybe that's why he was coughing? Your throat can be very dry with it. Why not pick up a free lateral flow test to put your mind at ease? You do them in a matter of seconds at home and wait 30 mins, very easy.

Original poster
Freak1ng0ut · 20/05/2021 23:00

@Armi @SuziQuatrosFatNan thank you for being kind and understanding. No I’m not taking notice of posts asking me to calm down. Given the year we had I think this is a ‘normal’ reaction...

Yes we have LFTs - I will be doing mine tomorrow not sure what he does. If he is it at work tomorrow I know I’ll freak out more as my head will go into an over spin....idiot!!

OP posts:
SmidgenofaPigeon · 20/05/2021 23:01

It is definitely not a normal reaction.

MolyHolyGuacamole · 20/05/2021 23:03

My hay fever is making me cough like crazy

purpleme12 · 20/05/2021 23:04

But he's not an idiot if he's had a test and it's negative?
And you don't know this isn't the case
I would ask him! If someone asked me when I had a cough I would have no qualms about telling them I've had a test and it's not covid! (And I had it OKed by management too)
But no one so much as looked at me funny at work

purpleme12 · 20/05/2021 23:06

Asking him doesn't have to be confrontational
If you're not confrontational with him he's not going to be confrontational back

Ugzbugz · 20/05/2021 23:07

If its that deadly to everyone then no one should be working anyway. Why are shop workers etc expected to be at risk everyday? Kids? Teachers etc?

SuziQuatrosFatNan · 20/05/2021 23:09

Good idea OP. Once you get in the swing of the lft it's fuck all hassle in the morning. Mine's 'cooked' by the time I've had a shower and breakfast and I'm good to go. You can do a PCR test too. Just go online and book one. I've done one a couple of times these last few months as I've had colds due to all the fucking rain. The results are really quick now - about fifteen hours. Just tick the box that says you're an essential worker. There's no shortage of them at all now.

Zzelda · 20/05/2021 23:10

Why should the op chill out? He’s bang out of order!

Why? He may well be coughing due to asthma or something similar. Is he supposed to make himself unemployed just because no-one can compute the possibility that a cough may have nothing to do with covid.

userxx · 20/05/2021 23:11

[quote Freak1ng0ut]**@Armi* @SuziQuatrosFatNan* thank you for being kind and understanding. No I’m not taking notice of posts asking me to calm down. Given the year we had I think this is a ‘normal’ reaction...

Yes we have LFTs - I will be doing mine tomorrow not sure what he does. If he is it at work tomorrow I know I’ll freak out more as my head will go into an over spin....idiot!![/quote]

You're not taking notice of the posting telling you to calm down yet that is what you asked for in the title of your post. I'm confused. Sounds like you're looking for fuel for your fire.

SmidgenofaPigeon · 20/05/2021 23:14

@userxx I do wonder. OP threw in some hysterical line about being dead or on a ventilator too.... Hmm

Original poster
Freak1ng0ut · 20/05/2021 23:16

@userxx no I’m not. I’m trying to think rationally but some posts are sounding as if the pandemic/Covid never happened.

The government used fear as a tool, we were bombarded with news/graphs/posters about this for a whole year.

What do you expect to happen? There will be lots of people like me...

OP posts:
SuziQuatrosFatNan · 20/05/2021 23:18

@userxx lol. If someone asks for assistance in regulating anxious thoughts do you often find it helpful to stand over them blaring "CALM DOWN! YOU NEED HELP! DO YOU WANT ME TO BE A PARIAH???!!!"

purpleme12 · 20/05/2021 23:18

....posters are trying to talk logically that's all

SuziQuatrosFatNan · 20/05/2021 23:20

Some are.

But I can't think of a single situation ever where a person has said "calm down" and the addressee has done so.

crimsonlake · 20/05/2021 23:23

Some of us have had to go to work all the way through the start of the pandemic, I think you should get a grip.

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