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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:
Squiz81 · 21/05/2021 14:27

I’m confused how you are sitting that close and didn’t just speak to him? You could have offered to get him a drink for his cough and started the conversation. I think you are unfair to call him an idiot when you don’t know what’s wrong with him.

Jourdain11 · 21/05/2021 14:37

[quote SmidgenofaPigeon]@userxx I do wonder. OP threw in some hysterical line about being dead or on a ventilator too.... Hmm[/quote]
This is the thing - because everyone has acted like Covid is equivalent to Ebola or something, people have a fear of it which just isn't rational. If you catch Covid, you will end up on a ventilator and dead. Whereas the likelihood of that happening, if you are otherwise fit and well, is miniscule!

I appreciate that this probably won't reassure anyone, but I have had my spleen removed last year as a result of AML and caught Covid shortly after finishing my chemo. I had a super high temperature and a cough for around 2 days and felt poorly and knackered for around a week. It was not at all pleasant, but I did not suffer any complications in spite of having a useless immune system!

Needcoffeecoffeecoffee · 21/05/2021 14:42

OP you need to take some calm logical steps you have gone from someone coughing to you being on a ventilator or dead.
You haven't been vaccinated yet which suggests you arent high risk of severe illness with covid

You dont know if he has covid he may not

If he has you will be a close contact and have to isolate this doesn't mean you will automatically catch it

If you do catch covid it doesnt mean you will be in hospital many more people have had covid without being in hospital

Not sure of your area but rates are relatively low (ignore this if you are in Bolton )

Needcoffeecoffeecoffee · 21/05/2021 14:44

But even if you are in an area with a high rate it doesnt mean you would catch it or become very ill even if he did have covid (which we dont know he does he just coughed)

LIZS · 21/05/2021 14:47

So he was facing away in front of you? Not a great risk at all.

NotBot · 21/05/2021 16:16

What on Earth are you so worried about OP? Are you vulnerable? I’m guessing you are under 35 & not as your vaccine is next week.. I do not understand the extreme fear of covid at all. It appears to have passed me by entirely. I do understand it’s deadly to many & I largely follow the rules but unlikely to do me much harm. I had it in December, I’ve had worse colds.

And yes OP, no-one wants to be ill. But it’s a part of life. I don’t care if I catch a cold, it’s annoying but hey ho. I’ve spent all week in various softplays (making up for lost time 😂) surrounded by coughing, snotty children. It is what it is. I don’t look at them all and think oh god, covid. Probably isn’t. If it is, well, there we go.

Sadieeloise5687 · 22/05/2021 00:42

All these people saying they don’t fear covid. It’s a new virus - we still don’t know if will cause cancer or heart conditions for example in a few years. They are linking viruses such as Epsombarr (sp?) with cancer in later life now. Aren’t worried it could for example cause health conditions in later years that are yet unknown? Plus even people who had mild symptoms have been shown to have suffered heart changes for example.

Sadieeloise5687 · 22/05/2021 08:03

The point is the long term impacts of having had covid are at this stage completely unknown.

Realitea · 22/05/2021 08:06

OP, I’m sure you know but if he was facing away from you and you have air con which re circulates air it’s possible. I would’ve asked him if he was alright and hopefully that would’ve started a conversation about his cough. If it was me with the cough I would’ve said when you got there that I have a cough but it’s not covid to reassure you.
It’s just the polite thing to do
I would ask him or let your boss know that you don’t feel comfortable with someone in close proximity coughing like that unless they’ve had a test. He might’ve had covid and is left with a cough but is no longer contagious, it could be a range of different things but you’re entitled to know.

userxx · 22/05/2021 08:34

@Jourdain11 Exactly! The fear factor and scaremongering was off the scale, I said at the start, the media should have been strung up for their horrific reporting.

purpleme12 · 22/05/2021 08:49

@Sadieeloise5687

All these people saying they don’t fear covid. It’s a new virus - we still don’t know if will cause cancer or heart conditions for example in a few years. They are linking viruses such as Epsombarr (sp?) with cancer in later life now. Aren’t worried it could for example cause health conditions in later years that are yet unknown? Plus even people who had mild symptoms have been shown to have suffered heart changes for example.
Ok let's put it this way If I got it I would worry yes However I don't go around with covid at the forefront of my mind and worrying about it all the time and assuming any cough is covid I think this sums it up
Original poster
Freak1ng0ut · 22/05/2021 10:57

@Realitea I was on a teams meeting and presenting a paper and answering questions for most of the duration. So didn’t really get an opportunity and frankly didn’t want to go any closer to talk to him.

OP posts:
Realitea · 22/05/2021 13:46

I don’t blame you for not wanting to get any closer to ask him!

purpleme12 · 22/05/2021 14:06

You don't have to get closer to ask
At our work all the seats are spread apart
We still chat if we want to

Original poster
Freak1ng0ut · 22/05/2021 14:29

Yes I don’t need to go closer but if I call his name he will turn to face me and continue to cough which I is worse than facing away from me and coughing

Also I do to pry on his medical issues, it’s evident for everyone that he had a continuous cough.

OP posts:
year5teacher · 22/05/2021 14:42

So you’ve put in your title that you want help calming down but are “ignoring those telling you to calm down”? What do you want? I don’t think anyone can help you, really, and desperately seeking validation for your worries is not useful.

What I would say is you need to a) get out more to show yourself that you are probably not going to get covid and b) get some support for your mental health issues.

On one hand you’re incredibly privileged to have been able to stay safe wfh all this time - and on the other I would never trade places with you if this is the response it produces.

Longdistance · 22/05/2021 14:52

I hate it when people come into work sick. Stay at home, I don’t want your germs thank you. He should be at home tucked up in bed.

purpleme12 · 22/05/2021 15:06

Oh dear
It's a shame things can't be taken on board especially in a thread that asked for help

purpleme12 · 22/05/2021 15:12

@Longdistance

I hate it when people come into work sick. Stay at home, I don’t want your germs thank you. He should be at home tucked up in bed.
A cough, most of the time, does not make you poorly enough to even affect daily lives A cough can last for weeks sometimes and you can feel absolutely fine
Jourdain11 · 22/05/2021 16:41

Like I mentioned before, my DD coughs all year round because she has asthma that causes her to cough (rather than wheeze or get short of breath). She's perfectly healthy and non-infectious, so I'm hardly going to quarantine the poor child for life HmmSmile Those who know her, know that she coughs. From those who don't, she does get a fair few "you should be tucked up in bed, not spreading your germs around" type comments. At the age of 7, she has already perfected the art of the eye-roll... Do not feel this bodes well for her teenage years!

boredbuttercup · 22/05/2021 16:43

OP you've asked, in your thread title, for people to calm you down, and then rejected anyone attempt to. You seem to just want validation in your anxiety and your labelling of this person as an idiot.

There's thousands of reasons he could be coughing. If he is coughing so much he's likely aware and already had a test that's come back negative. At that point just a cough isn't enough to stop daily life and we all have to get on with working ect. He's no an idiot.

It may be anxiety inducing for your but I'm afraid that's your problem that you need to find a way to deal with. Most of us can recognise now that the governments fear tactics are just that, tactics, and that a cough 99% of the time is just that, and being near someone who coughs is no reason for panic.

PinkSparklyIncorrigibleDunce · 22/05/2021 23:13

Also I do to pry on his medical issues, it’s evident for everyone that he had a continuous cough.

Jesus this is hard work! A continuous cough doesn’t necessarily mean Covid, is that really so hard to understand? I cough continuously due to hay fever and it’s made worse by wearing a mask. I’m not staying at home just because someone might think I’ve got Covid!

I hate it when people come into work sick. Stay at home, I don’t want your germs thank you. He should be at home tucked up in bed.

If I get a cold I always get a cough as well which lasts for weeks after. Do you seriously think I should stay off work for that, or for my hay fever cough?

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