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Original poster

I feel scared…

96 replies

FeelingJittery1 · 13/08/2021 16:46

I’ve been struggling with anxiety- I’m so scared of catching Covid and was scared of the vaccines as well.

I sought help from the GPs etc which were all useless- in the sense not saying GPs are useless but the advice was hold off the vaccine until you are more calmer but I’m not calm as I’m scared of Covid-

My husband (double vaxxed) said why don’t we drive to walk in centre in a hospital and you can either go in or familiarise yourself as much as you want and come out

We did that, each step was hell / I was crying but I did take each step went to the door and told the volunteer through my tears- I was taken in (my husband and dd (7) came in as well)

Went through the whole process in floods of tears but I didn’t run- I got vaccinated

It was Pfizer

But since coming home-

1). I’m terrified that I’m going to die if a cardiac arrest or stroke as a side effect of the vaccine

2). I’m 40 so not young - but no underlying conditions - I’m convinced we (husband,me and dd) have caught Covid in the vaccination centre.

I feel panicky all the time…

Not sure why I’m posting maybe just to get it off my chest

OP posts:
Original poster
FeelingJittery1 · 13/08/2021 16:46

Name changed for this post

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Original poster
FeelingJittery1 · 13/08/2021 16:50

Bump?

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Original poster
FeelingJittery1 · 13/08/2021 16:54

Bump

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LadyCatStark · 13/08/2021 16:56

Well done for being so brave! You’re not going to die of a cardiac arrest or a stroke and you’re very unlikely to have caught Covid from the vaccination centre, this is your anxiety talking. Take it easy for the next few days and try some mindfulness techniques or whatever helps you.

Bopahula · 13/08/2021 17:00

Ok. Deep breaths.

You did it, you faced your fear and went through with it. The side effects are mostly crappy in the sense of feeling ill, the more severe ones are so so remote, even less so with Pfizer.

The risk of catching Covid at the centre is low, you would have worn masks, sanitised, the staff are likely to be double jabbed, most people in there are likely to be at least single jabbed and getting their next one.

You did really well, take some paracetamol now just in case of meh side effects and feel pleased you went through with it. :)

Kittii · 13/08/2021 17:00

Can you access some counselling for your anxiety? It sounds as though its really impacting on your life.

Maybe try some CBT or self-help books for anxiety.

Remind yourself that the actual problem here isn't the vaccine, which is really safe, it's your anxiety that is the problem/illness.

Original poster
FeelingJittery1 · 13/08/2021 17:04

@LadyCatStark thank you for responding- when my rationale brain kicks in I do tell myself this however it’s difficult as I cannot seem to shake this feeling off…

I feel the vaccine is so new who knows what will happen?

Also I was crying the whole way through - I was double masked and I wear glasses but I was sitting there for too long with my bawling.

Then there was the 15 minute wait - there was a door open and windows open and we were all facing one way, and masked but I’m convinced I’ve caught it

And feel guilty for exposing husband and dd as well

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Original poster
FeelingJittery1 · 13/08/2021 17:05

@Kittii I’ve signed in for talking therapy - waiting for a call back from IAPT services

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Chamonixshoopshoop · 13/08/2021 17:09

Well done for being so brave, getting a vaccine when you’re petrified is hard! So pay yourself on the back.
You’ve taken the best step to protect yourself from the very thing you’re scared of!
CBT was so helpful for my health anxiety, I highly recommend it. Pay privately if you can, it’s worth every penny

Chocolatebuttercream · 13/08/2021 17:10

OP, you know this is the anxiety talking, not an actual real risk to worry about. Unfortunately anxiety is very pernicious- you can know something rationally but at the same time not believe it. I really hope your therapy comes through soon. Have you considered some medication before then? They really helped me significantly when I had crippling health anxiety. I rarely relapse. You don't have to live like this Flowers

Original poster
FeelingJittery1 · 13/08/2021 17:15

I really hope it’s my anxiety and we haven’t caught it in the vaccine centre

I might have gone down as the most jittery person to walk in there- I was crying so much that I couldn’t talk

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Original poster
FeelingJittery1 · 13/08/2021 17:16

@Chamonixshoopshoop yes I might look into private options

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whatswithtodaytoday · 13/08/2021 17:18

Well done! You've done brilliantly. I was scared of getting Covid from the vaccination centre, but both of the ones I went to were very well ventilated with good social distancing and it sounds like yours was too.

The further you get past now, the better you will feel. You'll be fine.

Original poster
FeelingJittery1 · 13/08/2021 17:28

@whatswithtodaytoday the waiting area was - well it had the door open but the actual place where I got the vaccine was not - it was a waiting area converted into spaces for the vaccine- I sat with the lady for 15-20 mins- i could have caught it off her?

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Pinkpowderpuff · 13/08/2021 17:29

With all due respect, there isn't much point worrying about it. You can't take the vaccine out and you can't do anything about the chance of picking up covid now so I would put it out of your mind unless you have any indication you have caught it. I'm not sure why people are worried about picking it up from the vaccination centres, surely it's more likely in a supermarket/other shop?

I say all this as someone who also suffers from health anxiety and haven't yet plucked up the courage to get the vaccine. I so want to just walk in there and get it done. So a big well done from me for facing your fears and getting on with it. I'm hoping to follow suit this weekend!

PurpleDaisies · 13/08/2021 17:29

Maybe this will be the end of all your threads now?

bigyellowtractorface · 13/08/2021 17:33

The woman who you sat with would have been vaccinated yonks ago. They all have to take lateral flow tests every day. You'd have more chance of winning big on the lottery.

bigyellowtractorface · 13/08/2021 17:36

I was v scared of Covid although not of the vaccines. It's been wonderful to get my life back again. I have been on holidays at home and abroad, cinema, restaurants. I'm pretty much back to how I was and you are on that road now too. The counselling will help.

Well done for doing it.

Original poster
FeelingJittery1 · 13/08/2021 17:39

@bigyellowtractorface yes that’s what I’m clinging my hope to- I work in healthcare but in a corporate role- but my work wants us to do 2 LFTs a week if coming into the office regularly

So I’m guessing if you are frontline you would be required to do this

But I was unvaccinated when I went in and we’ll I’m only 24 hours in so I could catch it is what my anxious mind keep reminding

Husband and daughter didn’t come into this area

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Original poster
FeelingJittery1 · 13/08/2021 17:41

@Pinkpowderpuff I don’t have any advice as I was not in the best place- all I can say is that they are very kind and understanding- I was literally shaking and crying but no one was phased- they remained calm and understanding

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Original poster
FeelingJittery1 · 13/08/2021 17:42

@PurpleDaisies ?

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PurpleDaisies · 13/08/2021 17:46

Half of my post seems to have disappeared.

Hopefully now you’ve had the vaccine done, your vaccine anxiety will start to reduce.

Two different GPs thought your mental health was such that you might not cope well with being vaccinated so you should have a really low threshold for seeking support if you’re struggling.

Rosehip10 · 13/08/2021 17:46

@FeelingJittery1 As purple daises says, please no more now.

PurpleDaisies · 13/08/2021 17:46

You need real life support for this.

Stormyequine · 13/08/2021 17:48

Is your DD OK? It must have been terrifying for her to see you so upset.