Please help me deal with this overwhelming anxiety

[Dogatetheleftovers]

I was really unwell with Covid almost a year ago, hospitalised twice, double pneumonia as a result. Now coping with the frightening symptoms of Long Covid but I am absolutely terrified of catching it again. I’m double vaccinated and boosted but I’m literally reliving that fear of being ill in hospital, doctors cannot tell you how the virus will progress and it petrified me.
All of the news about this new variant is so scary, I can feel myself literally falling apart. I am so worried, not just for me but my family. We were so careful all though 2020 as we were all CEV and yet we still caught it and that’s without this highly transmissible strain. I’m sweating, feel sick, cannot focus on anything, been awake all night in pure terror.
I just don’t know how to manage my feelings. What do I do?

I don't know. But I feel this way too. Hand hold from me.

Re infection is rare and if it does happen it is milder

blog.ons.gov.uk/2021/10/27/what-can-the-ons-tell-you-about-covid-19-reinfections/

The fear is horrendous, isn’t it? Did you have Covid?

Sorry posted too soon! Sapphire387 Handhold for you as well.

I don't know if I have had covid. I suspect I had it before testing but that was ages ago. I was lucky not to get long covid etc.

I'm really sorry to hear you have been struggling so much. It is totally understandable. Not quite the same but I was in intensive care with sepsis a few years ago and have recently had to start therapy for PTSD that stems from that. It is a very difficult and scary experience you have had.

I think try hard to remind yourself that last time you had COVID you weren’t vaccinated and this should make a huge difference. I understand it must be scary though. Maybe speaking to a counsellor would help?

Hi op, I think I would really double down on things like meditation, breathing exercises, mindfullness, soothing activities, alongside minimising news/google to bite sized pieces and rationalising thoughts on a piece of paper. Even start with 10 things to be grateful for at the moment. I say that as someone with a lung condition, I can't imagine long covid, but have experienced breathing difficulty and these were things that helped. Dont forget the government and media have to print the worst to get as many people as possible to have the booster.

Do you know anyone else with long covid? I wonder if connecting to others dealing with it would help.

Also it may not help now but my hospitalisation on a lung ward was 5 years ago now and I just wanted to tell you that the trauma does fade and lessen with time. As PP said its still pretty raw at 12-18 months on.

I would:

• switch off all of your media and avoid the news.
• try deep breathing, mindfulness and meditation.
• focus on what you actually can do something about I.e if you aren’t consider taking vitamin D daily, use masks etc.
• if you can afford it see a counsellor. If not IAPT are free but they usually have a waiting list.
• try grounding techniques such as the 5,4,3,2,1 technique (google).
• you could also try tapping for anxiety which is pretty good (EFT)

www.thetappingsolution.com/tapping-101/

What helps you with anxiety? Some people like to look at photos of loved ones, listen to feel good music, do exercise or do something relaxing like colouring or reading.

Another way to discharge the anxiety is to force yourself to laugh. Watch some comedians you find funny. When you laugh it helps calm the body down (to a certain degree).

Just try to focus on taking care of you right now

99% of the time we are anxious about something that probably won’t happen. Try to remind yourself that what you went through was traumatic. Be kind to yourself… but also try to remind yourself that although you had that horrific experience… that doesn’t mean you will catch Covid again… and even if you do (as you now have the vaccination) it hopefully wouldn’t be as bad.

I really feel for you OP

Thank you for everyone’s kind words and helpful advice. I’m still awake at 4am due to my mind in overdrive but I am going to look into all the things suggested. Keep well everyone. 💐

Have you tried speaking to a counsellor?

You have a lot going on emotionally there - some of it is a very understandable reaction to what is going on in the world and a scary experience you had with Covid. But there might be ways of managing this better than you are and being able to function in your day to day life is really important.

Covid isn't going away any time soon and so all we can do is find ways to live with this increased level of anxiety and worry. Everyone's reacting differently and it's harder for some than others. But there are ways that you can improve your situation. Covid won't go away but your anxiety can be reduced, and if you talk about it you can learn how to manage it better. A counsellor can help you to talk through your worries rationally and find strategies and ways to cope with these feelings.