This corona virus is sending me over the edge

[brainfogg]

I know no one can tell me it will be ok but I haven’t had anxiety this out of control in about a year. It’s been managed fairly well with meds and I haven’t had any OCD symptoms in ages but it’s all coming back.

I’m washing my hands obsessively, using lots of hand gel, checking the news every 20 mins, not sleeping, last night when DH got back from shopping I wiped every single item with antibacterial spray. Never don’t that before.

My heart is racing constantly, I’m not getting on with things I need to do, I’m debating ordering masks but read they don’t do much. So then I’m thinking get my immune system stronger but what if it mutates into a virus that causes that overreaction of the immune system? Cykotine storm I think. So maybe I’m better not strengthening it too much.

I have a part time job that involves looking after children and am thinking I shouldn’t go because I’m scared I’ll pass it to them or them to me but we need the money.

Sorry for the very long post. I’m in turmoil and I hate that because it’s so selfish of me, there’s people truly suffering and I genuinely want them not to be. I find this world very hard to cope with.

I get people with anxiety shouldnt be in these threads but i gota say if i wasnt i dont know where else to vent as i dont want to annoy friends etc x

Don’t keep checking the news just catch a news bulletin twice a day, morning and evening. I would choose radio over telly news as well. I got into this routine so the DC don’t pick up things that frighten them but actually it is good for me, too.
If you can spend time outdoors but not around people, e.g. country walks, that it good too.

www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/07/coronavirus-reasons-to-be-reassured

I read this and thought of this thread. It helped my busy mind to settle down a bit.

I think its just a stronger strain of the 'normal' flu (if you can call flu normal) and at the ripe old age of 77, Im not overly worried.
The media (in my view) are stirring up fear, todays headlines show an 'increase' in infections, yet as a % age its stayed the same or reduced over that past few days. Until the increases reach thousands per day, I wont be too bothered. What DOES bother me is all the panic buying thats just started.

Uh i think im going to stay off social media just now. My daughter rash is sort of keeping my mind off it and to be honest if we get it we get it but its the cleaning and my daughters rash just now that i know my mimd cant take it 😔

So off to work. Ie supermarket coronavirus central. Between her wee rash looking slightly angrier today to the nerves of going around the public. Send help 😭😷

Suddenly struggling today. My head is filled with terrible thoughts.
DH starts his transplant tomorrow. I’ll be leaving the dc with my inlaws for the week.
I can’t stop crying today.

I've found that deleting my news app and only checking the official government website once a day has helped loads with my anxiety over this virus . I think the media have a lot to answer for

I’d love to know how to delete the news alerts.,

Aw @OneOfTheGrundys i hope it goes well. Hard not to worry so i aint going to tell you not too. Sending my love x. Yes i think i will delete social media just now. A scottish wan rugby player back from italy didnt self isolate and she has now tested positive and shut a whole centre near me down. Literally round the corner. 1000 of people use it daily 😭

My MH was already not doing well, but the general feel means I am tipping over the edge. I soak up the emotions of those around me and the general feel around me affects me terribly. To those of us struggling let’s hope it calms soon.

Well-we’re deep in the cancer ward now and everyone’s carrying on as normal! Central London weirdly empty though... we were the only people in the hotel last night!
Thank you Dani, we’ve just got to claw our way through this xx

Thinking of you @OneOfTheGrundys , I truly wish all the best to your DH

How are you @Danigirl02002 ?

Do other people go through phases of feeling calm and quite accepting of all this and then suddenly go into a panic?

@Valkadin how are you doing this evening? Feel free to unleash on here 😘

We have got this we have to. Im the same. Rash still there. Doing cream a week if doesnt move then its not fungal il start her steriods again. I can deal with eczema Trying hard not to freak out. Work later in asda. I hate people that still cough and splutter all over the place 😷 @OneOfTheGrundys i really hope all goes well. @brainfogg surely we cant be only ones panicking 😬

Thank you x

I'm panicking too. I am not by nature an anxious person but had a period of anxiety about 15 months ago, was bad enough for the GP to prescribe antidepressants. Took them for a few weeks then came off them as the side effects were awful. Back to square one with this coronavirus thing - first thing I think about when I wake up in the morning. Sinking, empty feeling in my stomach. Can't eat. Very tearful and grumpy.

Have self-referred to my local mental health support group and have an appointment to see the GP on thursday. I can't go on like this. I'm not worried about getting the illness as much as concerned that all our plans for the next 6 months will be thrown into disarray. I have a teenager sitting Highers in May, these are the most important schools exams he'll do. We're supposed to be going to America at the end of June. I am signed up to start a new uni course in October. I am stressed about the empty shelves in the supermarkets and the "every man for himself" mentality.

I an desperately trying to avoid all news and just watching crap on telly instead. I am considering coming off social media entirely but MN has a lot of positives too, including being able to vent and talk to people who don't know me and won't judge. DH is awesome and although I know he thinks I'm unhinged he's being very supportive.

One day at a time.

How is everyone? @PineappleDanish sorry to hear how you’re struggling. I hope your GP app goes ok tomorrow, maybe you could discuss trying a different antidepressant? I’ve tried a few different ones and had awful side effects on some but am on a good one now (sertraline) with little to no side effects at this dose.

I’m feeling very disappointed and frustrated today, pretty much housebound now because I’m too damn scared to go anywhere. I’ve still got whatever this throat virus thing is as well but trying not to get too worked up about it. If this is going to get worse before it gets better and potentially last for months then I can’t see how I’m going to cope. I wouldn’t feel so bad if it seemed like the government were trying their best to look after us.

Not great here to be honest. I woke early and feel very scared and panicky. I'm not scared of getting ill. I'm scared of the unknown and disruption, and losing out on my summer holiday which we've had booked for a year. DH works in aviation and the air travel bans are a disaster for their industry.

Just have this feeling of total gloom and doom. Just want to curl up in a ball and shut myself off entirely from the outside world. No appetite, constant feeling of dread and nausea. DH is trying to get me to talk about what;s worrying me but i'm too scared to talk about it. I just want to ignore it all. The GP is lovely and very understanding. If she suggests antidepressants I will definitely ask for something different to what I had last time.

It’s shit isn’t it Pineapple? I really feel for you and yes same here there’s a horrible feeling of black clouds hanging over everything. When I look back at how much life has changed in the past 3 months it’s actually crazy. I can imagine it’s a huge worry for your DH and his job security.

I hope the drs goes ok, I’m glad you have a good one, post how it goes if you’d like to after.

I’m feeling so very distressed today, I used to have small moments of joy like occasionally going out for breakfast or going out with my sister and her children for the day or looking around the charity shops. They have all gradually stopped and how my daily aim is to stay home unless working and if I have to go out it’s a huge ordeal and I rush home ASAP and then feel panicky and unclean for hours. Every day I feel more and more scared. This is no way to live! I hate what’s happening so much and cried my eyes out in bed alone last night. Sorry to seem so dramatic, there are probably people reading this thinking I need to get a grip. Believe me I hate my own reaction as well, I wish I could be like pretty much everyone I know and think this is no big deal, I do realise it’s just me and my mental health causing this.

Have you seen the GP, brainfogg? I've also made myself a self-referral to a local mental health support charity thing, they are going to come out and do an assessment.

I haven’t seen a doctor since January, I’m too scared to go to the surgery. I’ve barely been outside except for work, there’s just no way I can face going there as I’m terrified of this virus. I’m not sure they’d be able to help me without seeing me in person but I could maybe try to find out about the self referral thing you’re doing and look for some local mental health charities. That’s a really good idea and I’m glad they’re going to assess you, you should be proud that despite how you feel you’re taking some steps to get better

Please call them. It is shit living like this but they may be able to talk to you on the phone. Or try something like Mind.

I will definitely, thank you 💞

@PineappleDanish. Sorry you are feeling like this. I wanted to tell you that yesterday you posted something on the Positive thread (I forget what) that really made me feel better. I was feeling incredibly anxious and whatever you posted calmed me down. So thank you for that.

Back from gp with a prescription for sertraline, referral to local talking therapies and a recommendation for the Headspace app. Still very concerned about the impact on DH's job.