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.

Come on guys, I know we're all really stressed about this but it's really not a government plot.

Sorry 😨 I won’t post anymore

Keep posting brainfogg. But this thread is great for people struggling and looking for ideas to cope. I dont think conspiracy theories will do that.

Ok. I apologise

OP, sorry to hear about your anxiety.

I've long standing issues with anxiety. You probably know, and I know, that a measure of anxiety and worry is both normal and healthy. It's our brains trying to protect us as best they can. It encourages us to take measures to keep ourselves safe.

But there is a point beyond which the anxiety is becoming a thing in itself. I can, having spent years living with anxiety, now recognise the signs in myself. It isn't always easy - and times like this are a huge challenge, I'll admit! But I have a few recommendations that help me, and that you may find useful. If they're all known to you, sorry, and feel free to ignore, take anything that's useful and leave the rest!:

1. Breathe. Just stop, close your eyes, take three slow breaths. Be aware of your breath in your body. Do this any time you feel the anxiety start to build.

Mindfulness or meditation or a guided relaxation can be great for this - maybe Headspace or Insight Timer are worth a shot.

Of course, meditation or mindfulness are not helpful for everyone, don't worry if they don't work for you.

1. Daylight. Try and get outside - into the garden, just by a window, even. I'd recommend a Vit D supplement for both mental health and immune boosting, too, so win-win.

1. Exercise. Gardening is perfect - grounding, productive, simple, gets you out of your mind and into your hands and body. Sow some seeds, make preparations, think about what crops you'd like to grow for the summer. Indoors you could dance, do sit ups, press ups, star jumps. Anything to get your heart going.

1. Talk to someone. Pick up the phone, talk about the weather. Call Samaritans, or MIND. Human interaction is very soothing. And pets are good, too.

1. Call your GP (this maybe should be higher up the list, depending how severe your anxiety is). See about getting therapy, counselling, medication.

This are difficult and challenging times. We'll get through them as best we can. Take very good care of yourself.

Oh thank you @ScrimpshawTheSecond it’s so unbelievably kind of you to write all of that out and it’s very helpful and I truly hope it helps others reading as well 🙏

I’m taking vitamin D but yes could do with going outside as not been out this week hardly. Too afraid to go out. I’m going to try to do all the things on the list, thank you. I feel so tearful

Crying is a good way of releasing tension, too. :)

Well I’ve done plenty of it!

Hi everyone. Can I join you? Feeling really overwhelmed with everything that is going ok right now.

Come in sunshine . Safe space for worries here.
We pretty much social distanced today. Went for a walk and that was it. DD played outside with neighbourhood kids for 15 mins but they're old enough to not be on top of each other.

Hi can I join you all please? I’m constantly working at the minute.. my heart is racing, I can’t sleep and I’m checking bbc news constantly. Never been one to worry before but there is just something about coronavirus. Both me and OH are teachers and our girls attend nursery/school so I know that when it spreads we have a high chance of contacting it. I’m telling myself we will be ok but I just can’t shift the worry.. :(

Thank you for the warm welcome
Its jst a worrying time for everyone I guess, its hard not knowing what will happen.
Worrying about my children alot too 😔

@Sosie91 Im sick with worry too,
I have moments where I am positive about the whole thing, then i have moments when i cant stop thinking of the worst. I went shopping today and seeing everyone going crazy buying made
Me
Worry even more I think

I am so worried I can't sleep! My blood pressure is high & I can't concentrate!!
Feels like the apocalypse is upon mankind and I just want to wake up to the normal world I knew in 2029.

2019

What do you know that we don't elephant ?

Hello everyone. I just joined Mumsnet today after reading this thread. I'm so sorry that so many have so much anxiety over this virus, but I'm comforted too as I feel exactly the same.... I have a constant feeling of impending doom. I wake up and my heart starts racing with panic. I'm seriously considering giving my notice in so that I don't have to mix with people at work. I don't know anyone in the 'real world' who feels this way, everyone seems to be making light of it all. My husband isn't that concerned and thinks I'm over reacting, so I put on a 'front' as I realise my fear is perhaps unreasonable. I check the latest figures on the WHO website first thing each morning and have been since the first case in UK. At the moment, each day that I don't contract the virus literally feels like a bonus. The uncertainty and the unknown are becoming unbearable. Phew, I actually feel better for putting this into words (and there's so much I haven't said) It's so good to see how supportive you have all been for eachother over the last few months in this thread. Brainfogg I can relate to so much that you say, you are not alone 💐

Hi Togger

The language the media are using is frightening and I think they want to scare us. It’s making life very difficult. We all feel the same on this thread. Hand holding together.

Had been feeling relatively ok today until I watched the BBC News at 10pm. I felt it went up yet another gear tonight and now I am trying not to cry. I feel scared.
Even DH, who is logical and level headed, seemed a bit unsettled. Dsis, who lives in London, messaged to say she is not well. DD1 is at uni - I just want to bring her home

Saying hello. Me and my family have had so many awful things happen over the last six years. The only thing left was for one of us to die. And then Coronavirus came along. I'm struggling this evening not to totally panic.

hugs to all

Remember there are lots of decent unselfish people out there too, and lots of solidarity in RL. I always think of Dickens: ‘It was the best of times, it was the worst of times’ because there will be heroes as well as arseholes.
I have decided to make my own silver lining, if we are to be cooped up at home. I have dug out the board games and playing cards so we can do a bit of family bonding while we wait things out.
I am going to post cards to friends to say hello, and get batch cooking done.

I cried tonight after watching BBC news I am so scared. I can't fly over to see my mum and dad as planned and I'm so worried for them. They don't seem to grasp how serious this is!
It's like an alien landed and turned our world upside down and I don't like it I am getting anxious and scared.
Schools are closed here, some pubs have started to close, was at food shop today and it so quiet on the roads and streets. I just seen a few people walking dogs. It's eerie and I can't cope with this.
I have children with asthma, Dh and myself have asthma so it's like I have a dark cloud over my head.
I was actually ok until the schools shut this week now I'm really frightened I feel like a child who wants it all to go away.
It was the first thing that popped into my head this morning and I felt my heart drop to my stomach.

Morning all, hope everyone is coping. Kissmelittleass what area are you living? It sounds worrying, but must be for the best if people keep distance from each other. Take care everyone

I’m not coping at all now.

I want everything to go back to normal now. I’m scared and I don’t know what the future is going to be. My parents are elderly and I don’t know how to help them.

The news is so awful. I want a tiny glimmer of hope. Spoke to MIL who said there will be suicidal people over this. So that cheered me up no end.

Can’t concentrate on anything, my mind is so occupied.

I’m trying not to think about it most of the time now. Trying to be as practical as possible by preparing (NOT excessively stockpiling or anything like that) for isolation etc and then distracting myself with other stuff as much as possible.

I’ve got therapy tomorrow (won’t book another one after that yet) and I expect my anxiety over all this will come up, but I don’t want to spend the whole session on it.