Hygiene/ Disease fears stopping me from doing what l loved

[LoopyMumbot]

Hello!
This is my first ever post. I hope l have chosen the right area to ask it in. I used to love going out to jumble sales (back when there were any) car boots and charity shops and was very good at finding lovely vintage things. This hobby really dragged me up and out of postnatal depression several years back. Now, when l have had to be at home so much quarantining for surgery and still experiencing Covid despite quarantining (thanks you school for giving us that one) l am experiencing both extreme PTSD type symptoms of a bout of norovirus that was 7 years ago and am convinced that either l or my boys will get a sickness bug. To top it all off, l am now convinced l could easily unwittingly bring back bed bugs from a jumble sale, it seems they can hang out in allsorts not just clothes. So, l thought l would tackle my norovirus fears head on and research it, to make a plan for management if it darkens my door again. I emailed a virologist! I spoke to Public Health England about the virus, they were not very helpful. Have l totally lost the plot and is it true l could really bring home all manner of nasties from a car boot?! I wash my hands a lot. Thanks in advance!

You need therapy for anxiety and OCD (possibly?). The pandemic has a lot to answer for in terms of people's MH.

Plot Lost Yes.

Thanks, yes, l have had therapy in the past. Am just putting one lesson learnt to use (the making a plan for situations you struggle with, before the event). @lljkk how supportive you are. I mean, l know l did ask...l'll take that as a yes l'm over-reacting to situations comment then.

@lljkk

Plot Lost Yes.

I hope you don't ever suffer from anything like this .

Mental health issues are debilitating, terrifying, lonely and incredibly scary at times.

Ever thought of trying to be
kind ??

Omg @lljkk !!

Nice.

OP I don't have any advice but I just wanted to show support

Your fears are irrational and lack perspective but I’m sure you must know this as you sound like an intelligent individual.
Some more therapy does seem like it might be a good idea as this response is very out of proportion and I don’t think anything anyone here says will Make you feel any better.
It is of course possible that you may bring home germs from a car boot but that is also true of any supermarket, school or workplace.
If you are living your life as normal in other ways then a visit to an outdoor car boot carries no more risks than many other day to day activities.
Beg bugs would be unlikely but maybe don’t buy any soft furnishings or clothes for now?

Would be "kind" if I told OP she was granny killing? Coz we had a lot of that on MN in 2020. Hotly defended. Much criticism but I can't recall saying those insinuations were unkind. It's perfectly kind to stoke up anxiety, I guess.

Thanks for your support everyone it means a lot, yes, l really hoped to gain a bit of perspective, as you so rightly labelled it Smartie. So maybe just find out how to quarantine stuff and for how long re the bugs. I read that you have to wash clothes at 60 degrees. Shame, l got so many kids clothes second hand in the past. If l boil wash them they'll shrink. And no, never got bugs. My best friend saw a bug amongst hers though and whipped it all out the door sharpish.

lljkk l have absolutely no idea what you are talking about. May you never have mental health problems and please save your 'advice' for someone else thank you.