Coronavirus is no picnic when you've health anxiety.

[Jeff1943]

Health anxiety makes every perceived threat seem ten times worse. Jangled nerves make us easy game for the worst case scenario. Every time.

So naturally enough imaginations go into overdrive whenever we see or read something about coronavirus. And that means just about anywhere you look.

Remind yourself, almost all who have died were elderly with an underlying health problem.

Remind yourself, if you don't fall into that category and you catch coronavirus it's going to be very mild and you soon recover.

Remind yourself, if you do fall into that category then take the advice about frequent hand washing and keeping your distance from others and the odds are stacked heavily in your favour you'll be o.k.

Either way, you've far better things to over-worry about I'm sure.🤔

So let's all keep a sense of proportion about coronavirus specially if we've health anxiety.

You're still going to be around long after coronavirus has had its fifteen minutes of fame.

*acknowledgement to Jack Vettriano

[kenster1]

I wish that was the way I had posted mine not that great at putting things together but yours seems more well done than the one I posted and then removed.

[Funkyfaerie in reply to kenster1]

What matters is you want to help people xx

[hypercat54]

Good post. I really want things to get back to normal so those with health anxiety can recommence worrying about their hearts again! It will be a lot less triggering for all the older high risk people on here like me. 🤐 x

[1973m]

Jeff .. thank you ,

But I’m frightened.. not of getting it but the impact on my life as it is ... financially it’ll cripple me if the bar I work at and school closes .. my lifelines gone 😞

Please keep safe people x

[Jeff1943 in reply to 1973m]

I fully understand 1973m, but HM Gov do seem to have realised the effect this emergency is going to have on employment and appears willing to provide the cash to compensate workers and companies. If the worst should happen your local Citizens Advice Bureau will be able to help you and they don't charge.

[1973m]

I know .. if you can get in to see them , I imagine most of the country will be in the same boat .. sadly 😌

[Hidden in reply to 1973m]

The cab are always busy even at good times!

[lawdog]

Oh, so "everything" or "chaos" for some people hits hard on the fact people MAY die. I've been reading posts where the terms "everything", "chaos", etc are appearing.

And I am trying to learn what the "everything" and "chaos" are as my anxiety hasn't been driving me crazy about most of the situation.

BUT I AM HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE HUGE AMOUNT OF MEDIA SCREAMING ABOUT IT. AND watching everyone wearing face masks when we know a facemask doesn't help with this virus. Makes me think maybe the right people aren't as knowledgable as we are led to believe.

I figured out that is causing my anxiety to rise.......so the news is off after I hear whatever is new, and then shut off the tube. And I want to tell everyone wearing the masks to take them off as breathing through them doesn't help, so that would be one thing not to worry about.......we don't need to wear the mask.

Washing face and hands frequently with soap and water while singing Happy Birthday twice instead........Cruise ships have been pushing that for generations and it works with a common form of virus on them.

Anyone else who can share what "everything" or "chaos" means to them about this virus?

[Jeff1943 in reply to lawdog]

Well said, lawdog. People have to die of something, mostly pneumonia and influenza. Now a new bug on the block turns up to take a fraction of that loss: yesterday a 92 year old died of coronavirus and the world is running round Tesco and Woolmart like headless chickens looking for toilet paper.

As the circulation of newspapers drops like a stone their influence soars.

[Hidden in reply to lawdog]

Last night the media were screaming about it and I switched the TV off and said shut up you stupid fools!

[lawdog in reply to Hidden]

Good woman! Just don't throw the TV out just yet, just the people appearing on it.

[Hidden in reply to lawdog]

The TV in itself is fine. Its some of the rubbish on there that isn't!

[Funkyfaerie in reply to lawdog]

Yes, the media screaming, and the news telling people how many have died. Is totally the wrong thing to do. They have created panic, all this panic buying in the shops, people queueing at stupid o clock, nothing left for some people. And I haven't seen a toilet roll in a shop for nearly two weeks now. Are toilet roll sandwiches the in thing now, are they going to save us from this virus!!?

Like you say, we should be vigilant with our hygiene, act normal, calm down. Yes unfortunately some people will die, but people die of the flu every year.

This will pass...... ❤️

[Jeff1943 in reply to Funkyfaerie]

It's a pandemic of fear!

[Funkyfaerie in reply to Jeff1943]

Exactly!

[lawdog in reply to Jeff1943]

Too bad that someone isn't using the old presidental quote from the war and depression in the early 1990s...."We have nthing to fear but for itself". It doesn't really make much sense, but it helped the US population at the time. And everything eventualy will pass and work out. We need to reach out to our neighbors who are needing basic supplies and encouragement that they are not alone.

And perhaps by pulling together and looking out for one another in our own neighborhoods, all of us and our countries will be the better for it. I do have some TP to share but it just won't go through the computer screen. sigh

[Hidden in reply to Jeff1943]

Its also a pandemic of being stupid and selfish as well!

[gemfire in reply to lawdog]

The masks are actually good for reminding you not to touch your face until you can get home and wash your hands. The paper masks that is. Otherwise, save the N-95's for medical personnel.

[lawdog in reply to gemfire]

You make a good point that the masks can help one from touching his/her face after a good hand washing. I don't think that most people are wearing them for that reason, but if it helps, great.

[Sostakovic]

The best way to cope with health anxiety is to keep insanely busy . Or angry. Or rebellious. At this time, I have to care for two incapacitated people. In my country, as of yesterday, there is a curfew. People over 65 years of age are not allowed to go out. Those who do not have younger relatives are in the care of young volunteers. No one is allowed to go out between 8 pm and 5 am unless they go to work. The government apologized for such measures, but it had to be done. So, my two relatives depend on me for everything, including moral support. I cannot indulge in my health anxiety, so I turned to anger against such measures. And to rebellion. Anyway, sometimes it helps to think that health anxiety used to be called hypochondria, a few decades ago.

[Jeff1943 in reply to Sostakovic]

Fancy new names for everything!

[lawdog in reply to Jeff1943]

Good point.

[CanuckAnon]

Vaccines have started human trials in Seattle... anti virals are able to defeat the viral antibodies... majority are recovering without effect and more recover than don’t! Dr fauchi has made announcements about how virus is being treated etc...

[sgreen57]

What happens if you do have some underlying conditions, what are the success rates on them if they contract covid-19?

[lawdog in reply to sgreen57]

Perhaps trying to calculate how many people will survive the virus if they also have underlying medical issues is not possible or healthy for any of us. Two many variables, and too much anxiety. Perhaps we might wish to steer our concerns in a more positive direction.......look how many people are surviving ......millions and millions world wide. xx

[Jeff1943 in reply to lawdog]

I agree completely, lawdog.

Our bodies eventually reach their 'use by' date and succombe to influenza or pneumonia (called 'the old man's friend'). Last winter in the u.k. 6,000 people died of pneumonia. So far coronavirus has caused 100 deaths. Most of those 100, and a greater number to come, were elderly with serious medical conditions and would have died of pneumonia or flu.

We must go along with all the government advice to stop coronavirus spreading out of control. But as you rightly say, worrying about the odds of it affecting us badly will not help us, it will only distress us to the power of ten. Best not to go there.

80% of people who catch coronavirus get it very mild, some hardly notice. There's no such thing as mild pneumonia!

[Weeniedoglady]

Thanks for this Jeff.... You always know just what to say!

[FearIsALiar]

This is very helpful. I struggle with health anxiety and this corona virus stuff is pretty scary