anyone else’s anxiety up because your normal symptoms are similar to covid19?

I have a number of issues including mild seasonal allergies and breathing issues and much of my symptoms are similar to covid 19 symptoms. It’s raised my severe anxiety. I’ve gotten very good at managing my conditions, symptoms and recognizing the cause of each one and I wear a mask, wash my hands, social distance and stay home most of the time (I stayed most of the time before the pandemic) but I still worry every day. I worry even with my years of experience managing my health without being able to see a doctor, i’ll get it and not notice because I thought it was just something caused by one of my existing conditions. Im so worried i’ll spread it to my family that I live with and my mom is immunocompromised (Id be dead or homeless highschool dropout if it wasn’t for her). I try not to let the anxiety get to me but on top of that, im a caregiver for someone who thinks covid19 is some global hoax. I can’t quit because I need the money and can’t get a job anywhere else (Im autistic, don’t own a car and the public transportation system in the US is shit). The anxiety just sits in the back of my mind making wonder if today is the day I get it, won’t notice and kill my mom with it. Every day when I get home, I check the cdc symptom checker in the driveway to help ease some of the anxiety but I still worry.

[Juanxiety]

I completely understand how you feel. I had the same fears. Giving it to my kids/ wife. I’m in healthcare business, and I’m exposed in my job. The level of uncertainty is horrible. However, we need to handle this emotion. I do catastrophize a lot. But now I’m trying to distinguish between possible and likely. Anxious people like us have a very difficult way of distinguishing between both situations. If you are careful, the probability of catching Covid is way less. Try to do some exercises, practice some relaxation exercises with breathing and try to listen to positive or inspiring podcasts. We are way tougher than we think we are.

[Hidden in reply to Juanxiety]

That must be difficult. I couldn’t imagine working around sick people all day and ‘not’ freak out from worry. My mind tends to “catastrophize” automatically but i’ve gotten better about it. I do try to look at it logically and just stick with my therapy, meds, yoga and the deep breathing I already do but it’s still something that nags me in the back of my mind no matter what I do, you know? I hope you and your family stay safe.

[Ladybug9]

I also have allergies and I also have breathing problems with unknown reasons, especially when I'm laying down. My doc thinks it's the mold in my Mobile Home. I'm working on painting everything with mold killer paint in hopes that helps but the "trouble breathing" makes no sense to me. You are doing all the right things to stay safe!