I decided to put up my reply to Rimmys thought provoking post today as a separate post just in case it may be of help to anyone feeling anxious during this current Health Crisis.
I realise that we are all feeling incredibly vulnerable and nervous right now . It's important to get the right information and answers to our serious questions , and I think this forum and the Moderators are doing a fantastic job at doing that and putting our minds at ease. I have also found the funny contributions and photos from many members a great relief . They've certainly helped to diffuse any Stress that I may have been feeling.
So now , I do wonder , wether we may also help ourselves ( and our HU friends) in this time of social exclusion , and anxiety over Covid 19, by not concentrating on the Negative aspects of what is happening around Us , but trying to maintain our Positivity and helping others Stay Positive instead.
We are lucky really.
This Forum proves it.
We don't need to feel socially isolated or out of touch with the World , no matter how old we are , or how far away we live from another living soul , when we can interact with each other globally via the internet. Being stuck at home , even if we live alone , doesn't have to feel like being alone. Access to foodstuffs and medication is just a few clicks away and plans are being made everyday to keep it that way.
My experience over the last five , virtually housebound, self isolated, months has taught me that. Years ago , before I met the gang on HU , I felt far more isolated even though there was no virus ( or personal immunity issues) keeping me indoors. Chronic illness without people whom understand you can make you feel alone in a crowded room , I know many of you will have felt that.
Many of Us have experienced difficulties getting a diagnosis . Some of Us still don't get the best Care for our specific conditions , and this can make us understandably wary at times like these. But, in comparison to days gone by, Emergency Care , especially during a Disease Outbreak, has advanced rapidly and more people are being saved and have access to life saving treatment than ever before.
Some of our Faraway Friends prove to Us on a monthly basis how much better off we are with their stories of the fantastic treatment they received in A and E in a sudden Health Crisis of the heart and lungs or for strokes and infections.
Governments and Organisations may not have reacted as quickly as they should have done , but we certainly have. No matter what is happening in the wider world I've seen how proactive the folks here have been in protecting themselves as much as possible , long before the World at Large began to battle over toilet rolls.
And , as ever , we are trying to help each other too.
This situation is going to be around for some time, it's going to feel like a very long and bumpy ride if we concentrate too much on the News and not enough on our General Physical and Mental Well-being. We know more than most that Stress breeds Illness and Pain and so trying to find the Positives right now is as important as washing our hands and being contact free.
I know some people might be reading this and thinking , " Oh, here we go again , Little Miss Silver Flipping Linings!!" but I know , for Me personally , the only way I will get through a situation like this is by trying to, " Keep Calm and Carry On", and I hope that I can help you in the months ahead to do the same.
Take Care All, Keep Proactive , Keep Positive , and let's hope like everything else that hits Us lately that ,' This too will pass ' ,very , very soon.
Big Contact free hugs and love , Aunty Bee xxx
PMR/GCA ‘STRESS’ AND ‘SOCIAL’ MODELS OF HEALTH AND WELL BEING
What our doctors don't/won't tell us about PMR
