Anxiety during coronavirus panic buying

[Cardiacphysiologist]

A lot of people in my area are partaking in panic buying and clearing the shelves of things like wipes and toilet roll which as an IBS sufferer it’s something I need a lot of.

I know I have quite a few at the moment but the fact that I may get to a point where I cannot get any toilet roll is really panicking me. I get both IBS-C and D so need to take laxido when I have C but I’ve had to stop taking it as it increases my bowel movements and I just can’t risk it. I also don’t want to have to take loperamide when I have D to stop me using the toilet so much as it leaves me in so much pain.

I also worry about the food shortages. As people cannot get normal food they have started raiding the free from section so I may not be able to get any dairy alternatives. Luckily we buy a big sack of potatoes from a farm shop but my dad said if we can’t get food we may have to have jacket potatoes all the time and my stomach cannot cope with potatoes so I risk either rationing out food like plain noodles and staying well or eat potatoes and risk being really unwell and again needing more toilet paper because of diarrhoea.

It’s just so difficult. I’m not scared of coronavirus itself but the effects it is having on supplies.

[Linley]

Do understand, you are always going to have selfish people but hope the good buddies balance it out. We will possibly be short of a few things but we will never go hungry as this country has a great supply chain. Onto the toilet roll situation, I have bought extra flannels and towel so if and when I run out I will use them to keep myself clean, wash and use again. If an emergency arises I will use paper tissues(note not to be flushed down the loo). Please do try not to worry we will get through this. Take care

[Sheeniejay]

It's not great but perhaps buy a newspaper each day? Worst case scenario, you have that. Also, remember, we're only about 1 month, in Europe, into this pandemic. Panic is still ' young'. People will become tired of it and supermarkets will - if they have not already - start limiting people to 3 of any item. They started that here in the Netherlands already. Try not to worry - I have chronic anxiety (GAD and also OCD) so I totally understand - try to accept that this is, sadly, the way of our modern world and you have to try to deal with it, quietly finding your own solutions. They are not thinking of you so you have to try to get them out of your thoughts. Maybe if there is an eco-cafe or a vegan cafe or something like that, give them a call and ask if you might buy - at reduced price - food they would otherwise throw away at the end of the day. Just an idea. Good luck.

[Linley in reply to Sheeniejay]

You just reminded me of something my mum said when she was talking to me about ww2 Blitz. Food was short but they got by, they were all busy helping the war effort in some way and most important the spirit of "keep calm and carry on" was present. Keep safe!

[xjrs]

I went to Tesco yesterday in the UK and they are very strictly limiting people to 3 of any item. I believe that this is also being enforced at self check-out and self-scan. I think that other supermarkets and doing something similar. Tesco is also shutting down its Extra stores overnight so they can spend all night re-stocking shelves. Hopefully this will re-train people's brains out of this panic and things will calm down.

[Viklou]

I've bought new sponges in case I can't get loo roll. Best way forward if you ask me as at least I'll be clean

[BrightonDave]

Loperamide has given me my life back. I suffer with IBS-D. Only times I have suffered with abdominal pain is when I have not been taking enough fluids and eating things that I now know I shouldn't.

Then I get the bloated feeling and pain before the more obivous effects.

Check your diet and fluid intake. Loperamide is a god send and once you get the diet sorted you can drop the dose right down.