Coronavirus. Crippling Anxiety.

[Wingnut 13]

Hey everyone. Im sure by now most of the world has heard about this coronavirus outbreak....well Im a wreck. Im paranoid. I checkup on the latest news for it every half hour it seems! Today I missed work because Ive felt a little feverish and my chest is heavy. My girlfriend spent the night at my house 2 days ago puking all night from what I can guess is norovirus...

I dont know how to cope with this fear. Getting sick is the biggest fear I have, and to see it plastered across the news headlines as "deadly virus pandemic" does not help. I live in a tiny town in South Carolina (I just moved here from Florida). Im surrounded by a HUGE population of mennonites that go to Asia every other month for "missionary work." My coworker is leaving in 2 weeks to goto Mianmar....so Im kind of afraid of her bringing back something. Ugh, Im obsessed and cannot stop, but I am literally making myself ill. Im scared of death from illness 😕

[RRaider95 5]

I've been concerned as well, but found the following helpful.  Johns Hopkins has an interactive map showing the spread of the virus.

https://www.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html#/bda7594740fd40299423467b48e9ecf6

If you look closely, the virus is virtually nonexistent beyond China, Iran, and Italy.  

Furthermore, (and the most comforting to me), if you subtract the number of deaths from Hubei province in China from the total, fewer than 200 people have died from the virus *worldwide*.

I really feel that this is going to be one of those things that with the quality of treatment in the Western world will be no different than the regular flu. 

Not to mention that I think the media tries their best to hype these things up to scare us so we'll watch more and they'll get more ad revenue.  Just look at what they do with winter storms!

I hope that helps at least a little bit...

[davide.h 26]

It's all very scary. This reminds me of the World War I flu pandemic. Two of my great-uncles died in it. It's good for me that I'm something of a recluse lately. From what I've heard, Wuhan looks like a ghost town now. I told coworkers who were discussing it to please not. Since there's nothing I can do about it anyway I prefer not to think about it.  

 

[MARC 431]

From what I have read about it, if you are in good health, the chances of it affecting you adversely are minimal. 

[davide.h 26]

On 2/28/2020 at 5:26 PM, RRaider95 said:

I've been concerned as well, but found the following helpful.  Johns Hopkins has an interactive map showing the spread of the virus.

https://www.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html#/bda7594740fd40299423467b48e9ecf6

If you look closely, the virus is virtually nonexistent beyond China, Iran, and Italy.  

Furthermore, (and the most comforting to me), if you subtract the number of deaths from Hubei province in China from the total, fewer than 200 people have died from the virus *worldwide*.

I really feel that this is going to be one of those things that with the quality of treatment in the Western world will be no different than the regular flu. 

Not to mention that I think the media tries their best to hype these things up to scare us so we'll watch more and they'll get more ad revenue.  Just look at what they do with winter storms!

I hope that helps at least a little bit...

NPR doesn't rely on "clicks" and that's where I get most of my news from. I'll ignore the borderline racism and just say that blaming everything on "media hype" is so overdone and not helpful.  

[davide.h 26]

According to epidemiologists, nearly three fourths of the world's people will likely be infected within the coming years. Most will recover, but that will still mean a death toll in the millions. Nothing even close to this has happened in any of our lifetimes. 

[RRaider95 5]

12 hours ago, davide.h said:

NPR doesn't rely on "clicks" and that's where I get most of my news from. I'll ignore the borderline racism and just say that blaming everything on "media hype" is so overdone and not helpful.  

Wow.  Pretty strong accusation there.  

Love and peace, buddy.  Love and peace.

[RRaider95 5]

12 hours ago, davide.h said:

According to epidemiologists, nearly three fourths of the world's people will likely be infected within the coming years. Most will recover, but that will still mean a death toll in the millions. Nothing even close to this has happened in any of our lifetimes. 

Also, way to try to help out with Health Anxiety.  You might want to try different tactics to soothe folks other than an apocalyptic prognostication.  This is the Anxiety Central Health Anxiety board, is it not?  Not the The End is Near, Run for the Hills board.  People come here for comfort.

[MARC 431]

I just found an old article back from September 11, 2009, which said the Swine Flu could infect half of the U.S. population and learn to establish a readiness plan. The article warned that companies, schools and organizations of all sizes would likely face closures, suspension of public services and frightened employees which may lead to overwhelming worker absenteeism, as well as possibility of shortages of crucial materials and supplies. 

[MARC 431]

Back in 1976, there was a terrible Swine Flu scare and all you heard were doomsday predictions. 

[davide.h 26]

50 minutes ago, RRaider95 said:

Also, way to try to help out with Health Anxiety.  You might want to try different tactics to soothe folks other than an apocalyptic prognostication.  This is the Anxiety Central Health Anxiety board, is it not?  Not the The End is Near, Run for the Hills board.  People come here for comfort.

https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2020/02/covid-vaccine/607000/

Sorrry but people deserve to know. 

[MARC 431]

WHO director has stated to keep calm and that more diagnosed cases in the USA, don't necessarily mean the virus is spreading. I have seen photos of people buying up toilet paper, etc., for fear of running out. If you mention snow here in Baltimore, the grocery shelves are bare of toilet paper and bread. 

[MARC 431]

The WHO has come out with a statement today which said that they think the Coronavirus can be contained. 

[Iugrad91 501]

Right under the headline it says “Most cases are not life threatening.”

[LindaRK 0]

I've had generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder and health anxiety for almost 45 years.  Never had the flu or a cold in my life and I'll be 63 this year.  Last June I managed to come down with some unknown type of pneumonia and was hospitalized for 10 days.  On the 10th day when I was released, they gave the diagnosis of "general" pneumonia.  Couldn't put a definitive name on it and only said pneumonia because tests didn't prove anything otherwise.  I was on oxygen 24/7  for the entire 10 days and was very sick.  I was out of it for 4-5 days initially.  My husband said I almost died.  I was poked and had bloodwork twice daily so they test and see what might be going on.  Bloodwork was sent out across the country and nothing definitive came back.  Who knows.  Maybe it was the Coronavirus back then.  That being said, after having gone through that experience, the Coronavirus has really ramped up the anxiety.  I haven't been on meds for about 12 years.  I'm just about ready to start on something because this is causing such stress and anxiety in my life.  Wingnut .... I'm sorry you have anxiety over this.  I'm not going to tell you to chill out or that the media is blowing this all out of proportion for their own benefit or some other reason because if you have anxiety, those things don't matter.  When you have anxiety, common sense flies out the window and no matter how much you try to tell yourself reasons that might satisfy someone without anxiety, it does nothing for us.  All I can offer is to NOT go online and read about the virus.  I got caught up in some "doomsday" Facebook pages.  Huge mistake.  It's like a drug and you're drawn in ...... very unhealthy.  Follow the simple guidelines - keep your hands out of your face/mouth/eyes/nose and wash your hands often using the 20 second guideline.  Try and rest, eat well and take care of yourself the best you can.  If you don't have to go out and mingle in crowds, don't do it.  Alot of this is common sense - the same stuff we do to avoid the flu.  Yes, the transmission of this virus is greater than the flu, but that's where taking care of ourselves comes in and we can hopefully avoid it.  I live in a somewhat rural community, but during the past 3 days we not have cases that are within 20 miles of where I live.  And, one of the people who died is within an hour of here.  If you focus on that, sure, it's going to stress you out.  Try to find something else to divert your attention.  That usually works well when I'm anxious.  Stay busy and get my mind involved elsewhere.  Hugs to you, my friend.  We will get through this!

[davide.h 26]

On 3/3/2020 at 5:48 PM, MARC said:

The WHO has come out with a statement today which said that they think the Coronavirus can be contained. 

Could you provide a link to where you heard this? Thanks. 

[MARC 431]

I just surf the internet and read various articles, sorry. 

[MARC 431]

Last night while I was shopping in Trader Joe's, I began a brief conversation with a man 69 years old who said he was a hematologist/oncologist. His thoughts on the Coronavirus was that he was just going to enjoy his life and just do the best he can and not worry. He advised me to do the same. 

[Ashleyspicer84 84]

One case confirmed in the city I live in and my daughter is sick with a fever. Trying HARD not to freak out and run to the hospital. Her fever has been 100.5 last night and tonight. She has cough that sounds very wet and in her chest, runny nose and raw throat. She had some left over amoxicillin from strep throat and I gave her one with mucinex and Zyrtec. Going to try to get her into her pediatrician in the morning. 

[Wingnut 13]

What in the world...I come back to this thread and half of you are arguing. Its not very comforting 😕

So far theres been some cases in South Carolina for me...whats even worse is my girlfriend is a Paramedic and is most likely going to be exposed at some point soon. 

During the Swine Flu epidemic not long ago I was the 16th case in Florida. I thought I was going to die. A few years ago I had a 103 fever for 3 days and I could barely move or see. Im scared to death that this...may end me. I wouldnt say my immune system is compromised, but its not good. 😭

[MARC 431]

You have youth on your side. The biggest risk is for people over 60, which you are not. Here in Maryland, three people diagnosed in Montgomery County, all recently fully recovered. 

[MARC 431]

I personally believe that worrying about it will only make you feel worse and potentially worry more. Try to remember that the vast majority of people who get it recover. 

[cbhaga01 29]

On 3/14/2020 at 12:41 AM, Wingnut said:

What in the world...I come back to this thread and half of you are arguing. Its not very comforting 😕

So far theres been some cases in South Carolina for me...whats even worse is my girlfriend is a Paramedic and is most likely going to be exposed at some point soon. 

During the Swine Flu epidemic not long ago I was the 16th case in Florida. I thought I was going to die. A few years ago I had a 103 fever for 3 days and I could barely move or see. Im scared to death that this...may end me. I wouldnt say my immune system is compromised, but its not good. 😭

Hey wingnut!  I haven't talked to you in a while (nor have I been on the site), but I got to wondering how everyone on here is doing and, lo and behold, yours is the only active COVID post.

It's easy to get freaked out by this.  It's literally the only thing people are talking about right now.  News?  Coronavirus.  Email?  Coronavirus.  Social media?  Coronavirus.  And rightly so, because it is a big deal.  But you have to remember: this is a disease, just like any other, and we have to treat it like any other when it comes to our anxiety.

Use common sense.  Wash your hands, use hand sanitizer, don't do anything stupid.  As far as exposure to information, really try to limit yourself.  My wife and I have both stopped watching the nightly news and have deactivated our Facebook accounts until this all blows over.  Those steps alone have done wonders for our psyche.  And, for the love of all that is holy, don't Google this shit.  

Remember, too, that this panic isn't over you or I (32, M) getting sick.  If we catch it, we'll most likely get over it just fine (if anything, it'll be like a really shitty cold).  The panic is over us, or anyone, getting it and transmitting it to those more vulnerable to the disease.  All these precautions are for everyone's safety, obviously, but it's far more tailored to stopping the spread to those who will be hit hardest.

Hang in there, man.  We're gonna be just fine.

[davide.h 26]

Maybe I'm imagining it but my forehead feels warm. I'll try to ignore it because there's nothing I can do. 😞 

[Holls 1505]

I'm surprised there isn't more traffic on this post. There hasn't been much activity for a few days actually.. I'm overwhelmed and my anxiety is higher than normal. I'm doing what I can for myself and my family but this is like a nightmare! The grocery stores are honestly what's scaring me and why aren't they doing more for extending hospital sites? My what ifs are running rampant right now. 

I've been hunkered down, have had zero contact with anyone for five days. My husband has to go back to work Fri and what sucks is, if he gets around 1 person that isn't taking this seriously that undoes everything we have been doing. He's going to talk to his manager about safety protocols. 

Hugs everyone ❤️ some kind of advice would be great from another anxious person. 

I also haven't watched the news. My family keeps texting articles so I'm going to have to remove myself from that text group..