Covid-19 Mental Health Thread

[Dragonfly]

I just had my second full-on panic attack in 72 hours over this. I know I can't be the only one.

The purchase of this thread is to... Talk. That's it. No "greater good," no updates and no panic. Just talk about what's bothering you.

[FALLOUT Goldashausen #BLM]

My partner's in a quarantine zone.

I don't know if I'm going to be working --- and, better yet, getting paid (thanks, freelance sports media field) --- because of whatever the NCAA decides to do with its events. Empty stadiums will still work for spring sports but it's whether or not they'll actually allow students to play that'll determine whether or not I actually have work.

The con that I save up for every year, which I always have an amazing time attending, and where I have at least one life-changing social or interpersonal experience every year, may just be cancelled or postponed (it's in May).

On top of all this, I was already working hard toward limiting social isolation, so hearing people on the news literally saying "social withdrawal is smart" isn't really making me feel any better about things.

[warden]

Work is bothering me. At this new job there is a guy who only plays romantic ballads. Fine one or two I don't mind double points if it's air supply but constantly throughout the whole day it makes me want to fall asleep. Which sucks cause the job is assembling the same thing over and over again. But to make it more bothersome they're all cover songs. Why on earth are you not listening to the originals? I don't want to hear someone cover "I don't want to miss a thing" and not hit those steven tyler notes. And this repeats all day.

[Chiral]

It sucks that it feels like every place online I go to get away from the world stress is just all about coronavirus. While work stress and life stress are ultra intense right now it's like everything's too much. It's my birthday tomorrow and I'm just miserable.

[Deleted]

I feel like I'm more paranoid mostly because a couple weeks ago (before this really got chaotic) both my girlfriend and her son had the flu and were completely bedridden. Yet, it absolutely skipped over me. So I have this freaky suspicion that I didn't get the flu, yet I'll get this.

There's also a bunch of little things making me start to go all "anxiety brain" here. The fact that I work at a popular sandwich shop. What if places start closing and I can't work? What if we get locked down and I can't go anywhere? What if a family member or loved one get this and something happens to them? Gahhhhh.

[GuyOfOwnage]

I'm autistic, so the whole stay at home and avoid social situations deal doesn't bother me *too* much. The place I work has pretty strict sanitary conditions, and while it can never be absolutely 100% safe in a situation like this, it's enough that I don't fear going to work.

What's really f***ing with me is that my wife and I live in separate countries (long, legalese clusterf*** that'll have to be saved for another day), and we planned on spending Easter together at the end of April. But that would require me to travel via Greyhound bus for 6 hours in close quarters and going through international travel hubs where several known cases are already confirmed. And to top it off, my wife is immunocompromised, so even if I didn't get sick, I could still risk transmitting it to her, which would be deadly. Unless there's a solution to this in the next few weeks (which I seriously doubt, at this point), we just lost one of the few times a year we can actually see each other. And I know there are people out there who are outright dying from this, so I feel incredibly guilty complaining. This just sucks balls.

[zrowsdower]

Mar 11, 2020 23:17:18 GMT -5 Chiral said:

It sucks that it feels like every place online I go to get away from the world stress is just all about coronavirus. While work stress and life stress are ultra intense right now it's like everything's too much. It's my birthday tomorrow and I'm just miserable.

I hope you have a good birthday despite all that's happening.

[ayumidah]

I keep doubting myself over whether or not I know what to do, or if I'm doing enough to prepare just in case, even though logically I know I have enough food, drinks, and other necessities in case it gets to the point I can't go anywhere for awhile. One thing not helping is my mother apparently thinks things are going to be so dire that we won't even have electricity so she's been stockpiling cereal, powdered milk, and bottled water like she's not going to be able to cook or whatever. Gives me no real example to follow so I keep reading articles about what I should buy or do or yada to remind myself I'm actually doing ok. Ugh.

[Limity (BLM)]

This may have some value here, but this is an article about a person that caught the coronavirus and recovered,

www.yahoo.com/news/dont-panic-says-us-woman-recovered-coronavirus-055155667.html

[thetower52]

I’m trying not to panic but my moms high risk so is my father but he’s not talking it seriously. We live in a pretty rual area at least for staying away from people. I’m trying not to be scared but it’s hard when my moms scared

[thechase]

Got into an argument with my mum this morning. She's due to take a mini-break for three days with her dance group (within the country, no travel) and I've gotten paranoid about her interacting with her friends.

[zrowsdower]

This may not make sense but I kind of mentioned this in another thread how the reaction to this virus reminds me of what it was like going to high school during the time when Columbine happened. It was like people used it as an excuse to be unfairly judgemental and validate irrational thinking.

It made me feel like because I was..."different"that I was guilty of something that I didn't or wouldn't do. I guess that's how I'm feeling with the virus. Like I'm going to get it and make everyone around me sick or something. sorry if that didn't make sense.

Also, yesterday I was lucky to preorder the phantom thieves edition of persona 5 royal. So....that was kind of nice.

[Sephiroth]

Mar 12, 2020 5:46:08 GMT -5 zrowsdower said:

This may not make sense but I kind of mentioned this in another thread how the reaction to this virus reminds me of what it was like going to high school during the time when Columbine happened. It was like people used it as an excuse to be unfairly judgemental and validate irrational thinking.

It made me feel like because I was..."different"that I was guilty of something that I didn't or wouldn't do. I guess that's how I'm feeling with the virus. Like I'm going to get it and make everyone around me sick or something. sorry if that didn't make sense.

Also, yesterday I was lucky to preorder the phantom thieves edition of persona 5 royal. So....that was kind of nice.

Tell me about it. I owned a black trench coat that I loved to wear because it was a Christmas gift from my grandmother.

For my own part, I do have concerns. But I think it’s important to keep a level head and realize the odds of infection are, as it stands, still pretty slim.

[Mecca]

I wasn't to worried until all of the sports stuff happened, that's rather unprecedented and got my attention.

[Spider2024]

It gets disheartening, as it perpetuates my general belief about humanity that no one really cares about anyone else in this world.

Yes, we're saving lives by suppressing the virus and that's great. But, as has been mentioned, people are losing work, which means they're losing money and could lose homes, cars, etc. So will they have any actual 'lives' when this is all said and done?

Maybe I'm being over dramatic over all this, but it does seem like a lot of secondary concerns are falling on deaf ears and it seems like all these big entities merely have the solution of "cancel everything... and we're all good".

I mean, it's not like you "have to" care about anyone else in this world. (But just so you know, you're a jerk if you don't.)

[Dragonfly]

I am already tired of people who use "social distancing" as a way to be judgmental and preachy. Yes, I get canceling events. But say that I want to go out to dinner once a week or do something other than grocery shopping, I get this:

"Are you really THAT selfish? Do you want old people to DIE?"

That attitude caused mental breakdown #2 last night.

Cards on the table: I'm a novelist - deal and everything. I don't have "coworkers," I have a writing group. Those people are my absolute best friends in the world. My wife and I just completed a move from Midtown Atlanta to the Highland Park neighborhood of Pittsburgh. (That's eleven hours away.) I can see them via Zoom, but not in person. I also have generalized anxiety and depression that drifts in and out. To recap thus far:

- New town
- No friends in town (save for my roommate brother)
- Mental issues

Yes, I love the older people in my life. But going out once a week is the only way I feel human these days. Telling me I'm selfish for wanting to feel human, then calling my emotional breakdown an "overreaction" makes things worse. It actually sent me to one of the darkest places I've ever been. And guess what? I have no insurance right now due to the move! I couldn't see a therapist if I tried! (It kicks in next week.) Luckily, my brother, a mental health social worker with 3/4 of a nursing degree, was on the case.

"Going out Saturday is fine. The virus hasn't hit here yet, and you already wash your hands a ton. Even if it does, there won't be full shutdown right away."

That saved my everything.

So to all of the "social distancing" Helen Lovejoys out there, I say this:

- Be mindful of who you're talking to. People with preexisting mental health issues still exist.
- Don't assume that everything you disagree with is motivated by selfishness.
- Guilt trips and buzzwords don't help. It actually makes things worse.
- LISTEN. PLEASE.

[4real]

Yeah this is all getting me down. I love travelling and going to live events and this is massively going to affect that. I’m due to go to Rome in June for the Euros and I’m freaking out about it not happening. Never been to Italy before so was pretty excited for it.

Plus I’m worried about work and having to stay home and not get paid but since I work in retail I’m not sure how realistic that is anyway.

[Alyce: Old Media Enthusiast]

I'm slightly paranoid. Not so much for myself since I'm usually not that outgoing, but more for my family obviously.

[Rican]

Yeah I’m not dealing with it well. My parents are in their early 60’s and my mom gets sick rather easy, and my dad is recovering from heart surgery. I’m also really worried about my extended family in Puerto Rico, many of whom are older. If this thing breaks out over there it’s gonna be really really bad.

[James Fabiano]

Thank you, thank you for this alternative thread.

Cause I really need some support. I am a chronic worrier as it is, so you can imagine this puts that over the top. It's disheartening to see so many things get cancelled, things that would be fun. (I understand why, though, but...) All the other changes. Of course, seeing that so many people are hurting because of this, and wondering if I will hurt too. They just found one person in my hometown who tested positive. Also, I know LOTS of vulnerable people due to age, medical conditions, and etc. My mom is a diabetic for instance. There's also LOTS of people I admire who are aged, and I worry about them.

I know, 11 years ago we had the swine flu, but I don't remember that being as disruptive or as prominent. (well, '09 was when Facebook was JUST STARTING, so social media was different too)

It just feels like things are changed for good.