Coping during the Coronavirus outbreak

[Sophie_M]

We recognise that many of us here in the community are feeling scared, worried and overwhelmed about Coronavirus (COVID19). 

As a result, we created this thread to allow people to come together here during those difficult times and encouraged those wanting to share or seek support to do so here in this space. 
 
It was important with this thread that we maintained perspective and supported each other as best as we could, medical, scientific and public health experts around the world have and still are working hard to contain the virus and treat those affected. 
 
The Beyond Blue Support Service is available via phone 24/7 on 1300 22 4636 or via beyondblue.org.au/get-support for online chat. 
 
There are some other helpful discussions taking place here within our forum community that you may find helpful to read or participate in: https://www.beyondblue.org.au/get-support/online-forums/staying-well/hi-there-i-only-just-joined-and... 

This thread is now closed for further posting. Users are still able to read through and find support through already existing posts.  

[Guest_1643]

hi all

Paul that really is rough
Today I got my booster and there was an elderly woman who went before me.
I asked her how she felt, and she said "great, I feel so much more confident now to go out". For that alone, for comfort and security, if ppl want the booster they should have access. My father makes all the decisions for my 90 year old grandfather and I can relate... it is scary to see ppl making decisions for others.

I hope u are okay in this difficult situation.

[lunastone]

wave @moon and golden. This thread moves fast. I haven't been back on BB since January. Re: expessing your true opinions. I thought i was the only one with posts.... (you fill in the blank). So i have been just keeping all to myself -- pretty difficult for someone who is quite expressive and with a partner who likes to keep everything to himself. The society is divided than ever before. The virus is already here in WA. I don't quite understand why the govt pretended that they could eliminate/control it for weeks. I realistically have accepted that it is here and just go with the common sense of caution. While the intention of publishing exposure sites is getting ppl informed but it also creates unecessary panic/anxiety on some people. I'm a law abide citizen. I was unlucky enough to be at an exposure site on the only day of the week that i went out for shopping. I know the chance of me getting it is zero given the short amount of time i was there, masked properly, social distancing in a not crowded store. I was honestly not worried about catching it as i think it would be mild with the vax -- my close friend in Europe and the entire family got it recently so kinda know what they were dealing with. But it doesn't stop me from worrying. Have i done the right thing on following the instructions etc or passed it to someone else? I stressed me out for 2 weeks with every little changes in my body. When i talked to the other local mom recently, she has all gone nut about the exposure sites too. Wish RAT would have been available by now......Hey, count your QLD premier has the gut to flip the switch for re-opening. I think the delay of WA re-opening (indefinitely) only just sweeps the problems under the rug. If our hospital isn't ready by now, I doubt another month would make any difference. We have two years.....While i am boosted, i think it is an endless cycle with the vaccine as doctors/nurses/older population who are all boosted now would all have immunity waning in a few months time. Next variant. Then what? There is no solution to the problem. I'm sad to say that i was all optimistic at the end of Nov that we were seeing the light at the end of the tunnels. Now....this year seems to be pretty gloom for me personally.

[Guest_1643]

hi lunastone

this year feels gloomy for me to, and a hard start with not much promise for improvement, i hear u. welcome back here. that non inserted word affects me frequently.

i have core values that i stick to, and i don't care too much if they clash with BB at times. It happens.

In terms of being silenced....i think this thread should be safe for anyone to vent their feelings.
Ppl seem to get confused between feelings and facts... this isn't a fact place or for educating ppl or learning about covid.
This is for us all to cope living in hard times... because we are vulnerable and this is a hard time.

[mmMekitty]

For me, facts do have a very important role in how I am coping with this ongoing pandemic. What facts are known, & when new information comes through to the public, informs me about what I can do, Practically, & allows me some sense that I'm not clutching at straws, wishing on a star, & relying entirely on hope & time.

Venting my frustration, my isolation, my confusion & everything, only gets the feelings vented. Practical ways & means of dealing with emotions are also useful, if venting is not enough by itself.

Practical information about what to do, whrere to go, who to call etcetera is also important, for me, so if I have information to hand, I can ease back any panic if I do find myself fearing I may have been in contact with someone with COVID-19. I will have things I can do. The first is BREATHE. Just take a breath & focus on what the plan is.

I would like to know how to cope with the shifting sand, every time some change to what is allowed or disallowed, & when, where & what is available to us, - I am feeling the instability of so much frequent change, even if the announcements don't directly effect me. It feels frustrating & confusing.

I feel I've exhausted myself today. Not just thinking of this Thread, though the sense that people are 'taking sides' is something I feel uncomfortable about. I find places feel less welcoming when this happens.

mmMekitty

[mmMekitty]

& if someone comes here, asking for information, because that may ease their mind, & if I think I can help in that way, I think it is entirely appropriate on this Thread.

mmMekitty

[Guest_1643]

It's a mh forum space, and none of us are drs to tell others what to do, and even those who are drs, would feel likely unerhical doing so here, or even on social media, we don't know someone's history here to tell them what to do.

I believe only close and trusted friends can give direct advice to ppl about where to go and what to do. To do so for strangers on an internet forum is not jn my opinion such a good idea.

[Guest_1584]

ln my world as has been the case right through this 2yrs, well actually they did go a bit cranky when the state opened up again, but apart from that . At any rate it's back to the usual now just this last wk or too and a pretty well whatever . No one hassles anyone people just going on with their stuff , living , holidaying, beach, whatever . There is a common sense courtesy anywhere you go out and about. People will walk around others , most still use masks if they're around others, shops still have sanitizers and l see most people swipe some of that on their way through, but really, it's pretty well hassle free. So l really feel bad for what others seem to be going through in their world particularity with people, opinions, views and what have you. No one even mentions anything up here about anything really or Covid stuff much at all or vaxing. Tbh l wouldn't have a clue who's vaxed or not or who thinks what about anything except with the few l'm close to.

Sounds like we're very lucky though and all this has really brought on a new appreciation of the people and their thoughtful but just live and let live ways.

On another note , heaven forbid l should just wanna see what the numbers are on the news this morning bc l haven't checked in a wk or so. My God, presser after presser, l gave up. But l see the scare mongering is still in full flight , now they're trying to scare the hell out of our kids going back to school. As if the poor little buggers aren't already having enough anxiety and troubles understanding all this, Thank the Gods most of them wouldn't watch the news is all l can say but you know kids though, they'll still pick it up.

rx

[geoff]

Hello All, the only people who are winning are the manufacturers here, we are told to have 1 injection, then have another one, but you need to have the booster and then the possibility of needing another a 4th injection.

Years ago 1 injection stopped polio in its tracks and the flu vaccine/injection gets better each year, although you may still get a cold, it's not the actual virus that decimated us years ago.

I've had 2 injections and waiting to have the booster, but when you go to the supermarket half the people aren't wearing any masks so it makes you wonder.

Geoff.

[Guest_1584]

Don't get me wrong of course parents and families need to know and now , in advance how it's all gonna work l know but it was the way they were talking and going about it. All their usual same old same old dreary mannerisms and all the usual threatening undertones and being all so sure to throw in some horror just to be sure the parents were scared enough , and all repeated, over and over and over.

l wonder what methods other countries use , surely they have a bit more soul than just trying to threaten and scare their people into submission.

rx

[lunastone]

Hi, Rx, i must admit. I am having anxiety despite learning so much about how to deal with it from my oversea friends in the past 2 yrs. I'm trying to mentally prepare for it. Isolation, home schooling etc which is part of the deal to live with the virus. Moving on.....And ya, when i said sweeping the problems under the rug, i was also referring to school. Less than 6 days to school starting here in WA. There is no plan! Also, with community transmission, there is no action on childcare at the moment either. I'm worried about the old carer. Well, i think they should promote hygiene practice more in general, not just during covid time. Yes, i am sure that kids would pick it up everything no matter what but not deliberately catching bugs would be nice -- my kid has only been back to childcare last week and has already gotten a bug by the end of the week! I am a bit tired of it........i know about the european school rules (e.g testing twice a week) and i'm keen to see it here. In the end, most kids still bring it home to adults because it is omicron but it certainly delays the spread. They don't all get it at once so not huge impact on workforce. Anyway....ppl seem to be so scare about it here......yes, it isn't going to be fun but we have to face it.