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.  

[Complex_Little_Pirate]

Thank you for your comments, and yes, I was crying while reading many of the comments here this afternoon as it touched the pain and trauma that's built up inside me. I too feel like I just can't cope any more.

But at the same time, I want to live, to thrive and serve a meaningful purpose, to connect with what is beautiful and meaningful. I need to find a way to survive the fear and do more than struggle and limp through existence. I meditate, listen to talks from Plum Village (meditation from a Zen Buddhist perspective), read daily meditations from the Centre for Action and Contemplation, care for my animals, listen to calming music and affirmations, walk on the beach, do some simply t'ai chi, focus on natural life (birds, trees, insects) around me, try to communicate my situation the best I can to my family, focus on the many things I'm grateful for, try to be open to a sense of meaningful purpose and goals for my life, even though my personal resources of energy and concentration are limited at the moment.

I'm also being as proactive I can about protecting myself and my family from infection. I now have a reusable respirator with medical grade filters that I use whenever I need to be inside with other people, which is minimal as I continue a lockdown style of existence and get everything delivered. I currently use a meal delivery service as I got rundown and overwhelmed recently due to the stress of looking after several overlapping responsibilities at once in December and my self care went out the window amid the time pressures.

Let's keep talking to each other and sharing our experience - the frustrations and the pain, and also the things we do to help ourselves and others.

Love to you and to all the forum members.

[Elizabeth CP]

I tried to reply to Quirky RX Hanna and Sleepy to thank them for their kind words. Unfortunately the post didn't get posted. I'm sorry I'm not up to redoing it but wanted to let you know I read and appreciated your thoughts. I'm still struggling with motivation and negative feelings because of the way the pandemic is being handled and its impact on so many o us. There seems to be a lack of information to guide us on how to cope with living with covid. I don't feel safe going out with so many cases and don't want to risk passing it on to any of my hsb's therapists or workers. This leaves me feeling trapped but guilty as I am doing nothing fun for my hsb.

[Added]

Thank you to everyone for listing the things that are helping through these times.

Today I am going to check out Plum Village and the Centre for Action and Contemplation.

Complex Little Pirate would it be possible to tell me the brand of mask you have as I have been looking into the best mask to get and yours sounds very good.

[Guest_1584]

The NSW prem said yesterday their hospital system will be able to cope through the peak that's expected in a few wks time, so good news for NSW anyway.

lt'd be nice to hear something like that from our Vic prem.

rx

[Guest_1643]

hi all

one thing i learned through this process is that i do need to get out and about to feel healthy

it became easy during lockdowns to hide behind thinking I was doing the right thing by staying home all the time.

Just being in a new environment is crucial for me. I can't stay home to long, because then I start to kind of like it, and forget about the ouside world - next minute, i'm really down.

For me coping has been getting outside as much as i can.

[mmMekitty]

Hi Sleepy,

I think I getwhere you are coming from. I have found being alone I felt safer & more secure than when with people, so I do spend a lot of time on my own, in my flat, not wanting to venture out to where people are. But even for me, the isolation has had a subty increasing effect of making me feel like I'm in prison. I do now acknowledge that even I need to get out & be in the world to some slight extent on some occasions. I'm thinking, once a month would be fine by my head, but I need more physical exercise, so I will (I hope) be organising more outings with my helper, if only to go somewhere, walking,.

I'd love to get into some parks, & walking tracks, or go with her for a ferry ride, up & down the river, or ( as she has promised) to her place, now they have a pool, to do some swimming. She has dogs, a cat, a garden, on a larger block now, so it will not be risky in the least as far as COVID-19 goes.

I realise I just want to get out of my flat for a while, more often. Even a walk around the block, with my helper, for support, would be great. (Pity I gotta get dressed & put shoes on first!)

I do find my mood is lifted, even if only for the time I'm with my helper, or talking to people, like here on BB, helpful, because it breaks the constant dull lifelessness I tend to feel. It's not with me for 24/7, when I can break it up, whether with music, little games, talking, books, terrible tele, good food, whatever.

Is that what you have experienced, Sleepy? Do I understand?

Big virtual hugs, (no hurties), to you.

mmMekitty.

[Guest_1643]

Hi mmmekitty

I feel like that...I domt have ppl in my place hardly ever, my place gets messy and I get down and isolated more and more. It's hard to manage and then I just bunker down and don't leave.

[Complex_Little_Pirate]

Hi Added, the mask I chose is '3M Standard Half Facepiece Respirator' and the filters to go with it are the '3M 3PR Particulate Filters 6035'. The respirator comes in small, medium and large, the medium one fits me (I'm a transgender man) and my mother, the large one fits my dad.

[Added]

Thanks so much Complex Little Pirate - I will check them out.

[FocusGirl]

Hey,

Just read your post… wanted to reply because as a fellow Victorian I get it..
it’s like the hunger games atm.. an absolute joke that people can’t get tested or RATs anywhere & people are literally making up their own rules!!

what a waste of 2 years.. it feel so defeating. Yet my anxiety makes me wish we were in lockdown, that there was some control. I felt safe then. It’s not a good feeling to want to stay away from loved ones, There is something fundamentally wrong with that.. but that’s what this has done to me.. it’s created fear.. the panic and anxiety I have always dealt with but all this on top has really amped it up.

There are some things I used to enjoy, that I don’t see my self ever doing again, ie. sitting in a theatre, or day out in Melbourne., or even travelling interstate.

Just sick of being scared, sick of this Limbo we are living in.. & there feels like there is zero leadership or advice. & sick of wondering every 2 hours if I’ve got covid or is it just anxiety..

I know this is not a helpful reply but argh.. just need a rant sometimes…

Take care, look after yourself … 2 years ago we had this “we’re all in this together” vibe.. we need to try remember that…