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.  

[Quercus]

Hi everyone,

Thank you Shelly for your support a while ago. This thread moves fast! It is always a relief to see I'm not alone in how I feel.

Anne with an E. Your post made me cry, it is exactly how I feel too. I can't afford to lose my job so now I'm caving yet again and it hurts.

Keeping on topic... Coping...

How do I cope with feeling like I've sold out by giving in? ... I have just given up inside and accepted (angrily) that I don't have a choice in this. I simply have to be able to feed my children and keep a roof over our heads. It isn't a positive sounding coping mechanism but it is all I have.

I cope with the constantly changing rules and drama by turning off the news and just ignoring it all. When I need to leave the house I check what is required of me for that day. It stops me stressing over the constant changes. One day at a time.

And I cope with fear for my children by being organised. I've found out about homeschooling groups and started getting school supplies, books, craft and science supplies sorted just in case the rules for school kids change here in WA.

And I cope with fear for my loved ones and community by cleaning, sanitising and masking up. One thing I saw in the beginning was that the extra cleaning we did at work cut down the numbers of kids getting sick at our school from anything dropped enormously and once funding stopped that went back to the usual gastro etc mess. So I clean 😂.

Hope everyone is feeling more positive than me today. This all has to pass eventually.

[white knight]

What a surprise Quercus!!

Battling on as usual and you're still being a great mum

TonyWK

[Quercus]

Hi Tony,

Thanks for the compliment. I don't feel like a good Mum most days so that's nice to hear.

How are you holding up? Have you been able to go on any caravan trips or do border dramas make it hard to do that?

We got the kids secondhand kayaks for Xmas and went to local lakes and rivers. Getting out and about is a godsend so I hope you have found ways to travel still.

One thing all this covid chaos has shown me is that so many parents will do whatever they need to to protect their children.

Good to hear from you ❤️.

[BunnyRabbit]

Hi Everyone

I found this forum whilst searching for a place to get help. I'm not coping very well with 'living with COVID'. I have multiple underlying health conditions such as obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease. I can't seem to block out the thoughts that if I get COVID the worst will happen because the people that die or get very sick have the same underlying health conditions as me.

I'm praying each day that the scientists and health professionals will find a cure for COVID but in the meantime I'm just really struggling to cope. Some days I feel there's hope, then that hope gets dissipated when you're told a cure is not suitable for you because of your health conditions. I just feel hopeless and want to cry.

I'm just too scared to leave the house because the high numbers of community cases but even in my own home I'm anxious and scared everyday because my husband still has to go to work in the physical office.

He doesn't understand me and keeps telling me to be positive, don't think of the worst, but it's just so hard to block the risks out. He's a healthy, fit person with no underlying medical conditions, I struggle just to fight any infection let alone COVID.

I was sick with a severe case of stomach virus since boxing day and I'm still recovering from this horrid thing. I know my immune system is poor and I know my health is not in good condition but there's nothing I can do but try and improve my health.

How are other people with underlying medical conditions coping? I've tried taking a walk several times and came back petrified because I had to walk past people not wearing masks and breathing heavily whilst overtaking me.

I've tried meditation but I can't concentrate and just end up crying. I talk to family but they have different circumstances. Such as they don't have underlying medical conditions so don't understand my fear or they do have underlying medical conditions but don't share a house with anyone.

Fortunately my profession, I can work at home but it has been a very difficult battle to get my employer to allow work from home which has been very stressful as the arrangement is reviewed every 3 months and I need to fight so hard to be able to work from home.

For those out there coping, please share what is working for you because I am well and truly drowning and my marital relationship is at breaking point.

Any help or guidance would be deeply appreciated xx

[Sophie_M]

Welcome to the forums, BunnyRabbit. We're so grateful that you have reached out to our community, we know that it is not an easy thing to do and you have shown a lot of strength in sharing your story. We're also really sorry to hear of the difficult past few months that you have been through. But please know that you've come to a safe, non-judgemental space to talk about your thoughts and feelings, and our wonderful community is here to provide you with as much support, advice and conversation as you need.

If you feel up to it, we'd also recommend reaching out to our Coronavirus Mental Wellbeing Support Service. The website will be regularly updated with information, advice and strategies to help you manage your wellbeing and mental health during this time. You can also call our dedicated support line, staffed by mental health professionals, which is available 24/7 on 1800 512 348. We hope that you keep checking in to let us know how you're going, whenever you feel up to it.

Kind regards,

Sophie M

[tassietassie]

Hoping the best for everyone here! I have a series of conditions that are requiring me to continue in home isolation. I was wondering if anyone knows about online groups/forums where the focus is staying connected with similar people?

[Croix]

Dear Tassietassie~

Welcome here to the Forum, a logical place to come and I hope you find some of what you need.

It is surprisingly had to find groups to chat with on an ongoing casual basis. As you are in Tasmania (A wild guess on my part:) my first reaction would be to

Contact the special Lifeline Coping wiht Covid help line

https://www.lifelinetasmania.org.au/news/mental-health-and-wellbeing-during-the-coronavirus-covid-19-outbreak

No, not the 13 11 14 number, the one further down tha page, and ask if they have any suggestions.

I'd also contact the Tasmania State Library who might have some ideas.

Apart from that have you considered that there might be things you can do from home for social organizations such as Anglicare, the Red Cross and umpteen others as a volunteer? I think you would be surprised at some of the things they need.

Finally I'd see if there were any special interest groups with things in common with you via their websites, or have a look at the Citizen Science web pages and see if there is company and interest there.

All the above do not necessarily answer your original question -but you never know

Croix

[Morning]

Hi people,

I tested positive last weekend and am concerned with how the isolation and after, will affect my predisposition for depression. Often any sort of illness can trigger a bout. But there are so many unknown factors to this virus that make it difficult to predict.

Firstly I have had none of the symptoms that others have told me about . Severe aches throughout the body and headaches, have really been it. No fatigue, temp or cold symptoms.

Even though I have done everything I can to avoid contracting it, somehow I did. Then I felt so guilty because my family had to isolate and miss scheduled events. I also was terrified of having passed it on in the short period of time before I tested. It’s a horrible feeling. Luckily none of my family members have developed it and my social contact list was tiny.

I am a physical person and going without hugs and touch for this extended time is almost unbearable. it is easy to feel lonely and left out and not a part of normal life.

I would love to hear from anyone in a similar situation.

stay well all
A.M

[Guest_1643]

Welcome morning

I think it is easy to blame ourselves but Ur not responsible

I am worried also about that for diff reasons, when I got mentally unwell I got really agoraphobic so I associate lockdowns with bad mental health,

I'm sorry Ur i isolation

Since its a weird and diff time, finding new and diff hobbies or pursuits helped me

I've never picked up a puzzle but did several during lockdown in Melbourne

And got netflix and stan, and used this space, and joined some other online groups....

[Guest_1643]

Well said rx

Really hard in Australia ATM to see or get in for a therapist. All therapists are booked out...

I know we are happy that now we have 20 free subsidised sessioms on mhcps....but it's still really tricky out there to get any kind of help, Mental, legal, community, ect

I'm a bit fed up and tired and wanting more support from services and my community.