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.  

[quirkywords]

Charlie, welcome to the forum, and well done for writing your first post.

You have done a great job considering what you are suffering with.

If your doctor and school are supportive of you to keep home schooling is there something else besides feeling guilty that is making it hard to decide.

You are not alone we are here to support you.

[Charlie1970]

Thankyou Quirkywords for your kind response.

I believe my guilt is trauma related. Ive lived most of life trying to please everyone else instead of what's best for me. I guess I just dont want to be a disappointment to my daughter and hold her back from her being the best version of herself. This whole covid 19 has just added another layer of our lives being put on hold. We recently got housed after spending 2 and half years living in a DV womens shelter. I have a great relationship with my daughter and she has grown into an amazing strong individual especially since she also endured DV.

Things have got alittle overwhelming recently and I can feel myself falling. Hence, The reason why I reached out. I have also made contact with my psych today and arranged appt for tomorrow.

Thankyou also for your support. Much appreciated. Charlie

[blondguy]

Hi Charlie1970

Quirky and SophieM have provided super helpful support above...

Just a quick note....you are amazing for reaching out as well as you have Charlie1970! Just from my experience....you will not be a disappointment to your daughter and hold her back from her true potential. It takes serious strength to post on the forums. Great to have you as part of the Beyond Blue forum family Charlie1970!

my kind thoughts...Paul

[SapereAude]

Good morning everyone. I hope that as each day passes you are finding the adjustment easier to bear. For those that aren’t, what are you struggling most with?

I take it that many of us will be homeschooling and also juggling work? How are you finding that? What things have worked well for you? What things haven’t?

How is your family coping with coronavirus? What sort of discussions and explanations have been had?

Take care everyone. Let’s make sure we get around anyone really struggling. For those who have positive tips they can share and maybe help others, may these continue!

[meforcats]

Thanks Sleepy21. For Mum's Day a special friend dropped off a lovely yellow chrysanthemum plant. I felt so special. It made my day. I'll plant it today.

I'm in Vic and am looking forward to hearing what the Premier will tell us today about easing restrictions. I'll be hanging on every word. We might be freee soon.

Enjoy your plants.

[meforcats]

Doz86 I have a support worker and I texted him to ask if would call me but he didn't answer me. By Sat I really needed a human and that's when I rang Beyond Blue. It was very helpful.

Hope you had a good Mum's Day if you are a Mum.

[Sarahbelle]

Hi Charlie,

You really are not alone with the whole school debate..I am in the education area and working from home supporting kids and families, I am able to keep in touch with kids and parents daily and often feel majority thriving and our vulnerable ones are having additional support. School is open for those kids who need. Kids are amazing , they are like sponges and learn what they are ready to learn be that at home or at school. Schools are working hard to deliver online curriculum which is meaningful --- If you need additional support for computers and internet contact your school and it is their role to provide this. You are not holding your child back by keeping her at home - you sound like a great mum who has her best interests at heart. I do understand the struggle parents are having. I also am having struggles with the fear of carona virus and opening our schools too quickly for all and facing a second wave. What we hear on the media about kids not learning and falling behind is not the case for most.

I like you feel very anxious and go into dips and dives, somedays even the thought of walking out of the house can terrify me and I feel my avoidance of people growing. I am really scared to go back to work yet and this is worrying me along with some other things. I have an underlying medical issue also. The anxiety brings the negative thoughts and many physical symptoms. Tryng to meditate, concentrating on my breathing, keeping busy, working at home currently is supporting me.

Take Care today and enjoy being with your daugher.

[Blufftuff]

Hi Gambit

Love your post,

Yes we all had plans before this pandemic hit us

and survival mode describes it well. we all have had to change the way we do things and even our life style may of changed.

Like you I am very grateful I have a job even though it is not as busy and I do feel for those who have lost their jobs and are struggling with life right now.

recently the talks are about how we can get going again, it may take a while but slowly we are having restrictions lifted which is really exciting and something else we have to grateful for.

An old but true saying, There is light at the end of tunnel

all the best in the future with your travel plans.

[Blufftuff]

hi Rusty,

Just read your thread and was I inspired,

It takes real guts and courage to reach out like you have

Please remember you are not alone here and I am confident you will get encouragement and support when needed.

All the best and please keep posting as we love to hear of progress people are making and we are also here to celebrate this with you too

[Sophie_M]

Thank you Elizabeth CP. We also want to add weight to quirkywords' wise words:

People are struggling so we need to be understanding and patient.

As this thread and virus goes on and a degree of fatigue starts to set in for many segments of our community it is really important to remember that text is not a perfect medium of communication especially for things like tone of voice. This in turn can lead to misunderstandings.

Please be aware that just as the intent of your post may be misunderstood by other readers so too may you misunderstand others' intentions.

If ever you're in doubt, it's a good idea to give others the benefit of that and keep in mind the overarching values that guide our community engagement rules (https://www.beyondblue.org.au/get-support/online-forums/community-rules). These five values are: support, respect, empowerment, safety and friendliness.

If everyone keeps these in mind, misunderstandings should be kept to a minimum. If you do see anything you think breaches these community rules then please report it to moderators by hitting "Report Post" in the top right of each contribution and remember that references to edits or moderation in the forums is cause for them to be edited or removed.