Covid-19's Impact on YOUR well being....Help us help others!

[blondguy]

Hi Everyone

This is a difficult and unprecedented time we are all going through. Out of 10 how has Covid-19 impacted your well being?

Just for myself...I come in at about 8....A brief post will help us help others more effectively!

• 0 to 5 .......... Low impact...................Coping well and not really worried about Covid-19
• 5 to 7 ...........Medium Impact.............Concerned about Covid-19 yet is doesnt effect me
• 8 ................. Frequent Impact........... Very concerned and checking media/news reports
• 9 ................. High Impact..................Frequently concerned and experience some difficulty functioning daily
• 10................Very High Impact...........Difficulty sleeping...increased anxiety...loss of concentration and/or feelings of helplessness

The forums are a rock solid safe and non judgemental place for anyone to post 🙂

my kind thoughts always

Paul

[James54]

Hi guys, i live in adelaide were we only have 1 active case and it is contained but i keep getting the same symptoms like all the media says such as sore throat, fatigue, headaches and i can’t tell if their from my elevated anxiety as i struggle with mild anxiety and ocd. I have talked with my parents and they still say it’s just allergies because i haven’t been in contact with a positive case but i’m worried i’m giving it to my girlfriend and friends at school, can anxiety cause like cold symptoms because i usually get colds every year it’s just that because of covid this year i don’t know if it’s allergies or not

[Sophie_M]

Hi James54,

Thanks for reaching out today. We're sorry to hear that you're not feeling well at the moment and it's making you anxious. There's no harm in getting tested. Please know that our community is here to support you and we will get through this.

Additionally, if you feel it might be useful, we'd encourage you to visit 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. This is also inclusive of a 24/7 telephone counselling services. It might be worth having a chat to a counsellor if you're feeling anxious.

Thanks again for reaching out, feel free to keep us updated.

[James54]

Thanks for the quick reply, i am still very anxious because my parents keep assuring me that i wouldn’t have it and that i don’t need to get tested but i’m just so scared i’m passing it around and i don’t know if all these symptoms are from that or if anxiety can make you feel like you have a cold

[blondguy]

Hi James54 and thankyou Sophie_M for your solid support

I understand your feelings as I used to have anxiety for a long time....and Covid doesnt help our anxiety at all

Our anxiety does consume a lot of our strength and can have an effect on our immune system too! Feeling run down can be a sign that our immune system is doing it hard with all the worry and media reports re Covid

I know you are going through a tough time like myself. Just a tip if thats okay

• Your GP can answer many of your questions re your physical or anxiety symptoms..doing so will provide peace of mind.

Ive had a head cold recently which made me really concerned until I spoke with my GP who provided me with the reassurance I needed

my kind thoughts....Paul

[Elizabeth CP]

Following on from Paul your GP may send you for a test (mine did at one time) just in case. Going through the GP means if they think there is any chance it could be covid they can give you a referral so you can get tested at a clinic making the process quicker & easier. If you do get tested you can then speak to the GP re results & your symptoms to get guidance re what to do to manage the symptoms whether they are due to physical or mental health.

Currently concerned as my daughter is self isolating because she is a close contact of someone she treated. She doesn't know who (because of privacy) She is stressed as she has young kids who don't understand that she may be infectious. If she does test +ve then the clinic may have to close for some time until everyone is clear. Her husband who also works at the clinic will most likely catch it from her if she has it & possibly other clients she saw before getting the call to isolate. She is not sick yet so hopefully things are OK.

I spoke to someone who's DIL was very mentally unwell. She got her husband to bring her over for a break & contacted her doctor to get a medical certificate for an exemption so she can stay with her MIL when required for care. I have shared this in case anyone else is in real trouble or knows someone really struggling in Victoria. Providing or getting care is one of the reasons to leave your home or have someone visit but having a medical certificate means you have evidence if you are stopped. Obviously this is only if essential because we don't want to keep transmitting this rotten virus.

[blondguy]

Hi Everyone and thankyou for contributing to the discussion!

Hey Elizabeth...thankyou for your helpful support to James54

'Covid-19's Impact on YOUR well being....Help us help others!'

just a friendly note. when I mentioned 'Help us help others' Anyone that posts are not only helping the previous member but also the 70% of the people that choose to 'read only' and not post on the forums 🙂

Hey Fred...Geoff....Thankyou for sharing you life experience and thus helping others...

Im improving....now an '8'.....Paul

[Quercus]

Hi everyone,

Another 2/3 day here. Raining so we're all home chilling out with Lego.

James... Like you we have less worry at the moment in WA in terms of active cases. So when I got sick it felt silly to be tested. But I rang the hotline and they said if you have symptoms listed on the health website it is important to be tested.

I went to the hospital feeling stupid and guilty but the nurses were great and reassuring.

They weren't worried (test was negative) but they said the reason we're doing ok here is BECAUSE people are being cautious and isolating until tested if they're symptomatic.

Just a thought. If you are feeling incredibly anxious I agree with Paul and Elizabeth... There is no harm in checking with your GP or phoning the covid hotline and asking for advice.

Hope everyone is coping ok today.

❤️Nat

[quirkywords]

Hello everyone

Nat , I am glad you all are chilling with Lego sounds great until you step on LEGO in bare feet.
I am chilling watching a DVD 84 Charing Cross. Rd, a lovely movie that is about letters to an old fashioned. Bookshop in London from a woman in NY, it was sad as it was about a bookshop but very uplifting as it showed how one woman’s letters old affect so many people’s lives in London.

sorry to digress , I think chilling out is helpful what are others doing to chill out.
quirky

[SD0102]

Hi Everyone

Although I haven’t posted for a little bit, I check in everyday to see how everyone is going and it also helps to see how what I’m feeling is quite normal. There are some great contributors on here, so thank you for taking the time to reply to people, you don’t know how much your support and advise is so helpful.

I’ve been hovering around a low 8 over the last week, but this does fluctuate depending on the daily numbers. In NSW these have been going up & down with a number of hotspot locations and venues.

To all of the Victorians, you have been in my thoughts and each day I watch the numbers hoping this will be the day things start to turn around for you. Hopefully the last couple of days might be an indication of this.

I can imagine the current restrictions for some would be quite difficult, but I personally would take comfort in knowing that I would be safe in my own home during this period, but we are all different.

Take care everyone, and I am so grateful that I have access to this fantastic forum.

I’ve

[blondguy]

Hi everyone and thankyou heaps for being a part of the discussion too!

Hey Quercus....thankyou for helping us help others with mentioning you are a 2-3! Im down to an 8 from a 9 yet I have a lot of landscaping left to occupy myself with and keeping my 80's music on too!

Quercus mentioned 'There is no harm in checking with your GP or phoning the covid hotline and asking for advice' I am going to order some lego online!! Excellent idea Nat!

Hey Quirky.....always appreciate your kind support....Your memory is better than mine....I also remember standing on a piece of Lego back in the 1960's....Ouch!...I did reply to your question when you asked how rating the impact of Covid with a number can be helpful....Its not to help us...it helps others know they are not alone during this Global pandemic

Hey SD0102...always great to see you! There are no expectations for anyone to post regularly (me included!)

SD0102 mentioned ' There are some great contributors on here, so thank you for taking the time to reply to people, you don’t know how much your support and advise is so helpful' I am happy that you have found the support and forums helpful! Just a note of appreciation....If we didnt have new(ish) members post on the forums they would cease to exist

my kindest always

Paul