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

[quirkywords]

Blondguy

Thanks for your comments. Sorry if I was confused I saw your original answer and thanked you for explaining the numbers. I appreciate how it helps others . Thanks for you work on this thread.

[Elizabeth CP]

I am a little better than before, Better numbers help but I'm clearly not good prob a 9. Saw GP today at her request as I need blood tests to see if things are improving will go tomorrow. Now on antibiotics for an ear infection. Asked her to check as my ears haven't been good for a while. She checked my blood pressure. Up till this year it was always low but has been high the last few times she's checked today she repeated it several times because it was so high. She believes it is the stress & anxiety. With covid I have more stresses & things to deal with but all my normal supports are gone. I'm surprised how much some aspects of this lockdown are affecting me. Hopefully the numbers will drop & maybe I'll feel better & able to cope if I get rid of this infection, I'm so tired all the time & have headaches most days. I badly need a treatment from my daughter but she is in isolation after being a close contact (one of her clients) She lives in a hot spot so even when she is out of iso it isn't safe to go there even though it would be legally allowed.

[ecomama]

Hi ElizabethCP

I hope your infection goes away quickly, and your supports return quickly too. xxxx

Nat - Great news! A negative is a positive in this case. We have lots of people off work till their test results return. Low covid + numbers here. My grandson had a negative too.

Blondguy Paul thankyou for your work here. There are LOTS of new members posting every day which is great they're reaching out for support but also sad that so many people are feeling the need to.

Sending Love, Hope and Healing to all
EM

[Guest_5432]

Hello Blondguy. Thank you your encouraging thread on COVID-19 impact on your wellbeing. I've read this thread numerous times & it took me a very long time to grasp it. It's a very good thread.

At present I'm not sure how i would rate myself. In Victoria, in stage 4 lockdown area & been extremely sluggish with everything lately. No motivation, unable to get out of bed & when I finally do, everything seems to be a huge effort to do anything. No energy left to do anything at all..

Sorry folks, don't want to sound so pessimistic & spoil your day yet that's how i truly feel lately though. Nothing seems to help.

Thank you for reading.

Regards

[geoff]

Hi James, I can understand how you are feeling because OCD is such a demanding illness and can, or will empathise the gravity of COVID-19, especially if you have a fear of germs, as I too have OCD.

It can be difficult to distinguish between how you feel and what is actually happening by your condition and by these fears, but if you have had successful treatment now or even before we'd be interested to hear back from you.

OCD can also cause nonstop, intrusive thoughts which will only highlight a concern greater than it should be.

Take care.

Geoff.

[tranzcrybe]

Hi 5432,

I think you call it exactly the way it is - sluggish. (BTW you are helping right now).

People's daily routines are being disrupted under stage 4, and it's in our nature to look for consistency and familiarity. With everything in a state of flux, there are new things to discover and opportunity to rethink what worked in the past.

I found these forums to be a positive influence on me and this arose solely from the covid adversity. I have also found people in the streets being more animated in their greetings (since the mask conceals the visual cues we use to communicate) and they help me to feel comforted that our community spirit will remain stronger than the affliction. Much depends on how we choose to view things without denying the state of things as they are.

For blondguy, a suggestion re ratings: everyday life carries its own impact levels which fluctuate according to load. I see covid impact more as a multiplier to whatever level we deal with on a daily basis.

[Guest_5432]

Hi tranzcrybe.

Thank you for your positive input. I agree 100% in what you're conveying. You had mentioned "Much depends of how you view things without denying the state of things as they are." Such an interesting statement... That's exactly what I've been doing all along for Many Years well before when COVID-19. Face the facts head on & work out the best the coping strategies with adjustments if needed.

Each individual needs are so different to the next person so what may work for one doesn't necessarily work for another.

I've tried my best to contribute on other threads on the BB forums just as Everyone else has. I'm very familiar with BB yet rather new being on a forum (never too old to learn has always been my theory)

Thus far I've managed exceptionally well in lockdown. I've been right out there amongst the dying... so have a fair understanding & knowledge of copying strategies however, it's often those who give of them to others burn out faster. I decided to post on this remarkable thread that perhaps to pickup some new ideas from others. I'm as human as Everyone on the BB forams with feelings that affect mental health.

My not being able to get out of bed & so on is due to many factors. We all have our good & no so good days.

Thank you again & hope to continue when able. As for my ratings I cannot give a reply due to fluanctions in my mental health within each 24 hour period.

Yours Faithfully

[geoff]

Hello Guest_5432 and Tranzcrybe, enjoyed reading both your comments.

Sometimes, we want to engage in strategies that will give us quick relief, but that might create bigger problems for us later on, so it's important to establish healthy skills that will help you reduce your emotional distress or rid yourself of the stressful situations you face.

'Is it my situation that needs to change' or 'do I need to find a better way to cope with it' or maybe thinking that doing this could improve our thinking but not having the strength nor having the assistance required.

Our best way to cope may change on an hourly or daily basis and that's impossible to predict.

Best wishes.

Geoff.

[Guest_5432]

Hi Geoff

Thank you very much for your input. In my situation, Geoff I do know what direction I'm heading too.All positive.

As for your excellent well thought out questions they really don't apply to me in my situation.

I'm not looking for a quick fix & never have.

Everything has to run it's course.

Perhaps those questions may be useful for anyone else who's reading.

I've been doing voluntary work for decades helping people from all walks of life so I'm rather self sufficient when it comes helping others, though its taking its toll on me especially seeing dear folk past away.

Balance is needed. I'm suffering from absolute mental emotional exhaustion/burnout that I'm no longer have anything left to give of myself to anyone. I had to stop my voluntary work that I thoroughly enjoyed doing so much from my heart.

Now it's my turn to look after myself.

Since i can no longer contribute to help anyone on the bb forums, I've just made a request to bb to remove my account.

Thank you &

Yours Faithfully

[tranzcrybe]

I feel deeply for your sacrifices, 5432, as it sounds like you have been exposed to more than anyone deserves.

It is time to think of yourself and seek any assistance you can to carry you through.

For mine, I thank you for your time to express yourself for my benefit and in support of readers.

Get well as priority and I hope we talk again some day, should you feel the need.