Anyone else scared

There is no " here we go". I don't wish to be harangued into volunteering by a complete stranger. Nobody knows what we are doing behind the scenes.

And here we go. This thread is just beginning to turn a bit mean.

Have you had therapy for your PTSD? Have you gone into yourself and discovered and learnt ? Have you examined the teachings of your faith?

If you are so in favour of supporting others, you go about it in a strange way.

Onelifeletsliveit, I am very sorry that you're feeling so anxious and have health problems. Obviously your viewpoint is very different to mine. I try hard to understand how you feel, so please try to understand me, too.

You make many assumptions. I have no anxiety or panic myself. I'm concerned, of course, but not upset by current events.

I'm in the 'bonus' part of my life, the plain sailing older days and years. The worst has already happened, long ago. Now every day is a bonus and I have no fear.

The whole idea of the WW2 spirit is a bit suspect. It's so easy to be nostalgic about the past. People did not necessarily 'help each other out' in the war. It all depended on who you were - and who you knew. There was a thriving black market then - just as there is again now.

I do know that volunteering and helping others is very therapeutic for the volunteers, too. It helps both ways. Not everyone is inclined or obliged to do it though.

Our government exists to ensure our welfare and safety. Any decent government considers the most vulnerable in society at an early stage of crisis and should act promptly. We can never compensate for inadequate services by relying on volunteers, nor should we have to.

I do hope that you're following the advice to isolate yourself and stay safe. Just wait it out until this phase is over.

Onelifeletslivit, I find your attitude appalling. I have serious doubts that what you are saying about yourself is true, given that you Come over extremely aggressively to anyone who is not following your dictats. Surely you would have more empathy if you have suffered as you say you have. If you are genuine then I am sorry for the pain you have suffered. BUT You have no idea of the state of my mental health and why I am depressed. Do you think I want to ‘wallow’, do you think I am ‘selfish’. How do we ‘all pull together’ when we are self isolating. Just because you have asthma and two compromised lungs and can heroically help others in these circumstances, doesn’t mean that other people with disabilities can help. How exactly are you helping others at the minute? If it involves physical contact with people then you are at risk of spreading the virus. I am helping others by staying at home, morally supporting my children and grandchildren, and avoiding unnecessary stress to NHS. If I keep safe then the ventilator that I may need can be used for someone more deserving. Many people on gransnet have very severe life threatening illnesses and are unable to help. By calling them selfish you have added another burden to their troubles. You really should go and stand in the corner until you have thought about what you are saying.

I fear everyone on here just wants to wallow in their own anxiety. It’s so very important for us to support each other. Even if you’re older and can’t get out, why can’t you volunteer your services to offer to chat to other people? It’s disgusting the opinion on here and the sheer selfishness going on. I mentioned the WW2 spirit on here, I merely meant that we all need to pull together, something many years ago we were very capable of doing. Without pulling together people will fall by the wayside. I suffer from complex PTSD (child abuse) so know what really hard emotional hardship is all about. This is why I’m appealing to all of you here to help in whatever way is possible as I fear the anxiety and panic will very soon develop into something much more serious. The more people help others, the more they take themselves out and away from their own problems. As I said before I have asthma and two compromised lungs due to blood clots, if I can do stuff for others, than so can you. Please stop being so selfish.

Saetana, I have the right to express my opinion on here, thank you. It obviously differs from yours.

I don't even need to 'slag off' the government. They are doing a fantastic job, all by themselves, of being incompetent and making a complete hash of things!

To paraphrase Franklin Roosevelt: There is Nothing to fear but Fear Itself - my area of the country are taking the risks seriously when out of the home. I actually feel more confident because I know people are being sensible (my husband is high risk). On the downside, getting a grocery delivery is nigh on impossible - I feel like I am going out more than usual for groceries due to lack of delivery slots. We will get through this - good hygiene and respecting the social distancing rules will eventually reduce this outbreak. Please don't slag off the government - they are doing as well, and better, than could be expected in a national crisis of this nature.

52bright, sorry but you simply can't be 'perfectly fit and well' yet have 'mild heart disease and high blood pressure' - however well you feel. Your conditions mean that you are vulnerable and should be isolating.

I really don't think the WW2, blitz spirit applies to this situation. The idea of a nation fighting a common enemy, anyone subject to being bombed, etc., along with 'All in the same boat' is frankly ridiculous.

We are, indeed all in it - but in very different boats. Those of us who can avoid going out in public, especially into shops, are, of course, much safer from infection.

The poor souls who have no help, no transport and no chance of a delivery slot have just had to risk frequent shopping trips. A lot are elderly and already in poor health. They should have been isolating. Only this week have they begun receiving letters and food parcels. It's a national disgrace that the weakest members of society haven't been protected. Why such a long wait? It's 'herd immunity' -natural selection in action.

'Boris is doing an amazing job' - really? Any examples? How can you say that Onelifeletsliveit? I'm truly gobsmacked! Look back just a couple of weeks and see the inaction then:

www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/mar/15/the-guardian-view-on-the-uks-covid-19-response-confused-and-hesitant

The 'Keep Calm and Carry On' WW2 ethos is OK up to a point but we are dealing with completely different issues.

We're not under physical attack. We can't see our enemy.

Unemployment is a fear gripping millions with mortgages to pay. In the war everyone was at work. If you weren't in military service you were working unless you had small children to look after.

People gathered together for support. It's the opposite now.

OK, we have social media to keep us in touch with our loved ones but it also means we often suffer the stress of TMI.

I'm ignoring comparisons with WW2 but I agree that Brits do 'wartime spirit' very well indeed.

I think we would all be lying if we said we were not scared
- scared of dying alone and gasping for breath before our time
-scared for our AC and GC who cannot as easily isolate themselves
-scared for the impact on the education of our grandchildren and all young people
- scared for the financial future of those still working - will they have jobs to go back to, do some of them risk losing their homes
- scared for the fabric of society which cannot possibly be the same when and if this is ever behind us
-scared for the divisions which are rearing their ugly head - the much vaunted “WWII” spirit also included black marketeers, racketeers, those who preyed on the vulnerable and dispossessed, and harsher living conditions than any of us have ever seen

Yes I am scared but what choice do we have?

Act sensibly, take all the advised precautions, avoid the idiots who do not, do not attempt to wriggle out of measures designed for our protection and the protection of others - and putting one foot in front of the other, “keep buggering on”.

Greymar. So you don’t agree that we need to garner the WW2 spirit and support each other? Shame on you.

You’re very welcome, SillyNanny, and I’m glad you’re feeling reassured now. As for living up to your name, I’m sure you’re not. It’s a lot easier for those of us who have someone on hand to talk things over with. I’ve loved all my cats to bits, but with the best will in the world they were never great conversationalists.

It is serious but we are being bombarded with the media. I truly believe so long as you stay home you will be ok. I too hate going to.the supermarket so.am shopping at our little local.four square as there's very few people. They are more expensive but I'm only buying the basics.

Thanks Maggiemaybe. Decided to sort it out one way or another & rang the Priority number. Very nice lady told me the same as you said & told me not to worry as I am still on the list.
I should have known but with no one to talk to but my cat & my tortoise I would not get an answer.
So again thanks for helping. Lately I am living up to my name.

WW2? Boris? Er, no I think not.

52Bright. Personally I think that Boris is doing an amazing job, I in fact sent him flowers to his flat at Downing Street in order to cheer him up during his illness. Despite his illness I received his thanks. He’s amazing and I think the whole country needs to get behind him. Imagine if Theresa May were still in office, it would be a complete mess.

For gods sake people, can we just get a grip and get some of the WW2 spirit going here ......... we need to stop moping about and being scared and instead do things that are constructive. Don’t look at one media source (particularly the Sun, the Mirror, etc) and read the terror stories. Fight your fears with finding out the facts about the virus, educate yourselves through various sources; it truly will help you come to understand how the threat affects you and should hopefully reduce the anxiety. Read, read, read, from credible sources, I can’t stress that enough, finding out the actual facts will help with your overall anxiety.

I am more scared now I’ve read your post 52Bright. A lot of what you’ve articulated resonates with me. I just preferred to “la-la’ around my thoughts.

The whole world is in lockdown of one kind or another. The mortality rate is supposedly very low. But why this scale of defence?

Tonight I’m frightened.

Tomorrow- maybe not so much.

That’s my reality these days.

I think we have to be realistic. The whole world does not shut down for nothing. I am sure there are some out there who would have died this year corona virus or no corana virus but let's be honest there are many people out there who would not be dying if it wasn't for corona virus. It seems that this idea of so many people dying of corona virus with 'underlying conditions' was meant to reassure us that this virus wasn't so bad and was mainly catching seriously those who were on their last legs anyway.

Not so ...as we see from hearing of those like a thirteen year old and nineteen year old with no underlying conditions dying recently. The truth is that anyone can die from this virus and it can move very fast. A 61 year old has died within four days of it first becoming apparent.

By all means be positive and optimistic but let's not ignore the rhetoric. I am 67, perfectly fit and well. I walk 5 miles a day and could do more.But I have mild heart disease and high blood pressure. Inevitably if i succumb to this disease it will be put down to 'underlying conditions' even though I am physically and mentally fit and obviously wouldn't have died at the present time if this virus wasn't raging.

It would be convenient for the government, if my death was to occur, to put it down to 'underlying conditions' . I would prefer to put it down to a total lack of planning.I have told my daughter, that if my death was to occur to see our MP with photographic dated evidence of my health and activities a week before this horrible virus hits.

There would not be any need for Nightingale Hospitals of massive proportions across the country if the death rate is going to be slightly higher than usual with most people afflicted on their last legs anyway and about to expire within the next 12 months. Many of these people would be hospitalised anyway wouldn't they, so no need for a massive increase in hospital provision The government knew this was coming but chose to ignore the signs from China. The same people who stand outside no. 10 clapping for nhs workers on the front line, clapped and cheered in Parliament when a pay rise for nurses was rejected. We need to hold the Government to account ...and our own choices and priorities when we vote and not be complacent. Many people will die who were not on their last legs at all and as a society I feel we need to look at our priorities and learn from this for the future.

I agree with Franbern. I had two days of really bad anxiety and I now limit news to a once a day update and I do not read the newspapers. It all was just too much. I tend to veer between feeling very anxious and scared, to acceptance of this awful situation we are all in. Limiting the news has helped. Ive now decided to read my way through the crisis with my books. I try to go out a walk once every couple of days and have curtailed my walk to around the street. Our family does our shopping , but like others I worry about them doing it. We have to try to accept this situation and get on with it the best we can. If we have an odd day we cannot cope, Im sure nobody could fault us for that.

Yes it's scary. We try not to listen to the daily CV updates and mortality figures, it's too depressing. We have not been out of the house since February. Initially it was because our nearest AC and GC had seasonal Flu followed by heavy colds. Because of my asthma we always avoid each other if they are unwell. We knew it was the flu season and decided to avoid the busy town centre and supermarkets and started doing our shopping online and locally. As the CV spread over here and Europe we chose to hibernate even before the government told us to. Our AC thought we were overreacting but now they understand why. We're determined to stay at home for as long as is necessary be that 3 months, 6 months or 12 months. We can do it, we will survive this. We have a brand new grandson that we're determined to see grow up. My main worry are my children and their families, one of whom is a key worker, and the son whose boss refuses to let him work from home (even though he could) because he thinks the government restrictions are excessive and "no one's going to tell me what to do!" Stupid man.

All we can do is follow the advice, take every precaution, pray and hope for the best.

Do think that many of us need to cut down on how much we are watching on tv and other media about this. All you really need is a once a day quick update to know if there are any new rules, etc. Apart from that, stay away and use the media to watch light programmes, comedies, etc. listen to pleasant music, read some books. If you have a tv recording device, then this is a good time to catch up on those programmes you recorded and never had time to watch. Use catch-up tv if you have it available.~
To help with sleep, do try as far as possible to keep to your normal daytime schedule, getting up and going to bed at usual times, meals at normal times. Take more time in preparation of meals, clean out and tidy up cupboards (even if they have recently been tidied). Do some daily exercise, If you are scared or unable to go outside for this is an area which has few othe people, then do a suitable short work out at home. Lots of advice on what on line, etc.
Write a diary of what you are doing, write letters to your loved ones, even if you do not send them now, have them ready to send in time to come,
Think positively about the future......even start to plan things you intend to do next year, when this nightmare will largely be behind us.
Remember to make a noise at 8 pm tonight in your gardens, on your balcony, at the window.......clap, bang a spoon on a saucepan, cheer, etc. for all the thousands of wonderful people who are keeping some sort of normality and looking after us all.

Yes people do need to get off their back sides and help others

People, who are individuals, are allowed to have any reaction they wish.

Travelsafar, I've felt like that every time I've been out, even convinced myself that I wss being followed in an unmarked police car. To be honest I think that's how we are meant to feel to encoursgr us to stay home!
I was scared today as I had to go into work, I work in a nursery so with 2,3 and 4 Yr old who are now thought to be a big carrier. I've been coughed on, sneezed on, wiped up drool etc and washed my hands at least 20 times. I will now feel unsettled for 6 days in case I've got it and then I will be back in work again ?