Anyone else scared

Totally agree with Bluebell on this. I’m 63 fairly healthy and going to the supermarket and my walk each day and sticking to the rules. I like idea of the one way in supermarkets it helps that everyone is facing away from you apart from the few that find it difficult to grasp the idea.

Do not worry about accessing GP care I have never been so looked after by my surgery. It is all over the telephone and if I need a blood test the local hospital is 2 minutes drive and they send me a form by the post. I can`t walk due to heart failure and just had my procedure put back. So the GPs have been wonderful.

For some time now I’ve been thinking that life will never be quite the same again - in the early hours my mind has been drawn to a snakes and ladder board, you sail along avoiding all the snakes, and climbing and climbing and you’re almost at the top - but oh no you get caught by that final snake that takes you way back. I worry about my children who have had their lives planned out because they could. All been to university, work hard, are successful and now pay cuts, furloughed, one is a professional singer so all his work cancelled for the foreseeable future. Another at home with her children but still expected to do a full time job, on less pay, and home school. They will get through it and doubtless be stronger for the experience. Some of their friends, maybe even them, will succumb, but they will work through that as well, the human spirit is truly resilient.

I find it stressful and I am becoming very inefficient at shopping. I always get home and realise that there are things that I should have got, even though I go with a list. There is nothing you can do though. Deliveries are a lost cause except a few specialist shops and then it is pot luck. I signed up for one and then got a confirmation which was a bit confusing but looked like they were thanking me for a rolling subscription. I looked on Trustpilot and there was at least complaint about it so I wasn't alone in not seeing it. I had to cancel (it was very expensive but ok for a one off in extreme circumstances. Not something I could do every month.) It was only then that I realised that their website was total word salad and trying to follow their instructions to cancel was like being in a maze. The word cancel wasn't anywhere but you have to 'pause' your account. I had an email totally confirming it was cancelled and saying that they think their website is perfectly clear.
This was after getting text from the PO saying that my broadband was fixed. It was - for 5 minutes. I rang them and held on until they closed for the evening, listening to the worst on hold tape possible. It kept ringing as if I was about to be put through and had a variety of messages the most irritating of which was how important my call was to them.
Normally these were things that would just annoy me but it made me realise how close to the surface my nerves are now.
This morning I got straight through and they said that it went down because they were testing the line and to check it again so it is ok again. It wouldn't have been critical anyway as my neighbour let me use his.
I think most people are edgy and it is not unreasonable for you to feel nervous about going to the shops. I felt guilty when I went 4 days ago but you are obviously not going more than you have to and neither am I so there is nothing to be gained by worrying. I can't manage more than about 2 weeks because I can't carry that much in one go. When I got to the shop (a fairly large local independent) I was the only customer in there.
Just think how relieved you will be when you get back and have stocks in your cupboards.
My estate is like the start of one of those episodes of Outer Limits or the Twilight Zone where everything is creepily silent and if you do see anyone they are staring vacantly into space. Going out is definitely not relaxing although it is nice to get some fresh air.

sparkynan, I thank you for what you do, for all the others key workers like you and for being the voice of 'sensible'. You have helped me to 'get a grip' for when it will be my turn to be on the rota for work at school.

I believe when we come through and the virus hopefully eradicated we will all be less selfish,greedy and hopefully care more for each other. I understand too how upsetting it is. My DH has been told by his GP to isolate as his immune system is compromised through health issues. I currently have my mother staying who will be 100 in June and is very upbeat about it all having been through the last war. We are now just over a week in isolation. Fortunately my local butcher has delivered meat and fresh veg. Our milkman who has never failed to deliver but only once wgen he arrived late evening to apologise as his mother died that day. He has delivered milk and eggs and a local garden centre has become very entrepreneurial and delivered fresh fruit n bread. We are fortunate thankful to those who are providing these kind of services. Also my elderly father who will also be 100 in June and who is currently in lockdown in a care home has a video call with my mother every other day which is great as we can’t visit at the moment. Keep well and be positive hopefully soon things will get better.

@Franbern Thu 02-Apr-20 10:12:59
Thank you for your insightful and incisive post.
You make many good points.

When I realised that the media were hyping things beyond reason I stopped reading/watching/listening to any news media about COVID. 2 weeks clean of the media today!

I think you're right that this pandemic will have changed our lives quite profoundly by the time we're well out of it.
Economic and financial problems will be most prominent.

But I'm very hopeful that millions and millions will have actually experienced and perhaps enjoyed the slower pace of life and the community spirit which has burgeoned in so many places.

I'm hopeful that many people will not want to return to incredibly damaging long work/commute hours and the soul-destroying (and planet-destroying) pace of life that had been engendered by big business. Perhaps some will decide to earn their wages in their own communities doing less arduous jobs?

I'm hopeful that people enjoy the benefits of family time together and having the time, at least, to be in touch more with family and friends.

Perhaps many people might even have experienced that a simpler life is good without so much consumerism - fast foods, fashion, inane celeb culcha, keeping up with the Joneses!

I went to ‘the oldies hour’ last Friday, which was absolutely fine, but now that the death toll is rising I am much more apprehensive, and still don’t have a delivery slot for my online order places nearly 3 weeks ago. If all the supermarkets have so many orders why are we not seeing ‘fleets’ of delivery vans all day long?

I get occasional moments of fear but force myself to keep going and see why I am so lucky compared to many thousands of others across the world. My greatest fear is of dying and leaving the dogs to go hungry and without water so I have arranged a lot of self-feeding devices and similar for water plus messaging my children daily to say I am alive!

I am so lucky to have some wonderful young neighbours who pick up food for me and I get milk delivered.

In terms of food etc I can easily cope. I am also not unhappy being on my own. But I have one child working in a Hospital and naturally I worry about her. I also have a SiL whose job ended just as the Virus began so I worry about my DD and their family. He is having online interviews which sounds promising though.

I go on Twitter and keep abreast of the situation. I try to support people there. I am following the Virology lectures and the university lectures I have always followed. I try to keep up to date with the science and with what our government are doing. The latter worries me most of all.

I am not afraid of actually dying itself. I nearly did die once before and it was so lovely. I just do not want to leave problems for my children.

I think fear itself is a true enemy and if we can overcome that we shall feel so much stronger and in control.

Good luck everyone! We shall certainly look back on these days and be amazed at what it was like. Let's try to be proud of how we coped, frightened or not. To all who are scared, I send love and wish I could comfort you. Often we fear something more than we need to. Usually there is a solution. Try to put your mind on more positive things and if fear does take a hold, get up and do something active, make a cup of tea, walk round the house, do some exercises, start knitting. It doesn't matter what you do but just do anything even if its a silly thing.
Love to all, Elle x

The times are of course scary, and there are health and financial issues in my family that keep me awake in the night. But we just have to be sensible and follow official guidelines. I took the decision at the start of all this not to spend too much time on social media, including Gransnet. There is a worrying amount of fake news and hype doing the rounds and I feel very sorry for those being sucked in. It’s important for our mental health to try to stay positive, and not to dwell too much on what ifs. It must be dreadful being alone at this time.

I have stopped watching the news and listen to Classic FM more. Cut down my LBC listening to Steve Allen. I set my alarm for him ! Distraction is working. Most of the time anyhow, but as a natural worrier anyway that’s the only way to cope sometimes.
It’s brought out the best and worst in people that’s for sure.

I feel a little anxious before each shopping trip these days as I just don't know what to expect.
I must say that on the whole Sundays are quieter than Saturdays and after the special first hour they've been bearable. It was very busy about three weeks ago but I feel that the panic has died down now, it's been very comfortable and I could get round easily.

Yes, I’m very anxious about shopping....it’s stressful and yet it is within our control to a great extent, if we just keep a distance etc. I’m more anxious about how people will suffer when the crisis point is past. I think there will be mass poverty, mass unemployment and a long recession. I feel that our lives will change forever and even as I write this, I am crying for my family and all the lost opportunities now. My two sons are working day and night to help keep their employers afloat amidst no sense of security on any level for them or their children. I hope my fears are proven wrong.

Yes. I was a bit blase about things until a close friend died of the virus and now another admitted to ICU yesterday, so yes, my stomach is knotted, I should be working now but hey, there si more to life, hopefully, stay safe everyone

I seem to have an illness, some of cold/ flu symptoms overlap with coronavirus so when you have some its hard to know ! In bed still, had a bad sore throat in the night and a cough, but also sneezing, so maybe it's a cold. I expect things will get clearer in a while, bound to wonder .

Completely agree Travelsofar, can't believe how anxious I've got over the past week: I am concerned about what the virus would mean for me as an asthma sufferer of course, but much of my anxiety has been exacerbated by constant news bulletins/advice and I feel better avoiding these. I'm horrified by accounts of people phoning the police to report their neighbours for allegedly transgressing the lockdown rules.

SillyNanny, if you have been told you are on the Sainsburys priority list, you will still be on it. We had the same email as you, saying that they would no longer be emailing us regularly to tell us that slots are available, but that they still would be. They are. They’re regularly releasing priority slots for just the next few days - you can’t book a week or more in advance, but just keep looking on their website and you should get one easily enough. Perhaps look in the morning, as they will be taken during the day. Take care.

I do a weekly Tesco shop, they are very well organised, I feel pretty safe there actually. Their CEO sends e mails asking those who can to go to the shops to free up online slots for those who have little alternative.

I wear gloves, wash my hands well when I come in, unpack the shopping, wash hands well again. I don’t isolate the shopping, and don’t wash my coat or clothes that I’ve worn.

I have always washed my hands thoroughly before handling food or cooking, and just carry on doing this. There’s only DH and me in the house, he hasn’t been out anywhere since lockdown, just the garden.

I plan to attend a blood donor session tomorrow, I’m sure they are taking every precaution and blood is still needed vitally.

It is a scary time and if you watch the BBC too much they put the fear of God into you - it’s a fine line mind you trying to get people to behave sensibly and at the same time it would be nice to get a bit more of the good news . Of course it’s dreadful for families losing loved ones and I don’t mean to take anything away from that but lots of people have recovered, some of whom were really poorly. I have to try and keep a lid on my anxiety - I don’t like going to the shop but mostly people are being sensible. Take the necessary precautions, plenty of hand washing and do some relaxation exercises if you can. Stay well everyone ?

Gaga1950 I agree with your perspective. I think we are incredibly fortunate: I have been following the government's strategy since the daily briefings began. I find the increasing press hysteria really unhelpful, always looking for a sensational headline with partial truths which undermine confidence. The BBC SoundBites More or Less programmes are very interesting and, moreover, reassuring.
www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p087x9sf

I think if you hang your coat up for 3 days it will be ok to use?

Alioop how awful. You were very good going. I'm afraid I would have said no, I'm avoiding shops at the minute. Yes, I know, not helpful.

Yes I'm scared ,not so much for myself and DH we are lucky so far have had food deliveries,but my 3 sons are on the front line and I worry all the time for them and there families.

We used to have LBC on all day, now just an hour in the afternoon and it helps.

Not scared, but very very cautious and careful.
This situation needs to be taken seriously, one must behave appropriately, but l can't find it in me to be actually scared.
I do find the whole situation, in a nutshell, to be unreal.
I feel like l am living a film script. Odd, very odd.

I'm in the high risk group so have been in solitary confinement for nearly three weeks, from before the lockdown.
I'm managing to get a supermarket delivery and a kind neighbour is picking up odds and ends which he leaves on doorstep and I put the money in envelope on doorstep when he rings the bell.
Yesterday I was scared though as I had to go to the eye clinic for an injection for AMD. Not allowed to drive so booked a local taxi, well known to me. I usually sit in the front but this time sat in the back, masked and gloved like a bank robber.
The clinic waiting room was well organised, only six people waiting and the chairs placed about ten feet apart. I kept the mask and gloves on throughout as it involves almost nose to nose contact with the consultant as he peers through his machine at my eyes. Same with the girl doing the scan, administering drops etc. And of course the injection.
All went well as usual but I'm now on tenterhooks for the next week to see if I develop symptoms.
Shall feel paranoid until then.