We all process things differently.

Ronni

Well-known Member
Location
Nashville TN
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I thought I would be one of the holding-it-together-till-it’s-over people because that’s what I do in a crisis. I just double down and hyper focus and pile on the horsepower and decide I’m bulletproof and push the **** through, and then when the dust has settled and I can breathe again, I shatter for a while.

But it turns out I’m more the falling-apart kind in this current environment. I mean it’s not completely obvious....I’m not having hysterical fits or anything, but I’m mentally breaking down. Anxiety is spiked, I’m crying at ridiculous things, feel scattered, other stuff.

And I also think that I’ll continue to feel the effects of this pandemic long after we’ve leveled out and begun living our new normal lives, because nothing will ever be quite the same as it was.

What about you?
 

Mass Fear and Panic Disgust Me.

But then again, my Grandma escaped the Cossacks all alone at age 18 by crawling under and through a half mile or more of horses in the dead of night to leave Russia and mostly walk to Germany to take a ship alone to Camden NJ where she went to Philadelphia, learned English ASAP and earned enough, by herself, to get her undeserving family out.

That's the stuff I'm made of. When I meet an earth shattering challenge, I get real angry.

Of course, I do fall apart during normal life quite frequently. Go figure.
 
Mass panic isn’t what I’m feeling right now. This is my own personal hell. Not that I SHOULD be feeling this, or that it’s appropriate, or trying to one-up anyone else who has it worse than me. And those folks who have it worse are LEGION!

I’m just sayin’ ... for whatever the F reason, this really sucks for me right now. 🤷‍♀️😖🤯
 

Mass panic isn’t what I’m feeling right now. This is my own personal hell. Not that I SHOULD be feeling this, or that it’s appropriate, or trying to one-up anyone else who has it worse than me. And those folks who have it worse are LEGION!

I’m just sayin’ ... for whatever the F reason, this really sucks for me right now. 🤷‍♀️😖🤯
Ronnie this horrific event (Covid-19) is something none of us have experienced before. We have had severe weather events, the flu, 9/11 but never any to this extent. Self isolation, quarantine, wearing masks, sanitizing everything, no physical contact with loved ones.
Businesses shutting down, massive loss of employment and fear.
Your allowed to cry to scream to be sad to be fearful. I'm allowed. Everyone is allowed their feelings and coping abilities.
There is no right or wrong about how we should be feeling at any given time.
The longer this has gone on the more fearful I have become. I wonder if I will ever feel safe again. I wonder if I will ever leave my home and yard again.
 
I’m just sayin’ ... for whatever the F reason, this really sucks for me right now. 🤷‍♀️😖🤯
I can sympathize with your feelings, Ronni, as in "normal" times I'm used to feeling that way so it's not unfamiliar.

I'm really missing my grandson. I see him everyday, for about an hour, on FaceTime, but I want to hold, hug, kiss, play. I had been very unwell for a very long time, and he brings me such incredible joy that I didn't have for so long. Now...................well, you know. I don't know how much time I have left, not that anyone else does either. Anxious to see him, be with him, want him to remember me forever, like I do my grandma. When we're alive in someone else, we don't die. We're always a part of the present of those who remember us, even if we never met, even just through stories.
 
You're right Ronni, we all do process things differently, that's for sure. Those of us, like myself, who weren't working when this pandemic creeped in, or weren't very socially active before this, have a much easier time of things. Honestly, I'm mainly missing shopping for things I need when I want to get them, and of course, worrying about my health and doing what I can to avoid getting infected.

Folks like you who were super active everyday either working, socializing or helping out other people must feel more of a shock from all that's happening. I'm sorry you're still feeling so anxious, sending love and warm thoughts your way my friend. 💚

I know one thing, watching or listening to COVID-19 repetitive news from the time we wake up to the time we go to bed will drive anyone nuts. I was overexposed for a few days and realized that hearing something over and over again, hearing the same things over and over again, hearing everything in an exaggerated (if it bleeds it leads) tone over and over again has to have a negative effect on even the calmest, most reasonable person. I recommend to everyone to catch up on any changes with the virus once in the morning for an hour or two, and then once in late afternoon to see if there is any real news that may affect you or your area.

Watching other shows on TV, listening to music, watching some stand up comedies, etc., all can give our minds a much needed break from the noise and hysteria. Take a deep breath, take a calming walk outdoors in a natural area if at all possible, and give yourself some time every day to unwind.

I'm hopeful, that when the threat of the virus winds down, regardless how long it takes, and we can again walk around and talk to our friends and neighbors without concern, things will get back to normal. When that happens, business will also begin to operate as normal and we will all slowly unwind and enjoy a regular routine again.

The mind is very strong, it can make us more stressed than we need to be, or it can help us to see the big picture, take things step by step, cope with what's going on and move forward. We control our responses to trying times, with some effort I believe that we can calm ourselves and lessen the worry. You can't flip a switch, but if you take time to sit and think about how it's affecting you and the harm that is doing, you can change your attitude on how you react to what we're all going through.

Everyone who feels too anxious, know that you're not alone, many of us in the US and other countries are dealing with this as best we can. I hope everyone here avoids getting infected with the virus, and if you do, I hope the symptoms are as mild as possible. Please just take care of your and your families health, physically, mentally and emotionally. 🌷🌈
 
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I guess it's not all "OK".

I'm all over the place. Heavy sadness, then it lifts and I'm chatting on the phone with a friend. The sadness lifts.

Staying in don't bother me all that much.

@Ronni, I just sense when this is all over you're going to be fine. Yes, some things will have changed, but you seem the type who can snap back. (y)
 
I've always been the strong one in the family. I take charge and instruct the family on different chores to focus on so they get their minds onto other things. Of course, this normally comes up when there's a family emergency or a couple of times between June and October when hurricane season is upon us. When all this virus thing started I told my nieces and nephews that it felt like the entire world was waiting for that CAT 5 to hit them. I started preparing as we do before hurricane season with a few adjustments.

Now, it's almost a sit and wait. I had my IBS flare up and decided I'd been watching too much news on the TV so I only turn it on for the 6:00 news. Here in Alabama we're just now getting cases (over 1500 now) but hearing about the problems in New York, Louisiana, Florida, I feel it's just a matter of time. At the same time I'm praying it won't hit us too hard. Most of my worries come from trying to think of what we might need that I may have forgotten. I'm constantly going through things in my mind.
 
I try to take it as it comes and focus on how fortunate I am to be in my safe little bubble.

"Hope is the pillar that holds up the world. Hope is the dream of a waking man." - Pliny the Elder

“It is not the strongest of the species that survives,
not the most intelligent that survives.
It is the one that is the most adaptable to change.”
- Charles Darwin
 
I try to take it as it comes and focus on how fortunate I am to be in my safe little bubble.

"Hope is the pillar that holds up the world. Hope is the dream of a waking man." - Pliny the Elder

“It is not the strongest of the species that survives,
not the most intelligent that survives.
It is the one that is the most adaptable to change.”
- Charles Darwin

I loved the words about hope, and quite agree with "Pliny the Elder". .

Darwin's thinking too I admire, so great post, thanks! :) .
 


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