General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsMy opinion piece: Even when it's over, for some, it won't be over.
This pandemic creates a traumatic reaction of long term hypervigilance for some people. Long term anxiety. These normal reactions have long term consequences for many people. There will be many who can sit back like Alfred E. Newman and say, "What, me worry?" But many others will have sleep disorders, proximity issues, and perhaps even intimacy issues. Some of this anxiety will become a lifelong struggle, and for some, it will spread like a virus to their children, or even genetically, affecting future generations. Others will develop unhealthy coping mechanisms, such as excessive drinking or eating.
This is when cognitive behavior makes a difference, employing skills we've learned in schools, church, temple, mosque, yoga, and self-discipline. Knowing your best coping mechanisms and using them.
I'm not a psychologist, but I've been around long enough to experience and observe changes in people, emotional and physical, after trauma.
Good luck everyone. Let's be here for one another.
Turbineguy
(37,312 posts)It's why he's there. And he has a natural gift for it.
Brainfodder
(6,423 posts)Worldwide disgust and installing unqualified whatevers all over the place as judges.
That's just 2 things.
Rorey
(8,445 posts)I grew up in rural North Dakota, where the winters can be very harsh. There were times when we couldn't get to a store for weeks because of giant snow drifts blocking the roads. The feeling of a need to stay stocked up on essentials never went away.
I remember when I first moved to Colorado, it was predicted that we were going to have a storm and I started filling containers with water. My husband asked me what in the world I was doing. I was quite delighted to find out that the water didn't stop coming through the taps. In ND we had a well, and if the power went off, the pump didn't work, which meant no water for drinking, cleaning, showers, or flushing the toilet. We'd fill everything we could fill in the kitchen for drinking water, and we'd fill the bathtub for water to flush the toilet.
I've been living here in Colorado for almost four decades now, but I just never got past the need to stay stocked up. Way before this panic buying thing, my kids would say, "Why do you have so much toilet paper?"
Ilsa
(61,690 posts)I've been stuck at a family member's home when freezing temps and sleet took out power lines, which means water couldn't be pumped from their well. So disgusting that I bought a Water Bob for emergencies. It's a single use item. You put it in your biggest bathtub and fill it with clean water. It has a spout.
I tend to have a nesting instinct towards keeping stocked up. Even now, I have enough tp for the next few weeks, but my anxiety creates this wish to get just one more package.
Logically I know I have plenty of food and other supplies, and I have to fight the strong urge to get more. The first day that I was isolating myself, I was beside myself with anxiety. What got me past that was to do an inventory of my food. I even tallied the total calories and divided by a very generous amount that I might consume in a day. That got me past the anxiety.
Typically I share things with my daughter. She has always just stopped by and raided my pantry and refrigerator for food. Before this panic buying started, I pretty much forced her to stock up. At first she didn't listen well enough. She told me she had everything but meat because she didn't like frozen meat. She got over that real quick when she placed an order with a grocery store and none of the meat she ordered was available. She found a butcher (I hate that word) store, and it took a week, but her order was filled. Hopefully she learned her lesson. Listen to mom.
One of my sons must have inherited my stocking up gene. He filled his freezer and pantry way back in January. and also bought some huge packages of paper goods. People at his work ridiculed him at first. Then it got to a point where they were actually mad at him for predicting what was going to happen.
no_hypocrisy
(46,057 posts)If you survive the pneumonia, your lungs may be permanently damaged. COPD (chronic pulmonary disease) and/or other pulmonary conditions.
This virus is relentless.
Rorey
(8,445 posts)Sure, a lot of people will have mild symptoms and recover quickly. I, personally, don't relish the idea of having lung issues for the rest of my life.
central scrutinizer
(11,639 posts)As the mysteriously disappeared Dr. Fauci says, all the higher risk people will have to stay isolated until then. Thats a long time, maybe even a lifetime, for someone in their 70s.
onecaliberal
(32,811 posts)Its been awful. Not really sleeping, terrified of even opening the door to bring in groceries and packages delivered. Then carefully wiping everything down, and having to go through and disinfect EVERYTHING that is touched. Constantly searching for cleaning supplies and bleach Washing hands 30 times a day. Taking everyones temperature 10 times a day.
Rorey
(8,445 posts)I mean, this experience will change a lot of us for the rest of our lives, but the day will come when we won't be so freaked out about things. At least that's what I'm telling myself.
onecaliberal
(32,811 posts)Im devastated that so many people in this country think my diabetic husbands life is expendable.
Helps to know Im not the only one.
Rorey
(8,445 posts)For people like your husband, and for people like my daughter.
I'm one of those people who rarely gets sick. I consider myself to be healthy. I can't bear the thought that I could be unknowingly carrying this affliction and pass it on to someone who could get it and not survive, or even just get very sick - all because of my own selfishness.
At this point, I think I could safely say that I'm not carrying it with the steps I'm taking, but I would consider it sort of a slap in the face to those people I would encounter if I were to go out, who have no choice but to be out, unless it was absolutely necessary. I mean, yeah, I'm out of chocolate, but I've accepted the fact that I'll just have to learn to live without it.
onecaliberal
(32,811 posts)Its definitely not chocolate but it works.
Ive left our house 1 time since March 10th to go to CVS drive through to pick up medication refills. Im so glad our governor locked the state down early.
Rorey
(8,445 posts)I'll have to check it out.