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Ilsa

(61,690 posts)
Sat Mar 28, 2020, 10:00 AM Mar 2020

My 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.

14 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
My opinion piece: Even when it's over, for some, it won't be over. (Original Post) Ilsa Mar 2020 OP
Trump will do much damage. Turbineguy Mar 2020 #1
WILL? Already has! Brainfodder Mar 2020 #10
Agree completely Rorey Mar 2020 #2
I completely understand the water storage issue. Ilsa Mar 2020 #4
Same with me Rorey Mar 2020 #7
Also post-virus medical issues. no_hypocrisy Mar 2020 #3
That's what a lot of people who think they're invincible fail to grasp Rorey Mar 2020 #8
If there's no vaccine for 18 months central scrutinizer Mar 2020 #5
I'm already there. onecaliberal Mar 2020 #6
We're going to get past this Rorey Mar 2020 #9
I will never be the same. I'm trying to learn to cope better. onecaliberal Mar 2020 #11
That's why I'm staying home Rorey Mar 2020 #12
I was able to find some sugar free lifesavers at a store on instacart. 60 calories for 5 pieces. onecaliberal Mar 2020 #13
My neighbor told me about Instacart Rorey Mar 2020 #14

Brainfodder

(6,423 posts)
10. WILL? Already has!
Sat Mar 28, 2020, 11:37 AM
Mar 2020

Worldwide disgust and installing unqualified whatevers all over the place as judges.

That's just 2 things.



Rorey

(8,445 posts)
2. Agree completely
Sat Mar 28, 2020, 10:18 AM
Mar 2020

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)
4. I completely understand the water storage issue.
Sat Mar 28, 2020, 10:36 AM
Mar 2020

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.

Rorey

(8,445 posts)
7. Same with me
Sat Mar 28, 2020, 11:30 AM
Mar 2020

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)
3. Also post-virus medical issues.
Sat Mar 28, 2020, 10:36 AM
Mar 2020

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)
8. That's what a lot of people who think they're invincible fail to grasp
Sat Mar 28, 2020, 11:33 AM
Mar 2020

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)
5. If there's no vaccine for 18 months
Sat Mar 28, 2020, 10:39 AM
Mar 2020

As the mysteriously disappeared Dr. Fauci says, all the higher risk people will have to stay isolated until then. That’s a long time, maybe even a lifetime, for someone in their 70s.

onecaliberal

(32,811 posts)
6. I'm already there.
Sat Mar 28, 2020, 10:54 AM
Mar 2020

It’s 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 everyone’s temperature 10 times a day.

Rorey

(8,445 posts)
9. We're going to get past this
Sat Mar 28, 2020, 11:35 AM
Mar 2020

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)
11. I will never be the same. I'm trying to learn to cope better.
Sat Mar 28, 2020, 11:43 AM
Mar 2020

I’m devastated that so many people in this country think my diabetic husband’s life is expendable.
Helps to know I’m not the only one.

Rorey

(8,445 posts)
12. That's why I'm staying home
Sat Mar 28, 2020, 11:53 AM
Mar 2020

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)
13. I was able to find some sugar free lifesavers at a store on instacart. 60 calories for 5 pieces.
Sat Mar 28, 2020, 12:00 PM
Mar 2020

It’s definitely not chocolate but it works.

I’ve left our house 1 time since March 10th to go to CVS drive through to pick up medication refills. I’m so glad our governor locked the state down early.

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