COVID-19 Starting to feel paranoid, too?

Wiebke

Wiebke

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Upon returning home from your carefully socially distanced shopping trip through a rather empty supermarket (about as many shelf stackers as shoppers) as in staples (absent toilet rolls and anything tissue are getting beyond any joke) with your hands glued to the trolley handles, merchandise or your coat's arms, you go and disinfect the door key, door handles and bell (there's been a delivery this morning); car key, handles, belts; plastic money (didn't use my phone) and the kitchen sink and tap (twice, upon coming home and washing your hands first thing; and then again at the end of putting everything away and disinfecting all the places you have touched while out and since your return, including your face).
You rather start feeling somewhat COD even though you know it is just common sense as these are all hard surfaces apart from your own skin!

Especially as hub has been to refill the car while I was inside the supermarket and declared he 'didn't touch anything' - Please tell me how you have managed to refill the car without using a pump handle that EVERYBODY has to hold in exactly the same place? :hmm:

Good old trusty emergency bottle of F10 concentrate disinfectant at the back of the piggy cupboard...
 
Yesterday evening I found myself trying to avoid customers and going down different aisles, or passing with as much distance between us. Or looking the other way while walking past them.

I also had a thought the other day about those who wear gloves while shopping. They put on gloves, touch the trolley - which LOADS of people have touched. Then pick up their shopping with said gloves. Do they then take the gloves off when they get to the car? And when putting the shopping away, do they touch the products directly? 🤷🏾‍♀️ Sorry I hope this doesn’t stir up any anxiety for anyone.

@Wiebke I did fill my car on...Thursday. I just did it without thinking but I’ve been washing my hands when I come in from the school run etc. There are the gloves they have at the petrol station.
 
I know just what you mean! I also got back from shopping today and felt that everything must be contaminated, including myself. Stopped short of diving in the bath, but I did hang my coat and jeans out on the line to be in sunshine for a few hours. It's horrible going out and feeling that we're all having to treat each other as lepers. Not much in the way of cleaning supplies available either, or indeed, much else. The poor lady on the checkout, with whom I had a nice conversation a week or two ago, was clearly very frightened and stressed.
 
Katherine said:
I know just what you mean! I also got back from shopping today and felt that everything must be contaminated, including myself. Stopped short of diving in the bath, but I did hang my coat and jeans out on the line to be in sunshine for a few hours. It's horrible going out and feeling that we're all having to treat each other as lepers. Not much in the way of cleaning supplies available either, or indeed, much else. The poor lady on the checkout, with whom I had a nice conversation a week or two ago, was clearly very frightened and stressed.
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It’s a really trying time for us all. And I think people aren’t sure what to do with themselves. I was feeling a little melancholy last night while working - you know when you feel like you could cry?! This was after hearing about the lockdown.

The worry is also that our brother-in-law knows of fellow doctors who are in intensive care due to covid-19. My brother is also a doctor and two sisters are nurses. And my other sister works with vulnerable people. My parents are in our ‘home country’ but they’re also under lockdown. The number of cases has risen and I worry for them. They don’t have any underlying health issues far as we know, but are in the ‘older’ category. Same goes for my aunt/uncle (also husband’s) who are late 80s/90s. Scary but so glad I saw them last year.
 
Siikibam said:
It’s a really trying time for us all. And I think people aren’t sure what to do with themselves. I was feeling a little melancholy last night while working - you know when you feel like you could cry?! This was after hearing about the lockdown.

The worry is also that our brother-in-law knows of fellow doctors who are in intensive care due to covid-19. My brother is also a doctor and two sisters are nurses. And my other sister works with vulnerable people. My parents are in our ‘home country’ but they’re also under lockdown. The number of cases has risen and I worry for them. They don’t have any underlying health issues far as we know, but are in the ‘older’ category. Same goes for my aunt/uncle (also husband’s) who are late 80s/90s. Scary but so glad I saw them last year.
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Yes, it is such a difficult and strange time that we're living though. It seems quite unreal at times. Listened to Boris' announcement on the radio last night and couldn't get to sleep for hours after that. To be honest, this forum is helping me keep sane!

It must be such a concern having family working in the health service. I hope they will manage to keep well.
 
Katherine said:
I know just what you mean! I also got back from shopping today and felt that everything must be contaminated, including myself. Stopped short of diving in the bath, but I did hang my coat and jeans out on the line to be in sunshine for a few hours. It's horrible going out and feeling that we're all having to treat each other as lepers. Not much in the way of cleaning supplies available either, or indeed, much else. The poor lady on the checkout, with whom I had a nice conversation a week or two ago, was clearly very frightened and stressed.
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I felt very sorry for the shop staff, too! They were all frightened and stressed looking. :(
 
Yes, have felt it for few days now. I haven't left the house (ok, the garden) since I came in from work at 7pm on Friday. Even though I feel perfectly well, I'm scared that I am contaminated. Mum and I sit/stand two metres apart in room, kitchen and garden. I daren't even breathe when I have to go past her! Not looking forward to having to run to shop at end of week for bread/milk!
 
I managed to get a decent sized bottle of alcagel (at an inflated price) and filled up some travel sized bottles for us each to take out with us. As I’m part of the rescue I always keep doctor style latex gloves at home (for handling new arrivals) and each of us takes a pair if we go out shopping and bins them before coming back into the house.
The family are getting sick of my welcome when I hear a key in the door of “ hello - wash your hands”.
 
I'm starting to feel a little paranoid when I'm out shopping. I'm shopping for others too so am in the shops more than i would like to be.The mood has changed in a few days.Last Thursday when I was in Tesco people looked worried but there was still a sense of humour,people smiling at each other,the odd tut and eyes raised but today it was much more serious. The atmosphere was odd and it was so quiet. I think people are in shock because we cant quite get our heads round it. It will get better but its a lot to take in for everyone at the moment
 
I think it will take a little while for everyone to adjust to our new 'normal'.
Here things have really ramped up in the last week - all supermarkets now have someone by the door (large entry ways are cordoned off) and you have to santisie your hands and are given a plastic card with a number on it before you can enter. This limits the amount of people in the store at any one time.
All tills and entry points have clear lines taped on the floor making sure everyone stays well apart while waiting to get in or pay.
They have erected temporary perspex barriers in front of the tills so the shop employees are shielded from the public.

This has all taken a little over a week to set up, but people are responding well and looking less panicked.
Supply levels are reasonable and most people really are staying home.
My DH had to travel for work this week and reported that he was the only person in the carriage on his train. Stations are deserted.
We will adjust and it will be ok.
 
I am terrible for touching my eyes, face and scalp when driving the car.... so i have been wearing disposable gloves when out...... take them off as soon as i get in the car as they feel awful...... but today i was like ' do i need to wipe all the packets that i have bought home incase other people have picked them up?? :yikes: :yikes: :help: :help:
 
Pound Shilling & Pig said:
Sometimes when I finish washing my hands I realise I've zoned out and worry I haven't washed them properly or for long enough so start all over again
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My daughter did that after a trip to the loo late one night last week. Washed and washed again. She was sleepy though.
 
Wiebke said:
Upon returning home from your carefully socially distanced shopping trip through a rather empty supermarket (about as many shelf stackers as shoppers) as in staples (absent toilet rolls and anything tissue are getting beyond any joke) with your hands glued to the trolley handles, merchandise or your coat's arms, you go and disinfect the door key, door handles and bell (there's been a delivery this morning); car key, handles, belts; plastic money (didn't use my phone) and the kitchen sink and tap (twice, upon coming home and washing your hands first thing; and then again at the end of putting everything away and disinfecting all the places you have touched while out and since your return, including your face).
You rather start feeling somewhat COD even though you know it is just common sense as these are all hard surfaces apart from your own skin!

Especially as hub has been to refill the car while I was inside the supermarket and declared he 'didn't touch anything' - Please tell me how you have managed to refill the car without using a pump handle that EVERYBODY has to hold in exactly the same place? :hmm:

Good old trusty emergency bottle of F10 concentrate disinfectant at the back of the piggy cupboard...
Click to expand...

Yes, have a well rehearsed decontamination procedure for Dad, clean anything that anyone could possibly touch, steam clean everything that can be steamed, have been doing this for three weeks now, he thought I was going mad at first, but he's now rather appreciative. Procedure is, enter without touching anything, doffing of outer clothing, removal of footwear, washing hands, route of entry and all surfaces cleaned, up to the sink and any surfaces that are likely to be touched, outer clothing and footwear cleaned - even this, really isn't going to make a great deal of difference, but it's the level of cleaning that's required.
 
Needless to say I am stressed. I find it hard to believe that I actually have more stress doing nothing stuck at home than working. I have also not been able to sleep well after the news of coronavirus broke.
 
Seven7 said:
Needless to say I am stressed. I find it hard to believe that I actually have more stress doing nothing stuck at home than working. I have also not been able to sleep well after the news of coronavirus broke.
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It'll get better, before the war in the UK, the government commissioned a study, it was rather pessimistic, their conclusion was that with bombing the majority of the affected population would go have nervous breakdowns and overwhelm the beds available in the asylum - when it became apparent that this wasn't happening, they were overjoyed, more recently - we've discovered that people are incredibly adaptable to terrible situations, before the war there was a great emphasis on the power of bombing and a fatalistic attitude towards it, military planning assumption depending on this in both sides, but neither side were able to bring the civilian population to heel by doing it, which being British, I'm rather grateful for, but if for those from an Axis country, it meant far more suffering than was really necessary.
 
Americans always talk about how retirement bring about death sooner, and I really feel I know how that feels with this lockdown in order.
 
Went out on the heath yesterday for my once daily exercise and instead of passing people on the paths I waited for them to pass me while I stood at the end of the path where there was plenty of space.

I usually say hello to dogs I meet (with owner's permission) but don't now.

My excema (sp?) is bad on my hands where I have done so much hand washing.

I keep washing down surfaces in the kitchen with F10.

I don't pass the time of day people anymore .....
 
Went out to disinfect the handles and lid of our household bin after it had been emptied, as it is another surface virus particles can linger and be easily transmitted. Didn't pick up our neighbours' bin and left it closer to their entrance as usually.

Things are really changing, aren't they? :(
 
Wiebke said:
Went out to disinfect the handles and lid of our household bin after it had been emptied, as it is another surface virus particles can linger and be easily transmitted. Didn't pick up our neighbours' bin and left it closer to their entrance as usually.

Things are really changing, aren't they? :(
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Have now added outside bins & letterbox to my wiping down list.

I feel like I want a refund on 2020!
 
Swissgreys said:
I think it will take a little while for everyone to adjust to our new 'normal'.
Here things have really ramped up in the last week - all supermarkets now have someone by the door (large entry ways are cordoned off) and you have to santisie your hands and are given a plastic card with a number on it before you can enter. This limits the amount of people in the store at any one time.
All tills and entry points have clear lines taped on the floor making sure everyone stays well apart while waiting to get in or pay.
They have erected temporary perspex barriers in front of the tills so the shop employees are shielded from the public.

This has all taken a little over a week to set up, but people are responding well and looking less panicked.
Supply levels are reasonable and most people really are staying home.
My DH had to travel for work this week and reported that he was the only person in the carriage on his train. Stations are deserted.
We will adjust and it will be ok.
Click to expand...
Went to Tesco this morning to do the shopping for my parents, and they'd already got a number of these measures in place which I was impressed with. Essentially they were trying to collect all the trolleys indoors once people had used them, to clean them, and anybody who queued with a 'rogue' trolley from outside had it cleaned before they went in the shop. A security guy on the door was letting about fifteen people in at a time, once 15 had gone out via the other side of the shop. All the 'scan as you shop' scanners were being cleaned before you could use them. The pay as you go and scan as you shop sections were down to one till at a time so that you wouldn't be stood next to others, though of course there was one daft woman in the very small queue loudly complaining about it to a shop assistant. There's always one isn't there?! A reduced number of shoppers inside meant there weren't too many occasions when you got too close to others. And I managed to get most of the stuff on my parents shopping list, with a few substitutions; just failed to get the cleaning products they needed. So all in all I was quite impressed with the changes they've made in a couple of days.
 
I'm feeling awful.

I offered to get food etc for my very at risk neighbours. I will be surprised if she is not a self shielding person.

Thanks to this forum, I realise that the severity of my asthma is close to the shielding criteria.

I have arranged for my cleaner to do my shopping ( I don't want her in my house but want to support her income.....which will be nothing).

I sat more than 2m away from my neighbours in their garden and did not share anything (brought my own coffee) But I think that's now at least morally outside the guidance, even if it's ok for construction workers!

They asked me to go to the corner shop for them. I did this but think I should stop this and our chats at a distance in their garden. It doesn't meet the most stringent limitations.

They have other neighbours and several family members a few miles away. Am I being selfish?
 
Posyrose said:
I'm feeling awful.

I offered to get food etc for my very at risk neighbours. I will be surprised if she is not a self shielding person.

Thanks to this forum, I realise that the severity of my asthma is close to the shielding criteria.

I have arranged for my cleaner to do my shopping ( I don't want her in my house but want to support her income.....which will be nothing).

I sat more than 2m away from my neighbours in their garden and did not share anything (brought my own coffee) But I think that's now at least morally outside the guidance, even if it's ok for construction workers!

They asked me to go to the corner shop for them. I did this but think I should stop this and our chats at a distance in their garden. It doesn't meet the most stringent limitations.

They have other neighbours and several family members a few miles away. Am I being selfish?
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No, you’re not being selfish. You need to look after yourself and your own health.
 
Posyrose said:
I'm feeling awful.

I offered to get food etc for my very at risk neighbours. I will be surprised if she is not a self shielding person.

Thanks to this forum, I realise that the severity of my asthma is close to the shielding criteria.

I have arranged for my cleaner to do my shopping ( I don't want her in my house but want to support her income.....which will be nothing).

I sat more than 2m away from my neighbours in their garden and did not share anything (brought my own coffee) But I think that's now at least morally outside the guidance, even if it's ok for construction workers!

They asked me to go to the corner shop for them. I did this but think I should stop this and our chats at a distance in their garden. It doesn't meet the most stringent limitations.

They have other neighbours and several family members a few miles away. Am I being selfish?
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No; you have realised that you are at a much higher risk than anticipated when you made your offer and are sensible about the changes you need to make for your own protection. As long as you can communicate this to your neighbours, I am sure that they will understand - they surely don't want you ending up on a ventilator in hospital because of them?
 
Thanks @Claire W and @Wiebke. This is such a fast moving situation. My head I understands that I can't give my very special and deserving neighbours the support I promised last week.

The relief I felt at.not having to go to a supermarket when I arranged for someone to do that on my behalf was really telling.

Thanks to this forum for the amazing support you have provided to me and others across the globe x
 
Posyrose said:
I'm feeling awful.

I offered to get food etc for my very at risk neighbours. I will be surprised if she is not a self shielding person.

Thanks to this forum, I realise that the severity of my asthma is close to the shielding criteria.

I have arranged for my cleaner to do my shopping ( I don't want her in my house but want to support her income.....which will be nothing).

I sat more than 2m away from my neighbours in their garden and did not share anything (brought my own coffee) But I think that's now at least morally outside the guidance, even if it's ok for construction workers!

They asked me to go to the corner shop for them. I did this but think I should stop this and our chats at a distance in their garden. It doesn't meet the most stringent limitations.

They have other neighbours and several family members a few miles away. Am I being selfish?
Click to expand...
not at all,, x
 
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