My anxiety makes me think me and my family only have less than a year to live because of this virus

[Worlding101]

We're about to enter the fourth week of our quarantine here in my country and it has been extended until the end of April.

I'm 29M with health anxiety and some form of general anxiety, I suppose. The strange thing is that I don't feel that frightened about getting COVID-19, but I'm more worried about my family, specifically my mother and two aunts (whom have been like my mothers to me when I grew up). My father passed away back in 2016. I'm scared because the three of them are in their 60s and they do have some form of hypertension although they have been managed by medicine for quite some time now. And like other old people, they do have their own set of maintenance medicines for whatever issues that I'm too scared to think of right now.

It sucks thinking that literally two days ago, I was supposed to fly back to my hometown for my mother's birthday and then, of course, this happened.

Reading the news and other experts' opinions makes me really worried about how we're all just waiting in line to be infected. Hearing news about people, especially politicians and friends of friends getting infected and dying, doesn't help.

Everyday I wake up thinking about my family and how much time we have left in this world. I am scared of the reality of silent carriers, superspreaders, and all the people my family come into contact with when they buy their groceries or medicines outside.

I'm scared that, even when this pandemic is over, infection is still possible. At the back of my head, I assume that me and my family only have less than a year to live because that's the amount of time before everybody gets infected.

I never thought how I'd live to see the day the world would stop because of a pandemic. Yet here we are. Right now, I just want to cry and be with my family. I've been so busy with work in a different city and I can't believe how I took all our time together before for granted.

Sometimes I still think that this is just a dream.

 

[mollyfin]

I know how you feel. My mother is 77 and she's like "So I have to spend what could be the last years of my life on lockdown or risk the virus? AWESOME." But once things are more under control, at-risk people getting sick won't be so worrisome, because there will be resources available to help them. Obviously it'll still be serious, but better outcomes will probably become more common. But I still worry.

 

[Worlding101]

I know how you feel. My mother is 77 and she's like "So I have to spend what could be the last years of my life on lockdown or risk the virus? AWESOME." But once things are more under control, at-risk people getting sick won't be so worrisome, because there will be resources available to help them. Obviously it'll still be serious, but better outcomes will probably become more common. But I still worry.

Thanks, Molly. I just want this thing to be over. Obviously we won't go back to the real normal immediately, but I just wish some semblance of normalcy will return where we can go to work and be with our loved ones without having to worry too much.

 

[Aries]

If my father was still alive I would be really worried for him. Are your mother and aunts isolating themselves? If they do that they should be OK. Eventually there will be a vaccine - but it could be a while.

 

[Worlding101]

If my father was still alive I would be really worried for him. Are your mother and aunts isolating themselves? If they do that they should be OK. Eventually there will be a vaccine - but it could be a while.

Yes, they are isolating themselves. At first, they didn't take this virus seriously until I really talked them through it and news on the lockdowns started. I just worry that even after this pandemic, I could still bring the virus to them as an asymptomatic carrier when I go back to my hometown.

 

[Aries]

Yes, they are isolating themselves. At first, they didn't take this virus seriously until I really talked them through it and news on the lockdowns started. I just worry that even after this pandemic, I could still bring the virus to them as an asymptomatic carrier when I go back to my hometown.

Hopefully in a few months there will be a quick reliable test that anyone can get. That's the big problem with COVID- half of people who have it are asymptomatic.

 

[Worlding101]

Hopefully in a few months there will be a quick reliable test that anyone can get. That's the big problem with COVID- half of people who have it are asymptomatic.

I know. This worries me a lot.

 

[Nicole0814]

We're about to enter the fourth week of our quarantine here in my country and it has been extended until the end of April.

I'm 29M with health anxiety and some form of general anxiety, I suppose. The strange thing is that I don't feel that frightened about getting COVID-19, but I'm more worried about my family, specifically my mother and two aunts (whom have been like my mothers to me when I grew up). My father passed away back in 2016. I'm scared because the three of them are in their 60s and they do have some form of hypertension although they have been managed by medicine for quite some time now. And like other old people, they do have their own set of maintenance medicines for whatever issues that I'm too scared to think of right now.

It sucks thinking that literally two days ago, I was supposed to fly back to my hometown for my mother's birthday and then, of course, this happened.

Reading the news and other experts' opinions makes me really worried about how we're all just waiting in line to be infected. Hearing news about people, especially politicians and friends of friends getting infected and dying, doesn't help.

Everyday I wake up thinking about my family and how much time we have left in this world. I am scared of the reality of silent carriers, superspreaders, and all the people my family come into contact with when they buy their groceries or medicines outside.

I'm scared that, even when this pandemic is over, infection is still possible. At the back of my head, I assume that me and my family only have less than a year to live because that's the amount of time before everybody gets infected.

I never thought how I'd live to see the day the world would stop because of a pandemic. Yet here we are. Right now, I just want to cry and be with my family. I've been so busy with work in a different city and I can't believe how I took all our time together before for granted.

Sometimes I still think that this is just a dream.

I’m so sorry! I know how you feel with all the anxiety and this feeling like it’s not real. It’s scary but just try to stay as positive as possible! I know, it’s hard (REAL HARD) but it will help. People talk about a vaccine but that won’t be for a year at least. Crazy to think this is out new normal. I’m here if you need to talk it out!

 

[Worlding101]

I’m so sorry! I know how you feel with all the anxiety and this feeling like it’s not real. It’s scary but just try to stay as positive as possible! I know, it’s hard (REAL HARD) but it will help. People talk about a vaccine but that won’t be for a year at least. Crazy to think this is out new normal. I’m here if you need to talk it out!

Thank you, Nicole. This board has been very helpful in making me feel better whenever I feel so overwhelmed. I hope you are holding up, too.