Potential COVID-19 exposure, help please

[bin_tenn]

Today is the first full day back to school for our kiddos here. However, they also attended school this past Friday (Aug 14) for a few hours. We found out this morning that on Friday one of our kiddos, as well as several others in her class, were "in relatively close proximity to another student for at least 10 minutes, and that student has tested positive for the virus." All the kids are wearing masks at school, and no one is certain if there was any sort of physical contact - but we doubt there was.

Not a huge issue, right? That kiddo is now home for the next 14 days, using a school provided laptop so she can continue school work. She feels perfectly fine, no symptoms at all at this point.

However, ever since we found out a few hours ago, I have a tickle in my throat which causes me to cough in order to clear it. Gotta love anxiety!

I suppose I'd just like some encouragement to help talk the anxiety down. I'm not terrified, but I am indeed somewhat worried that I may come down with the virus now. I know this is typical for me. Historically, when anyone around me has had flu, common cold, etc, I instantly feel as if I have a fever, cough, etc, despite feeling perfectly fine and not actually having those illnesses. I do strongly believe that the school is simply being overly cautious for the sake of preventing a potential outbreak, but again ... anxiety.

 

[Dch]

Whenever I listen about coronavirus, I have a tickle in my throat and coughing. It is not possible to develop the symptoms so quickly.

Taking into consideration the low risk level of the situation in the school (relatively close proximity for just 10 minutes, kids under masks and without physical contact), I think that your kid is safe as well as you.

 

[bin_tenn]

Whenever I listen about coronavirus, I have a tickle in my throat and coughing. It is not possible to develop the symptoms so quickly.

Taking into consideration the low risk level of the situation in the school (relatively close proximity for just 10 minutes, kids under masks and without physical contact), I think that your kid is safe as well as you.

Hey @Dch I appreciate it. You've been very helpful lately. I know what you mean about the symptoms, and that's why I tend to laugh at myself for it. Why does an anxious mind even think that symptoms develop the instant you've been exposed to something? *shrug*

This occasional tickle / cough are not unusual for me, because for one I smoke, and two I sometimes have issues with seasonal allergies. Oh well, life goes on!

 

[Dch]

I smoke

I quit smoking five years ago. I'm envious of you.

 

[bin_tenn]

I quit smoking five years ago. I'm envious of you.

Haha. I want to quit but I haven't mustered up enough determination yet. Did you quit cold turkey, or use nicotine replacement therapy or what?

 

[Dch]

Cold turkey. It was relatively easy. After 18 years of smoking. Although I still miss it, especially during my anxiety episodes.

 

[bin_tenn]

Wow, good for you! I'm glad to hear that. Was anyone around you on a regular basis who continued to smoke? My fiancee also smokes, and she has no desire to quit, so I feel like that will make it more difficult. We never smoke in our home or any of the vehicles, but it's the act of going out for a smoke together that I think will be difficult to break.

 

[TruthHurts]

Today is the first full day back to school for our kiddos here. However, they also attended school this past Friday (Aug 14) for a few hours. We found out this morning that on Friday one of our kiddos, as well as several others in her class, were "in relatively close proximity to another student for at least 10 minutes, and that student has tested positive for the virus." All the kids are wearing masks at school, and no one is certain if there was any sort of physical contact - but we doubt there was.

Not a huge issue, right? That kiddo is now home for the next 14 days, using a school provided laptop so she can continue school work. She feels perfectly fine, no symptoms at all at this point.

However, ever since we found out a few hours ago, I have a tickle in my throat which causes me to cough in order to clear it. Gotta love anxiety!

I suppose I'd just like some encouragement to help talk the anxiety down. I'm not terrified, but I am indeed somewhat worried that I may come down with the virus now. I know this is typical for me. Historically, when anyone around me has had flu, common cold, etc, I instantly feel as if I have a fever, cough, etc, despite feeling perfectly fine and not actually having those illnesses. I do strongly believe that the school is simply being overly cautious for the sake of preventing a potential outbreak, but again ... anxiety.

Just do what you can to keep your immune system strong! I know it's scary I've had the same issues me thinking something is wrong with my throat. At this point I just feel as if i'll end up getting it my lady is a teacher. The best thing to do is to take vitamin c and d if you don't get enough sun. Maybe look into getting some echinacea it supports immune health. I eat garlic a lot stuff like that is about all you can do. Remember if you do end up coming down with it moving around is just as important as rest.

Wow, good for you! I'm glad to hear that. Was anyone around you on a regular basis who continued to smoke? My fiancee also smokes, and she has no desire to quit, so I feel like that will make it more difficult. We never smoke in our home or any of the vehicles, but it's the act of going out for a smoke together that I think will be difficult to break.

Yes I know I had a nasty habit of chewing tobacco for a little while. I only liked it after a few beers. Habits are hard to break at first but as time goes by it gets much easier.

 

[Dch]

Wow, good for you! I'm glad to hear that. Was anyone around you on a regular basis who continued to smoke? My fiancee also smokes, and she has no desire to quit, so I feel like that will make it more difficult. We never smoke in our home or any of the vehicles, but it's the act of going out for a smoke together that I think will be difficult to break.

My partner was a smoker too and we quit together. I miss having a cigarette with my coffee (I continue to drink plenty of coffee) or after having food, for example. Also, I believed smoking calmed me down during stressful times. Just, anxiety episodes were too frequent so I had to smoke more and more to ease my anxiety. I became a heavy smoker so I decided to quit the habit.

You will quit smoking in one moment and until then enjoy (which is extremely important for anxious people since many of us have an inability to enjoy; feeling restless or tense is more natural for me than feeling relaxed).

 

[bin_tenn]

Just do what you can to keep your immune system strong! I know it's scary I've had the same issues me thinking something is wrong with my throat. At this point I just feel as if i'll end up getting it my lady is a teacher. The best thing to do is to take vitamin c and d if you don't get enough sun. Maybe look into getting some echinacea it supports immune health. I eat garlic a lot stuff like that is about all you can do. Remember if you do end up coming down with it moving around is just as important as rest.

Yes I know I had a nasty habit of chewing tobacco for a little while. I only liked it after a few beers. Habits are hard to break at first but as time goes by it gets much easier.

Sure, that all makes sense. I'm not really even thinking about it today, maybe I just needed sleep? I was feeling cruddy because of this dental infections, so low grade "fever" (99.5°F or so), feeling a bit run down, etc. I feel better today.

Habits are indeed hard to break at first. I've always heard / read that smoking is just as much a physical addiction as it is mental / chemical. The act of holding a cigarette and so on.

My partner was a smoker too and we quit together. I miss having a cigarette with my coffee (I continue to drink plenty of coffee) or after having food, for example. Also, I believed smoking calmed me down during stressful times. Just, anxiety episodes were too frequent so I had to smoke more and more to ease my anxiety. I became a heavy smoker so I decided to quit the habit.

You will quit smoking in one moment and until then enjoy (which is extremely important for anxious people since many of us have an inability to enjoy; feeling restless or tense is more natural for me than feeling relaxed).

Thanks for sharing that, that makes sense. I'm sure my anxiety will ultimately be better once I can quit. I definitely feel like it causes more problems, because it increases blood pressure, heart rate, palpitations, etc. Looking forward to quitting, but I'm just not ready yet.