New and ... feeling dread and unease of the times

Posted by robbie1956 @robbie1956, Apr 30, 2020

Hi, I’m new to the Mayo Clinic forums...like all, very aware of the times and I am very uncertain about everything....even trips to the store are laced with a feeling of unease...we wear masks and gloves, but sometimes at night I wake up with a feeling of dread..
The old line out of the Ancient Mariner comes to mind,
“Like one who on a lonesome road does walk in fear and dread, because he knows a frightful fiend does close behind him tread”...so glad to become a part of this forum...too much isolation....

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Post-COVID Recovery & COVID-19 Support Group.

@fiesty76

Hi,@lioness and @mayofeb2020, With asthma and compromised lungs, I self-quarantined on March 13th well ahead of our gov's stay-in-place order. Maybe we can be charter members of the 2 month club? smiles. Since that day, I've not driven, nor shopped, nor ventured beyond walks in my neighborhood. I've received two local grocery deliveries and the driver wore a mask and gloves. Today is my 8th week of complete isolation and it may be another 8 before I start to venture out. Many can get the virus and be very sick but recover. If I get it, I will most likely die. Makes sense for me to stay put because my bucket list remains long with aspirations!

The frustration and resentment for me has continually grown because too large a percentage of people in my community, neighborhood and state have totally disregarded all guidelines for distancing, shopping or gathering in large groups. Despite over a million recorded cases and over 600 reported U.S. covid-19 deaths, most in this area do not wear masks and continue to consider published statistics as media scare tactics.

Like CA,Texas is one of the largest states in the nation. However, unlike CA, it has one of the worst records for testing per capita and waited until two weeks ago to issue stay-at-home orders. Thurs, one day before Texas reopened yesterday, it reported its highest single day of covid-19 fatalities and the state health dept. announced that the state was not near the peak in diagnosed cases. Yet after only 14 days of the state order, this state has now reopened. Did the virus evaporate? I fear the reverberations of this hasty reopening will create a far greater and longer lasting disaster in both health crises and economic hardship for our nation.

Apparently, it took the FL. gov only a few short days to shut back down the beaches he'd re-opened.

My earlier post was written very tongue in cheek with a large dose of sarcastic satire and derision for the the hordes who will be throwing all caution to the winds despite the guidelines repeated by the national infectious disease experts to reopen slowly and monitor closely. Yes, I can do all those early morning activities I mentioned earlier but will I? Not on my life and not preparing to risk yours prematurely either. vbg Best to us all as we struggle to find the most appropriate ways to stay safe and healthy going forward.

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fiesty76 - If there is hope for De Santis, is there hope for Abbott?

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@fiesty76

Hi, @ robbie, You were sweet to respond. I fear though my early morning post completely misfired in intent. I was really spouting off in a convoluted sarcastic diatribe about all "that could be possible to do" on the first day of statewide reopening of everything. My family, who I first intended this for, knows how terribly frustrated I am over what I consider my state's extraordinarily late and lax handling of covid-19 guidelines.

This is a wonderful group of supportive, understanding people. My apologies for not making clear from the outset that I was conducting an early morning rant. I can be impulsive and should have withheld the post at least without some caveats at the beginning. I will be one of the slowest to resume more "before covid-19" activities because of precautions I will continue due to chronic health issues.

My daughter set me up for Zoom and we have had several enjoyable visits. It has been a great experience to get to see and hear the family and we have had some good laughs about their various "new hair" styles. While I can see and hear them, they can only hear me which is even better! because my hair now requires a hat whenever I leave on a walk! I am such a clutz I don't know how to turn on the camera, so Zoom with the family is perfect. smiles

A good friend's hubby was an avid ham radio operator. It was so much fun to spend evenings with them and get to listen to conversations from other parts of the world.

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I knew you were joshin'....

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@fiesty76

Hi, @ robbie, You were sweet to respond. I fear though my early morning post completely misfired in intent. I was really spouting off in a convoluted sarcastic diatribe about all "that could be possible to do" on the first day of statewide reopening of everything. My family, who I first intended this for, knows how terribly frustrated I am over what I consider my state's extraordinarily late and lax handling of covid-19 guidelines.

This is a wonderful group of supportive, understanding people. My apologies for not making clear from the outset that I was conducting an early morning rant. I can be impulsive and should have withheld the post at least without some caveats at the beginning. I will be one of the slowest to resume more "before covid-19" activities because of precautions I will continue due to chronic health issues.

My daughter set me up for Zoom and we have had several enjoyable visits. It has been a great experience to get to see and hear the family and we have had some good laughs about their various "new hair" styles. While I can see and hear them, they can only hear me which is even better! because my hair now requires a hat whenever I leave on a walk! I am such a clutz I don't know how to turn on the camera, so Zoom with the family is perfect. smiles

A good friend's hubby was an avid ham radio operator. It was so much fun to spend evenings with them and get to listen to conversations from other parts of the world.

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Thanks, and I found the diatribe to be an upper....I had another awakening with “the fears” and saw all the responses to the topic very nice....and I agree, the country was caught way off guard for this one....thanks again

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@sueinmn

@migizii I am afraid for many people it's more than a choice between "health and wealth" - more a matter of survival. It is alarming in this seemingly wealthy nation that so many are literally one or two paychecks removed from hunger and/or homelessness. So I get that people want and need to get back to work ASAP. The government and employers need to figure out how to make that happen.
I really hope we come out of this with an understanding of who the MOST VALUABLE workers are in our country - truckers, teachers, meat packers, farm workers, retail workers, medical assistants - and the collective will to make sure they earn a living wage and medical coverage.
Sue

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My understanding of the saying “health or wealth” did not just apply to the 1%’s, but also to everyone who work for minimum wage or any wage that they can to provide for their needs. Without health, none of this will be possible. Living in Minnesota, I have been fortunate to be collecting unemployment, as the governor was able to secure the federal assistance in a timely manner. Many states have not been able to do this. The other members of my family are working, either full or part time from my home in what is considered an essential service causing possible exposure everyday. My other son, in Denver, is not so lucky as he has not been able to secure unemployment and is doing day labor when it is available. I have offered to set up a tent for him in the yard or see if a friend has an ice fishing house we can use if he decides to move home as there is no available room left in our house. Life is strange, new and different, but we will persevere.

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@fiesty76

Hi,@lioness and @mayofeb2020, With asthma and compromised lungs, I self-quarantined on March 13th well ahead of our gov's stay-in-place order. Maybe we can be charter members of the 2 month club? smiles. Since that day, I've not driven, nor shopped, nor ventured beyond walks in my neighborhood. I've received two local grocery deliveries and the driver wore a mask and gloves. Today is my 8th week of complete isolation and it may be another 8 before I start to venture out. Many can get the virus and be very sick but recover. If I get it, I will most likely die. Makes sense for me to stay put because my bucket list remains long with aspirations!

The frustration and resentment for me has continually grown because too large a percentage of people in my community, neighborhood and state have totally disregarded all guidelines for distancing, shopping or gathering in large groups. Despite over a million recorded cases and over 600 reported U.S. covid-19 deaths, most in this area do not wear masks and continue to consider published statistics as media scare tactics.

Like CA,Texas is one of the largest states in the nation. However, unlike CA, it has one of the worst records for testing per capita and waited until two weeks ago to issue stay-at-home orders. Thurs, one day before Texas reopened yesterday, it reported its highest single day of covid-19 fatalities and the state health dept. announced that the state was not near the peak in diagnosed cases. Yet after only 14 days of the state order, this state has now reopened. Did the virus evaporate? I fear the reverberations of this hasty reopening will create a far greater and longer lasting disaster in both health crises and economic hardship for our nation.

Apparently, it took the FL. gov only a few short days to shut back down the beaches he'd re-opened.

My earlier post was written very tongue in cheek with a large dose of sarcastic satire and derision for the the hordes who will be throwing all caution to the winds despite the guidelines repeated by the national infectious disease experts to reopen slowly and monitor closely. Yes, I can do all those early morning activities I mentioned earlier but will I? Not on my life and not preparing to risk yours prematurely either. vbg Best to us all as we struggle to find the most appropriate ways to stay safe and healthy going forward.

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Thanks for your post...I found it very much what I needed to hear .... and may I say, best to all of us as well...staying safe can be done easier when all take this seriously...

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@fiesty76 Totally agree I dont know either what is going to happen but I yes worry for all of us and nation but we cant do anything about it if others dont take it seriously . Only we can keep us safe by listening to the Gov. and the Experts about this virus . We can only keep ourselve save by not going out when we do wear mask,gloves and stay away from people as the guidelines say . Yes I do my chair exercise inside my apt and walk around outside but dont venture elsewhere . I pray, read the Bible and keep busy inside as much as I can . You are the only one that matters remember so do what you are doing and we cant make other people do the Right thing . I have a friend in Texas that is one who doesn't adhere to the rules but I cant worry about her . You just take care of yourself and I know you are . We need assurance from Gods word and he does assure me through Psalm 91 it is a comfort to read. I know this is frustrating and upsetting that others seem to just not care but feisty you cant let that be you priority to worry about them only you so keep doing the right thing . It is scary all these people that are dying ,but you cant help them only yourselve . We will bet through this together . Take care and be safe Linda

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I frequently remind myself I am only responsible for my own behavior. Best advice I can give myself.

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@parus

I frequently remind myself I am only responsible for my own behavior. Best advice I can give myself.

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And very good advice....thanks

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