How are you all dealing with coronavirus and the restrictions many of us have to live

Many of my panic attacks have been in work situations, so I couldn't really cry. I went through a period where I had two really awful bosses in a row. They were the cause of a lot of anxiety and panic attacks. It wasn't just me, both places had very high turnover because of them. I can understand how a release like crying could help, though.

Once I was in a meeting with the first awful boss, some co-workers and a representatives of a client company. I had agreed to take on a very limited role in the project, since I was busy with other things. My boss introduced me as the lead on the project. He liked to manipulate people like that. Agree to one thing and then gaslight or put us on the spot to accept more work. I started to have a panic attack. I had forgotten to turn off my phone and my husband called me right then. I said I need to take this call and left the meeting room. Fortunately, my husband realized I was not in a good place mentally and managed to help calm me down. I quit that job soon after. That was the 3rd panic attack I had due to dealing with that manager.

When going through all this, I had been pretty stubborn about not going to the hospital, but at my more recent job, my husband saw me one morning and convinced me to to go to the ER. I had been having panic attacks in that work situation too, wasn't eating and wasn't sleeping at all. The psych doctor that saw me told me I was lucky I went when I did or I would have likely continued to get worse.

Thanks for this. I once had a terrible boss too, I completely get where you are coming from. For me, my boss talked bad about me behond my back, even though I was running the project for her. I also quit.

I have 3 doctors appointments in the next 2 weeks, and I already know which ER to go to just in case today gets any worse.

What did they do at the ER? Totally understand if you don't feel comfortable in sharing though.

I went to the best private clinic here that always has psychiatrists on duty. He took a while to talk to me about what was going on in my life and why I was stressed. He asked if I was eating well, sleeping, etc. I remember my blood pressure was through the roof when usually mine is on the low side. He gave me leave from work and gave me a prescription for sleeping medication. He said I had adjustment order with anxiety due to my work situation and having a break and getting my sleep back on track would do me well.


I went back to him a few times at his office to follow up. It was clear that my boss was trying to get me to quit. It happened a lot there. The company didn't want to pay me severance because it was almost 5 months pay, so my boss was making my life hell. He said I should find a way to approach the company and try to negotiate an exit, but. based on my experience, I didn't think that would happen. I ended up with more leave from the Workers' Compensation Hospital. There was an investigation, but in the end they said my problems were not work related and sent me back to work. At first they sort of went easy on me but the harassment started again. Then, we had the 2019 social uprising here so no one could go into the office. That gave me a few more weeks. In the end, when we had to go back to the office in November, they presented me with termination papers along with another co-worker. At least I got my full severance pay and I was paid for the 2+ months of psych leave. I had to appeal, but I won (an advantage of being married to a lawyer).


That ended up being a novel, sorry. Now that I read it, I realize my life has really not been normal since August of 2019, when the work problems started. Then there were the protests that began on October 18th, which had us under curfew, the military guarding supermarkets and limiting the number of people going in (to prevent looting). I even ran into a few protests, mainly when I was going to the psychiatrist and Worker's Compensation hospital. January and February of 2020 were the most normal. We were able to take a short trip, go out to eat for my birthday, etc. Then Covid arrived here in March 2020 and things got all crazy again-

Are you medicating yourself for Hyperthyroidism? If so, it will probably the panic attack.
Phone emergency if you feel very anxious. They can give you a shot of valium or something to help you relax

I don't think they do that in Germany. It's evening again, and again I feel much better...

I am not medicated for hyperthyroidism, but I have an appointment for that two weeks from now. That would be such a relief though, if that were it. I'm ok with these usually tiny hallucinations, but panic attacks are not for anyone.

I’m glad you are feeling better. It’s important also to control hyperthyroidism, I know it on first hand.

It's a good novel, tension and relief in all the right places. Wouldn't want to live it though. I hope you have a better job now and are not further suffering from the crisis. I'm glad you have a husband that takes care of you.

I never did that, stick with a job for the severance cheque. But than I always worked a lot and never really cared about the money that much, so fat chance of getting fired. So I always ended up resigning. I think when I'm done with my studies I will aim to work a 6 hour day. Not much of a career path, but with my past, I do not think I will ever have children to support, so maybe I don't care.

It's aweful to think you already spent so much longer in an exceptionally bad situation in your country. And corona isn't helping the economy either... and that never bodes well for politics, or people
It's amazing how small the world is and yet there are so many different ways to live, so many situations to overcome, so much chaos for no lasting purpose...

Yes, agreed, and I will do everything I can to find out that this issue of mine is not caused by my past troubles. I really, really, do not want to face those issues more than I already have. Hyperthyroidism for the win

In Brazil, there’s a mutation of the virus that it’s being super dangerous.
Things are not going well in the UK, either.
I’m sorry a lot for what it’s happening in both countries. For me, there aren’t frontiers.
I’m pretty worried because here in my country it’s all about politics, I guess in other countries happens more or less the same.
I’m gonna put two examples: On one side, the Health ministry quit his charge to be the President of one of the Communities in the North. I don’t know if these are good news or not because of what we have been in the past but this single act says a lot about him.

Then, the own Government’s President’s party who is supposed to lead our country, pushed to help the elections in that Community. They have the possibility to postpone the elections but you know, a politician has his own agenda and the population is at the bottom of the pyramid.
I’m so fed up with them. To be honest.

My doctor told me that only 20% of people get to cured from hyperthyroidism. I thought no, I’m not that lucky but I got it.
When I was hospitalised for this, I researched on the net and even when the cause of hyperthyroidism are not very clear, anxiety and stress seem to play a role.

Oh dear, I hope your doctor is wrong. As long as they can treat it though, I guess I'm ok-ish with not being healed.

Anxiety I have a bit, about changing fields, wondering if there is much point to it if then you just working every day, same as before..

I got cured. Only I have to have made blood tests each years but it seems everything it’s ok.

Another point is the anxiety. I felt reflected with you when you named it anxiety attacks. I know it can be very overwhelmed because you feel as if you were gonna die.

I’m now more relaxed knowing that you are feeling better.

@AzulOscuro - yes, it often boils down to politics, doesn't it. Supposedly, the Sinovac vaccines are for people under 60, now four days later they announced that people 60 and over can get them and, what do you know our President (71 years old) and our Health Minister (72 years old) are now saying they will receive the vaccine publicly. I don't think anyone believes that. Due to their positions and being of a risky age, I am sure they got the good vaccines weeks ago. It will probably be saline solution.


Here is what my home country has to say about being vaccinated abroad:

The U.S. Department of State does not plan to provide Covid-19 vaccinations to private American citizens overseas. U.S. citizens traveling or residing overseas are advised to “follow host country developments and guidelines for Covid-19 vaccination," according to the state department.

That means Americans living abroad must either get the vaccine offered in the country where they live or fly home. The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines currently authorized in the United States also have been cleared for use in several countries around the world. But some countries, including China and Russia, haven’t been forthcoming about the research supporting their own vaccination programs.The State Department does not have much advice for American citizens in these countries, except to say they should “consult with medical providers they trust.”


“The United States has expressed concerns that Russia and the People’s Republic of China are sharing or marketing vaccines with the international community without providing transparent, peer reviewed scientific evidence of their safety and efficacy,” the statement says.

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As if I weren't distrustful enough.

Strangely, they make me want to live. I smoked until Jan 1st, think "oh, whatever, if I die early, fine by me", but not getting air makes it a bit more real, not death, but dying. A horrible thought to die like that.

I don't get panic attacks: I felt bad, my best friend called, then I felt better. Tonight, I felt fine, then my best friend called, and now I'm not as fine anymore. Urgh.

Oh, Alice. I’m a bit confused. You mean that you need air support and you aren’t able to have it?

Don’t trust American governments either. They are doing things bad from the get go. Figures speaks volumes.
This is something population have to beat by following safety measures, masks and keep big distances ones from others. Lots of fresh air and wait for the vaccines in the next year. At least for the majority of the population.

It’s been a long time since I voted in an election for the last time, I felt compromised and a dreamer, now, if I were this woman from the past, I wouldn’t go to vote in a time when I can make tougher the situation for the people around me. It’s a matter of citizenship and common sense. I believe people may get a lot when we wake up from this lie we are all living in.

Sorry I know I am posting a lot but I am feeling anxious and sad tonight.

I spoke to my friend who is ill with covid and she still sounds quite unwell, she was tearful. I am also unhappy she caught it doing her care job. She is the most caring sweet person.

I know she'll be okay but it's getting to me tonight. I think I need to leave social media for a while because the deniers are making me very angry.

It seems that within ten days your friend got infected, she reaches the worse moment. Did she has to be hospitalised?

We are all posting a lot it seems @Discombobulated. The thread is here for that, don't feel badly at all. I feel like I overpost sometimes too these days out of pure frustration. I hope your friend turns the corner soon.

Not sure I understand what you are asking (:

That's rough. I hope your friend pulls through soon. I know the care personal are most affected by this virus, almost everyone in these professions gets it, all over the world. It's really not fair.

Thankfully she's not hospitalised. In this area they are doing something called a virtual ward. Several times a day the nursing staff phone and collect stats (blood pressure, heart rate, oxygen level) and decide if you are okay or need the doctors. It's been fantastic and they identified infection and gave antibiotics so they are starting to work.

I think she's over the worst but still sweating it out every night so her body is fighting it still.

You are right Azul it's just after 10 days since the positive test, they are actually out of isolation in her house now.

We said today as soon as we are able we'll meet up and have a day out together. Goodness knows when that will be. Got to keep hope.

Thank you, your kind words mean a lot.

Yes care sector have been hit very badly. In the beginning they were called heroes and people were grateful. Now it seems like they are forgotten by so many, same as other key workers, taken for granted but at risk in their daily jobs. So your kind words mean a lot.

That virtual ward sounds like a good idea. I imagine it helps reduce the stress on the hospitals somewhat and it's good for people to be able to recover at home whenever possible.

I think I didn’t catch you. Sorry.
When you mentioned smoking followed by air, I thought you need a machine to breath with oxygen.
I think I misread you.