(irrationally) terrified of ebola / mini-rant

I've always had very exaggerated fears about contracting/developing unlikely illnesses or conditions...but I never thought I would have to worry about ebola!!

I live in NYC and took the A train the same night as the ebola-positive Dr...I know the facts about when someone is contagious and how the disease is contracted, but it honestly does little to ease my mind because of how horrifying the virus is. Now I feel trapped in my apartment and afraid to leave even though I want and need to...

I realize this may anger people, but I feel it was very reckless of the Dr. to move about the city (especially on public transportation) before the 21 day possible incubation period was over. Now because of one person millions of people in NY have ebola on the brain. All because he wanted to go bowling with friends. I just can't wrap my head around the fact that someone who is caring and compassionate enough to risk their life to help others would then return home and endanger their loved ones (?!) It's unethical.

sorry man
ppl are asses ...........they want what they want when they want it

u could not pay me to live in a city like NY .........ppl are not ment to be stacked on top of each other like that looks more like a bug colony with little cells

I think having a fear over this is expected and normal.. I'm sure I would want to hole up and stay away from people to be honest. But we cant just allow fear to over come us to the point we never venture out.. I would be hyper aware of taking safety precautions for myself.

Are you able to research the virus to the point your mind is eased enough for you to go back out even if not to the extent you want or need to? Or does researching the virus cause things to escalate the fear for you?

I agree that he should really have stayed put for 21 days to make sure he was in the clear.. I do think now that this has happened there is going to be regulations placed on anyone, Doctors, nurses, relief workers etc coming here from the areas that are devastated by this virus.

The nurse Nina Pham has been declared healthy today I'm just relieved a bit that people are surviving this terrible illness.

Take care of you

I feel it was very reckless of the Dr. to move about the city especially on public transportation before the 21 day possible incubation period was over. I agree with you.

I went to an appt with my son at a hospital, and they asked if we had travelled to Africa or the Middle East.

Yay!

I am sorry for your fear. Poor New Yorkers. Stressful City. I understand your anguish.

I think a lot of ppl are a bit angry with that dr. I agree that he did a dumb thing. I would be very scared as well if I was you. that stinks that he could not be mindful of others. Very self centered.. Hope you are okay. I know what the news is saying and how they indicated that ppl can't get it by General contact. Not sure I believe that, but I hope they are right. Take care.

I think a lot of ppl are a bit angry with that dr. I agree that he did a dumb thing. I would be very scared as well if I was you. that stinks that he could not be mindful of others. Very self centered.. Hope you are okay. I know what the news is saying and how they indicated that ppl can't get it by General contact. Not sure I believe that, but I hope they are right. Take care.

Thanks everyone. NYC is very stressful! It's easy to feel trapped here...though I'm trying to make the most of my experience, I must say I'm comforted by the fact that I will be moving back west once my program ends this summer.

Good news on the ebola front: because the Dr. didn't abide by the 'voluntary quarantine' guidelines, NY and NJ have just instituted a mandatory 21-day quarantine for health workers returning from west africa. This relieved a lot of anxiety for me (though I still haven't worked up enough courage to get on the subway again!). Has anyone seen the film 'Melancholia' - well, that's the sort o impending doom feeling I was starting to get...

I can't imagine what it must be like for all of those people in w. africa. It truly looks like hell on earth.

The large city closest to me have been initiating training for all healthcare workers as well as teaching policies if there to be a patient presenting with ebola like symptoms. They ask at all the hospital and clinics if someone has recently returned from west Africa.

A teenage boy I know went to the children's hospital with his mom (childhood cancer survivor) and when asked this question...he said yes. *face palm!*

His mom said the nurses face was "priceless." Personally? I'd have whopped his butt!

personally I feel he should be criminally charged for endangering people, I don't care if he has it or not,,he is a dr and has no excuse...

I don't want to go on a big informational rant and hijack your thread, but I can understand the irrational fear of Ebola as the media has hyped this virus up beyond rational comprehension. If you are ever interested in hearing about it, I would be glad to tell you everything I know in hope that it would ease this fear of yours. Just let me know

I don't watch the news. If I need to know what is going on I will find out some way. I also tend to think that if it is my time to die from whatever it is, then I have finished what I was meant to do here on Earth.

Actually a good source of updated info is on Wikipedia and no media hype to wade through.

It is sad that they think the first case was a 2 year old child that died.

at this point there is nothing u can do to stop the spread of the ebola

it is in 3 countries with very weak borders so ppl can cross to other sections carrying it ........then they can get on a plane to anywhere in the world

with a 21 days before u are dangerous infections that gives them time to travel to any part of the world settle in then pass it among the masses ..........some virus can live up to 48 hours outside the body on door handles rails or other things

there is no way to stop the spread other then locking every one down in that area (means a zone where they enter they die ) for the next few months until the virus dies out or they pop everyone with a immune factor ..............and then again the virus will find a new mutation and that cure will no longer be effective or it goes air bore compared to fluid contact only

i live next to a bio weapons fort .........they been doing all kinds of work on this ........if they wanted to cure it they could but why take out a form of population control....ebola is nothing but a tool to them .......all the important ppl are safe it is us peons that are doomed

He's not as caring and compassionate as you thought. He is selfish, just like Nancy Snyderman.

People can't be trusted to protect others on their own. They must be compelled to do so by others, like the nurse in NJ who is whining about her freedom.

You'll likely be okay if you go out. Were you in the same car? If not, you're probably okay.

That is what the media wants you to think. But as long as you aren't rolling around in other people's feces and body fluids, or ingesting it, you really don't have a reason to be worried. Most people that have caught it aren't following proper guidelines. Soap and hot water kills the virus. It's really that simple. Wash your hands.

I understand your views .Personally I just feel that its more like fear mongering, Causing more panic to a situation than needs to be. The news can be twisted any way they want it too come across, lol... just look at politics in this country.

I personally have no fear of contracting this virus, I think its more likely for me to be run over by a bus.

I feel very sad for the devastation of entire families that are being wiped right off the planet in West Africa., very sad.

Just my opinions of course.

did u see dateline thing on the ebola routine ..how to take off the gear ....the teacher was right there telling the reporter how to remove it ....one mistake or misstep and what happend to the reporter will happen to the nurse or doctor

they used a black light chemical to act as ebola he took his glove off wrong and infected the upper part of his hand with it ......10 mins later he was striped out of it thinking he was ok then they did the check on it

the routines in place are not effective the training has never been done for the healthcare staff.......the number of protected wards that can handle it is tiny .......1000 ppl get sick in usa with it all the beds and areas designed to handle it are full

the system here is not set up for this ...............and anyone that rems 8th grade science class rems what the teacher said about virus and the the life cycle ................sooner or later it hit that new code and alters itself it is evolution.....once that happends what they do have to control it no longer works and they need a new battery of test to rework the cure to work on that that takes time

as for the ppl with it ...............he knew he was sick and left he should be charge the cost of the clean up

I can't vouch for what other health care systems are doing, but I can vouch for mine and any smart hospital will have training on just this sort of thing. And the one that that people forget to do when they remove protective gear is wash their hands because they are under this false impression that they didn't make a mistake. Actually touching the body fluid to the skin does infect a person. It coming in contact with it and not washing properly after removing protective gear, then rubbing your eyes, your mouth, wiping your ***….

My point is, that yes, this virus is bad, but its not a superbug. And people should research the virus. The more research one does the more likely they will protect themselves.

I'm not looking to get into any sort of debate here, but how exactly do you think your posts are helpful or supportive to the OP on this specific thread...


I'm not looking for an answer, just something for you to think about considering thepterodactyl is already scared shytless enough as it is.


In response to the OP:


I vote for baby steps, and each time you venture out, even if just for a short walk, pat yourself on the back with a small but significant reward. Also, most importantly, actively remind yourself that your activity did not and will not lead to your death.


Make a list and check off each attempt if it helps having physical proof.


You can do this, don't allow fear to rob you of living your life. It's no better than dying unexpectedly....

there is more reason to be scared of bad street food then getting sick with ebola

the street food will send u to a hospital with a bill u have to pay feeling like crap for up to 3 weeks missing work using vacation time and sick days so u have nothing left for the year

were ebola u get sick they pay for everything ....and u are a national hero for living get to meet the prez

so much more to worry about then ebola ............will i run out of paper in the bathroom ........... 2 days passed date on the milk should i drink it

my point is it can not be stopped not with the measures they are using it will spread .........so might as well just go on with your life like it does not matter

it works out this way
u get it u get sick and most likely die ...........u do not get it a bunch of other ppl get it prices on stuff goes down u have more money