[Jennyanydots]

WARNING: This is about how I'm feeling about the "situation" and how it's affecting me, a person with bipolar I. The purpose of this post is to share my feelings and how "the situation" is impacting my daily life and in return, receive some support or empathy and help others who might be feeling the same way. This post, however, is not to upset people and is related to me and my personal experience.

I've been experiencing insomnia again (starting the past couple weeks). I feel very anxious, and I've been having "the situation" nightmares. I know it's impacting a lot of us and we all feel deeply (especially being bipolar). I started taking trazodone again (100 mg) and it helps me fall asleep (take it an hour before bed time) but I'm still waking up in the middle of the night multiple times and I'm starting to have nightmares that I got "the situation" or related to "the situation" in one way or another.

Loss of sleep and sleep disturbance is a trigger for me...usually I start feeling hypomanic and then I know an eposide is coming on! This is different, however, I feel anxious all day, everyday. I'm working from home (which I'm grateful that I still have a job) but I don't do well not being able to socialize with people like coworkers. It's just not the same skyping/texting. I set up a zoom meeting with my family tonight so I think I will be doing more of that with friends too.

I'm worried that I may have an unexpected episode. This would definitely be the worst timing! I have an appointment with my Pdoc on Thursday (video) and will schedule weekly followups if available.

I did find this article which is helpful as it outlines ways to help with "the situation" related anxiety and insomnia:
Coronavirus Worries Keeping You Up? Coronavirus Anxiety-Related Insomnia?

How are you guys feeling?

[downandlonely]

I know what you mean about working from home and not being able to socialize. I'm in the same boat. I live alone, so work was my primary form of social interaction. Now it's not an option, and nothing else face to face is either. I did find some virtual support group meetings on Support Groups Central. It is not the same as a real life group, but better than nothing.

Yes, coronavirus is scary.

What have you tried so far to lessen your anxiety? Have you tried exercise, listening to soothing music, watching something on TV/Netflix/YouTube, etc.?

I have started exercising lately and it's helping with all of my symptoms. I never thought exercise could help as much as it has been. I really think it's worth a shot.

Now in my case, I do live in an apartment, so I can't be too loud with my exercises, so... I'm doing weight training and bodyweight exercises. I have a pair of 5 lb and 8 lb weights that I'm using, and the rest is bodyweight. Though, I am getting a pair of 3 lb weights in the mail soon.

Try some squats, pushups, etc. if you don't have any equipment. If you need ideas on what you can do for workouts, I recommend the "FitBod" app. It gives you exercises you can do based on what equipment you have. If you say you have no equipment, it gives you bodyweight exercises that you can try.

[Jennyanydots]

Yes, I listen to music all day while I'm working, netflix/hulu/prime, practice piano, read, hang out in my backyard and take my dogs for walks. Working actually helps - at least it's a distraction for 8 hours during the day. I think I'm more worried because I"m in the high risk group (I was on a ventilator for the first 6 months of my life) so I avoid going to the grocery store unless absolutely needed (bought at least 2 weeks worth of groceries last week)....so i know yes, exercise helps but it doesn't' make all the worry just magically go away, unfortunately.

If you live near a Wal-Mart Super Center, have you tried doing Wal-Mart grocery pickup? Might be less stressful than going to the grocery store. They all use gloves and it's contactless.

Since Wal-Mart only allows people to book out 1 day in advance, you don't have to worry about them being booked out for weeks in advance like most grocery delivery services are. Just register an account online and then reserve the appt before you put anything in your cart.

[Jennyanydots]

Originally Posted by bluebicycle

If you live near a Wal-Mart Super Center, have you tried doing Wal-Mart grocery pickup? Might be less stressful than going to the grocery store. They all use gloves and it's contactless.

Since Wal-Mart only allows people to book out 1 day in advance, you don't have to worry about them being booked out for weeks in advance like most grocery delivery services are. Just register an account online and then reserve the appt before you put anything in your cart.

I looked into amazon fresh (all delivery days booked up every time I would check through the day and it was a $36 delivery fee)....I will look into safeway/walmart when I need to go to the grocery store. But I live in a very populated area so I'm sure that will be a no go as well especially if this gets worst in the coming weeks.

Hugs, Jennyanydots. I'm hoping that you, and many others, will get over the hump of this justifiable anxiety, soon.

Originally Posted by Jennyanydots

I looked into amazon fresh (all delivery days booked up every time I would check through the day and it was a $36 delivery fee)....I will look into safeway/walmart when I need to go to the grocery store. But I live in a very populated area so I'm sure that will be a no go as well especially if this gets worst in the coming weeks.

If you stay up until 12am, that's when Wal-Mart opens reservations for the next day. Just keep refreshing the reservation page and then click a random time. Worked for me.

I live in a very densely populated area too. The best I can do is wait until 12am to book an appointment for Wal-Mart because none of the grocery delivery services have any deliveries for the next 3 weeks. They're booked out that far. Target, Peapod, etc..

When I went to Wal-Mart, I opened the trunk (instead of letting them do it) and they put all the groceries there. Then I went home and sanitized everything w/ sanitizing wipes.

If I want to go to the grocery store and I get there when they open @ 7am, then there are about 80 people waiting in line (according to my parents) and the grocery store only lets a certain amount of people inside at one time. When someone comes out, another person is let in. So, you're waiting for hours in a long line w/ tape on the ground to enforce the 6-foot social distance thing.

[Jennyanydots]

i can't stay up until 12 AM or set my alarm....the problem is I'm having sleep disturbance...trying to get better sleep. so...I just checked safeway and there are delivery windows open and its costs $3.95 delivery....i don't need groceries right now (just spent $110 dollars on food last week (I live alone)). So hopefully in a couple weeks, I can order through them online for delivery

That's great you could find open delivery windows! $3.95 is a very good price. Most places here are charging $10+... because they're taking advantage of the situation.

but yeah, delivery or pickup will probably make you feel A LOT better. I know I felt way more comfortable doing pickup than going into the store.

Also, what may help you is to limit the amount of time you read articles on coronavirus. What I do is just read the CDC and NIH websites for facts. The media has NO idea what it's talking about, or they are purposely exaggerating things. They're basically making clickbait titles because they get ad revenue from every person who clicks. I mean, if they said, "coronavirus has a 3% death rate" vs "coronavirus may kill up to 100 million people!!!!", which one are you more likely to click?

If you want straight up facts, watch Dr. Mike's videos on YouTube. He's a dr in NY who has a big following on Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube. He gets his facts straight from health officials, the CDC, and the NIH. Then he interprets them for you, so it gives you a respectable POV from a real doctor. He always stresses "be alert, not anxious."

[Jennyanydots]

Originally Posted by bluebicycle

That's great you could find open delivery windows! $3.95 is a very good price. Most places here are charging $10+... because they're taking advantage of the situation.

but yeah, delivery or pickup will probably make you feel A LOT better. I know I felt way more comfortable doing pickup than going into the store.

Also, what may help you is to limit the amount of time you read articles on coronavirus. What I do is just read the CDC and NIH websites for facts. The media has NO idea what it's talking about, or they are purposely exaggerating things. They're basically making clickbait titles because they get ad revenue from every person who clicks. I mean, if they said, "coronavirus has a 3% death rate" vs "coronavirus may kill up to 100 million people!!!!", which one are you more likely to click?

If you want straight up facts, watch Dr. Mike's videos on YouTube. He's a dr in NY who has a big following on Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube. He gets his facts straight from health officials, the CDC, and the NIH. Then he interprets them for you, so it gives you a respectable POV from a real doctor. He always stresses "be alert, not anxious."

I only watch the nightly news with Lester Holt (I log into my mom's account - I don't have cable) and I'll check out CNN. Other than that, I don't read anything on the coronavirus (the article i referenced was from a NAMI post on FB). I don't have like CNN blaring in the background or surf the internet all day (like my ex would do). As I mentioned above, bipolar people feel deeply so not only am i worried about myself and my family, but I'm also thinking of everybody else too - all those out of work unable to pay rent and mortgage, all the sick people, all the people dying. And on top of that - seeing the clips of Trump at the daily press briefings giving ill advised information. Ugh.

[Jennyanydots]

I also wanted to add, i don't want to NOT read the news and be in the dark but I understand that the watching the nightly news and reading the news online can be very scary too (often times sensationalized)