HOW OFTEN HAVE YOU COVID PANICKED?

Covid panic attacks were something new to me. I remember my first one, after a family gathering on a Sunday in March of 2019. Our county had only a handful of cases then, so there wasn’t a lot to worry about. And then, the CDC rang the alarm bells. I woke up that next morning with a stuffy nose and slightly scratchy throat. Not at all unusual, because I have year round allergies. But this time, I felt prickles of alarm under my skin. The next two days had me in a state of worry. Was I coming down with Covid? Finally , I calmed down, thinking that was the last time I would have such a scare. But it wasn’t. How often have you Covid panicked these past couple of years?

At first, since we had under 10 cases in our city I decided it would be safe to go shopping Only a few people wore masks. But I had a box of surgery masks that I began to use immediately. Along with hand sanitizer and gloves. As the weeks wore on, panic began to spread in our city as cases rose.

Once, I was grocery shopping when I heard someone cry out “don’t wear those gloves.” Startled, I turned to see an angry masked woman standing a few feet away. “Don’t you know those things spread the virus?” She said. “I’m a nurse, and I know.” She proceeded to show me how you touch everything with your gloves, then your face and skin, etc.” She said using hand sanitizer was the only safe way to go.

I realized that as a nurse, she was in a heightened state of fear because by now, she had seen people die of Covid. So I didn’t argue with her. But I did remove my gloves in the car and apply more hand sanitizer. I used so much of that stuff in the next year that my fingers began to itch and burn.

Nevertheless, I wasn’t about to give up my shopping trips. , I only went out once a week ,and came back with a car trunk loaded with bags .Afterwards, , I might have another Covid panic . I heard rumors of people who had caught the virus on trips to the pharmacy while picking up prescriptions.

It was another year before the vaccine was developed, and we were the first in line to get one. After our second shot, we thought we were back to normal. Went out to dinner Celebrated birthdays. No more Covid panic attacks. Had a great summer in 2020—even celebrated my birthday with children and grandchildren from afar. Got a booster shot in the Fall of 2021. Then came omicron, hundreds of cases, and we were back to masking, staying home, and yes, having covid panic attacks after shopping trips..

The cases are beginning to ebb, and soon, we can stopping wearing masks. However, a lot of us will never feel quite so safe again when shopping. How often have you Covid panicked in the last two years?

September 25, 2020September 27, 2020

PANIC ATTACK! LOST CREDIT CARD.

A lost credit card can elevate my anxiety level to the panic mode. Unfortunately, it happens more often than I would like. A few hours after I’ve been to the store, I open my wallet, and find a blank slot where my credit card belongs. My stomach tightens. I take a deep breath. What if it’s been found in a parking lot, and someone is charging thousands of dollars to my account? I dash out to the car, look under my purse, frantically open drawers and claw through papers on my desk. Sometimes I find it right away. But if I don’t, look out. Panic attack! Lost credit card.

Losing my credit cards causes me to have a panic attack. — Panic attack! Lost credit card. The company may offer to block your account until you find it.

I explain my erratic behavior to my husband. Here’s a man who has never lost a credit card in his life. When we were first married, he would join in my search, worrying along with me. Especially if it happened to be our joint credit card. But now, he faces the crisis calmly. First, he assures me that it probably hasn’t been stolen, simply misplaced. He advises me not to report the card lost for at least an hour or so, which gives me time to calm down and retrace my steps.

Why does this happen to me? It started about 30 years ago, when I got mugged in a parking lot, and my purse was stolen. It was a scary experience, with a sinister looking man who also tried to get in my car. As he rattled the door handle, I jumped out and screamed. He grabbed my purse from the front seat and took off in what turned out to be a stolen car. After that, I vowed never to take my purse into a store. I always put my credit card in a back pocket, and never pay with cash. Most of the time, I remember to put the card away when I get in the car, or after I’m home. But sometimes, I get preoccupied and forget what I’ve done with it.

Finally, I call the credit card company. Why are they not surprised? Probably because they know it happens to me about two or three times a year. Or maybe it’s a more common experience than I realize. I cringe when I place an order on Amazon, and see all the “expired” credit cards listed on my account. They aren’t expired at all. They were lost by a scatterbrained woman.

Often, I find the credit card later. But I’m still mad at myself. I devise procedures that will ensure this will not happen again. Once, I went two years without losing a credit card. Then I have a relapse, and may lose two or three a year. I’ve decided there are three categories of people in this world. People who have never lost a credit card, those who seldom do, and then the day dreamers like me..

There must be a lot of losers, because the credit card representatives seem to take it in stride. Lately, they’ve begun offering to block my account while I look for my credit card. But I know it’s only a matter of time until it happens again, and I will have another panic attack over a lost credit card..

April 13, 2020April 14, 2020

Stay At Home Diary: Week 5

I thought we were weren’t too stressed about the lock down, but I think the anxiety of the coronavirus is causing a few somatic symptoms. I used to have panic attacks when I was a teen, so I remember what they’re like. This week, I woke up and felt one coming on again. Luckily, my “Calm” App was there to get me through it. Just a few deep breaths and I was okay. I’m having flashbacks to WWII and later, the polio epidemic that paralyzed so many young people when I was growing up. My husband is a diabetic. Now, he’s having problems controlling his blood sugar. Although he seems outwardly calm, the stress may be raising his sugar. He will have to call his doctor next week.

Tornado in nearby county this week. 70 mph winds here. Blew our mail box down and broke it. The mailman drove right on by without delivering our mail. I called the post office, and the next day, we got a packet of mail tied with a string which said, “box down.” This is not a good time to install a new mailbox.

Venturing out once a week to shop in my coronavirus gear. Cap, glasses, face mask, gloves. Muslim women who wear burkas don’t have to worry about all that. They’re already dressed for the pandemic.

Forgot it was Easter week until too late. Got online to order Easter Crème Eggs from Fannie May for all my grandchildren, and it turns out you can’t have them shipped any more. For the first time in their lives, my children did not receive any Easter candy from me. I sure miss seeing my youngest grandson with a smear of chocolate on his face. He does love those chocolate bunnies.

On Easter morning, my girls arranged a group skype. We had never done that before and it felt very cool. But then, they pointed out that Skype is so outdated that they almost forgot how navigate it. Seems everyone uses apps like Zoom conferencing. They think that’s probably beyond my technological capacity, but I’m going to watch some you tube tutorials and surprise them.

Slim pickings in our daily newspapers on Easter Sunday. No grocery store ads. Reporters have been furloughed, and there are fewer pages to read. We used to spend an hour going over both papers, but this Sunday it took about ten minutes. At least we can still read the funnies

Geese in park don't worryabout coronavirus — Geese in the park aren’t worried about COVID-19. Stay At Home Diary: Week 5

Still walking when weather permits, and trying to get 15 minutes of unfiltered sunlight every day it doesn’t rain. Geese in the park aren’t worried about coronavirus. And a robin is building a nest in the bush beside our porch.

Life goes on.