Many Americans continue to experience mental health difficulties as the pandemic enters the second year. Reports say that about a fifth of U.S. adults (21%) are experiencing high levels of psychological distress, including nearly three-in-ten (28%) among those who say the outbreak has changed their lives in “a major way.” Not surprisingly, psychological distress is higher among those who express concern about becoming ill with COVID-19 or believe that the disease is a major threat to their personal health.

Have you in any way feel that the virus is a major threat to your health? What have you done to overcome this feeling? Were you already vaccinated?

I started by getting the virus at the beginning of lockdown. It was mild and turned into long Covid. That made me mad instead of scared and it was the straw that broke the camels back for taking control of my health. I started loosing weight on my own Aug 2020. I switched insurance plans and doctors through the market place until I found good ones who listened, really listened to me. Yeah, it took that much maneuvering because many doctors hate fat people. That’s just the way it is, move on, even move across the country but get yourself some good doctors.

The main thing is to DO. Like Nike said, “just do it.” If you are working your plan and getting your shots and wearing your mask, you still need to contribute back to society. Start caring for people other than you. (Yes getting the vaccine is also about caring for other people.). You will be so tired and you will be alive and fully engaged with the world. You will have meaning. Go on, do it.

Now if you are at the stage of being paralyzed by fear. Get mad and get a therapist for that. Feelings need doctors too. I see my therapist online for a check in. It’s like tuning up my car but it’s my head.

Third and lastly, my relatives lived through worse than this and lived to tell the tale; Holocaust, Irish Potato Famine (no wonder I’m fat), The Great Depression, Soviet take overs, Vietnam War, Spanish Flu 1918. If they can do it, so can I. We can all do something to help.

As soon as I could get the vaccine, I did. I got both. As soon as I could get the booster, I will get it. Before the vaccines were available, I did everything I could to not get it, including wearing a mask, washing hands, keeping my distance. I still do those things because of delta variant but at least this time the odds are with me and if there is a breakthrough, over 99% I won't die from it. Peace of mind.

Edited August 21, 20214 yr by Tomo
typos

6 hours ago, Numbheart said:

Have you in any way feel that the virus is a major threat to your health? What have you done to overcome this feeling? Were you already vaccinated?

Yes, it is a major threat to my health because I'm immunocompromised. If I got it I could very easily land in the hospital. To overcome it I just rarely leave the house. And when I do I mask up and try to keep my distance from strangers. No, I was not vaccinated because I'm immunocompromised and when I asked my doctor if I should get the vaccine she said, and I quote, "Absolutely NOT". She said that there isn't enough testing for her to tell me if it's safe for me to take nor the side effects it would have on someone like myself. So she said not to get it. My gastroenterologist who deals with one of my autoimmune diseases also agreed that it wasn't safe for me to take.

I just did what I could to avoid getting it (masking, social distancing, handwashing, and getting the vaccine as soon as I was eligible), because realistically, that's all anyone can do. You don't have control over other things - and if you do all of those things, your chances of getting it - or getting a bad case of it - are greatly reduced.

8 hours ago, NovaLuna said:

Yes, it is a major threat to my health because I'm immunocompromised. If I got it I could very easily land in the hospital. To overcome it I just rarely leave the house. And when I do I mask up and try to keep my distance from strangers. No, I was not vaccinated because I'm immunocompromised and when I asked my doctor if I should get the vaccine she said, and I quote, "Absolutely NOT". She said that there isn't enough testing for her to tell me if it's safe for me to take nor the side effects it would have on someone like myself. So she said not to get it. My gastroenterologist who deals with one of my autoimmune diseases also agreed that it wasn't safe for me to take.

And that is one reason why I did get vaccinated—because I can, and the sooner we reach "herd immunity", the sooner it's safer for the immunocompromised like you and a very, very close friend to go back out into society. Did I have misgivings? Oh, yeah... but as an obese person, that thing has got its sights set on me and I decided the benefits far outweighed the risks.

(Not here to preach! If you have questions or concerns, talk to a doctor you trust.)

On 08/21/2021 at 00:03, NovaLuna said:

Yes, it is a major threat to my health because I'm immunocompromised. If I got it I could very easily land in the hospital. To overcome it I just rarely leave the house. And when I do I mask up and try to keep my distance from strangers. No, I was not vaccinated because I'm immunocompromised and when I asked my doctor if I should get the vaccine she said, and I quote, "Absolutely NOT". She said that there isn't enough testing for her to tell me if it's safe for me to take nor the side effects it would have on someone like myself. So she said not to get it. My gastroenterologist who deals with one of my autoimmune diseases also agreed that it wasn't safe for me to take.

Novaluna-respectfully, I’d suggest getting a second opinion about this. I’m a nurse in the big public health hospital in Seattle. Our head MD for infectious disease, as well as the head MD for public health in our county have recommended that immunocompromised individuals be vaccinated, as well as receive the booster vaccine. Both MDs are part of UW Medicine, which is a large medical research institution. I know of many colleagues and patients who are immunocompromised who are fully vaccinated and will be receiving booster vaccines in the coming weeks. I’m glad you are taking precautions for sure!

17 hours ago, Numbheart said:

Many Americans continue to experience mental health difficulties as the pandemic enters the second year. Reports say that about a fifth of U.S. adults (21%) are experiencing high levels of psychological distress, including nearly three-in-ten (28%) among those who say the outbreak has changed their lives in “a major way.” Not surprisingly, psychological distress is higher among those who express concern about becoming ill with COVID-19 or believe that the disease is a major threat to their personal health.

Have you in any way feel that the virus is a major threat to your health? What have you done to overcome this feeling? Were you already vaccinated?

I'm at very high risk of serious illness from COVID-19 due to pre-existing health conditions. In particular, I have a blood clotting disorder that is likely to be seriously exacerbated by COVID-19. My hematologist put it: "We can barely keep you from clotting now, throw COVID-19 in the mix and you would definitely get blood clots."

I'm fully vaccinated, I'm still keeping my distance when I can and I wear an actual N95 mask when I can't socially distance. So I'm doing what I can to be careful and beyond that, it's out of my control. My stress level has gone down quite a bit since getting vaccinated, but I'm aware that the delta variant is a potential threat. Ultimately, I'm trying to exercise good judgement and trusting God with the result!

4 hours ago, kristieshannon said:

Novaluna-respectfully, I’d suggest getting a second opinion about this. I’m a nurse in the big public health hospital in Seattle. Our head MD for infectious disease, as well as the head MD for public health in our county have recommended that immunocompromised individuals be vaccinated, as well as receive the booster vaccine. Both MDs are part of UW Medicine, which is a large medical research institution. I know of many colleagues and patients who are immunocompromised who are fully vaccinated and will be receiving booster vaccines in the coming weeks. I’m glad you are taking precautions for sure!

I have gotten multiple opinions and they all tell me no. I have a very weak immune system and I can't ever get the flu vaccine either because despite the fact it's not active I get very, very, very sick whenever I used to get it. A worse case of the flu then if I had NOT gotten the vaccine. Taking that into account I was told very firmly not to get the vaccine. My doctor had an immunocompromised patient get the vaccine and they not only got Covid, but were hospitalized and have had lingering issues with it which is why she's pushing for people like me NOT to get the vaccine and just take precautions not to get sick. She's also not the only doctor where I live who tell their immunocompromised patients not to get the vaccine. Most doctors here share her opinion.

I am glad that most of us are doing everything we can to avoid getting the virus and most of us decided to have the vaccine. It's our way of helping the society

I felt it was a major threat before I was vaccinated. After vaccination, I somehow felt relieved and not that worried anymore. I know that I could still get the virus but I'm sure that I won't be hospitalized or something.

I definitely felt it was a major threat and therefore got vaccinated as soon as I was eligible. It gave me so much hope until I saw that so many in my state aren't getting vaccinated. I live in a rural/suburban area and most of the people out here are against the vaccine, and masking, etc. I feel safer having the vaccine, but I have a 10 year old son who goes back to school tomorrow who can't get it yet so I'm scared. My mom is also having brain surgery to remove a tumor tomorrow so I'm petrified one of us will get covid and pass it on to her. She is vaccinated too, but I'm still scared. I tend to always imagine the worst so I worry about everyone close to me and can't understand the mentality nowadays where people don't want to get vaccinated to help protect others who can't get the vaccine.. I got it for myself, but also for other people.
Anyway, I still always wear a mask and limit my outings as often as possible. Luckily, I'm a bit of a homebody anyway. Ha ha


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On 8/21/2021 at 8:16 PM, catwoman7 said:

I just did what I could to avoid getting it (masking, social distancing, handwashing, and getting the vaccine as soon as I was eligible), because realistically, that's all anyone can do. You don't have control over other things - and if you do all of those things, your chances of getting it - or getting a bad case of it - are greatly reduced.

Yes I believe so too, when are you scheduled to get vaxxed?

On 8/22/2021 at 2:24 AM, Jaelzion said:

I'm at very high risk of serious illness from COVID-19 due to pre-existing health conditions. In particular, I have a blood clotting disorder that is likely to be seriously exacerbated by COVID-19. My hematologist put it: "We can barely keep you from clotting now, throw COVID-19 in the mix and you would definitely get blood clots."

I'm fully vaccinated, I'm still keeping my distance when I can and I wear an actual N95 mask when I can't socially distance. So I'm doing what I can to be careful and beyond that, it's out of my control. My stress level has gone down quite a bit since getting vaccinated, but I'm aware that the delta variant is a potential threat. Ultimately, I'm trying to exercise good judgement and trusting God with the result!

Getting fully vaccinated does make the stress level go down because somehow we feel that we are protected. Do you work? were you allowed by your company to work from home?

6 hours ago, Numbheart said:

Getting fully vaccinated does make the stress level go down because somehow we feel that we are protected. Do you work? were you allowed by your company to work from home?

I was already a remote worker, so I was fortunate in that respect. My company is "Remote first".

I got the vax the second it was available. Not just for my own sake being obese, but for everyone else. I have a 90+ year old mother, a 90+ year old aunt with diabetes, and my eldest brother has ulcerative colitis and prostate cancer. All three would not survive getting covid, like so many others out there with compromised immunity. Also wear a mask everywhere - I have quite the stylish collection now!