Anxiety

I’m new to the forum, I found it off of a fb group I joined. I’m very scared of everything going on right now. Downright pit of my stomach, can hardly focus on anything else worried. I’ve worried for years about something like this, and it all seems to be happening just the way I imagined it would. No one seems to be taking it seriously and my husband is thinking I am way blowing this out of proportion.

I have so much anxiety worrying about everyone and everything. I wish I had the resources to prep more, because I only have a 72 hour kit for each of my family members.
My husband doesn’t take it seriously and I am scared he won’t until it’s too late. I want to start stocking up on food, but he thinks it’s a waste of money and that I’m overreacting.

This one seems bad. I remember Ebola and SARS and MERS and this one feels very different. There seems to be so much hidden and secretive about this. China seems to be hiding how severe it all is. And it feels like the rest of the world is going to catch on too late.

Is anyone else having problems dealing with the worry and anxiety of it all? I feel like I am spiraling with worry and obsessively trying to find new and up to date info. I am so scared that if I don’t, I won’t be able to be prepared.

Slalo989 - To start with only believe half of what you read and question the other half! I had the same problem with my wife when I first started prepping! She thought I was nuts! (To tell you the truth I may be!) Then we had an ice storm and had to live without power for over a month! Now she preps more than I do! You're in the game late but that's ok because most of the time these things burn themselves out pretty quickly! I suggest starting slow with a Bug Out Bag (BOB)! This is a bag you can grab on the run in case of natural disasters like Tornadoes, earth quakes, etc. As far as prepping start with a few weeks worth of canned goods. Canned tuna, chicken, ham, beans, soups, etc! enough for at least one substantial meal every day! Make sure you buy things you like to eat because you will need to rotate your stock! And finally, welcome to the group! There are a lot of good people here who all have some worry and anxiety, just like you!

The risk of becoming a "loonie prepper" is probably greater than the risk of this virus. But prepping just means thinking a little bit ahead. Stock up on those things you always use - just have a little more. Include all your regular meds and a pack of asprin (it treats a huge range of things from heart disease, stroke and arthritis to fever and pain. If you can't afford a whole pharmacy it supplies about 60% of it. Most people keep a box of candles in case of power cuts, why not keep two? Rationed, a candle keeps you going for a week! Although if rationed that desperately you will need extra matches.

Surgical masks and swim goggles will be enough for most people, as sip (sheltering in place) is the best option in an outbreak. Isolation is the best approach! And remember hand sanitiser! "Droplet infection" is usually self-administered when we touch our faces with invisibly contaminated hands. The masks and goggles only look like they are to protect us from being sneezed on or coughed over; they are really there to stop us touching our faces. If you can't get a mask, a fine scarf will do, rinse it in vinegar (most viruses hate acids but vinegar is not going to destroy your face along with the viruses).

Bread will go off as will meat and veggies. Got a freezer? plan a fortnights worth and that will see you through the worst. Eat the freezer contents for the first two weeks and the canned for the second. In the second fortnight, the crackers replace bread, and tinned replaces frozen. The really long-term stores are generally dried, but that is less likely to be an issue. Many of us are obsessive (me too!) and most of the rest of our preps are for far less likely emergencies. Keep a torch with spare batteries and a small first aid kit and you are covered for almost anything. A primus stove, barbecue with charcoal, open chimney with a woodpile, can cook dinner if the power goes out, I have cooked on a stove filled with household rubbish, a ring of nightlights under a baking rack supported on 4 tins and by bringing my beans to the boil briefly and putting the hot stuff into a thermos overnight to finish cooking. You will manage, I promise!

Thanks everyone for the kind words!

A few years ago I made some bug out bags for us with some medical supplies, 3 days worth of freeze dried food, life straws, some sterno and a portable grill, masks, gloves, flashlights and lighters, toilet paper, feminine supplies, uno card game (lol), some very small tools and a number of other things. I have a tote that we can grab with other things I’ve squirreled away too. But I’m worried this is going to be longer than I have prepped for.

I convinced my husband about the “72 hour preparedness kits” but when I told him I wanted to get at least a month worth’s of food, he really thought I had gone off the deep end. Maybe I have? He did order us a box of surgical masks. I wanted the N95, but kept telling myself I was crazy and that it’s not necessary. I guess the only good thing with the “sleeper” situations is you’ll have time to get those last minute supplies if you’re paying close enough attention. That’s what I’m trying to do.

During the Swine Flu outbreak, hand sanitizer ran out in no time, while the shelves stayed pretty much fully stocked with rubbing alcohol. Take away the perfumes and skin conditioners and it’s the same thing, and often cheaper. Not as kind to your hands, but very effective. Mix it with aloe and you have a very good alternative.

If you are short of money for preps go with dried beans and pulses. They are so cheap. Split green or yellow peas, pearl barley, lentils. Super cheap and they last for years. Just be sure you've got water.

Try contacting a local butchery supply company. These are normally warehouse type businesses that supply butchers with knives, seasonings, bulk salt etc. Natural sausage casings come in plastic packs that arrive in huge food grade barrels with screw on lids. These barrels are virtually indestructible and about 55 gallons in size. I can buy them for $20 each (a contribution to the staff Christmas party) as these barrels are waste products once the casings have sold.

Buy as many as you can get and store water in them. I cure my hams in them every year and there is no leaching at all. They're great barrels. Then you can use tap water and add bleach when needed and keep replacing the water until the tap runs dry. It's a cheap way to store water.

One other thing - and this may sound flippant but I'm not trying to be - be sure, when you're prepping, to put in some luxury items that no one knows about but you. By this I mean some kind of treat that you can bring out when everyone is starting to despair. It'll do wonders for morale. Things such as a packet of cookies, boiled sweets, a bar of chocolate.

Believe me, something sweet when all else fails can save the day.

Amazon masks almost completely out or on back order until February, Walmart.dot.com out of masks, Lowe’s home improvement stores out also. I have little faith in masks and think isolation is the best protection. But there’s more people prepping than would admit if you want my opinion. Hubby has made fun of me a little for heightened conversation, but he did give out college kid a little speech about avoiding sick people and washing hands frequently and was in a serious tone. Hopefully in a week if this progresses my secret stash will be a relief. If not, it stays between me and God a little longer. Anyone’s guess about the next hottest item that will be unavailable hand sanitizer, gloves?

Something no one here has mentioned but is very important....don't tell anyone you're prepping!!! If the sh@t does but the fan, others will show up to get your stuff. I say this because in the bird flu scare, I tried informing my co-workers about being prepared and got laughed at and told by more than one of them that they'll just come steal mine. And they were not joking

Take advantage of your local grocery stores' BOGO deals! Often there are digital coupons that can be used, too! As mentioned, buy stuff you eat. If you don't eat ramen noodles, then don't buy them (even though they may be $.10 a pouch)! My local grocery store had a bunch of their meats BOGO. So I bought a couple of packages of different meats. I came home, put them in freezer bags and put them in my freezer. They also had dried rice BOGO - score! And the dried beans were BOGO - another score! Although these are items we rarely eat, I break the 'if you don't eat it, don't buy it' rule for rice, beans, and dry pasta. Those items last nearly forever...and I know my family will show up when the SHTF. When you're buying items for your stash, check the 'best by' dates. I'm trying to get things that will last a year - found some good till 2023. :)

Ok, so hubby is not interested in prepping or don't care about you enough to prep/ I was in that situation with my family. I decided to plan an off site stash of preps. I had a storage unit that I used with a friend at work. I brought some bins at Walmart and started my own preps. the storage unit is easy to get to and is secure. So I started to gather some supplies. I now have enough for the whole family and can get it loaded into the truck in about 30 minutes. Another way to prep is to have freeze dried food ready to go in the basement. it is marked as toys and serves as a back up.

ME163 wrote: Ok, so hubby is not interested in prepping or don't care about you enough to prep/ I was in that situation with my family. I decided to plan an off site stash of preps. I had a storage unit that I used with a friend at work. I brought some bins at Walmart and started my own preps. the storage unit is easy to get to and is secure. So I started to gather some supplies. I now have enough for the whole family and can get it loaded into the truck in about 30 minutes. Another way to prep is to have freeze dried food ready to go in the basement. it is marked as toys and serves as a back up.

You’re my new hero. To say I’m impressed doesn’t come close. Awesome

Me 163 you did good! Freeze dried is pretty much all I have.   That and dehydrated all in sealed cans. I quit eating canned foods years ago with the exception of canned chicken, tuna and jar spaghetti sauce . My basement even in the hottest summer never goes above 72 degrees most of the year it is 60 or.below. Be sure to get your stuff as soon as thing look bad because storage units seem safe but bolt cutters will let people in.

Wuhan Flu is a powderpuff.

Only people with pre existing conditions are dying. Most people have a sore throat and a bit of a cough. It only looks bad because the Chinese government is full of $hit. They covered up the problem initially. The numbers were vastly under report, which makes the virus look like it has a high death rate.

Now they are coming clean with the number infected. They announced in 3 days a 400% increase in numbers. This is ridiculous. One doctor spoke out and said the numbers sick is closer to 100,000

I'm convinced its not much worse than normal influenza.

Having said that. Get some face masks, goggles and avoid getting sick. Don't stress out. Go for a run. Get fit.

This has been my fear since they announced the quarantine. So many people leaving, with such a long incubation period. Not sure why no one saw problems with that. If you can spread a cold or influenza before having symptoms not sure why they were trying to pretend this wouldn’t be a problem. The first case in Washington had close contact with over 40 people if I recall correctly. So if the R0 is nearly 3, this becomes a big problem in the US in another 5-8 days.

I told my husband by next weekend I feel like we should know more. I feel like it will either be getting better and burning out or it will be getting really really bad.

I wish there was more first hand accounts from China. It seems like the videos that were making the rounds have tapered off. I just watched a man in Hong Kong but he was reading the same tweets that I have been seeing. It’s frustrating that anything official seems to be diluted down and anything from a local person is all revved up. It makes it so hard to know what is authentic.

Why hasn’t the media started talking about it! Everyone I know that I’ve talked to or met recently knows about it. But why does it seem like other than local news outlets and online articles, it’s not being properly reported. Elderly and those most susceptible to it aren’t going to be getting their information online. Is it that bad that they are holding off reporting so people don’t panic?

Yes I am in that group, that was how I found the forum here. 😊 it’s been interesting reading those posts, but I also feel like a lot are intentionally trying to scare people.

My husband probably my thinks I’m cheating with all the time I’ve been on my phone lately. I feel like I’m being secretive just so he doesn’t know how obsessed I am right now LOL 😂

We live in a college down with a large population of Chinese students and I’m worried they were all traveling home and got back without having symptoms. Even our favorite Chinese food restaurant is closed until 2/3 for the Chinese New Year.

I work in a high school in northern Va. We had in December a major flu A outbreak that in my students had them out for a week or more. Their symptoms were similar except no major body aches and minimal fever. Could some of the people be just getting Type A flu? I wish someone would clarify the symptoms for both and which is which. In general this type A was mild in teenagers but as it spread within school to the millennials who are many of our teachers and staff they had high fevers and many of them had to have nebulizer treatments and were very sick for 2 weeks and have coughs still for another week . The over 60 crowd got their flu shots and so far have not gotten sick.