I'm going through a terrible time psychologically at the moment, I am disabled with spina bifida with very poor health stuck indoors on my own all the time. I'm so scared of dying from this virus. Can anyone out here help me with some comforting words please.
Do the things you have to and get enough news do to try to stay safe and make sure people around you are doing the same, but beyond that try to find other things to occupy your mind. Remember that even most 80 year olds who get this will survive.
I'm closing in on 50 and have asthma. I'm not in the highest risk category but I'm nowhere near being in the lowest risk category either. I'm self isolating as best I can. My mom (77) and my cousin (50, with heart problems) are doing the same. My brother is going to work every day as a cashier. He's got asthma too. I worry about him a lot. (I'm on disability because of an anxiety disorder... even when there isn't a pandemic I'm prone to self-isolating and living online.
Find things to distract you. I've got Hulu and Amazon Prime Video (got rid of cable). Try to see if you can find ways to help. If you have a good computer donate some processing cycles to science-
If that's not for you, find interesting articles and videos that have nothing to do with coronavirus and post them on your social media. Everyone is scared right now and seeing something funny can help other people laugh and deal with their stress, and helping other people can help you take your mind off things- focus on the things you can control and try to let go of the things you can't. The world's top scientists are all working on treatments.
I regularly talk to a shrink. That got disrupted with all this but now they've moved online. I had my first online session on Tuesday. It helped. For me I had a hard time finding a local place that took my insurance that I liked. I ended up going to a place that does a sliding scale fee. I talk to a psych grad student (under the supervision of a psychologist).
My baseline is germ based OCD, so this is a really tough time for my stress levels, but I'm trying. I find I feel best when I'm focussing on others and when I can talk it out (shrink helps so much!)
Hey. A lot of states are offering free mental health support during these difficult times. The number for New York is 1-844-863-9314. Hopefully most states are doing something similar.
I'm sure as hell no expert (in anything really) but I'm told helping others when you are feeling down and worried is a good thing. Also singing and music ,which obviously you are aware of. I recently occupied my mind learning the lyrics to a couple of long story-type songs. Be well.
I've been a supporter of the Do The Next Right Thing school for many years now. Having been in recovery from addiction has taught me that left to my own devices I will find the negative and zero in on it rather than find a way to do something positive. Sometimes the best I could do was pray and go to sleep. Clean the house. Sit out front and wave to everyone I saw. Sometimes asking for help- like you just did Walter- of finding a way to bring a little light into someone else's dark world. The internet is a wonderful thing. I can find any number of groups, organizations, pages, that will help me find some ease and comfort and conversely let me pass on my goodness. I'm glad you reached out Walter. A hand is there. Faith. ---------- Music and travel destroy prejudice.
Investigate stoicism. Start with The Meditations of Marcus Aurelius. Some of the writing of Epictetus, perhaps.
Mindfulness and meditation practice can be helpful, but it can take a little time to get good at it.
If you're feeling truly immediately panicked, look into the mind training techniques the US Navy seals use. For emotional arousal control, via stimulating the parasympathetic nervous system, check out their breathing technique. Goal setting can help. Break your day down into small or even micro pieces. Plan whatever small number or even one thing you can do right after you get up in the morning to enhance your mood and be productive. Then tell yourself your goal is to make it to breakfast. Line up a series of micro goals like this throughout the day, make it through lunch, make it through mid afternoon, dinner etc. until you get to bed time. Most of our psychological pain comes from focusing on the past and the future. Force yourself to live in the present.
Don't spend your day looking at the news. Remember that the media is always trying to scare you. It's what they do. It's what sells newspapers and draws clicks. I'm not saying Covid 19 isn't real or dangerous, but simply that a deep dive into the daily news will just cause you to dwell on the worst case scenarios both statistically and anecdotally. Allow yourself maybe a short time period somewhere during the day to read the news. And then don't do it again that day.
Lose yourself in something that truly interests you. For me, it's the awe inspiring vastness of the universe. Somehow, appreciating that, makes worldly problems seem less severe or important. By all means, if religion is your thing seek solace there.
Remember that even on the cruise ship the Diamond Princess, that floating petri dish of a germ factory, under perfect conditions such as close quarters, shared ventilation and common dining areas, conditions loved by viruses, the infection rate was still only 17%, with half of those not showing symptoms. The fatality rate was 1.9%. In other words, in the big picture the odds are still with you ( ie. against any one individual contracting the virus and dying from it).
I wish you the best of luck with handling things, Walter. You, and all of us will get through this.
Last Edited by Honkin On Bobo on Mar 27, 2020 5:36 AM
Hi. I am a paramedic in Georgia in a county with the worst per capita death rate in the world according to the NY Times. This is a terrible, terrible virus that destroys your lungs. A beast. If you self isolate, stay 6-10 feet from people you have to engage with, limit time with them to no more than 10 minutes, wear a mask(95) and eye protection, you should be alright. We are supposed to peak on April 23 and then decline in positive test results. Follow these guidelines for starters and good luck---99
Where we are it has not begun yet. Texas Hill country. But I believe it is on the way. We're isolating and keeping distance. Probably going to make masks. Using a lot of alcohol spray and soap and water. I am using bleach spray in cleaning on my little job. Nitrile gloves. Showers every eve when I get home. Laundry twice a week at least. And I'm working on a song.... ---------- Music and travel destroy prejudice.
Hi Walter, hope all is well. How long have you been playing harmonica and what do you enjoy playing? When I get stressy I often pick up the harp and just play. What I like about the harp is that it's the only instrument where you inhale and exhale to produce music. When I get stressed I find myself not breathing well, sort of holding my breath. Playing the harp forces me to breathe differently and the music lifts my spirits. Keep well.
I just wanted to say a big thank you to all those kind folks who reached out to me last year when I was going through a terrible time psychologically. It meant a lot to me that so many of you did that. I'm still struggling with my health; the docs want to chop my leg off at the knee cos I have infection of the bones in my right foot, but I'm hanging in there the best I can. I still struggle with loneliness every day but l throw myself into my writing (I have an MA in screenwriting) to keep my spirits up. I also watch and listen to a lot of Adam's videos. I love that bloke, he has helped me through so many toughs times. Thanks, Adam. The same applies to Ronnie Shellist and Jason Ricci and Tomlin and Luke and Alex P and Hakan and Tim and many more great blues harp players who have helped me through the tough times, thank you to you all. I've had both my jabs and I'm still here battling away, playing my Marine Bands, and even the missus don't walk out the room anymore. I just bought and watched the Satan & Adam movie on prime tonight; I loved it. Congrats to Adam and to all those who took part in such a great documentary about the lives of those who brought so much joy and happiness to so many people. I still have (H.A.S.) and I guess I always will. The missus don't complain too much cos well, the harp is a little instrument that don't take up too much room in the house. But you know what it's like; you see a Marine Band 1896 going cheap on amazon and say to yourself, "I think I'll treat myself to another A harp and jam along to Adam's rope-a-dope video again. And before you know it another harp pop's through the letter box. I sat down with a mate of mine once, he's a samaritan, and he said, "What do you do when things usually get this bad?" And I replied. "Add to Basket." After we'd both stopped laughing for a good ten minutes I felt much better. Sometimes I'll even push the boat out and buy myself a Marine Band Deluxe. But I don't tell the missus how much they cost, instead I buy her a dozen red roses, which she loves. On a couple of occasions a few years ago I really pushed the boat out and bought myself a Joe Spiers Marine Band stage 1. It's by far the best harp I own. In fact I was playing it tonight and it still sounds beautiful. I also bought an MB from Tom in Florida a few years ago. He's a great bloke too. We had quite a long chat on the phone a few years ago. I like him. The harp he made for me is great as well. Thanks to you both, Joe and Tom. Well I better go, it's early morning, the birds have just woken up and are chirping in the trees. Thank you all for caring about me when I was in a very low place. And thanks to Adam and to all those great harp players on YouTube who have made my life a little bit better.
Rich (UK)
PS. Don't tell the missus, but I'm about to buy a Dabell Harp from Rockin Ron. He's a great bloke too. I've bought quite a few harps from him in recent times. I'd buy one from Ben Hewlett in Bristol here in the UK but his have sold out at the moment. He's a good bloke as well. Okay. I'm off to listen to one of my favourite harp players, Rice Miller. One day, I'm gonna have to stop buying harps otherwise my missus will flip out and then it'll be my funeral and her trial.
Take care everyone. x
Last Edited by WalterH on Jun 01, 2021 4:36 AM
Rich, you can't imagine how good this was to read! Most folks who post a time or two are then gone back into the ethernet and forever on a different path.
For our part here, we took to the road in mid April and headed to one of the Great Lakes, where I had a job at a resort. It did not pan and after about 3 weeks we headed for Louisiana, where I'd picked up another job. We were right across the Mississippi river from Natchez, Mississippi, which is a sometimes beautiful and sometimes very sad place, a lot of history, not all of it good. But some very nice folks there and great southern cooking! Jolene and I busked at a city park overlooking the river several times and I like to think we brought some joy to a few folks. We also played a tip gig at a 100+ year old saloon, Over The Hill by name. Then by mid August we returned here to Texas where we have been since. All this time we wore masks, distanced, and stayed clean. I think I actually fought off Covid in Marble Head Ohio. Very brief but intense weird illness but it went away within like 36 hours. We're kind of settled in here for the foreseeable future. Covid was not real bad here. We do not plan too many visits to bigger urban centers, maybe ever again. This January past, my bride had emergency cancer surgery and it has changed our lives considerably. It's not all to the bad. She is actually feeling better a lot of the time than she had for several years. She has hospice care since she has opted for no drastic treatment of the cancer, which I support. She wants quality rather than quality of life. We've been retired several years. Her care is my full time job. I've become something of a chef! We have also been playing a lot in the duo here, mostly on the street but a few actual gigs. I will return to a part time job to cover lot rent for our caravan, which has been in storage for 6 months since we needed an apartment for her recovery. Getting out and playing music to people- even from 10 feet away- is so uplifting, and does others much good as well. It is our mission in life to lighten peoples' burdens with music at every opportunity. I'm very glad to read that you've found your comfort with a harp. Some do resort to drugs or alcohol to the extreme. If you can find a way to be heard you may be surprised at the results you get from folks. We harpers have a unique gift you know! I continue to send best wishes your way Rich. Go on, buy another harp! Pat ---------- Music and travel destroy prejudice.
