What is Your Level of Anxiety/Worry/Stress?

[VacationForever]

Yes, I am starting to accepted this to some degree. In all honesty, I had not yet decided about retiring early and had been thinking of continuing a few more years. I worry most about my employees and how they will feel when they learn the business is shutting down. Now I may not have a choice. If I can accept that, then a lot of my worries will be gone.

Your employees are adults and intelligent enough to know that for a business to survive, it must have revenue to pay for operating costs including wages. If it does close down, it should not surprise them since you continue to keep them on as employees which means that while they are getting wages and other operating costs continuing be paid, but the revenue is way down. If they do lose their jobs, they can find a job elsewhere and while it may not pay as well or even in the same field, they will adapt.

 

[Passepartout]

My stress level is just fine until the late night news and obits crank it up.

 

[presley]

Overall, it's been pretty low for me. I was really worried about our business at the onset, but at this point, I just accept that things are going to be different. I still don't know how different, but certainly different. Will we need to close our business? Maybe. Will we file bankruptcy? Maybe. We will have to leave California because we can't afford to stay? Maybe. Who knows. Those are all possibilities, but worrying about any of that won't change anything, so we are just taking it as it comes. I do know for sure that things are going to be drastically different for us, so maybe that's why I am not worried. I've already accepted that.

Not worried about my health at all. I was worried for my husband and was worried about my daughter when she had a bad cough, but those things are out of my control. Just gotta turn that stuff over and let it all go.

 

[bbodb1]

We have been retired a little over 7 years. We have our Dog Felix and our 2 cats. We enjoy each other's company. We can sit quietly for hours together. We both cook and bake. Our retirements accounts are secure. So we are at ZERO.

That sounds like a good place to be right now.
Especially right now.

Your post reminded me about how little the wife and I talk anymore. It is almost as if we have said everything there is to say thrice over......
Other than the day's events or something going on with the kids (who have been out of the house for nearly 3 years) there really isn't much left to say.
Kind of weird but neither of us complains....

 

[CalGalTraveler]

6 - 9 worry for my adult kids health by being exposed through less careful roomates. Also finding supplies, face masks. figuring out grocery delivery etc.

6 moving to 3 for my businesses (I was in shell shock for the first few weeks and distracted with family health above. Now my head is exploding but now hopeful figuring out all of these stimulus packages and hoping we are not caught between the cracks in these programs. Exploring fresh ideas to pivot businesses in this new environment.)

1 DH still has his regular job with health benefits so we are fortunate. Stocks and businesses will recover eventually.

 

[bbodb1]

My stress level is just fine until the late night news and obits crank it up.

...but as long as you are not in the latter, all is well!

 

[Panina]

I accepted it is not if I will get the virus, it is when. My preference of being on the curve was on the low point had stressed me. If I needed to go into the hospital I wanted to go when resources are best and I get the best care. So early on due to my other half not taking proper precautions and my mom in NYC and having difficulties getting her food, water and medicine I was at a high stress level 8-9.

Now today, mom has everything she needs, my other half has settled and I logically stopped and analyzed my situation.

Fun this is not, serious it is, and life must go on with how life is now for some time. Will take precautions but realize as bad as we think things are, it could be much worse.

My parents survived WWII. Not only did they deal with illnesses but with no home, very little food, no comforts of home, bombs falling and the horrors of what they lived and saw. So by putting the situation in perspective I became settle.

Now my anxiety level is lower, probably more like a 3, maybe 4 because I cannot control everything. It is what it is.

 

[Brett]

I am curious about how people are managing their anxiety/worry/stress during this global pandemic? How worried are you about getting sick and dying? How worried are you about having economic losses or the economy in general? How worried are you about your loved ones? What else are you worried about?

Use this scale to rate your overall anxiety/worry/stress level:

10 = Panic level. Beyond anxiety/worry/stress.
7-9 = Severe anxiety/worry/stress.
4-6 = Moderate anxiety/worry/stress.
1-3 = Mild anxiety/worry/stress.
0=What's the coronavirus? I am sleeping through this.

I'll start. I think I am at an overall level 5. I am very worried about the economy, my business and personal finances - probably about an 7 for this area since we have already been affected with big losses and I suspect the worst for the economy is just beginning. I am moderately worried about my loved ones - about a 5 here - since most are young but some are elderly with underlying conditions but they are staying home so I suspect they will be okay (I pray for this). I am mildly worried about my personal health and my DH (about a 1-2) since we are healthy and following SIP/SAH. Even after SIP/SAH is lifted, if we get covid-19, I have not been overly worried about one of us dying because we are healthy and 98-99% of people who get Covid do not die. I keep reminding myself of the positive parts of this crisis and everything people are doing to fix it to reduce my overall worry.

I'm probably at a "1 "
- my wife is working at home
- mother is in an assisted living facility with total lockdown
- son says his billable hours has dropped but this pandemic will result in more work in the future (lawyer)

 

[geist1223]

That sounds like a good place to be right now.
Especially right now.

Your post reminded me about how little the wife and I talk anymore. It is almost as if we have said everything there is to say thrice over......
Other than the day's events or something going on with the kids (who have been out of the house for nearly 3 years) there really isn't much left to say.
Kind of weird but neither of us complains....

So long as you are both basically contented and enjoy each others company it is good. We talk about things we have read or seen on the News, about family and friends. I share many of the Posts from TUG, especially the humor. When we were able to travel (current Convid19 issues not health) we greatly enjoyed seeing and doing things together. Patti loves snorkeling. She had to learn as she hates to put her face in the water. For a person scared of heights she loves ziplining and has even repeled. We take in the Museums and Gardens where ever we go.

I am worried about her shoulder issues and back issues. As this causes problems with 2 activities she has greatly enjoyed - Kayaking and Bicycling.

 

[VacationForever]

That sounds like a good place to be right now.
Especially right now.

Your post reminded me about how little the wife and I talk anymore. It is almost as if we have said everything there is to say thrice over......
Other than the day's events or something going on with the kids (who have been out of the house for nearly 3 years) there really isn't much left to say.
Kind of weird but neither of us complains....

Do you have a hobby which involves more than one person, in which you share? Do you relay jokes that you read on TUG? What about food and meals? Is it something in which you jointly plan or maybe even prepare together?

 

[stmartinfan]

I fluctuate from low (1-2) to moderate (6-7j. My worries are centered on my kids, One daughter is married and just had a baby. She and husband have good jobs now but work in fields that will likely be impacted by a prolonged economic downturn, and I worry about the economic impact on them and their ability to make their mortgage.

Our other adult daughter has disabilities and still lives at home. To make the next step to living more independently in some type of supported apartment, she will need to get approved for additional social services programs, which Is a challenging process. We had started but now that's all on hold and I suspect the government will make getting approved even harder with all the costs of programs to support the economy. My husband and I are in the vulnerable age group. If something happens to us, she will be lost and homeless, unless her sister takes her in and their relationship can be prickly. Also her sister doesn't understand the systems she needs to navigate for benefits and has lots to handle with her new baby. My husband and I are both in good health and felt we had time to get the support for our daughter in place....the shock of a pandemic exposes how vulnerable we really are.

On the positive, we are fine financially, have good life insurance in place, and are able to stay home now to try to protect our health. Despite my age, I had felt pretty invulnerable and find the new reality stressful.

 

[bbodb1]

I think to better answer the initial post from @TravelTime , I can't say 0 since I am aware of COVID 19 and the fact that some daily habits have changed has to be accounted for as well moves me up a bit on the meter. Still feel a 2.5 feels about correct I suppose.

Living in a rural area helps as I am sure if I lived in a more urban area, the daily stresses would be more evident.

I do think one aspect of this crisis that prevents it from being more stressful is the fact that avoiding this virus means a re emphasis on some habits that were probably neglected. Now I am NOT talking about the washing of hands as much as I am the consideration of packaging (where it may have been and who may have touched it previously), one's sourroundings (proximity to people, awareness of those same people).

 

[bbodb1]

Do you have a hobby which involves more than one person, in which you share? Do you relay jokes that you read on TUG? What about food and meals? Is it something in which you jointly plan or maybe even prepare together?

At this point in our lives, we are both still working full time (albeit from home these days for both of us) in two different jobs in two very different sectors. Although we both used to work where my wife works now so I am still familiar with the lingo from her job....

Until three years ago, we still had one child living at home (three total). I've commented on this before but until they are gone, one really does not realize how much time one can spend with your lives revolving around your children's. To say that for over 20 years our hobby was getting them from one thing to another and taking the time to enjoy those activities is a pretty accurate representation of what our lives were.

We really have not developed any hobbies (either independently or jointly) outside the home because there really is not much to do here that interests us that is close and proximate. That realization is why I am so focused on figuring out where to retire to and assessing those possibilities as we vacation to those places. Maybe -that- is our hobby now...... We sure both want to get that one correct!

Good questions, @VacationForever ! Made me reflect....

 

[Jan M.]

I would put myself and DH too in that lowest range.

We are retired so don't have jobs and income from them to worry about. Our son is home based for his job and his wife teaches at a private school. We are aware that things could become difficult for them and us too but we don't see any reason to worry that they or we are in danger of becoming destitute. We don't believe there will be a complete economic collapse that would leave us with nothing. If that were to ever happen we would all have a lot more than money to worry about.

Neither of us has parents living to worry about. I've heard from my sister and DH from his brother more than we would normally have which has been nice. Our son calls most days anyhow and that hasn't changed. Instead of talking to, emailing, texting or messaging friends to catch up I find myself wanting the reassurance of knowing that they're okay.

After 42 years of being married like bbodb 1 says there's not much that DH and I haven't talked about already. However in the past several weeks it feels like we've had years worth of deep discussions about many things thanks to Covid-19. Most recently who Malthus was and what the concept of "useless eaters" is.

Today marks the start of the 5th week of us being very proactive in protecting ourselves. And the week before that our exposure was minimal. My husband takes the recommended precautions when he goes out to get us groceries and upon his return. I go nowhere because I'm at higher risk due to having mild asthma. We don't even get carry out or have meals delivered. Although we don't dwell on the possibility that one or both of us could die from this we both have accepted that it could happen in spite of all the precautions we're taking. However we also know that death can come for anyone at anytime in many different ways. Like many people in this time when the world is slowing down we are finding ourselves reflecting on how much we now have and have had in our lives to be grateful for. Recognizing and appreciating what we have to be grateful for is something we should all practice and isn't dependent on any religious beliefs. It's just good for your mental and physical health.

 

[Quilter]

1-3.

Oh I just sneezed....up to 7.

Is my throat sore? Why am I sniffling? Maybe 10.

Forgot....pine pollen is heavy and it was windy today. Back down to 1-3.

 

[chapjim]

1-3.

Oh I just sneezed....up to 7.

Is my throat sore? Why am I sniffling? Maybe 10.

Forgot....pine pollen is heavy and it was windy today. Back down to 1-3.

Excellent point about sniffles this time of year. We call it "The Season Of The Yellow Car." Around here it is mostly oaks.

Get some Claritin to get through the worst of the pollen.

 

[JudyH]

The only thing I worry about is my sons and their families. Their jobs being OK. No one getting the virus.
I take one of those nasty meds you see on TV. So I eat always at home, dear friend does all my shopping, and I haven’t left the house except to bike around the neighborhood alone, and today a car drive around town for a bit.
I have lots of hobbies to keep me going here and I try to watch less news and spend more time on my hobbies. I had several big trips coming up and the good news is that most places refunded my money, when they cancelled and when I cancelled.

 

[artringwald]

1 for us
2 for my brother who lives it CT
3 for our daughter and SIL, who are both nurses at a large hospital
4 for my sister who has CPOD and heart issues

 

[jackio]

3 for my safety
7 for family safety
0.1 for financial.

That is pretty much me. Maybe 8 for family safety as my daughter-in-law is an NP at the local university hospital that is one of the busiest Covid centers in the country. I also worry a lot about my mom (age 81) and my MIL (age 91).

 

[AnnaS]

4 for my safety
9-10 for my family - my husband heart, my daughter-in-law nurse/nyc, two sons essential (except for my daughter, we are all in NY)
1 financial
8 - for the rest of the world (I worry about everyone less fortunate than us, the future in general/virus/financial)

 

[Quiet Pine]

#1. Not stressed about catching COVID. Only thing slightly stressful is that today is my Weight Watchers weigh-in and I've lost only a pound this whole week. I'm a pound under last month, but I'd hoped to do better. I'll blame the gym being closed!

 

["Roger"]

I would guess my stress level is around a three. Most of us are retired which helps account for a lower stress level. If I were in the OP's position with a business at stake, I would be at an 8. (As an aside, I have admired how even handed her posts have been with so much personally at stake.)

 

[bogey21]

About 1. Pension and Social Security income; no stock portfolio; my health appears fine; 6 month supply of meds in hand. I'm a touch concerned about my Son's job. He works in the Permian Basin Oil Patch. He e and 10 days from now there will be no work. His employer tells him they have applied for one of those loans that is forgiven if they continue to pay him. I'll believe it when I see it. On the other hand if he has to go on Unemployment Compensation I have told him I will make his monthly home loan payment for him. Many of you know that I have no interest in leaving an estate and prefer using my surplus funds for the benefit of my kids and ex-wife while I am alive...

George

 

[Ralph Sir Edward]

Low. I'm forted up as best as I can be, and I am enjoying the unemployment/retirement. Lots of gardening to do.

 

[flexible]

3-4
I was 5 months into my 6 month resort stay south of Cancun, when the chief concierge called to say my building was being closed and I needed to be moved to another building. The resort had already began to look like a ghost town. Canadians said “Our prime minister told all Canadians to come home to Canada.” One of the Canadian airlines were offering free flights back to Canada.

I reserved flights on American Airlines connecting in DFW. I received emails daily that AA cancelled or changed my flights.

A retired pharmacist I met at the resort emailed me March 10 suggesting I either prepare to stay in Mexico or fly to Omaha. She has a condo in downtown Lincoln, Nebraska and a home in Wyoming. I flew to Omaha on March 24. There is a grocery store, post office and pharmacy in walking distance.

My home over Lake Mendocino is wonderful but I have no perishable food at home and I bet it would require many trips to stores to get food.

I paid a lawyer to evict my tenants on my adjacent rental on the next land parcel. The realtor who I had listed all three parcels with my home and rental told me my tenants vacated in November. The lawyer did not complete the last step of the eviction - paying the sheriff to show up while a locksmith changes the locks. California now has a moratorium on evictions. My neighbor told me people were living in my rental but they were not the people I evicted. A Sheriff’s deputy went to the rental. He said the tenant said he was never evicted but acknowledged the restraining order a Judge granted last October. I might have to wait until the moratorium is lifted on evictions in California unless the default judgements to evict the tenants are enough for writ of possession. I hope I only need to be at my rental when the sheriff's deputies come and a locksmith can change the locks. They have not paid rent since October 2016. Since the rental uses the same well as my residence, I am surprised I do not see electricity usage to run the pump. The tenants are unlicensed contractors and might have rigged something up.