How do you know when to take the media seriously?

kscatlady

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I'm freaking out about what to do about the swine flu. But I did that with the bird flu too, and nothing happened. My fiance isn't concerned at all, but he may just being acting like that because I'm freaked out. Here's my problem, I just quit my job, I have one more paycheck coming and then I'm screwed until I find a job. I have about $90 in my checking (no savings) to last until Friday. Jon isn't worried enough to go out and buy supplies. Should I spend my last $90 on supplies? And I'm so worried about that cats, I'm afraid if I'm really sick no one will take care of them. I hate this stuff, I get anxiety attacks about this. Being unemployed I think make me even more susceptible to these anxiety attacks because my stress level is higher.

Note: Jon will be annoyed if he finds out I spent my money on the swine flu, he might get laid off on Friday.
 

rosiemac

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Well i'm not panicking, and i think it said there were two people over here that were ill, but they weren't 100% sure if it was just normal flu or not until further tests were carried out.

Why did you give your job up?. Sitting at home is going to make you think more for a start
 
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kscatlady

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Originally Posted by Rosiemac

Well i'm not panicking, and i think it said there were two people over here that were ill, but they weren't 100% sure if it was just normal flu or not until further tests were carried out.

Why did you give your job up?. Sitting at home is going to make you think more for a start
Well, I work at a bank. I started out as a teller, then I switched to another job where I scan and file and I really really hated it. I told my boss two months ago that I wasn't happy and he said there was nothing he could do at the moment for me. I'd just have to wait. And then I couldn't wait anymore. It wasn't really smart. I didn't think it would be that hard for me to find a job because I don't need THAT much to survive with just the basics. It's only been about a week and I've had one interview. I'm just sort of an idiot. I heard on the news it's been confirmed that it's swine flu here.
 

capt_jordi

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freaking out is not going to help you at all for any reason.
Yes the media is making a big deal of the swine flu but if you keep worrying about it you are going to end up thinking any little "symptom" you have is connected to it and then worrying yourself sick or going to the doctor and spending a lot of money you do not have running a lot of test on symptoms you are imagining or making worse. (If you are truly sick then yes you should go)
And why would you spend the last of your money on supplies for a disease you most likely have had no contact with? That doesnt sound like a good idea! Especially since you said your fiance may be losing his job soon.

You are getting anxiety attacks because you are freaking yourself out. You need to stop, calm down and breathe!

Dont worry yourself sick over it and instead of thinking about spending the last money you have you should go out and try to find a new job so that you can provide if something were to happen! And you may want to contact your doctor because it sounds like you could have a bit of hypochondria.
 
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kscatlady

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Oh, I'm not JUST sitting at home. I've been emailing my resume all morning. I don't have health insurance, which is another concern. And you're right, I have hypochondria.
 

capt_jordi

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are you looking for a certain job or open to anything? I know a few retail places are hiring since summer is almost here. And also I know some lower paying jobs do offer health you just have to ask them. I work at Dicks Sporting Goods and they offer health and dental I know and its not that expensive. I would try a few other banks since you have teller experience.
 
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kscatlady

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Originally Posted by capt_jordi

are you looking for a certain job or open to anything? I know a few retail places are hiring since summer is almost here. And also I know some lower paying jobs do offer health you just have to ask them. I work at Dicks Sporting Goods and they offer health and dental I know and its not that expensive. I would try a few other banks since you have teller experience.
Yeah, I'm open to anything except serving table again (unless absolutely necessary). I was going to avoid banking, but I decided this weekend that would probably be the easiest right now, so I'm trying them too. I haven't had health insurance since I was 19 (I'm 23 now). I just can't afford it. Maybe if I get hired at a big enough place it will be cheaper. I've been working at small businesses so far.
 

baloneysmom

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I never freak out. I remember when SARS came out, that was just stupid. I lived in Toronto and I don’t know anyone whos life was changed by it. All over the news, CNN, BBC, anywhere you read they were stateing how horrible it was in Toronto, to stay away from us, people were dying and sick. Even on the Internet everyone was asking me if I was scared. It seemed like the whole world was freaking out except Toronto. We didn’t care, everyone expect for one Chinese only mall didn’t take any precautions.

I always remember reading the papers and seeing all these people wearing masks. The ONLY people I saw wearing masks in the whole SARS thing was the picture in the paper of them wearing masks.

The whole world was freaking out over SARS and we weren’t even noticing it. After that whole thing I never freak out about what the media says. They want viewers.
 

cat.ling

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I haven't been following the swine flu news too carefully, but just enough to know that something is out there, and only a possible epidemic could occur somewhere but not much more than that. Basically, the news has been very vague but instilled with sensationalism to garner more viewers. I wouldn't take any more precautions other than to just try to keep distance from people who seem to be sick, but that's something most people do anyway. No one wants to get sick, whether it's a regular flu or swine flu.

Also, the news is never very accurate so I take each story with a little bit of skepticism. Of course, some news sources are also more reliable than others.
 

kluchetta

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I did hear this morning that the people that have this (mild) swine flu here in the US, don't even seem to be passing it on to their close family. There seem to be no secondary or tertiary infections. So I really wouldn't worry about it too very much.
 

calico2222

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The way I look at it is...the flu is the flu. So they put a name to this particular strain, that doesn't make it any more dangerous, it just has a name now (where did the name "Swine Flu" come from anyway? Anyone know?). Basically, the flu bug is a virus and mutates constantly which is why the flu vacination doesn't work 100%. The best way to protect yourself is to eat healthy, get enough sleep, keep yourself hydrated, and wash your hands. From what I heard on the news this morning, everyone in the US is recovering fine.
 

strange_wings

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^There's influenza A, which is usually what goes around, and there's influenza B. These "flus" are actually more dangerous to our livestock than us.
There's also the more uncommon type C.

I didn't even hear about it till last night.
I usually don't watch the news unless there's something serious locally happening - ie, tornadoes or fires.

Apparently it's no worse than normal flu.

If this is a common occurrence I suggest you seek consoling, all the anxiety is not good for you.
My other suggestion would be to actually learn more about viruses, bacteria, and how the body works in general but a lot of people can't handle (or process this information) rationally without getting worried.
 

esrgirl

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It seems the only people really at risk for this flu are the same ones who are always at risk- the very elderly, the very young, and people with seriously compromised immune systems. I've had the flu once as an adult- got the usual shaking, chills, fever, and cough- but unless you have a compromised immune system there is no reason this flu should be a serious risk to you. I know how this is all over the news- they make it sound like the swine flu is going to hunt us all down in our sleep and kill us.
 

whisky'sdad

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I've learned in my long life that if something is going to hurt you, it is going to hurt you. I don't spend my time worrying about things that are far away. If it was around the corner, then, I would start worrying. It's just too stressful otherwise.

You have to remember that the media is always trying to attract more viewers, so they tend to blow things up more than they need be.

If something falls on the floor, I pick it up, brush the bad stuff off and continue eating. I take precautions, but I don't go overboard.
 

mrblanche

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A few points:

1. It's always easier to get a job when you have a job. NEVER quit a job before you have a new one lined up.

2. About 125 people have supposedly died of this flu in Mexico. That's not a very big number. Remember, some 40,000 people die of the flu in the United States every year.

3. Everyone who has had it in the U.S. has described it as "mild."
 

natalie_ca

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My advice?

1. Never ever, ever quit a job unless you have another one to go to. No matter how much you hate the job you are in. The only time quitting a job without another job to go to is an option, is if you have a years worth of living expense money in the bank.

I hope you get another job soon and that your SO doesn't get laid off of his in the meantime.

2. So far as getting sick. The best defense against getting sick is to wash your hands! Wash your hands! Wash your hands! Never, touch your face unless your hands are freshly washed. Carry a hand sanitizer in your purse/pocket and use it after touching door knobs, money, hand rails, shopping carts, public phones, blowing your nose etc. The first thing you should do when you get home is go and wash your hands!

Also, cover your mouth when you cough, using your inner elbow instead of your hands. This will help prevent the spread of airborne illnesses.

So far as the media goes? Their job is to report the news. It is also to sensationalize the news so that they get viewers/readers.

Will you get the swine flu? Probably not. The chances are remote. Wash your hands, and keep a distance from those who have flu symptoms, just like you would normally do.

There is no sense getting paranoid and living your life in a bubble of fear.
 

strange_wings

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As for the job - I'm sure she quit for a reason. I quit mine recently due to my boss's passive aggressive crap. Talking about me behind my back and being snappy/rude to me to my face half the time because of her problems putting her in a bad mood. That job was simply not worth it.


Not to worry you more, but there actually seems to be a mild cold going around (I've had it, my BIL just came down with it, forum members have had it recently) that can cause some mild bronchitis. You won't get a fever with it - so if you start sneezing and get some congestion don't let to upset you by thinking it's anything worse.

About the only thing they've linked to people being more prone to getting sick from the flu (in winter months) is lower levels of Vit D. There's not really anything else that can be done to prevent viruses from actually making you sick. "supplies" ie cold meds, are mostly a waste of money.
 

tari

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Well, there are two ways to look at the situation. On the one hand, we are overdue for a global pandemic...so there's a school of thought that says it's bound to happen sooner or later. The last serious one was in the early 1900s, so we're about 50 years or so overdue. On the other hand, though, we've learned so much more about the spread and control of disease since the last one.

Personally, I don't think it'll happen. I think we know enough now to nip these things in the bud before it gets to the pandemic proportions. We did it with SARS and with Bird Flu. I think it'll be the same with Swine Flu...the CDC and other agencies will keep a close eye on it, some people will get sick, but they'll keep it pretty much under control.
 
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