I have a form of OCD called harm OCD (basically I obsess about the fear of hurting myself and others or people getting hurt) and its intensity does depend on how anxious I am. My compulsions aren't entirely that bad, I have to check things are closed/locked/taps are off/gas is off on the stove - I don't spend a lot of time doing those. My main challenges are the mental images/urges I get and it can get very exhausting.
I'm slowly learning (with my psychologist) how to let go, that my thoughts are just thoughts - they are not me etc and I feel I am making progress.
A few days ago, my girlfriend and I went to a number of chemists to get asthma inhalers but they had all sold out (people hoarding) but we managed to get a generic brand (same active ingredient etc) so that was ok. The day later I wanted to make sure she had a back up - so I got another one. Then I remembered a news report about inhalers in short supply. Then my anxiety kicked in and my OCD flared up and I couldn't stop thinking what I would do to make sure my girlfriend had the medicine she needed.
Then after about 20 mins I snapped myself out of it because I was holding the inhaler in my hand! I was thinking to myself 'Matt - calm your farm...you have the medicine in your hand... she already has one... they haven't stopped making them, its just in short supply. Shes going to be fine, nothing is going to happen to her'.
Now I'm ok with it. I know she has as a supply and it is available (although a little hard to come by).
I do get a little depressed going into the shops and seeing the empty shelves, watching the elderly trying to get things they cant. Especially when I know that there's no need for it. To combat that I joined a facebook group that shares random acts of kindness at the shops.
What I'm having trouble with at the moment is the normalcy amongst this emergency? like walking around town - people are acting like nothing bad is happening, people are not practicing social distancing, I get on the train like I normally do in the morning and got to work - along with everyone else. Yet every second news article is 'more people contracting covid' 'people loosing their jobs' then the government talks about it. So yeah its a mixed bag for me atm.
But, I try to stay level headed by saying
These are tough, unprecedented times.
This will pass,
We will get through this together
Things will get better.