Andy Lipman's Blog, page 7

Dealing with Depression in a Time of Uncertainty

Dealing with depression during COVID-19

As another day passes, I see more posts from people about how awful things are and how their lives and their families’ lives have changed in horribly, unforeseen ways. I just wanted you to know that not only do I get it but that I’m dealing with it too. It’s okay to get down about this. In fact, it’s completely justified.

But you know what’s more contagious than a virus? Hope! And once we take some time to let ourselves get upset and angry about what has transpired these last few weeks, we need to get back up and fight these feelings of depression and self-pity. Let’s make a list of everything we want to accomplish with our health, our careers and our families when things get better. Think about those people who we want to make plans with when things are normal again. Find an exercise routine at home that makes us feel accomplished. Look in the mirror and smile at least once a day. At first, it may seem forced but eventually it won’t. Through this difficult time, we will each find a new appreciation for life when things return to normal.

I just wanted all of you to know that life will go on and to know that all of your feelings are totally understandable. If you have difficulty escaping the sadness, talk to a friend or family member who might be able to assist. If that doesn’t help, there are plenty of therapists who will talk to you virtually on the phone, through Skype or wherever. The following is a good resource to use if you’re having difficulty resolving your newfound concerns: Guide to Mental Health Resources for COVID-19

Thinking of everyone. We will get through this time.

Live your dreams and love your life,

Andy 

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Stay Home! – Katrina Young

My son was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis at the age of two during my husband’s first year of medical residency in Emergency Medicine. Considering that we now had one member of our family who was incredibly vulnerable to any viruses or infections and another member whose work would heavily involve exposure to germs and illness, we had to quickly figure out how to navigate keeping our son healthy with everyday life. It hasn’t always been perfect or easy, but given everything we are extremely grateful to say that our son is about to turn 22 and preparing to graduate from Southern Methodist University with a degree in Biology in a few months. 

However, like every other college student in our nation right now, he is currently home finishing up his senior year on-line. Things like graduation ceremonies have been put on hold indefinitely. But that is not our biggest concern or loss at the present moment. Not even close.

For the past few years, my husband has been traveling for his ER group, providing extra staff support to hospitals in our home state of California and even across the nation. He has been working up in Madera, just north of Fresno, California this past week. A few hours before he arrived, his hospital had their first presumed positive COVID-19 death. Since then, he has treated several patients a night who have actively tested positive, and even intubated at least one in need of critical care. As of right now, his hospital remains relatively stable with adequate staff and supplies. Even still, they have almost exceeded their capacity of respirators, and my husband is already very worried about the decisions he and his co-workers will have to make when (not if) they run out of life support equipment. 

Tomorrow, Robert comes back home after working six back-to-back night shifts. But instead of walking through our front door and greeting his entire family (we have three college students plus two significant others living with us right now), he will self-quarantine himself from all of us. We feel lucky that generous friends have offered an extra condo they aren’t presently using for Robert to stay, and we are equally grateful that we will get to “see” him from a safe distance while dropping off food and supplies for him. But for the first time since he started his medical career, I will not be able to hug him after a long, hard shift. In fact I don’t know the next time I will get to hold his hand or even simply touch him. The way things are progressing, Robert believes that he will not be able to come home until at least May – or possibly later. We have many friends who work in the ER and they are taking similar precautions by living in basements, guest rooms, and garages to protect their families. These healthcare workers are working long, grueling hours and literally sacrificing everything – their health, their safety, and even their lives! Yet the thing they fear the most is exposing the people they love to the same dangers they face every day at work. It must be said that while he is primarily concerned about us, we are extremely concerned about him. On behalf of my family and all the family members of our brave doctors, nurses, techs, and first responders on the front lines, please stay home so my husband can do the same.

His family misses him very much.

#stayhome

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How to Pass Time with Family While Sheltering in Place

I know it’s difficult right now thinking about the future, especially if you’re extroverted and want to get it out and have fun with your friends. These are trying times, so I’ve come up with a top-10 list of things to do that might help time go by more quickly.

10 Things to Help Pass Time with Family While Sheltering in Place



First off, don’t watch the news too often. It’s overwhelming some days, and stress negatively impacts immunity levels, so limit exposure to stressful repetitive news. The numbers most likely will go up because there are more tests available for the coronavirus. In other words, it may not be spreading as much as it appears, and often it is more of a reiteration of earlier news in case you missed it. Watching a few times a day, like morning, maybe afternoon, and the evening will give you the updates you need. Find a house errand that you’ve been putting off for months or even years and do it now. I’ve been working on moving around some of our stuff in storage and going through boxes from when we renovated our basement. I’ve been able to find some stuff that we’ve been looking for in the process. Andrea and I have been putting together stuff for our next garage sale. I say we call it the “Post-Corona Extravaganza!”Play games or do puzzles. Andrea is the queen of puzzles. We help her a little bit but she is amazing at them. She gets a 1,000-piece jigsaw puzzle done in a couple of days! The kids and I help a little with that, but it’s just a fun escape for all of us. We haven’t done any board games yet but I’m sure we will in time. Watch movies. Is there a movie you’ve never seen that you wanted to? Here’s your chance. I have introduced Avery to a few movies I enjoyed growing up and she’s made me (I mean allowed me) watch some of hers. Andrea and I are binge watching. We just finished Hunters on NetFlix. There were 10 episodes and we finished in about 3 days. On to the next one. Movie and TV series binging is another good option for stay-at-home entertainment.Work out. This sheltering at home is a great opportunity to work out more since the schedule is pretty empty. I’m running more than normal. I went from running 20 miles a week to 25. You can also do virtual classes which Andrea has done with her dance class. I’m working out with different routines and trying to eat better since I’m not going out to eat. Here are some in-home workout ideas! This is a great time to talk either with your significant other, your children, or just Facetiming or calling your friends. The kids, Andrea and I take the dogs out for walks and runs together. It’s very therapeutic even when we’re not having a conversation. Don’t forget the kids – virtual play dates are in style right now. They need social interaction, too.Enjoy social media—but be selective. This is a good time to read humorous posts but to avoid the ones that revolve around panic. Humor keeps you going. I remember when I was on IVs at home for five weeks. I did not want to dwell on the seriousness of life, so check out the more humorous or educational sites and avoid getting drawn into negative online conversations.Take some time to catch up on your reading. Pick out a book you never started or finished, or ask friends to suggest their favorite books. Haven’t read the CF Warrior Project book? Now is your chance! Keep a schedule, especially if you have children like me. Andrea and I have a schedule and we have a schedule for the kids as far as virtual learning goes. We also allow them a little more TV and video game time, so at least they feel like there are some perks to being in this situation.

These are just some ideas for passing time with family while sheltering in place and I hope they help you get through these hard times. And we will get through them. 

Live your dreams and love your life.

Andy

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The One Question People Keep Asking Me

The one question people keep asking me in this time of uncertainty



How am I doing?

That’s the question I’ve gotten from so many people that I can’t even count. 

Let me start with the good. My friends and people I barely know have been amazing. People have brought us food and distilled water which I need to clean my beds and to clean my sinuses. They know I can’t go anywhere because of the health risk, nor can Andrea or the kids because they risk bringing the virus to me. Obviously, I worry about them catching it too but I’m the one with the terrible lungs, which makes this virus a true threat to my survival. I’ve gotten texts and e-mails from near and far. You’d think the last few weeks I was celebrating a birthday. They say you always know who are your true friends when you’re going through a difficult time. I have too many to count now and it’s awesome.

Now, let’s discuss the not so good. I have read articles about people frolicking on the beach in large groups and spreading this virus without a care in the world. I don’t know if it’s more ignorance or selfishness. Whatever it is, it’s wrong. And if I hear one more person compare this to the flu, I don’t know what I’ll do. Ask people in the medical community if there’s a difference. It’s like saying asthma and cystic fibrosis are the same thing. Just to be clear, they’re not. 

I’ve also read articles about things in Italy, where they are actually having to decide which patients to save and which to let die. Now I’m reading with the lack of supplies we have here and the spread of this virus, the same could happen here in the United States. I have fought all my life to beat cystic fibrosis. What makes a doctor or anyone else who has never met me before an expert on my chances fighting coronavirus?

Before I delve into politics, let me tell you that I’m an independent voter which means I vote either way. I don’t care which party a candidate represents as long as I agree with his policies and how he treats ALL people.

Today I watched as my governor, Brian Kemp, did not put Georgia in a lockdown. He basically told people who are at high risk, like me, or someone 60 or over, to seek shelter. What does he think we’ve been doing for the last two weeks? I feel like I’m playing the longest version of hide-and-seek ever, and because we can’t decide to close everything down, I’ll be playing for the rest of my life. Then I hear President Trump say he thinks we can open things back up in the next few weeks. It’s like our politicians have turned into the mayor from Jaws whose biggest concern was opening up the beach to make money. I promise you if we let everybody congregate in big groups in the next few weeks, this will be much worse than any fictional shark movie.

So, for the last time, how am I doing? 

I’m nervous. I sit in my house all day finding things to do but I get depressed and anxious especially after getting another coronavirus update on my phone or turning on the TV to see more bad news. I’m scared to death because there is a virus out there that anyone can catch and spread and there are so many of us in danger of losing our lives. More than 35 million Americans live with a chronic lung disease according to the American Lung Association, and according to the ACLU approximately 68.7 million people are 60 and older. We are endangering the lives of more than 100 million people in this country or nearly one-third of all Americans, not to mention the selfless medical workers and volunteers who are trying to save as many lives as possible. We are putting our parents, our grandparents and people like me who fight so hard to breathe at serious risk. 

We cannot open this country back up right now and certainly not in the next few weeks. We need to shut everything down for at least 3 months and most likely 6-9 months. There are not enough tests to diagnose everyone. We need to be able to do that, like Korea did. We need a system in place where people can be diagnosed within 24 hours so they can immediately move into quarantine like we do with the flu. We need a vaccine that can make it so if you do catch this virus, your health will not be as compromised as it normally would. Then, and only then, will I feel safe. 

Until then, I am not comfortable leaving my home or having anyone enter it. I guess it’s back to playing hide-and-seek.

Live your dreams and love your life.

Andy

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Social Isolation Workout Ideas – Getting Through COVID-19

Coronavirus has been scary for many of us but it doesn’t mean that you can’t find something positive and stress relieving during this time. One of the best things you can do for yourself is to get stronger both mentally and physically, and in my opinion, the best way for doing that is through exercise. Here are some social isolation workout ideas that can be done inside or outdoors.

Exercise not only builds endorphins, which make you feel good, but it also makes time go by a lot faster. Here are some tips regarding working out both inside and outside your home while avoiding the gym.

Running: I try running either inside on the treadmill or outside in the neighborhood every day. I run about 3.5 to 5 miles, which is pretty extreme but my goal is to work my way toward a half-marathon. I discovered that goal during isolation. If you don’t like to run (or walk), there’s also biking. Take your bike out for a spin. Some people have peloton bikes, too. Great exercise!I also try jumping rope outside now instead of inside to enjoy the fresh air. I do four sets each day and try to do a few “double-unders” once I’m advanced past just plain jumping rope.As far as working out goes, Andrea bought me a set of weights months ago that I’ve been using for 30 to 45 minutes per day. Sometimes I work out full-blast in the morning and a little bit at night. I set personal goals to see if I can hit them, like how many pushups I can do without stopping. Don’t have weights? No problem. If you don’t have weights, an exercise band works great too. You can put it on a door and do chest, shoulders or back. You can put it under your feet and do biceps, triceps or shoulders. You can also do pushups, sit-ups and crunches without a single weight. I like doing jumping jacks, too. I do two sets of 100 every day. Again, no weights are needed.The important thing is to have a schedule and not let yourself stray from it too much. Change your workout routine every day but try to do it at the exact same time. You don’t have someone to motivate you? No problem. Take virtual classes if you can. Ask your trainer if that’s an option. There are a lot of free exercise videos online right now.Keep your mind off the time through distraction. I try watching a TV show during my workouts and runs so I’m not thinking about how long I have left. Sometimes I’ll listen to music, too. Keep track of your workouts. Write things down. That way you know what you did the day before and you can see how you’re improving week to week.You want to know how you have gotten in better shape since the coronavirus age began? Take pictures on the day you started and take pictures once a week to see your improvement. Be proud of how much strength you’ve gained during this tough time.

So there’s my advice of how to not only to find something to do during this slow time but also a way to better yourself. Look at the next several weeks less as an obstacle and more as an opportunity to improve your mental and physical strength. Let’s come out of this in amazing shape.

Live your dreams and love your life.

Andy

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Rock CF 2020 – Goes 100% Virtual

Traditionally, the Rock CF Rivers Half Marathon, 10 Miler, Relay & 5K races have offered those who could not physically run the course to participate in a virtual race. This year, the 10th Annual Rock CF Rivers Half Marathon, 10 Miler, Relay & 5K races will become 100% virtual. 

The race officially takes place on March 29, 2020, and registration is still open!  I will be hitting the rubber for this race from the comfort of my own home. 

We asked Founder of Rock CF, Emily Schaller, a few questions about this year’s race. 

What positive impacts do you see moving the race 100% virtual is having on the ev ent?

Since our first race in 2011 we have had a virtual option for those who are not able to travel to Michigan for the race. We did this because we wanted to give everyone the chance to share in the excitement and cause no matter where they live. It has been very cool to see people all over the world run with us on race day! 

Each year, we get about 200 virtual runners. Canceling our race is something I never imagined we would have to do, but as things really started picking up with COVID-19 I quickly knew that it would definitely be an option. Once I fully recognized what my gut was telling me for days, I decided we had to do what is best for the CF community and the great world. 

Of course, I couldn’t just cancel the race and be good with that. That’s not who I am or who we are. We don’t give up. Instead, I decided that going virtual for everyone would be the only route we could go while keeping the spirit of the event alive and running, while slowing the spread of Coronavirus. So now in addition to the original 200 virtual runners, we will have at least 1,800 more who will join in from all over the world on March 29. 

The response has been amazing and those who are already registered for the race are encouraging family and friends to get involved, too. I’m overwhelmed with the positivity runners are showing us. In the end, the CF community is the heart and soul of this race and our organization, and that’s the message we need everyone to hear.

How will participation in this event impact the CF Community? 

The Rock CF Rivers Half Marathon, 10 Miler, Relay & 5K is the Rock CF Foundation’s largest fundraising and awareness event. This race is truly what makes everything our organization does possible. Our programs, advocacy efforts, sponsorships/grants and operations are funded by this race. Generally, we have 2,400 participants in this race each year, but since we had to “cancel” when we did, we are missing out on the roughly 600 registrations that would happen from now until race day. So, we are still encouraging people to register for the virtual race with us so we can continue fulfilling the mission of Rock CF. 

What are ways people can virtually connect with participants in the race? 

We are asking everyone participating to take photos of themselves in their race shirts, with their medals, while they’re running, etc., and post them all over social media. Be sure to use #RockCFVirtual. Also for those on Strava you can join our Rock CF Run Club and give Kudos to other Rock CF runners!

People with CF run for free, so anyone out there with CF please email emily@letsrockcf.org to get set up!

I will be participating in the race and you should too! Let’s all ROCK CF together.

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Please help us stop the pandemic.

Are you now afraid of walking into a local establishment or a large get together because of fear that someone in the room will have some type of virus? Are you all of a sudden cognizant of every person in the room who may have some sort of cough or runny nose? Are you analyzing every symptom you or your loved ones have with concern that all of you will catch something that could kill you? Well then, let me welcome you to the world of cystic fibrosis. It’s scary as hell, but together we will get through it if we follow the protocols.

Having cystic fibrosis, I’ve been a germaphobe for years, constantly carrying hand sanitizer wherever I go and always have a medical safety mask within close reach. I clean all of my medical equipment after each therapy session, which is two to three times per day. I don’t grab door handles; I only shake hands with people who don’t appear sick; and I stay away from smoky bars, casinos and hotel rooms. I wear a medical mask on airplanes and at my children’s pediatrician appointments. While I’m prepared to do the right things to stay sanitary and virus-free, I realize that alone won’t save my life. I have to depend on you.

Let me explain. I keep hearing there are two groups that should be more concerned than anyone else about the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Those two groups are the elderly and those with underlying health conditions, especially lung disease. Yep, that includes my disease cystic fibrosis. (My children would argue that I should be worried because I’m elderly, too. At least we all still have our senses of humor.) Here’s the thing, though. They should be talking about the third group because it’s the biggest and therefore the most important. That third group is everyone else because you can be symptomless carriers of the virus and give it to people like me who could become very sick and even die.

There seems to be two courses of action from people right now: Overreacting and underreacting. 

Those who are overreacting are in a sense panicking. The hoarding has gotten out of control. Take what you need but don’t overbuy. People are hoarding masks, gloves, wipes, hand sanitizer and toilet paper and therefore the elderly, those with underlying conditions or medical personnel who work with those who are not well are left with nothing to protect themselves (though I’m not sure how toilet paper protects anyone). A friend of mine, who recently had a double-lung transplant, is in need of a mask more than anyone else. Yet he was at his doctor’s appointment this week and they were out of masks. I could never imagine a CF clinic being out of masks. These outages are causing panic, especially amongst those in the cystic fibrosis community. 

Then there are those who are underreacting. They aren’t taking the reports seriously. They are going out in large groups of people and acting like they are the bravest people in the world. The word isn’t “brave” though. It’s “selfish.” Your actions could be killing your parents, grandparents or someone who is just fighting to stay alive like me.

The only way to beat COVID-19 is to practice good habits like washing our hands, isolating our families from others and staying home whether we are sick or not. It’s important that we don’t look at these sacrifices as punishments but rather as ways to help ourselves and everyone around us.  

As someone who deals with anxiety and clinical depression, mental health is something that I pay close attention to and I also worry about others who deal with it. We need to be educated about coronavirus but not overly consumed. I’m worried about my children because I don’t want to scare them. I’m sure they’ve noticed that schools are closing; we are postponing our travel plans for spring break; and every news show in the world begins and ends with coronavirus. It’s difficult to keep them from their friends right now but I know in the end it’s the right thing to do for our wellbeing. 

I may not be living my life the way I normally do but that doesn’t mean I’m not living it to the fullest. It just means I’m doing it more cautiously. I still work out, just at home. I still talk to my friends, just not in person. I still believe I can take care of my cystic fibrosis and myself, just this time I need your help, too.

Can you do it? My life and many others depend on it.

Live your dreams and love your life.

Best Wishes,

Andy 

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10 Tips for Staying Sane Through COVID-19

I understand what a nervous time this is for all of us, especially those who like me, have underlying conditions, as well as the elderly and those in the medical profession. Here is my top 10 list for surviving both mentally and physically over the next few months.

In these scary times, here are 10 tips for staying sane through it all

1. Don’t watch the news or check out social media posts focusing on all of this for too long. Knowledge is power but overexposure leads to fear, misinformation and insanity. Also, there are a lot of scams, myths, fake tests, and “cures” being shared about COVID- 19 S and L. Don’t believe them – “experts” online often are not real experts. Check out the Center for Disease Control (CDC) site or talk to your physician’s office if you have questions.

2. Wash your hands with soap, scrubbing between your fingers and nails. Sing happy birthday to yourself twice while you’re doing it but don’t do it aloud as people might think you’re going crazy. I mean you might be, but who knows?

3. Isolating yourself and your family from everyone when possible is a good idea. I have recently decided not to go to the gym until this crisis is averted. I’ll work out and run at home.

4. Stop hoarding toilet paper. I’m being selfish here. I need my two-ply Charmin available to me. 

5. If you have children, teach them what to do but don’t scare them. They take the lead from you. If you see them doing something extra sanitary, applaud them on it. Let them know you’ve noticed and you appreciate it.

6. The elbow tap is the newest thing. Don’t shake hands right now. The elbow tap is much cooler. And wipe off foreign surfaces whenever possible.

7. If you have a disease like cystic fibrosis, try getting at least a month’s worth of meds and supplies in stock, 90 days if possible, just in case.

8. Keep exercising and eating healthy foods, and getting plenty of rest. If you catch anything, these things will make sure you’re in the best shape possible going into it. Sleeping is when your body reenergizes and builds immunity. I’m trying to drink lots of protein shakes and eat fruits like bananas and grapes.

9. If you like humor, don’t ditch it now. Humor is always the best medicine. It’s something I’ve used most of my life and it keeps me sane.

10. If you have a therapist or psychiatrist, ask them if it’s okay to do virtual meetings or phone calls for sanity’s sake. And don’t forget calling or texting your friends and family. Don’t avoid people completely. That’s just not healthy. We are social animals and need socializing for wellbeing. Just do it from a distance.

Don’t panic! If everyone follows the instructions given by medical experts, we will get through this in a few months time.

Read more about my perspective on living in the Corona world.

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A Coronavirus Filled World – Making The Most of Each Day

Reading all of this stuff about coronavirus or COVID-19 is really scary, especially since I’m a person with certain underlying health conditions and as the CDC says, I’m at risk. Here is their latest advice.

I relayed my concerns to my wife Andrea the other day and though she also has an underlying health condition (multiple sclerosis), she is not going to let this panic get to her. Being that she worked for the CDC for nearly two decades, I am more likely to listen to her than every news show in the world. 

Then I think of my Nana Rose. She fought. She didn’t panic when it came to her circumstances. She lived!

I choose to live my life…

I’m going to live my life with caution regarding washing my hands, keeping a bottle of hand sanitizer on me at all times, and holding off on flying for the time being. But I’m still going out in public and not holding back. We only get one opportunity to live life and I refuse to let the media scare me out of doing so. Still, I have to be more apt to rely on my “germaphobic” tendencies, which is something I discussed on a recent post Confessions of a Germaphobe.

Tips for Staying Relatively Germ-Free:



WASH YOUR HANDSAvoid touching your face.Avoid people who are coughing and sneezing or look sick.

We recently returned from a Disney trip celebrating my mother in law who passed away a year ago. This was her happy place. For the last few days, it was ours too, though I made some adjustments since I was around tens of thousands of people. I’ve always carried a hand sanitizer bottle with me, but I’m using it a lot more often now. (I’m still willing to do endorsements for the company if they’re looking for an avid user. Ha ha!) At Disney, I used it before and after each ride, before and after each meal, and just anytime I touched a foreign surface. We also used wipes to wipe down other things, including the hotel room remote control, phone, and door handles. We did not fly as that is something I’m taking a hiatus from if avoidable. As always if I DO fly I will be wearing a mask and wiping down my seat, tray table, and TV monitor on the plane. 

Last night, we sat Shiva for my grandmother Rose, a Jewish tradition where family and friends come to your house to give their condolences and help you pray after the loss of a loved one. I let everyone know that I have made another change. It’s one that I was hesitant to do but I know it’s the right thing. Instead of shaking hands, I’m now doing the elbow-to-elbow in which we touch elbows instead of hands. It feels awkward right now but I’m going to have to get used to it. In a way, I feel like I’m giving into all of the media hype but I realize that educating myself and doing the right things is not giving into the paranoia but actually smart. The coronavirus routine is going to become my new normal.

It’s ironic that a drug like Trikafta made me feel like everyone else for a short period of time but now coronavirus and my “at risk” situation has brought back that same feeling of having to be extra careful because of my chronic disease. 

Of course, first I remind you to discuss with your health officials before making decisions impacting your health, but I also ask that you go from crisis to cautious mode and not hoard wipes, masks, hand sanitizer, and toilet paper. It benefits all of us especially the elderly, those of us with chronic conditions, and medical personnel who are trying to help. (If you are going to hoard toilet paper, please only take the single-ply. Those of us with CF really need the double-ply. Ha ha!)

On a more serious note, if you feel any symptoms of sickness, stay home and call your doctor in order to protect high-risk people like me, and everyone else. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

As for me, I’m going to make the most of every day. It’s a lesson I learned from Nana Rose and from having cystic fibrosis.

Live your dreams and love your life.

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Confessions of a “Germaphobe” – My CF take on the Coronavirus

With everything going on regarding the Coronavirus known now as COVID-19, I thought I’d welcome you to the world of “Germaphobia.” (I’d like to think I’m the president of such a place.)

I’ve been a “germaphobe” since I was a little boy. When my friends got sick, my parents were adamant that I not get near them. When my parents got sick, they both wore masks around me or just shut their door so I would not get sick. Besides that, my parents were always concerned about me being anywhere close to a CF patient even before the six-foot rule was officially put in place. They both refused to send me to a CF camp primarily because they were worried about me catching anything. (Those camps are few and far between now by the way, as it was proven the risk of bacterial cross-contamination was pretty significant.)

When I grew up and went to work with my dad, anytime there was anyone close to my office who was sick, my dad or his assistant would insist that I go home. I hated it. It made me feel very isolated, to be honest with you. I felt like my peers in the office looked at me as the glass menagerie, too delicate to approach without fear of breaking me. As if on my door there was a sign, “You get Andy sick, you’re fired.” I’d argue with my dad or his assistant about leaving, but I knew it would give my dad some sense of relief and probably the rest of the office too.

When friends come up to me, they often say “I have a little bit of a sniffle so I don’t want to get too close to you.” I’m appreciative but at the same time I hate that they have to worry about infecting me with some sort of cold. I feel guilty as if I can’t be a “normal” human being because of CF. You ever remember the story of the boy in the bubble? When it comes to germs, that’s what I grew up with and it never really stopped. My germ senses are that of a germaphobic superhero. If someone coughs, whether two feet away or 100, I know to stay away. If I shake someone’s hand and they happen to mention in a 10-minute conversation about their child just having strep, I’d reach down in my pocket and discretely wash my hand with a small bottle of hand sanitizer.

Here’s the thing about germaphobia (also known as mysophobia, verminophobia, and bacillophobia). It’s kind of like a bottle of sanitizer. Obviously it improves your chances of not getting sick but it’s not 100% foolproof. I still go to gyms and work out but I do wash my hands and the equipment when I can. I still coach germ-infested kids on the baseball field and basketball court. I still fly though I do wear a mask. There’s only one life and I plan to live it. I won’t throw caution to the wind but I will certainly only use it when it seems like the right thing to do. 

Everybody is freaking out about COVID-19, but for me it’s just another germ like the flu, a CF bacteria, or even a very bad cold. If you need advice about how to stay calm during a threat like this one, just ask me.

After all, I am the president of Germaphobia.

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