PLEASE DO NOT SHARE THIS ONE TO FACEBOOK. It’s a weird question but would you change churches because it’s unhygienic and you kept getting sick? I’ve always had trouble fitting in, I like this place. The teaching is good, the people are lovely, I feel like I growing a lot in my faith going there. The kids have friends. But as a congregation they have no concept of stay home when you’re sick or wash your hands before eating etc. we are encouraged to make physical contact and sit close together. There’s cheering and shouting like a footy game but in air con. I’m the sort of person who gets sick very easily, and my mental health is fragile and the kids need routine so I do everything I can to stay well. I get my shopping delivered. I make the kids get changed after school. We don’t go to the movies or carnivals etc. we still end up getting sick all the time. my husband, who doesn’t come to church, is on my case about it, even though he works in a germ filled industry anyway... Would it be stupid to move churches because of germs? Do you think my immune system will eventually catch up?
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Getting sick is part of life, sometimes it's unavoidable and look, your immune system probably will catch up after taking a bit of a hit - kinda like when kids first start school or daycare, it's horrendous for a while but eventually starts to level out.
However, I could not continue to associate with people who show such a lack of regard towards other people's health and well-being. We have just been through a global health crisis, literally everyone knows that staying home while you have cold, flu or viral symptoms is the right thing to do.
The people who continue to needlessly go out into public, knowing they are symptomatic, are nothing short of selfish and ignorant.
I am not here for that kind of behaviour at all, so if I were a church going person I'd give this place a wide berth. I mean, I have left playgroups and pulled back from friendships for this very reason, I don't care.
I guess you just need to decide if this is something you can live with or not.
That’s a good point to consider also, thank you
If you don't go out much then yes, this will happen. I doesn't matter where you go.
It's a particularly bad year for illness. Since we've been isolated and it hasn't spread as much, were more vulnerable to getting sick, and it hitting harder. I'm on my second cold/flu in two months and I go to very few places. The first was, I think, influenza. I was so ill!
So just try to wash hands, don't touch your face if you can, and avoid getting too close to people.
That’s a great point thanks. Could easily pick it up at kids appointments or from their school mates too
Wear a mask, take vitamin C, go every second weekend, gargle mouth wash and use hand sanitiser at the end of the session. Give it a bit longer with precautions and see how it goes. I also think if you wear a mask it stops most people hugging you. I don't wear one but if I saw someone with one I wouldn't hug them.
Hehe good tip, thanks
If you don't really go anywhere you are going to get sick when you do because your body isn't used to it. I'd start going out a bit more. Do some shopping instead of getting it delivered every once in a while. Also don't get your kids to change when they get home. That just creates unnecessary laundry for you! I wouldn't skip church if you enjoy it.
Thanks :)
Your kids get sick alot at school right?
This will happen everywhere you attend public settings with bodies compact into a space.
Germs are apart of life and in your gut anyway. I would suggest that it's unhealthy to limit your life (carnivals, movies, shopping, making your children change after school) and as I see also adds additional pressure upon your own mental health. Theirs is important too.
I wouldn't change churches just because you're sick. Your kids wear the sane gear for 6 hours so if they are getting sick that wash, washing their clothes immediately won't help because they're breathing and puking all over you anyway.
I think you need to stay connected and get additional support for yourself.
Thanks. I’ve been trying to be more social lately. I’ve joined some groups and started studying. That’s why it hurts so much when I have to give it up for a while due to illness because I now know what I’m missing
I can understand the affect this is having on your mental health and also your husbands work life. Having a lot of people in close proximity like that and hugging etc with no regards to hygiene is what is making you sick. Take extra precautions, wear a mask, avoid getting too close to anyone there, go to the Dr to see if you have a deficiency or if theres anything else that could be weakening your immune system.
Stress, I think, I think stress is killing my immune system. I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately. Thank you for your comment
I used to be a learn to swim teacher, nice warm wet environment. I was really sick for about 6 months till I got used all the germs I was splashing around in. 6 years later I didn’t really get sick at all. Started working at home, started to get sick after a while from not being around anyone.
So true. I had an amazing immune system before the pandemic when we had to social distance all the time.
Germs are everywhere! Our exposure to them is what strengthens our immune systems long term.
Could you give the minister some feedback about people whom are obviously sick though? Before cutting it from your life.
I’m going to stick with it. Thank you for your comment
Vitamin C and a good probiotic. If I don't take them I catch everything going.
And hand sanitising. If anyone touches my stuff I clean it. If I touch anyone else's stuff I'm sanitising my hands.
Would you mind sharing which probiotic you use please? If that’s allowed? I’m not sure of the rules
I found if I put hand sanitiser on my kids hands before we went anywhere that it seemed to help reduce illness. The year I did this, we all did not get sick.
For me personally, I go to less places during the height of flu season and go out more when it settles down.
Does your church offer people to join in online? Is it possible it may be a chat with your minister about how you are feeling and options e.g. cleaning or offering online for those that are experiencing illness? Really there are often elderly and young who do not have the greatest immune systems in church so it is important to protect everyone.
I would not stop church as the social interaction is also so important for your mental health.
As another tip, two of my children had a bad flu this year. Myself and my son who regularly walk in the sunshine showed near no symptoms. Remember your vitamin D and moderate (not strenous) exercise for boosting your immune system.
Great tip thanks