High anxiety a byproduct of pandemic

Q I have been married for 20 years and am the father of two teenagers.

I worked from home for five years before the pandemic struck. My wife had worked outside, but that ended. Since mid-March, we’ve been together in the house. I’m happy with that. I’m very nervous about the coronavirus and prefer to stay in and order in food when we’re tired of cooking. But my wife now wants to eat on a restaurant patio and visit a friend’s backyard while socially distanced. She’s even suggesting an overnight stay at a friend’s cottage. I just can’t do it. She’s so upset that she’s threatened to leave me.

My Wife or My Safety?

A If your health isn’t compromised, it’s high anxiety that’s driving your fears. Hiding inside unnecessarily isn’t a healthy model for your teenagers and is unfairly hard on your wife. Call a local hotline for access to online mental health help. It’s an important, accessible service during COVID -19.

Q My friend wants me to walk with her but she stops every time someone comes near her or isn’t wearing a mask. It’s so uncomfortable that I don’t want to walk with her, though we both need the exercise.

She also berates store employees for not wearing their masks properly or allowing too many shoppers into the store. I won’t shop with her, but the employees know we’re friends and complain to me about her. I feel that she has a choice to not give them her business. Your thoughts?

Annoyances

A These are some persistent aggravations of daily life in the time of coronavirus.

The fears behind them are huge, however. We’re hoping to survive a pandemic that has stolen innocent lives across the globe and isn’t finished. Weigh your choices. She’s a friend but not a shopping companion. Walk with her when feeling generous, since exercise is important.

Read Ellie Monday to Saturday Send questions to ellie@thestar.ca Follow @ellieadvice