Protecting our mental health

I’m going to try and limit listening/watching the ‘News’ as it’s nothing but doom and gloom. Keep in touch with family/friends if you can and try to get a routine going. I’m lucky to have a garden but I’m going to walk every day come rain or shine.

I think it’s very difficult for your mental health when you feel powerless and out of control that then leads to feelings of anxiety and hopelessness.
I would try to look at the stuff you can control in your life and focus on that. Keep in touch with family and friends using technology and limit your News intake.
Listen only to “reliable” information and discard the rest as rumour.
There are many websites you can use to help calm anxiety research them now if you haven’t already done so

Try to keep a sense of humour difficult I know but not impossible. There are some light hearted threads on Gransnet

Challenging times ahead I know but try not to let misery surround you. For those of us with anxiety it just magnifies everything.

Be kind to yourself ?

Keep going is all we can do I think the advice about not watching the news endlessly is good, it can be additive.

I see the Italians are singing to one another from the balconies.
Not sure the neighbours would appreciate me singing hits from the 60s all day.

I can only echo what May7 has said, keep busy, keep in contact with friends and relatives and avoid unreliable information.

I have suffered from depression and worry that a long period of isolation will harm my mental health. I have done a course on mindfulness and now include it as part of my daily life. It works for me. This morning I noticed that Futurelearn is running a mindfulness course starting today. It is a free online course and may be of interest to some of you on Gransnet.

Take care everyone.

This is my fear. Too much time away from society is bad for me. The only thing I can think of is a CBT trick, make yourself a timetable.

Magsymoo, me too. My stomach has butterflies all the time. Heart palpitations. My breathings off even though I'm not ill.

I'm hoping seeing my grandson will help. His cuddles are the best thing in the world.

Thanks for the heads up on Futurelearn course on Mindfulness. I have done this before but let the practice lapse. I will enroll on it again today. Feeling out of control, almost waiting for something awful to happen, is the cause of much anxiety. Having some goals, plans should help.

Woke feeling anxious. No wonder with what's going on in the world. Loads of new and significant variables sprung on all of us. Hope for the best.

www.getselfhelp.co.uk/freedownloads2.htm

Normally anxious last few days nervous stomach most of the time. Luckily we've got a garden but hopefully walks in quiet areas will still be allowed.

Can you use FaceTime to keep in contact and see your friends and family? It does help to be able to see in real time!

Any one else feeling anxious?! I wake each morning feeling as like I have the weight of the world on my shoulders. Butterflies in my on stomach, trips to the loo! I feel better as the days go on. Have always been a very happy and positive person so this anxiety has come as a bit of a shock . I keep busy and endeavor to cultivate a happy mood - but I am not always successful! Sunny ☀️ today so will be outside enjoying that. Keep safe and well everyone.

Moderate physical exercise combined with something to occupy the mind work. A long brisk walk listening to an audio book using headphones on your phone staves off the first signs of anxiety.

Shelflife
Have you tried deep breathing exercises? One of the best exercises you can do to bring down anxiety.
I don’t wish to offend but if you don’t know what deep breathing exercises are, look on you tube.

Thank you Meryl Streep,not offended at all . Yes I do practice deep breathing and meditation - learned in my yoga class. I also get out of bed the moment I wake and sit in a room that catches the morning sun ?, that helps . If I languish in bed awake my anxiety increases. You sent your reply on my birthday and I had a lovely garden lunch with my twin sister ! We are all living through a difficult time but things are improving and I know my anxious state will also improve. I recognize how fortunate I am to have a lovely family. In the meantime I will contact my regular deep breathing.

Continue not contact !

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