In times of uncertainty – Taking care of you

In Times of Uncertainty -Taking Care of You

If you are feeling overwhelmed or anxious in these uncertain times, about family, work, or yourself. During times of uncertainty such as these, it is easy for feelings of stress and worry to set in. In order to manage these feelings, it is important that we keep our minds healthy as well as take care of our physical health, below are some useful suggestions of ways to manage your well being.

Social isolation

• Sometimes checking the media too often can make you feel more anxious and distressed than necessary. Keep up to date on key information for practical steps to keep you and your family safe, but a constant stream of news which may be speculative or exaggerated can cause anyone to worry so try and avoid this.
• At a time like this, being kind and supportive to others is more important than ever. Reach out to those who are vulnerable or in need of some help, assisting others benefits both the receiver and the helper.
• Take time to remind yourself that you are still in control of your thoughts and behaviours and accept the new changes you have been presented. This is a good time to pay attention to your personal needs and feelings, you will learn more about yourself and have a more positive outlook on the situation.
• Now is a time to appreciate the technology which surrounds us, use this to your advantage and stay connected with others; email, social media, telephone and video conferences are excellent ways to stay in touch.
• Be positive and engage in your community, be open with your feelings and allow yourself to reach out to others, providing and receiving support will be key motivators in practicing mindfulness and will benefit your well being greatly.

Social isolation with children

• This may feel like a daunting time looking after your children in such circumstances , however it is important to realise that children look to adult’s behaviours and emotions to establish cues on how to manage their own thoughts and feelings and so remaining calm and transparent with them will make it easier to guide them through these difficult times.
• Try to keep family routines as normal to daily life as possible, keeping these routines will provide a sense of familiarity to children and make it easier for them to cope with the changes around them, also keeping your mind at ease.
• Discuss COVID-19 in an age appropriate way, giving them accessible information about the situation will better their understanding and keep them calm.
• Find positives in the situation, spending more time with your children will help you to understand the way they express and communicate their feelings and you can find creative ways to address these together to ease any anxiety.

Resources of support and guidance

As the situation evolves on a day to day basis in these unprecedented times it is easy to feel overwhelmed or worried. Everybody needs support in some way, whether it be to put your mind at rest or to relieve stress and anxiety. The following resources will provide help which is accessible and supportive.

Access to Work – Mental Health Support Service

This confidential service is available at no charge to all employees with depression, anxiety, stress or other mental health issues affecting their work. The specialist advisers can provide tailored work-focused mental health support for nine months, coping strategies, a support plan and practical advice to support individuals with a mental health condition.

Support Forums

Although getting out the house and meeting people is difficult, joining a forum may help you get through your time in isolation feel easier. You can give and receive advice with others and share experiences. Many charities run online support communities, such as Mind who run the Elefriends support available to anyone over age 18. SANE provide a support forum that is available 24 hours a day.

Relaxation, Meditation and Mindfulness

These can be excellent tools for managing anxiety and dealing with stress, engaging in these practices will make you feel more in control and will leave your mind feeling more balanced and less clouded with worry. There are many ways you can start doing any of these techniques , such as downloading apps such as HeadSpace and Calm which provide hundreds of guided meditations and breathing exercises on everything from managing stress and anxiety to sleep, productivity, exercise, and physical health.

Getting Physical

Being active is not only great for your physical health and fitness. Evidence also shows it can also improve your mental well being by:

• raising your self esteem
• helping you to set goals or challenges and achieve them
• causing chemical changes in your brain which can help to positively change your mood

You can still maintain good physical activity levels whilst following social distancing guidelines by going for a walk , jog, or run in the park or even exercise at home as there are many home workout guides which require no equipment and so make it as easy as possible to follow whilst in isolation. Although being active is important, finding time to rest is also key to a healthy lifestyle, ensure you are getting enough sleep to enable your body to recover from stress and to feel rejuvenated.