Mental health and CoVid-19

sideswipe · 12-04-2020 8:06am

Why is it so bad of some?

From a personal perspective-

Home schooling is very tough. It changes the relationship between parent and kid, Theres ructions in our house during the week. They miss their friends badly. I have a daughter turning 10 on Wednesday, had to obviously cancel her party way back which she’d been planning for ages. There is no end date to this and we all know the school year is done, it’s not like ‘just 3 more weeks and we’ll get back to normal’. Everything has changed.

Myself and my wife a self employed, the financial worry that the economy will be a waste land for us after this is real.

Elderly parents who are scared and shut away. Effectively have a chunk of their twilight years with their families taken away. We were supposed to be in Spain with my folks for a landmark birthday, it’s hard not to think of that when you’re using anti-bac wipes on their shopping while they stand looking through the window without being able to give them a hug and reassurance. My mother is in the early stages of dementia, I’m literally missing time with her before the horror of seeing her mentally diminish, that’s tough to take especially because there is no silver bullet in 3 weeks- we are talking many months before a vaccine that would allow us to be together without the fear of putting them at risk. Standing 10 feet from your dad who is trying to tell you where his savings and house deeds are while keeping his voice down so the neighbours don’t hear is troubling and tough mentally.

I can understand why some people are happy with this. I know people that were in jobs they hated and now are getting paid to do nothing but catch up on reading and box sets. Of all my friends and family I’ve spoken to- the ones who were happy and content before this seem to be the ones struggling most others who weren’t so content seem to have been more accepting.

In short it isn’t the extra three weeks specifically
It’s the real lack of real end game to this. People saying relax and enjoy doesn’t take the worries and struggles people have into account.

Bottom line is we are all different and at different stages in life, I can remember a stage in life I would have found this easier, a lot of it is in the timing.

12-04-2020 2:25pm

Everyone will have their own unique experience of lockdown because we all have different circumstances. To not be able to understand this shows a staggering lack of empathy in my opinion.

never_mind · 12-04-2020 4:35pm

Finding it particularly rough today. Feel trapped in the flat I share and just need to get out. Panic attacks fair bad today. Went to shop and then panicked again so just in bed worrying about the virus, about my job, about my family, about everything

ShineOn7 · 12-04-2020 4:39pm

sideswipe wrote: »

Why is it so bad of some?

From a personal perspective-...........

Your circumstances look particularily tough. But you realise what'll happen without a lockdown while this bástard is surging right?

ShineOn7 · 12-04-2020 4:57pm

never_mind wrote: »

Finding it particularly rough today. Feel trapped in the flat I share and just need to get out. Panic attacks fair bad today. Went to shop and then panicked again so just in bed worrying about the virus, about my job, about my family, about everything

Is there a great friend you can FaceTime with?
Is there a book you always picks you up in tough times that you can revisit? There's many great positive thinking non fiction books out there
Do you like stand up comedy? Pick your fav comedian and watch your fav performance of them
Is there some very self indulgent food that you love that you have on hand or you can order? Fúck it, it's Easter Sunday
Do you have any creative hobbies that are very immersive? Is there something you always wanted to learn or upskill to? Your laptop/PC is your friend
Have you spare cash for a second hand compact threadmill? And the space for it in the flat?
Make up a playlist of your favourite feel good songs on YouTube or Spotify

Those are some ideas i've used so far and some I'm keeping in reserve when needed

The key here - for us all - (after we vigilantly protect ourselves from this bástard*) is distraction

(*I've tried so, so much to protect certain family members and get them to be as vigilant as me, but they refuse to take as seriously)

12-04-2020 5:20pm

ShineOn7 wrote: »

Your circumstances look particularily tough. But you realise what'll happen without a lockdown while this bástard is surging right?

We can know the reality of what will happen without this lockdown, we can know it is for the best and we can also find it tough, all at the same time.

ShineOn7 · 12-04-2020 5:21pm

Deleted User wrote: »

We can know the reality of what will happen without this lockdown, we can know it is for the best and we can also find it tough, all at the same time.

Yes I'm aware. I'm feeling all three things too

never_mind · 12-04-2020 6:21pm

ShineOn7 wrote: »

Is there a great friend you can FaceTime with?

Is there a book you always picks you up in tough times that you can revisit? There's many great positive thinking non fiction books out there

Do you like stand up comedy? Pick your fav comedian and watch your fav performance of them

Is there some very self indulgent food that you love that you have on hand or you can order? Fúck it, it's Easter Sunday

Do you have any creative hobbies that are very immersive? Is there something you always wanted to learn or upskill to? Your laptop/PC is your friend

Have you spare cash for a second hand compact threadmill? And the space for it in the flat?

Make up a playlist of your favourite feel good songs on YouTube or Spotify

Those are some ideas i've used so far and some I'm keeping in reserve when needed

The key here - for us all - (after we vigilantly protect ourselves from this bástard*) is distraction

(*I've tried so, so much to protect certain family members and get them to be as vigilant as me, but they refuse to take as seriously)

Aw thanks for this message! This forum is full of people fighting and it actually made me teary reading it... that someone would go to the effort to write out such a post full of helpful tips!!

I took a Xanax and am just after eating a lovely dinner cooked by my OH. As much as I love my OH I also really need alone time and finding that that can be hard at min.

Going to hunker down, eat chocolate and watch a stupid film on Disney plus!! Great ideas all round xxx

ShineOn7 · 12-04-2020 6:56pm

never_mind wrote: »

Aw thanks for this message! This forum is full of people fighting

Yes it's my fav thread in this Subforum. It's the most positive.

Many of the other threads in this Covid subforum are simply Sky News in discussion board form. Or, as I've come to call it, Gloom Porn

You mentioned an OH, be thankful you have one in these times and don't push them away too much once you've had some alone time. Many would love to have an OH to lean on in these times

Enjoy the chocolate and check back with us here when you feel upto it

sideswipe · 12-04-2020 10:32pm

ShineOn7 wrote: »

Your circumstances look particularily tough. But you realise what'll happen without a lockdown while this bástard is surging right?

Of course, I wasn’t suggesting the actions being taken were unnecessary!!! Just that the rolling nature of the lockdown can be harder on some people than others. I only contributed to the thread because there seemed to be some struggling to understand why some people were finding it hard.

fin12 · 12-04-2020 10:48pm

On a lighter note anyone having Covid 19 dreams? I’m spending a lot more time now in bed so have had two Covid 19 type dreams, more funny than anything. One dream actually had joe exotic in it a-swell, very strange.

never_mind · 12-04-2020 11:02pm

ShineOn7 wrote: »

Yes it's my fav thread in this Subforum. It's the most positive.

Many of the other threads in this Covid subforum are simply Sky News in discussion board form. Or, as I've come to call it, Gloom Porn

You mentioned an OH, be thankful you have one in these times and don't push them away too much once you've had some alone time. Many would love to have an OH to lean on in these times

Enjoy the chocolate and check back with us here when you feel upto it

You’re dead right! I need to remind myself how lucky I am... just down! Worried about parents mostly and about the future.

I’ll pop back in tomorrow. Thanks a mil, you’re a great help x

Away With The Fairies · 13-04-2020 8:24pm

This whole thing has really affected me, it's so damn depressing. Stayed of the main thread here today and switched off the news as soon as it came on. I just don't want to know anymore.

It seems like it's the only thing to talk about, would I be rude if I asked someone not to talk about it? I just want to block the whole thing out.

freshpopcorn · 13-04-2020 8:49pm

In my personal opinion if you’d finding this difficult don’t listen to the news to much.
If there’s something big to be announced ask somebody to let you know about these announcements or we can do it in this thread.
Personally I mute the ads about this now because I know what they say and I don’t really bother watching prime time which is essentially a repeat of the news.
Now if you do this you’ve to remember to wash your hands etc but swamping yourself in 24/7 news coverage of this isn’t good for some.

Away With The Fairies · 13-04-2020 8:55pm

freshpopcorn wrote: »

In my personal opinion if you’d finding this difficult don’t listen to the news to much.
If there’s something big to be announced ask somebody to let you know about these announcements or we can do it in this thread.
Personally I mute the ads about this now because I know what they say and I don’t really bother watching prime time which is essentially a repeat of the news.
Now if you do this you’ve to remember to wash your hands etc but swamping yourself in 24/7 news coverage of this isn’t good for some.

I'm taking the precautions, hand washing, not touching face, wearing a face mask in public. I know the symptoms to look out for, there's not much more I can do. I still have to go into work, so can I ask for people not to talk about it.

ShineOn7 · 13-04-2020 9:00pm

Away With The Fairies wrote: »

This whole thing has really affected me, it's so damn depressing. Stayed of the main thread here today and switched off the news as soon as it came on. I just don't want to know anymore.

It seems like it's the only thing to talk about, would I be rude if I asked someone not to talk about it? I just want to block the whole thing out.

I've a friend in the UK who suffers from anxiety and they're now simply not listening to the crazy British figures in the news, but they're still being vigilant

I think this is a good approach. If I lived in Britain or - say - New York right now I think I'd need proper anxiety medicine from my GP

dePeatrick · 14-04-2020 4:17am

ShineOn7 wrote: »

I've a friend in the UK who suffers from anxiety and they're now simply not listening to the crazy British figures in the news, but they're still being vigilant

I think this is a good approach. If I lived in Britain or - say - New York right now I think I'd need proper anxiety medicine from my GP

I can relate to this and usually I am the one who keeps a cool head in extreme circumstances and trust me, have been quite a few...it seems the people who are anxiety ridden most times are coolest about this and those of us who normally are on an even keel are very concerned. It works to keep away from social media but like a moth to a flame I return, but...at this stage I am desensitised to it, I've stopped caring...as in I am no longer terrified, I have just got used to it as the new normal, f*ck it now...I am getting loads done around the house and am no longer as scared of it as I was.

I don't know if this helps you at all, but I read your post some time ago and I did not forget it, I'm of a mind now that it is impossible to kill an old basta*d like me...I am due a way more undignified death...probably choking on a chicken bone...:D Face the fear...it stops being so fearful, it does become the new norm, like taxes and death...pun absolutely intended...:)

PTH2009 · 14-04-2020 10:21pm

Anyone a bit anxious when they discover they have a runny/blocked nose and/or a small cough ??

ShineOn7 · 14-04-2020 11:06pm

PTH2009 wrote: »

Anyone a bit anxious when they discover they have a runny/blocked nose and/or a small cough ??

Runny nose isn't a symptom

A dry cough is but not on it's own. You need to have two of the main symptoms before you call anyone as far I'm aware

Look out for psychosomatic symptoms too. I've had these myself once since this began

Strumms · 14-04-2020 11:09pm

PTH2009 wrote: »

Anyone a bit anxious when they discover they have a runny/blocked nose and/or a small cough ??

I have one or two allergies, they can be prevalent especially this time of the year, late spring...about a week ago I had a blocked nose and a very mild cough/tickling in my throat , went in about 48 hours, the same symptoms as I always get, exact same time of year but for a heartbeat despite isolating to the max and following every guideline I went to bed one night slightly fearful I’d wake not being able to breathe... woke the next morning feeling great, non symptomatic but took a while to get to sleep that night...

I’m being rather Hitleresque to any family member ( my old man especially ) who might look like they are ‘thinking’ about so much as bending the regs...this ain’t fun.

PTH2009 · 15-04-2020 1:28am

How would this current issue pair against living through the war ?

The blitzs I imagine were another level to this

DisneyLover · 15-04-2020 7:19am

PTH2009 wrote: »

How would this current issue pair against living through the war ?

The blitzs I imagine were another level to this

Anxiety and mental health issues weren't taken seriously then sure look how long it took them to look into ptsd.

DisneyLover · 15-04-2020 7:21am

ShineOn7 wrote: »

I've a friend in the UK who suffers from anxiety and they're now simply not listening to the crazy British figures in the news, but they're still being vigilant

I think this is a good approach. If I lived in Britain or - say - New York right now I think I'd need proper anxiety medicine from my GP

When I'm in London or NY I find my anxiety halves because I don't know anyone. I got help in hospital for the tube/trains etc and my anxiety is a billion times worse walking down a street with say 5 or 6 people on it than in NY etc where it's jammed lol

Sky news ! Avoid anyway with their big yellow signs that's sets anyone's anxiety off ! And half the time the big sign is something about a celeb being sick

leahyl · 15-04-2020 11:31am

Strumms wrote: »

I have one or two allergies, they can be prevalent especially this time of the year, late spring...about a week ago I had a blocked nose and a very mild cough/tickling in my throat , went in about 48 hours, the same symptoms as I always get, exact same time of year but for a heartbeat despite isolating to the max and following every guideline I went to bed one night slightly fearful I’d wake not being able to breathe... woke the next morning feeling great, non symptomatic but took a while to get to sleep that night...

I’m being rather Hitleresque to any family member ( my old man especially ) who might look like they are ‘thinking’ about so much as bending the regs...this ain’t fun.

I definitely have sinus issues that I've never really done anything about (as in, go to doctor to get proper diagnosis) and with all this going on I've become terribly anxious and so it's making my sinuses worse - tickly throat, having to clear it constantly, sort of muffled in my head, tired, shortness of breath (I've had all this before, it's not covid)....I know it's all the anxiety is making it worse.....if anything this pandemic has made me realise that I have fairly moderate anxiety nearly all the time and it has become way worse since all this started. I think I'll have to go to GP once all this has died down to see if something could be prescribed for it. I also had to take half a diazepam last week (which I had left over from a prescription for a back problem) to relax me because I just couldn't sleep and I think I was having a panic attack of sorts.

I live at home with my parents, both over 70 so I think that's what's the main source of my anxiety.

Phoenix Wright · 15-04-2020 3:05pm

Anyone else finding it impossible to get work done and feeling even more down as a result? My PhD work has gone down the gutter these last five weeks. Worried I'll get in trouble when I email my supervisor even though I've been trying my best to deal with things. There's just too much going on at home and across the country to focus fully and the constant anxiety does not help

Away With The Fairies · 15-04-2020 4:55pm

Phoenix Wright wrote: »

Anyone else finding it impossible to get work done and feeling even more down as a result? My PhD work has gone down the gutter these last five weeks. Worried I'll get in trouble when I email my supervisor even though I've been trying my best to deal with things. There's just too much going on at home and across the country to focus fully and the constant anxiety does not help

I was very down and done very little work with the course I was doing. I have alot to catch up on. Hoping I'll catch up this week since I'm trying to block out the news which has helped a bit so far.

Phoenix Wright · 15-04-2020 5:09pm

I've disabled notifications for my email which has helped a bit and I try to only look at the news after I have finished for the day. My house is full with five other noisy family members which is proving challenging, but hopefully the university will take the difficulties adapting to working from home into account

ShineOn7 · 16-04-2020 3:23pm

Excellent article https://hbr.org/2020/03/that-discomfort-youre-feeling-is-grief

A sample:

"There’s denial, which we say a lot of early on: This virus won’t affect us. There’s anger: You’re making me stay home and taking away my activities. There’s bargaining: Okay, if I social distance for two weeks everything will be better, right? There’s sadness: I don’t know when this will end. And finally there’s acceptance. This is happening; I have to figure out how to proceed."

But the whole thing is worth a read

Not feeling great today as I dragged myself up after just 3 hours sleep to set my crazy sleeping bodyclock right. Time to add to the Distractions List and start on my to do list

jaxxx · 17-04-2020 3:51am

Is there any mental health services going on or are they all shut down the same as most other things? Is counselling considered an "essential" service under COVID19? Not necessarily counselling pertaining to COVID19, let's just say 'other'.

makeandcreate · 17-04-2020 3:56am

jaxxx wrote: »

Is there any mental health services going on or are they all shut down the same as most other things? Is counselling considered an "essential" service under COVID19? Not necessarily counselling pertaining to COVID19, let's just say 'other'.

I think they are operating but not in person - some info here https://www.hse.ie/eng/services/list/4/mental-health-services/connecting-for-life/news/supports-and-services-during-covid-19.html
or call your local counsellor.

dePeatrick · 17-04-2020 4:35am

Phoenix Wright wrote: »

Anyone else finding it impossible to get work done and feeling even more down as a result? My PhD work has gone down the gutter these last five weeks. Worried I'll get in trouble when I email my supervisor even though I've been trying my best to deal with things. There's just too much going on at home and across the country to focus fully and the constant anxiety does not help

Yep, and most other people I communicate with. Same problem, impossible to focus caused by anxiety.

KiKi III · 17-04-2020 9:24am

I’ve started having nightmares again. I actually think it’s more to do with a breakup earlier this year than Covid, but it’s certainly not helping.

It’s annoying because I wake up disoriented and upset and that’s not the best way to start the day.

leahyl · 17-04-2020 10:07am

Went to do the weekly shop this morning. Dunnes opens at 8am so was there for just gone 8 and there was already a queue wrapped around the building....obviously everybody else thinking the same as me "I'll go in early and get out of there fast"

Anyway, it was very well laid out and there wasn't that many people around the supermarket - you could avoid - but my anxiety is up to 90 after it! I feel like it's a race and you're just throwing everything into the trolley as fast as you can :pac:

I need to take a few good deep breaths and relax.

Shopping shouldn't be like this!

fryup · 17-04-2020 10:10am

i'm paranoid that every grocery item i buy is riddled with it...so i sanitise all items

...turning Howard Hughes???

leahyl · 17-04-2020 10:24am

fryup wrote: »

i'm paranoid that every grocery item i buy is riddled with it...so i sanitise all items

...turning Howard Hughes???

Yeah, I try not to get too hung up on that part - it's not possible to sanitise everything - I figure if you just make sure you wash your hands regularly and don't touch your face, you should be fine!

I wore gloves, and then took them off when I got back into the car to go home (left them on the passenger seat floor) and then put them in the bin when I got home. Then I washed my hands when I got in, put away the shopping, washed hands again....:pac:

Foweva Awone · 17-04-2020 2:15pm

jaxxx wrote: »

Is there any mental health services going on or are they all shut down the same as most other things? Is counselling considered an "essential" service under COVID19? Not necessarily counselling pertaining to COVID19, let's just say 'other'.

My appointments with various mental health professionals are all going ahead via phone or video link at the moment.

freshpopcorn · 17-04-2020 2:22pm

Regarding shopping it's one thing I'm happy about is that I live in a small town. It's a lot more relaxed and there's no real queuing.

Jenna James · 17-04-2020 9:26pm

KiKi III wrote: »

I’ve started having nightmares again. I actually think it’s more to do with a breakup earlier this year than Covid, but it’s certainly not helping.

It’s annoying because I wake up disoriented and upset and that’s not the best way to start the day.

Sorry to hear that. I’m also going through a similar experience and can relate.

There’s nothing I can say that will help only maybe that you’re not alone and you’re very strong so give yourself credit for coping however you are. It’s not easy, well done.

Phoenix Wright · 17-04-2020 9:45pm

dePeatrick wrote:

Yep, and most other people I communicate with. Same problem, impossible to focus caused by anxiety.

It's actually horrible! Work just feels so insignificant now, especially when you're trying to keep the spirits of others up too.

ShineOn7 · 18-04-2020 12:08am

Was doing comparatively grand today till I saw something very random on a Social timeline and it snowballed into a wobble.

"TV presenter Kate Garraway's husband is in critical condition with it" says the article so I think "isn't she relatively young?" and start Google'ing his age, had he any underlying symptoms etc.

Turns out he's only 52 and no article mentioned underlying symptoms, so my mind starts to race up (slowly, over the course of a half hour) to panic again.

"He's only 52 and in critical condition, your parents are in their mid 60s and you're not exactly a teenager anymore", and that's - very randomly - what started a wobble today

The hope that this thing has a mortality rate of 0.5% stops me losing the plot when I keep it in mind. But then you see and hear and read of healthy people under 50 dying of it. That's the bit that scares me shítless. The randomness of getting that one particularly nasty strain of it

This thing is a bastárd for you mentally

Hobgoblin11 · 19-04-2020 6:35pm

ShineOn7 wrote: »

Was doing comparatively grand today till I saw something very random on a Social timeline and it snowballed into a wobble.

"TV presenter Kate Garraway's husband is in critical condition with it" says the article so I think "isn't she relatively young?" and start Google'ing his age, had he any underlying symptoms etc.

Turns out he's only 52 and no article mentioned underlying symptoms, so my mind starts to race up (slowly, over the course of a half hour) to panic again.

"He's only 52 and in critical condition, your parents are in their mid 60s and you're not exactly a teenager anymore", and that's - very randomly - what started a wobble today

The hope that this thing has a mortality rate of 0.5% stops me losing the plot when I keep it in mind. But then you see and hear and read of healthy people under 50 dying of it. That's the bit that scares me shítless. The randomness of getting that one particularly nasty strain of it

This thing is a bastárd for you mentally

I’m at my wits end now with it

dePeatrick · 19-04-2020 7:10pm

Hobgoblin11 wrote: »

I’m at my wits end now with it

Yes it's really bad...I discovered that it comes in waves and then you hit a wall...a sort of morbid panic...lasted about 24 hours...hell absolutely! Am slowly getting better now.

I have been researching this since and it seems that what I experienced is common enough. You hit a wall and then improve. From what I read it never happens again, something about the brain rewiring itself to deal with something very new.

Hobgoblin11 · 19-04-2020 7:17pm

dePeatrick wrote: »

Yes it's really bad...I discovered that it comes in waves and then you hit a wall...a sort of morbid panic...lasted about 24 hours...hell absolutely! Am slowly getting better now.

I have been researching this since and it seems that what I experienced is common enough. You hit a wall and then improve. From what I read it never happens again, something about the brain rewiring itself to deal with something very new.

I certainly feel I have hit at least one wall , the only time keeping me sane is saying to myself we are halfway through all this lock down stuff and if we are not I’ll deal with it then I suppose in a similar way

dePeatrick · 19-04-2020 7:23pm

Hobgoblin11 wrote: »

I certainly feel I have hit at least one wall , the only time keeping me sane is saying to myself we are halfway through all this lock down stuff and if we are not I’ll deal with it then I suppose in a similar way

There appears to be a final wall you hit...feels like you are going insane...You'll know when you hit it...total rock bottom...then I was completely drained for a few days, started eating again and returning to normal...no more waves of it coming. I understand exactly how you feel.

wadacrack · 19-04-2020 10:10pm

Its a strange time. Very nostalgic as nothing is happening and its hard to look forward. This has taken a big mental strain and still is. Just try to get through the lull's or tough periods during this lockdown and remember that this is very likely to get better as time goes on. We are now past the peak and while it will still be hard its going to slowly get better as the weeks progress

ShineOn7 · 19-04-2020 10:15pm

I love this thread

That is all. Please continue

PTH2009 · 19-04-2020 10:26pm

2 things I was looking forward to for the rest of the year are now very much in doubt

Concerts- 3 in june and 1 in November
Sport- GAA among other things

A very hard pill to swallow tbh. I suppose its saving me money in a way but its going to be a long long year. I know people are worse off but you have to look after your own needs and happiness for me is going to sport/concerts

Pubs/tourist places opening back up would be something as I could go on day trips

fin12 · 20-04-2020 12:37am

PTH2009 wrote: »

2 things I was looking forward to for the rest of the year are now very much in doubt

Concerts- 3 in june and 1 in November
Sport- GAA among other things

A very hard pill to swallow tbh. I suppose its saving me money in a way but its going to be a long long year. I know people are worse off but you have to look after your own needs and happiness for me is going to sport/concerts

Pubs/tourist places opening back up would be something as I could go on day trips

Was one of the concerts u were going to Guns n Roses? I hope with the concerts they don’t cancel them and just reschedule them till next year. That way u still can look forward to them.

PTH2009 · 20-04-2020 12:42am

fin12 wrote: »

Was one of the concerts u were going to Guns n Roses? I hope with the concerts they don’t cancel them and just reschedule them till next year. That way u still can look forward to them.

Surprising not GNR this time. Down below are the ones I had tickets for. Hopefully they get rescheduled. The who got rescheduled to March 2021

Duran Duran in St Anne's Park
My Chemical Romance in Kilmainham
Green Day in the RDS (Fallout boy and Weezer on the bill too)

Goose76 · 20-04-2020 4:48pm

speckle wrote: »

a routine.
start with getting up at the same time
then night time
after 9pm no screen time
nothing in the bedroom to distract ie tv mobile etc
only what is needed for sleep or sex.
read a book if it helps or relaxing music or meditation that will turn itself off.
if tossing and turning get up for a short time
no excercise immediately before bed
milky drink or check health food shop eg valerian tea etc/check thats ok with gp
make your bedroom your sanctuary
if stresssed write stresses down put in a box
try a sleep reset like below
totally dark room
your body temperature needs to be slightly lower so turn down heat.
maybe open a window a little
do some research online
think beaumount or vincents has a sleep clinic with online resources
some good books/resources available online for free.
hope something helps in that list for starters
ps sometimes we think we are not stressed intellectually but our body and subconcious know a nd we are in the middle of major changes at the moment.

Just want to echo the bolded part - I know the original post is from a while back and the conversation has moved on since then but this is so, so true.

I haven't been crying or losing sleep or feeling depressed etc over the virus. Everyone I know is being sensible, thank god. I'm able to work from home and I'm generally in a good-to-okay mood each day.

I've coped well at adopting an approach of self-care and gentleness towards myself... balanced with a healthy dose of a'cop on and have perspective, you have little reason to worry in your circumstances and people have it much worse than you'. attitude I've been enjoying many aspects of the lockdown and all the time at home.

And yet, , despite all of that, my body is still finding its ways to constantly show me that I'm under stress. My heart rate is about 10 beats per day higher than average. I'm having vivid dreams every night, some disturbing (before all this I would rarely dream at all). My bowel movements are off. I'm very tired even though I have no commute and no early starts anymore. My sex drive is gone. No amounts of meditation, healthy eating and yoga are going to make those subconscious signs of stress go away, even if all the major indicators show everything is fine.

I just wanted to reiterate what speckle said as I know for many people they won't be feeling 'stressed' or anxious as such but they may still be not feeling quite right and subconscious stress could indeed be the reason.

Having said all that though (unpopular opinion perhaps), I do think people need to keep perspective and to try and focus on whats important here. If you still have your job and if you do not have any loved ones who have the virus or symptoms of same, try and keep the chin up. It sucks that things are being cancelled - as someone who was about to book a wedding and take the plunge of my driving test (both of which could be pushed out YEARS now), I get that frustration. But I got a tough love pep talk over the weekend and it helped. Try not to indulge anxiety if its merely caused by disappointment over planned events. There are far more important things out there. It will only add to anxiety about the virus if you allow yourself to be anxious over the more shallow consequences of the lockdown and restrictions as well.

A mixed bag of a post I know but that is my two cents.

Mental health and CoVid-19

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