The 'Positive Mental Health' Corona virus thread Part II

[magimedi]

I hope that RapidRainbow does not mind me starting Part II of the thread - if you do let me know & I'll ask for it to be deleted.

It would just be a shame to not carry on as this is such a positive place.

Part I is here:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/coronavirus/3821799-The-Positive-Mental-Health-Corona-virus-thread?msgid=93901971

The only panda video I know is this one

Thank goodness I found this thread, I'm off sick this week (ironically with a chest infection and a new diagnosis of asthma , I have impeccable timing ) so too time on my hands and feeling ill has really taken its toll on my mental health. Will hide the whole topic I think.

About having a guard-dog, however small: I once heard a (retired, going straight) burglar on Radio 4 talking about his trade and how to avoid being targetted. He said that any dog makes a burglar go next door but small ones more so if anything. This is not because he is afraid of dogs, but because he knows he'll have the book thrown at him if a dog gets hurt while he is a-burgling, and he wouldn't want to risk it.

If I were self-isolating, I would have my books and my computer. That'll do me. I might tidy my study up a bit and deal with the overflowing paperwork, but only if I was desperately bored. Same as any other fortnight really!

Brilliant, I’ll go out and leave the door unlocked!

We once left our door open and went away for a whole weekend by accident (you can't quite see it from the road) and our friendly postman pulled it shut on Saturday morning after shouting to see if anyone was in!

Not relevant to mental health or covid-19 -- well maybe to mental health, thinking about it...

If it was self isolating from even my family and I had to stay in my room all the time I'd be crocheting, reading and watching telly. If it was just a stay at home scenario I'd be out in the greenhouse doing lots of seed sowing etc, tidying the whole house. I'd much rather be at work though.

Both my DC's schools have told us about their contingency plans for teaching remotely if they have to close today, it's amazing what can be done online now.

twitter.com/10DowningStreet/status/1237760980450451456

I found this video reassuring, it's Boris and our Deputy Chief Medical Officer.

I've been avoiding all other CV threads like - well, like the plague - but thank god I've found this.
The stat which really got me was that "most media mentions" previously went to SARS with 50-odd million, but that this has had over one billion

Social media expansion or not that's just downright insane, so it's great to find some positivity at last ... especially since I'm off to the US gulf coast in June and am praying nothing wrecks it

Really glad I found you all. This thread is just what I need to keep a perspective. You remind me of Julie Andrews as Maria in SOM, in that scene during the storm, singing the song about when you scared, think of your favourite things. Mine are kittens. I love cats. And if I’m going to stockpile, I’m going for Pringles, chocolate and wine.

I need some positive reassurance today. Italy freaking the hell out of me

Ok I've been reading other threads and the BBC and frightened myself. Trying to calm down so have come back to my people. Thank God for this thread. DH very calm but I'm mentally climbing the walls at the moment. Mind you I could have done a triple whammy and read the Daily Fail.....

Just to say - I am listening to the news but sticking to R4 - I think it is trustworthy but not sensationalist. It’s the right balance for me - rolling 24 hour news channels have to fill time and for daily mail et al, horror stories sell. For me R4 isn’t burying my head in the sand but isn’t making me panic.

My friend had to self-isolate after a Far East trip. She's moving house so pretty much only has to pack the kettle now

If it were me and I were alone, I'd treat it as a retreat. I would sleep as long as nature and kittens would allow. Like a pp I'd read all the books I've been buying and catch up on the box sets. Fingers crossed the weather would be nice so I could do the garden and enjoy some time sitting out there. Milk & More would do very well out of me.

If I could guarantee not seeing anyone at all, I might see how long my menopausal beard would grow

Believe it or not, the Fail had an article t'other day about how it might not be all that bad... I think someone posted a link in the previous thread.

I am just loving the Pringle panic - you are al welcome to 'em - disgusting things

This is an interesting article - something good nearly always comes out of something bad:

www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/mar/11/gp-coronavirus-challenge-improve-nhs-technology-hygiene

I'm in hr and the number of bizarre anxieties I've dealt with this week is astonishing. One person worried about his hair. Another fretting because the family have run out of loo roll. Numerous other trivial things that wouldn't generally get people worked up.

I've come to the conclusion that anxiety is just in the air at the moment.

I'm trying to be pragmatic. I'm knackered and we have a lovely long haul trip booked last year that we may well not get to go on. On the upside, my house needs redecorating (and I have the paint ready), I have a new home gym, a pile of unread books and we have plenty of room if we all get stuck in.

@alsohuman I think if I were a burglar I'd steal your puppy! She's so cute. I have a Jack Russell - he's 3 and very yappy.

What's the general consensus on here about walking your dog if you are self isolating? I would have thought it was OK as you are outside and even if walking round the streets you could cross the road if someone approached.

Otherwise I would play in the garden with him. And either do a massive books order on Amazon or have a go at getting some books up on DH's kindle.,I may even tackle my ironing

I’m another one that would declutter if I had to self isolate. I like to think I’d read a lot of books but I’ve got a 10 month old so the reality would probably be entertaining her. I suppose on the bright side I could do all those Pinterest type things I never normally get round to doing with the baby

I’m glad I found this thread, but it’s getting so hard to stay positive. Everything that keeps me positive mental health wise normally is being cancelled or becoming unadvisable to do - even just going to the gym 😢. Not to mention my anxiety about my elderly parents. Just finding it really hard to deal with 🙁

carly what about his hair was worrying him?

I don’t like Pringles. Dark chocolate digestives are important though.

PS Carly SO JEALOUS of the home gym!

I’d probably actually start planning for my dream home and draw things!

I want an infinity pool, are they a pain?

I thought this thread was to keep us away from things like the above :-(

Yes Dusty, I think you’re on the wrong thread.

Easy to do with so many threads on this, but this is the positive one.

Someone already mentioned the science of soap destroying viruses but I found this article (based on a Twitter thread by a Chemistry professor) helpful/reassuring.

www.vox.com/science-and-health/2020/3/11/21173187/coronavirus-covid-19-hand-washing-sanitizer-compared-soap-is-dope

The original tweets are informative and the article helps explain, but here's the final paragraph:

"As I’m washing with soap and water and counting to 20, I’m going to imagine a battle being waged on the nano-scale in the teeny-tiny folds of my skin. The soap is charging in, sticking to viruses (as well as dirt and other grease), and tearing them apart in brutal, heroic fashion. It’s almost like the Avengers, but better. Because it’s real. And it can help stop the spread of this outbreak."