The 'Positive Mental Health' Corona virus thread Part III

[DaffodilThatch]

Think would be good to keep this thread going! Will link to the previous threads in a bit.

I'm a techno div and I've still not worked how to hide most cv topics but leave the ones I like!?!

This might cheer some and others not so much

Choirmaster extraordinaire Gareth Malone is looking to set up a virtual choir. And in football Gary Neville ex of Manchester United is opening his hotels to accommodate NHS staff.

Btw I failed my one science o'level but I bloody love scientists. They are ace! 😍

Sorry badly spaced. I'm sure everyone will be glad of what Gary Neville is doing

I'm a scientist and I have to say I'm very proud of the work my fellow scientists are doing right now.

ExpletiveDelighted I think we all are! My science knowledge ends with a GCSE, and I am astounded at their intellect and knowledge.

Dappledsunshine, thanks for sharing that.. those trials sound extremely positive!

I feel considerably less anxious hovering around this thread and avoiding the frightening ones

I've just had my first panic attack. I'm terrified. I don't know where else to post. What do I do? How can I stop it happening again?

There are loads of tips for panic attacks.

Tapping quickly on various parts of your body helps. It distracts your brain, it can’t panic attack and tap at the same time.

Breathing and telling it to go away are good ones. “Go away, I’m not dying this is a panic attack, I know you, go away” in your head or not is good.

It’s hard to prevent, but teaching yourself tricks and how to recognise the start of them will prevent them taking hold.

If you make your out breath a bit longer than the in breath this can activate a calming response, we do this in yoga. basically when you breathe out, hold it there for a few seconds. counting in for 4 and out for six. gives a break from thinking also. I like the calm or headspace apps also

Just reading bak through the thread, yes I think many people must also be concerned about the school and nursery closures, mine are older and concerned I don't understand what they have to learn etc (11 and 15) bt they are getting stuff sent home till Easter.

I've two boys and we live in a flat...but guess we can get out to the park for walks etc. It helped me to think at least it is spring and could get out and take our sandwiches maybe sit under some trees...nad of course won't miss the school run.

maybe planning some ideas might help and when mine were little I remember sometimes the simple things are good, helping with tasks at home like laundry and cooking for example, you can have a routine at home also, we used to e.g. play / cook / walk, then lunch and a nap, I remember. I miss those days, while also remembering how relentless it could be at times. Oh, remembering to try and take a bit of time to yourself also e.g. when napping. Kind thoughts

sorry for typos, just woke up!

You can make pyaydough at home with flour, oil and different colourings. can collect eg.. leaves and twigs to make patterns in it. little DC can be happy with small things, playing bubbles in the sink, bashing pots and pans, etc making simple cookies.

National Trust is opening garners of properties for free

Yoga with Adriene has put together a playlist called yoga for uncertain times on her YouTube channel. I haven’t looked at it yet, but I will later. She has some nice calming practices, I’d expect it to be these.

I like that yoga, and her dog! NHS also has lots of exercises online too. I've got some hand weights and yoga mat etc so might try some...

I’m trying to figure out how I can replicate my gym workout at home with a resistance band and no weights! Reckon I can do it with the step stool and a couple of tins though 💪

Choirmaster extraordinaire Gareth Malone is looking to set up a virtual choir.

And I love that it's called "Home Malone"

@peachgreen thank you so much for taking the time to reply and give me those positives, I really appreciate it and this kind space. You are right, got to find the positives and things to be grateful for. Hard though it may be.

I love yoga with Adrienne so will definitely check that out.

Five minute mum on instagram and also has a book has lots of good ideas of things to do at home with littler ones.

I am enjoying the fact the mornings are light now.

Sending kind thoughts @M0reGinPlease

Both the tapping and breathing tips above have worked for me before. When breathing out I imagine I’m trying to blow a candle flame really gently without actually blowing it out if that makes sense? Gives me something to visualise (this is something we were taught in pregnancy yoga as a labour technique but I’m finding it useful for this too)

Just having a mopey moment. I’ve just emailed school to tell them that DD won’t be in for the next two days (she’s asthmatic and goes downhill quickly with respiratory viruses). So I’m in need of some positivity

Off to sort out DPony and her friend shortly
DBunny is hopping around the patio, he knows that better weather and longer days are ahead

Corona good news stories Practically no new cases in China and new cases slowing in Italy which suggests they're just coming out of the peak.

Yes, yes, I know it's the Daily Mirror but we love a bit of good news don't we?

I didn't know about the Disney Plus deal! Thanks for mentioning that, everyone who has.

DS loves cooking and baking, I think the coming weeks will be a great time to teach him how to make basics from scratch. We've tried stuff like making our own flatbreads and pasta before, cheap ingredients but some practice involved to perfect the technique - now's the time!

Also contemplating getting him a ukulele or child-size guitar on-line, when they were doing uke at school for a few weeks he mentioned in passing that he had learnt chords they hadn't taught yet by looking at the posters on the wall, so he might be able to teach himself, with a little help.

Right now I'm really appreciating the kind of child that he is - he can drive me nuts but he is endlessly fascinated by the world and happy to try new things.

@Millie2013 any chance of a picture of Dbunny and Dpony ?

There are some good Home Education groups on Facebook that are opening up to all parents to help share tips on what you can do at home with the kids. I’ve found a really good one called Home with the Kids.

I love yoga with Adrienne and subscribe to her Find What Feels Good app, thoroughly recommend it, I often tune in to a meditation session in the middle of the night if I can’t sleep. I am planning to do it with DD, every other day.

I did a bit of my own style of panic buying yesterday. Braved Morrison’s for a packet of stamps and a bag of lettuce leaves 😂. The panic bit was in relation to posting my Mother’s Day card.

Just joining the thread as want to keep some positive vibes going!

First day working from home today. My work finally conceded that it was inevitable. Up until that point I have been commuting into london everyday. Everything in central london is about 90% deserted, so the question posed at the briefing last night about tubes/buses being rammed full is complete media fiction. So that is a positive, people actually adhering to the advice.

I have some plants to pot today, so was going to do that in my lunch break. They are bellis and look like alien flowers. I glanced out the window last night and saw them starting to wilt so had to quickly revive them! Poor things had been forgotten about!

Also plan to practice my guitar a lot and hopefully level up my skills. Maybe once this is all over I will treat myself to a new one.