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 wouldn't dare say this on the main thread but is anyone still seeing close family provided they're low risk and symptomless?

No, sorry. No non-essential social contact as per government advice. Essential means you live with them, provide essential care for them or deal with them as a key worker. Please let’s all do our best and get rid of this thing sooner!

My positive today is just all the good deeds I’m seeing. Shops giving out free drinks to NHS workers, companies making free content available for isolated people etc. Particular fave from this morning is the lovely Arran soap people giving free soap to everyone on the island.

My BIL is an a and e doctor and says it is fine to see small groups of family if outside and keeping a distance. So that is what we are going to do I think.

I have made DS a snack box for the day after seeing the idea online so hopefully that will save me from the endless snack requests.

That’s a great idea and I don’t know why I didn’t think of that. Whenever my youngest (24 with SN) has had to stay home from school or they’ve been out for lunch, she loves the fact that she has her full lunch bag for the next day. She just has what is in that for her lunch, because she can have it in her room while chatting to her friend on FaceTime. I can make up her bag in the morning. Thank you.

Be more Loki,

I dared to go onto the BBC News site just now.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-51963446

I needed to find this thread

A friend has just shared this with me - I thought some of you might like it as much as I did. I'm going to print it out and put it up somewhere I can see it often

Our ocado driver this morning was very cheerful and pragmatic. He said they are busy but he didn't sound at all overwhelmed or stressed. I had a nice chat to him (from a distance of course!).

My order was a bit weird as I'd booked it a while ago and then wasn't able to edit it. The only soap available was Method which costs about 3 times what I'd normally pay for soap, but I've just used some and it's bloody lovely!

My delivery of six bottles of my favourite deliciously scented (and expensive) hand wash has just arrived. It makes the endless hand washing a little more uplifting. I think finding pleasure in small things will really help our mental health, so will acknowledging that life will be diffierent and not focussing on the things that have gone.

Great find, StCharlotte! Also thanks to Zoidberg, I found it very useful and a good reminder. I will try to refer back to it often to ground myself.

I just wanted to report back about my husband's supermarket trip for others that are worried about the situation at the shops like me. He went for opening at 7am and said the queue was long when he got there and so he waited in the car (social distancing) BUT when they opened up he got in fine and got everything on the list except one item (bread flour). We even got toilet roll, milk, bread and eggs (just normal weekly shop, we normally get a delivery but have decided to brave the shops and not use up delivery slots unnecessarily). He said stock levels in general were totally fine, except for toilet roll and they were expecting another delivery of that later apparently. He gave some of the toilet roll from his trolley to an elderly lady who was upset in the loo roll aisle as she was too late to get some (he had two four packs).

So all in all, a bit stressful because it was busy but able to get pretty much everything. Hopefully the new measures they've introduced limiting people in how much they can buy of things will start to make a difference.

The sun is shining here and it makes such a difference to everything. So pleased spring is in the air!

@Alsohuman I think it will change people. My DH, who needs a lot of 'encouragement' to recycle properly is talking about using re-usable nappies and is making sure we're all really careful not to waste any food. It will be interesting to see whether there are long term changes in people's attitudes, and companies too in terms of home/ flexible working.

Handwash was one of the things we couldn't get! I have quite a few bar soaps but just a bit annoying as they are tricker for DD to use.

Beautiful sunny day here so the dog and I will head out later. I'm having a lazy morning as I'm working tomorrow.

Had a bit of a wobble last night, I'm a keyworker and had been talking to the school about sending my children in and suddenly it all seemed too real.

But then this morning, the doomsayer friend posted saying she'd had a rethink and was feeling less terrified. I've spent an hour sending funny youtube clips back and forth to another friend and DH voluntarily changed a toilet roll that he didn't need to use!! Strange times are afoot!

I've started keeping a diary, just to have a record of these times, nothing too deep, just various difficulties I've encountered, thoughts and worries and cheery things.

I’m public sector Totally and will absolutely be paying everyone I usually do as I consider myself fortunate right now.

Most of my commitments are things like yoga, DDs music teacher and sports, all run by hardworking lovely self employed people.

We’re social distancing at a county park, there’s a dog here called Eammon 😂

@T0tallyFuckedUpFamily I'm a sitter and dog walker too. Nice to see you here.

All of my sitting jobs are cancelled, which is to be expected of course. Three have asked me to invoice anyway, they are just so kind- I'm not sure I can do it though, just feels wrong!

I expected all my dog walking clients to cancel. But only two have so far. I'm amazed and pleased- being out with the dogs the most joyful thing at the moment.

Handwash was one of the things we couldn't get

I can send you some if you’re desperate.

Just back from my run. Miscalculated my route and ended up popping out onto the road in the wrong place, so ended up doing an extra half k to find the car 😂

Plenty of people around in the distance, getting some safe sunshine and fresh air.

I’m never exactly speedy but today I took all the pressure off, walked a bit of I wanted to and stopped to take plenty of pictures. It felt like the right way to be.

@Alsohuman aw thank you so much for offering, but we'll be fine with the bars, it's no major hardship! I just had a quick look and M&S have some handsoap and lotion gift sets I could get. I'm hoping it will all calm down in the next couple of weeks anyway.

We're planning to get out for a walk this afternoon as well, beautiful sunshine here. DD is in an awful mood already so hoping that will cheer her up a bit!

@gingerbreadslice

Still want a kitten?

I like the post about things we can control etc, a good reminder, thanks.
Had been getting a little frustrated with others and their reactions at times (DH in particular) and helps with that.

I wondered on mental health how others are finding the cleaning etc, does anyone feel like they might be having a mild kind of OCD, I think I am a little, cleaning makes me feel calmer but going to have to keep a check on not doing too much of it.

Very little toilet roll around but DH told me he has some kim wipe (?) from his work we can use, the blue roll stuff! Made me smile.

I am so glad to have found you all. We've been in isolation for the past week as DH may or may not have had the virus but either way he's been really poorly. Yesterday I was just in pieces and cried nearly all day. Today I've deleted Facebook and Twitter from my phone and the relief is immense.

@CommanderShepard welcome. Sorry to hear about your DH, I hope he will feel better soon. I've also felt so much better since deleting Twitter and BBC News from my phone. Stay with us, this is the calm place!

@Orangeblossom78 I did bleach the door handles the other day after someone mentioned it on here! I think I know the blue stuff you mean, just wouldn't put it down the loo as don't think the drains would like it! Reminds me of being on holiday in Greece where you can't even put loo roll in the loo!

I’ve deleted all social media and feel
So much better for it!

The rest of MN seems a little OTT and anxiety provoking today so have put it in the computer 'bin' again and bookmarked this thread instead.

Some nice self care stuff here. I like the Blurt foundation

www.blurtitout.org/2020/03/17/coronavirus_mental_health/