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 hadn’t realised the other one was full.

In our family we have two fairly frail, elderly relatives. It is our first, 23-year-old who has a cough, a bit of a temperature and a tight chest. He is very sporty - I always said all that fitness stuff was bad for you!

Just thought you all might like this.

This is article is interesting, and has some positivity!

m.calcalistech.com/Article.aspx?guid=3800632

That is a very reassuring article thereplycamefromanchorage

Especially this:

"The Diamond Princess was the worst case scenario, according to Levitt. “If you compare the ship to a country—we are talking 250,000 people crowded into one square kilometer, which is horribly crowded. It is four times the crowding in Hong Kong. It is as if the entire Isaeli population was crammed into 30 square kilometers.” Furthermore, he said, the ship had a central air conditioning and heating system and a communal dining room. “Those are extremely comfortable conditions for the virus and still, only 20% were infected. It is a lot, but pretty similar to the infection rate of the common flu"

Great idea about bike riding Assangescat! My 7yo hasn’t learnt yet (very nervous and never agreed to take stabilisers off then we just gave up) and we have been waiting for a good time to really push that; self-isolation/ school closure would be perfect!

Also off to look up NT properties near me. I am thinking beaches will also be good once it’s a touch warmer - we have some nice ones nearish and keep children very well entertained for the day with no need to be near other people or touch surfaces etc.

So reassuring @thereplycamefromanchorage. Thank you.

Thechampagne I try to remind myself that of all the people tested, only a few actually had it. So all of those people were probably suffering from colds, flu and other rubbish things going around at the moment.

callybird I have a 6 year old dd who also needs to learn to ride her bike, she won't let us take the stabilizers off so maybe that can be our aim too! Even just having a go up and down the garden.

When I was younger I was quite a bit of a hypochondriac. In recent years I have been so much better but today I keep thinking my throat and ear are sore. In fact my sore throat 'came on' yesterday when my bil was telling me it can start that way...Any advice for stopping my psychosomatic symptoms?!

On a more positive point, tonight I am joining my Pilates class through FaceTime!

I just broke my own rule and read a very distressing article. I'm in tears and shaking. Anybody able to offer any words of comfort?

SureTry, HonestlyItsFine, Noooblerooble, gingerbreadslice
Thank you ladies

Joining as my anxiety is awful at present.

My positive is that Frozen 2 is now on Prime!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 👏🏻😊

I have JUST started Last Tango in Halifax. Thank you bbc i-player.

I'm quite anxious this evening as well

I'm still staying away from the news!

There is also this thread which you may find helpful. Mindfulness Support Thread www.mumsnet.com/Talk/coronavirus/3849530-mindfulness-support-thread

I'm finding this daily briefing followed by the six o clock news very stressful, going to try and tune out from that a bit and just gather any new information afterwards. I can't help feel it is all being stressed to make us comply more such as using a stick to show how far apart the presenters are, that kind of thing.

I've started watching this as well something nice and simple to.watch makes such a difference xx

I don’t watch tv news anyway (I am allergic to hearing Donald Trump’s voice, it brings me out in a rash and makes me want to smash the tv), but I’m certainly not watching the briefings. I catch up online on the bbc website in my own time. Remember, you can always decide when and how much information you want to take on board at any one time. Xxx

thereplycamefromanchorage thank you so much. My mental health is in a spin but reading stuff like that is helping me cling on. So grateful to read any good news

I also find this site difficult (not this thread though, it is helpful and more normal) but the rest if it..adds at extra layer of guilt and worry over my reaction and behaviour, on top of all the general stress about the virus and news / money etc. It cam be overwhelming. Going to really try and not follow some of the stuff on this site to help myself I think, and tune out a bit. It can make you feel guilty for leaving the house, FFS

Those of you who like this thread might like this one as well. Normality chat www.mumsnet.com/Talk/_chat/3844844-Mundane-chat-thread-Routine-Normal-Grounding

It's very easy to be overwhelmed sometimes. I find that the thing to do if I start to think in a negative way is to embark on a medium-difficult thing that I have to concentrate on. There doesn't seem to be room in my head for a crossword and cv19 at the same time! Baking works as well, until it is actually in the oven; so does doing some mending, believe it or not. Tidying up too, because you have to think all the time about where things ought to go.

Something productive and achievable. Yes.

Yes when I had panic attacks that led on to generalised anxiety about ten years ago I read loads of self help books and articles. One really helpful bit of advice was about the right level of distraction; reading a book might be too difficult for some people, not enough distraction; unless it's exactly the right type of book you're already involved in. The author of the advice chose to take up photography. Something most of us can do on our phones. Taking close ups of household objects etc. I tried it a bit and also a bit of drawing (I'm not very good) but looking at the light and shade of things and the shape rather than trying to draw a flower or whatever.

Sorry a waffled on a bit there.

@HonestlyItsFine massive virtual hug to you. What are your usual calming strategies? I’m listening to stories on the moshi twilight app which is for kids but works for me as well.