The positive mental health thread:-pt 5

[tobee]

How's that?

Oh and this also might not be helpful but I saw a clip on the news of a GP a few weeks back who was giving an interview as she was isolating at home with the virus and whilst clearly well enough to be on live TV, she was quite breathless when speaking. It was just like when you walk somewhere a bit too fast and then try to speak - you have to stop every few words. I don’t think “can’t take a full breath in” is quite the same- that seems to me like anxiety. Obviously I’m no doctor but it helped me to see when I’m just anxious and when I’m actually “breathless”.

@BatCountry , @AskingQuestionsAllTheTime
@Arcadia Thank you all for the tips I've screenshot them to practise them now I've calmed down my breathing is fine so it's got to be anxiety again I don't know what triggered it off at all

@gingerbreadslice sometimes it’s very hard to decipher what can trigger that- take it from someone who has years of experience! It really is so awful. I’m glad you are feeling better, maybe try and do everything you can to fill your day with joy? Focus on that above all else.

@gingerbreadslice - I’m also getting this at the moment. Also nausea/dizziness and shakes etc., All of which I’ve had many many times and I know are almost 100% sure to be anxiety related... but still after years of this I can’t just stop it or shut out entirely the little voice saying ‘but what if it’s something else...’

However, I have lots of ways I cope:

• counting up in multiples of 3 or 4 as high as I can go and then down again. Or even just counting down from a hundred. The paramedic in the ambulance I was in with my first full on panic attack got me doing this and is surprisingly effective sometimes

• getting outside. Always good. Even an open window is good, looking at the sky.

• knitting or anything else repetitive your fingers can focus on. And jigsaw puzzles. Anything requiring low level of focus but calming and using your hands

• lying down. Even for ten seconds or twenty seconds just lying flat on the floor like a yoga savasana can make me feel quite a lot better quite quickly. Get up slowly

• tensing all your muscles for a few seconds and then releasing them all a few times

• sipping a cup of water slowly, or better, hot tea as you automatically do a lot of long out-breaths cooling it and it’s comforting

• I really like the guided meditations on self-compassion.org by Kristin Neff. All about feeling and allowing your feelings and bodily sensations rather than trying to avoid and shut them down

• laughter. Funny podcast, tv show etc.

Now I am going to make myself a cup of tea as I am feeling like I could do with this right now too!

I think watching some comedy on YouTube is a good anxiety buster too. I like That Mitchell and Webb look. Giggling makes your breathing calm down especially if you can stick with watching something for a good while. Puppy videos are a good alternative. I swear watching them is better than taking drugs. They might not make you laugh but they do relax you pretty deeply and distract you from your thoughts. You Tube has got me through some very sad times.

Thank you very much @Jrobhatch29 very interesting and positive reading

Hope everyone is doing ok today

For those that saw my post about the acupressure Mat, used it again last night and wow my sleep was amazing . Slept approx 11pm to 9am, honestly feel a new woman today haha x

@Bunnyflop I just got dressed properly for the first time in about ten days I've been getting washed and showered and straight in to pjs, today I've put a bit of makeup and my favourite perfume on and wearing jeans and I feel a bit more me and relaxed now. I think I've worked out what's set me off, my partner is returning to work tomorrow in a supermarket and it's just sunk in how nervous I am.
We did some role play for a laugh on potential things that might happen for example someone crashing in to him with a trolley whilst he's doing stuff, I hit in to him with so much force by accident I knocked him on his bum into the airing cupboard. I laughed so much like that in ages

@Callybrid That's exactly it for me I think oh what if? And then I'm off googling . I've stopped it now and I found a yoga channel on YouTube I'm going to try that again never really done it before but I do enjoy it so much

ginger my dh is going back to work next week for some essential works, I'm feeling nervous and unsettled today too. I'm just feeling very sort of rabbit in the headlights can't get on and do anything. Making myself go for a walk has helped. Hope you're feeling a bit better now

@foxessocks I feel a lot better now, sorry you have the same worry too.
I feel the same just sort of don't know what to do or expect when he's home from work it'll be strange as usually we all greet him at the door and just have family time. I don't know whether to keep him in another room or what? I won't share my bed with him i feel awful saying that to him but I'm too nervous to even consider it.

@gingerbreadslice 😁 I’m glad you’re feeling a bit better. I can totally understand your feelings about your OH but I guess what we all have to remember is that while the headlines are scary the chance of getting the virus/ getting it badly is still incredibly slim. There are 70 million of us in this country. That’s not in any way to diminish what people are going through, but just a way to look at it more rationally. By the way, my therapist taught me the 54321 if I feel my brain spiralling- so you sit down quietly and look around you...

5- look at 5 different things around in the room, noting what they are
4- touch 4 different things around you, note how they feel
3- listen for 3 different sounds around you
2- see if you can detect 2 different smells
And 1- note what you can taste (if anything)

It’s a really useful technique and I do it all the time.

Have had a decent day today, went for a long walk with ds, ate some mini eggs (too many), spoke to a few neighbours, noticed lots of people sitting out the front of their houses talking with their neighbours at a distance, and I thought to myself how lovely, and I hope if nothing else that this situation brings about societal change in that way.

Our caterpillars have become chrysalides! There’s 3 hanging and 2 on the ground of the butterfly habitat. Will update when they start hatching out.

@gingerbreadslice my DH works in the hospital (not clinical) and has throughout the whole period. It's stressed me out a lot initially but I'm used to it now. We still cuddle but I must say I don't want to get closer then that at the moment if you know what I mean! (he's too tired anyway!)
I think cuddles are important. Obviously if he falls ill we'll sleep separately.

My mum has been taken into hospital and I can’t visit her. It’s very hard as she’s very poorly.

Not feeling too good tonight.

I shall cross my fingers for her speedy recovery, Pinkarsedfly.

Thank you. The doctor said the next 24 hours are crucial

I must add, it’s not Covid19

If you can give some idea of what is wanted, I can be more specific in what I request for her. Not if it would be outing or you don't want to, obviously.

 @Pinkarsedfly

She has sepsis. Very very poorly.

OK. I'll hope that she receives the best and most appropriate treatment for her particular sort of sepsis, responds quickly to the treatment, and is herself again as soon as may be.

And look after yourself too.

@Pinkarsedfly I’m so sorry that your mum is poorly. I will keep all of my fingers crossed and hope she is better very quickly x

Thank you, Asking.

Thank you all.

Oh goodness, I’m so sorry pinkarsedfly.

Do you have people around to lean on right now? If you feel like talking about it, how are you getting updates?

Holding you and her and everyone caring for her in my thoughts.

Thank you Callybrid. I have my husband and sons around me and my siblings and I are in constant touch.

My sister is liaising with the hospital and relaying the news as we don’t want to bombard with them with calls when they are so busy.