The positive mental health thread part 6

[Bunnyflop]

Morning all! Welcome to the new thread!

The whole supermarket thing stresses me out completely! I'd be fine if there was no one else in there!

I did find a nice podcast to listen to, think it has really helped to keep my anxiety at bay this week. It's called And Breathe with Rebecca Dennis. There are exercises for about 15 mins concentrating on deep breathing. It's helped with that chest tightness /hyper vigilant feeling i've had for what feels like weeks now. I only use Castbox but imagine it's on other pod cast apps.

@M0reGinPlease but why are we all social distancing then?

I just don't have a problem with someone walking past me that's all 🤷🏻‍♀️ I don't think it's the same as lingering in someone's space.

I think it's more that we have to have a blanket rule re distance, which has been set at 2m, but within that rule some situations are more dangerous than others. So passing someone quickly is less risky than coughing or sneezing in front of them, or standing talking (and breathing over each other). As you don't get much warning of a cough or sneeze it's important to try and keep >2m apart, but I wouldn't worry too much if someone briefly passed closer to me so long as they didn't linger, cough, sneeze, speak in that time.

The old advice about coughing and sneezing into your elbow or upper arm so that your mouth and nose are covered ought to help, I would've thought. It must stop the droplets from spreading beyond your own sleeve, and that has to be a good thing?

@M0reGinPlease it's the spontaneous sneeze or cough that makes me anxious about the social distancing though (thank you BBC for the supermarket CGI vision of how far that spreads and lingers, across the aisles!).

I somehow managed to get a home delivery slot for Sunday! I did have to download 4 apps to multi check availability at random times at all hours, but it worked finally -

Decided to stock up on some baby essentials, and have found a brilliant butcher (who's usually too expensive to use for a weekly) but doing deli boxes for really a reasonable cost and delivery.

I'm meal planning for next week now, alongside activity plans for the Dds....They're not sleeping well through the nights atm, to be expected as their not burning off enough energy as they usually would...I'm thinking of moving some furniture into the garage and making a more open space- it already looks like a nursery in here (I've set up a 'book corner', 'castle/ fairy corner', painting/drawing in a put me up playpen!) So might as well go all out!

Afternoon nap times still seem to be working, which does give me an hour to have a re-sort, cook dinner, hoover...and an essential cuppa and some time on here, spouting!

The point of the social distancing is that you never know who around you is going to cough or sneeze.

Anyway.

I’ve fallen into an absolute pit of despair this afternoon. My body dysmorphia problems are awful and I keep thinking I’m so ugly I should die.

Sorry to lower the tone.

oh @bunnyflop !

I don’t know what to practically suggest and I don’t know if it helps to know I’m sure all of us here are mentally sending you virtual ropes to pull you out of that pit. Hope you are feeling more positive soon

Bunnyflop

It must be horrible to have those kind of thoughts in your head. Is there anything that helps you feel better when this happens? I’m sure everyone here is rooting for you. I know I am x

My seeds just arrived! Thank you so much Pinkarsedfly

You’re welcome, Idris

Hi all, haven’t posted for a bit as I’ve had nothing much positive to add. Been feeling a bit meh, like every day is blending into the next without much to differentiate one from another.

However today I tried to snap myself out of it, for my first lot of scrub bags and hats finished and washed ready for collection, and painted a rainbow with DS which we’re going to stick out the front on a sign. Tomorrow we’re going to do some gardening and perhaps also go for a family bike ride. So trying to hang onto the positives.

Just jogging on through, really. Hope you’re all ok x

I had a similar experience in a supermarket Bunnyflop and it surprised me how rattled it left me. I do think it's actually very unlikely to have caused you any issues but it's not really the point. Even post-lockdown it really would be better if people keep 6ft apart if possible to minimise spread. It feels horrible when someone else gets too close and you get your choice taken away from you and a nurse should have known better

With the body dysmorphia, I can relate. Can you recognise that your body is the same as maybe last week when you weren't feeling like this? Can you dig out a couple of photos of yourself you love and list why you love them? Can you think of a few reasons your friends or your children might value you that has nothing to do with your body? Can you spot what triggered the feelings to come up? If I gain a little weight I know that can be a bad trigger for me as things feel out of proportion in terms of how much I've gained.

I had a good day. I spoke to a friend who has been to visit her mum and I do think people are slipping with that now. I think we're all getting desperate to be around other people. I would so benefit from a weekend away. Anywhere would do. I haven't felt as scared today which is nice. I'm off to potter in the garden but am going to stick some red lipstick on first

Good to ‘see’ you again Spudlet . I was thinking earlier it feels we’ve been missing a few ‘regulars’ recently. Hope everyone is okay.

With the body dysmorphia, I can relate. Can you recognise that your body is the same as maybe last week when you weren't feeling like this? Can you dig out a couple of photos of yourself you love and list why you love them? Can you think of a few reasons your friends or your children might value you that has nothing to do with your body? Can you spot what triggered the feelings to come up? If I gain a little weight I know that can be a bad trigger for me as things feel out of proportion in terms of how much I've gained.

Yeah well I am a stone over my happy weight and it weighs heavily on me. But even without that I’m paranoid about how I look. I saw some photos of very attractive women pop up on my Instagram search function and it sent me on a shame spiral. I had some BDD therapy with a nurse at the Maudsley and it was great but there is so much to try and stay on top of every day and I find it really hard. I know my hubby and son love me exactly as I am (and ds looks a lot like me, complete with my teeth, but I think he is gorgeous) but this illness is like a mind blindness and I cannot see clearly to stop the thoughts.

Sorry for bringing the jolly tone down guys. Here’s some pics of Henry with his new chew toys.

Don’t apologise @Bunnyflop. We all have our own stuff, believe me!
Sending you a hug. 😘
Henry looks very happy with his new toys. X

Omg just catching up on here and didn't realise it was so late. All my timings are out of whack!

Didn't help that kind of thing that, for boring reasons, we had Sunday lunch today. So I'll be even more confused than I normally am.

This evening the 4 of us in the house did a quiz together, with Dh socially distanced in his study, on FaceTime. It worked very well.

God I miss cuddles though! ☹️

Hello all,

Sorry, I have been AWOL for a few days, because...meh and my phone keeps reverting to desktop view (I don't have the app)

@Bunnyflop, I hope things are looking a little brighter today, loving the Henry pics! Give him a nose rub from me. I managed to get George some of his favourite carrot "biscuits" the other day and he was super excited, he literally snatches them off me. I have to break them up and limit him. They taste of cardboard, I really can't see the appeal

@UpOnDown, over due a catch up with you guys, hang on...

Hello all, I’ve been following but not posting much on these threads.
Definitely struggling a bit over the last few days. I think at the start of the lockdown there was initial shock and grief but then it felt like there was a spirit of yes let’s do this, let’s get through it. Now 5 weeks on and I feel like a sense of malaise has kicked in, the realisation this could go on for a very long time ...
Am trying hard to counteract this though. I’ve been meditating every morning. Trying to remind myself to take some time for myself each day. And having a few days not drinking (I don’t usually drink much but have had more than usual in the last 4 weeks so that won’t help!)

Morning everyone.

Helpful Kittens have recovered well from their ops but I'm having the devil's own job keeping them in.

With one thing and another I've had a really stressful week and yesterday I just hit a wall. Tears and everything. Even a drinks video chat with my three best friends didn't really do the trick.

I know I've put on a bit of weight so I've banned DH from bringing biscuits into the house as they are my downfall!

Anyway I've got over myself and feeling much better today. DH has gone to work this morning so I'm planning to blitz the house and look forward to our big family quiz tonight. I'm going to wear my Cilla Black wig and am expecting a lorra lorra laffs

I've been wearing my normal make up and work clothes during the week as I think it really normalises things for me. I had a bit of a spree before lockdown so I've been wearing my new clothes too. No point in saving them is there?

But first more tea in my weekend cup.

Sorry a lot of people are struggling. Hugs all.

@Millie2013 do you let George into the garden? Henry hasn’t been in ours yet, I’m worried he might eat a plant that affects him, or he gets fly strike.

Bloodybackpain - yep to the malaise setting in and struggling with how long this will go on for; everyone I’ve talked to this week has felt the same. I keep reminding myself most predictions aren’t right, and not to pay them much heed; there’s still a lot we don’t know and much could happen to change things that we haven’t predicted.

I’ve also put on a bit of weight - think it’s all the baking. I gave up sugar for a bit back before Christmas and felt really good on it, but baking is one of the few things that holds my 4yo’s attention and morning and afternoon snack times are a high point of the day for everyone so it’s not the time for me to do anything about it yet!

Anyone else want to share pictures of relaxing/meditative distractions? Colouring/jigsaws/other things I haven’t thought of??? Here’s a page out of one of my DC’s sticker books that I stole - loved doing this!