Coping strategies

[dollychopss]

What coping strategies do you use to cope with this situation.

I feel like everyone else can see no end and actually have some very dark days so just wanted to see how you cope

I found this really helpful early on

www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-hampshire-52085862

I have a routine that I stick to, it really helps. I have to get out and exercise, even if it is a walk or my mood really lowers. I am back at the gym and it has really helped.

I just feel it is never going to end :-(

My husband was a submariner. Lockdown wasn't a problem at all for him. All about routine

Not read the news too much, and focus on the now. Are you ok right now? Also change your pleasures. Accept life can’t be like it was so find joy in new, simple things. I love a paperback book and colouring!

I am taking photos so I can make up a covid diary to show the grandkids
Don't actually have grandkids you understand, but helps me remember one day it will all be over

Just taking it a day at a time.

This week whilst the kids are still at school I have decluttered their toys as much as I can, they hate throwing things away.

Just trying to make the house as nice an environment as I can as we are going to be in it all winter I envision.

Focus on what you can do and not on what you can't.
I always used to hate routine but it is actually very good for people.
Getting out in the fresh air.

Don't plan for the "middle distance". Plan little treats to look forward to in the week ahead, and think about things you might like to do in 5 years time, and push everything else out of your mind - definitely don't think about Christmas!

Don't try to predict the future, and don't read articles speculating about what will happen.

Try to think of positives you might want to take with you out of this - Ive just completed a distance-learning course, got back into playing the piano, and completed a couple of big things that have sat on my jobs list for far too long.

Books for escapism, daily routine walk (drive somewhere nice for it if allowed), regular contact eg weekly virtual quiz. We do takeaway and film on a Sat so feels a bit different to look forward to.

I'm not thinking to far ahead and to the annoyance of my husband trying to be positive, I'm doing lots of exercise which really helps and started weight watchers recently which has given me something to focus on also read and watch a lot of Netflix! Lots of things to distract away from what's going on

I don’t know how people are coping. Before this I had a very full life and was barely home...all of the things I loved involved being away from the house and with people and now cannot be done/are about to be taken away. I’ve tried the routine, new hobbies, books, walks you name it but it doesn’t measure up and I feel like a hermit despite hiking what feels like a million miles a week. I suffered from depression in my early twenties and never left the house...it took me years to recover and build myself back up and it feels like I’ve been transported back to being a prisoner in my own home albeit now for a different reason.