War & looking after your mental health

[Francescaisstressed]

Just an area that is war talk free, where ideas on helping mental health can be shared.
My suggestions are:
Either avoiding news or limiting yourself to a set time each day to get up to date
Head space and mindfulness
Distraction tactics - find a hobby and keep yourself busy

Sending you all lots of love xx

I'll be coming back to this - thanks for starting it ❤️❤️ Currently typing one handed as feeding 4 month old! Need this as I've had a pretty bad day with it all.

I’ve been listening to podcasts and going back to crafty hobbies.
I’m finding it hard with my toddler I just keep looking at him and feeling so sad and afraid so am trying ti stay busy with activities like baking, making things, going for walks etc. I find once I’m out in the world especially in the sun amongst normality things never seem as bad as they felt

Yeah I definately think getting out and about will help, even a smile and hello to a stranger on my walk today made me feel 1000 times better.
I've planned a hike with my partner for next weekend and I'm hoping to get my paints out as well this week to take my mind off things x

Thank you for starting this. I'm trying not to read to much or worry about things I can't control but my mind keeps returning to scary and sad thoughts about the situation. Found moments of calm in the sunshine today and then I remember and it rushes back. I want to treasure the parts of my day that ground me and bring joy and help me connect. I would like to feel less like a small worried ant in a big and dangerous world.

Checking in. My anxiety is dreadful at the moment, I have meds for the physical panic symptoms but can’t do anything about my obsessive brain.
Outside being active is the best thing - but unfortunately I’ve spent the afternoon doom scrolling Mumsnet/ Twitter - which is the absolute worst thing to do!! I was sensible and came off Mumsnet at the beginning of the pandemic (Jan/Feb 2020 I was even worse than I am now tbh) . But I feel guilty if I don’t stay informed about this situation.

Yeah, I think social media is the worst atm for panic and misinformation. I've decided this week I'm going to allow myself a 20 min time for getting up to date on news - from the BBC rather than social media and I'm hoping that will help.
Sending you all lots of love, this is a safe space to talk through your feelings and offer any advice/distractions x

I've had to unfollow people on Facebook, mute group chats, stop scrolling the internet and avoid the news in the last few days. Some may say I'm burying my head in the sand and maybe I am but for now this is what I'm doing to cope.

I'm trying to distract myself with walks, feeding and watching the garden birds, coffee with friends, reading, long hot baths etc I'm better if I keep busy. I plan on having an early night aswell to prepare for the week ahead.

It is a very worrying time and we are all doing what we can to get through it. Hope everyone keeps as positive as possible and finds ways of escape ❤

For me I need to hide some topics on here and really resist the doom scrolling / compulsive checking.

I have a headspace subscription that I plan on using for 10 mins a day.

Also getting out and about definitely - the weather is starting to feel very spring like now so being out in the fresh air and taking long walks will help in loads of ways.

For this week particularly I'm trying to plan something for each day (I'm on mat leave) so that I'm not just sitting around in the house.

My general anxiety has been well managed for quite a long time now but today I felt like I did when it was at its worst so I really really need to protect my health.

Sending solidarity to all

People say come off FB, but I use it for so much so it is not an option. ANY mention of the crisis, even the word 'Ukraine', I hide the post. If you do that enough, the FB algorithm will change and you will see less posts about it. It seems to be working, for me anyway.

Hide any threads on MN about it. Some of the posts and comments are OTT and scaremongering. It will do nothing but feed your anxiety.

Get out in nature. Notice the buds on the trees, listen to the birds sing. Do you have a dog, or know someone that does? Take them for a nice long walk somewhere new.

Remember that we live in an age of 24/7 bombardment of news and opinions. It is so important to switch it off, and step away... and that is any time, not just now. Just like when we need a holiday away to get way from the stresses of life, your brain needs a holiday too from all the news/information.

Thank you for this OP. Had a bad day . Trying not to lose it.
@pixiedust21 is head space good??

@SometimesIwalksideways I like it - I remember starting to use it when I was first ill and off work with anxiety. They do basic exercises so I just did those as it was just basically learning to meditate. I found it really hard to switch off but I suppose that's the point. The guys voice is really relaxing too!!

Think you can get a free trial of it so you could maybe find out if you like it. I really need to get back into it.

Hope everyone is okay. Keeping busy is key for me. That and I've just been looking at the BBC summary of things a couple of times a day and trying to avoid basically all of the MN boards!

Sounds weird but just being out and around others who are living their lives as normal is quite reassuring.

Yeah, I definately haven't stuck to my plan as watched the news on lunch and distracted with the news this morning.
Me and my partner plan on having a no news and no phone evening tonight, agreed to watch a film ot TV and maybe play a board game.hope you are all doing okay

Can I just weigh and say that I’ve been watching BBC coverage for the past 3 days, non-stop, and I feel hopeful for a quick outcome. I feel positive about the courageous response from the Ukrainian people, the out-pouring of compassion and assistance from Poland and every day citizens. The protests all over the world demonstrate that no one has an appetite for war. We are collectively traumatised by a 2 year pandemic. I’ve deliberately watched the news coverage as a way to show solidarity. I feel I owe it to the Ukrainians to understand their suffering, if only from a distance.

@SalsaLove I do hope you're right on that - I have to say in amongst my own anxieties the outpouring of support and the aid to Ukraine has been really humbling and reminded me of the good still in the world. Nobody wants this.

For me, audiobooks are a great diversion. I'm sticking to ones about history because somehow I find them very absorbing.

[quote pixiedust21]@SalsaLove I do hope you're right on that - I have to say in amongst my own anxieties the outpouring of support and the aid to Ukraine has been really humbling and reminded me of the good still in the world. Nobody wants this. [/quote]
I hope so too. I have anxiety as well but I think we all manage it differently. Take care.

How is everyone?

I am really struggling. My anxiety is getting out of control so I am trying to decide what steps to take about it.

I am trying my best to stay busy and have things to do each day. Getting out for fresh air helps a lot.

Otherwise I am just going between feeling OKish and feeling terrible so I wonder if it's worth speaking to my GP.

Anyway I hope everyone is taking care 💐

I am struggling, so thank you for this thread. I managed to get through a walk with friends today without us all discussing the situation, but at the end one friend just launched straight into a "what if?" conversation and I could feel the anxiety building.

I am avoiding the news completely but despite saying that I don't want to hear anything about the situation, it still seems to poisoning my every interaction, making me want to avoid seeing people! Which is daft really, but I would just rather stay ignorant about what's happening - I have had constant anxiety since I was young and this is my way of coping. I loathe 24/7 news and the endless speculation. I'm avoiding certain topics on here because it's just mostly uninformed people whipping each other up into an anxious frenzy and what's the point?

I'm mostly watching nature videos on YouTube while knitting and sewing. It helps me forget.

Thank you so much for this thread. I’ve just found myself having a panic attack on the nursery floor and have decided I need to move away from the news and find positivity where I can. I just can’t cope with the thought of my eight week old suffering. I’m so tired and anxious all the time.
I try to educate myself in the moments I feel strong or know I will have something distracting coming up, then I try to use the sensible facts and knowledge I’ve learnt to calm myself down when I’m panicking. But sometimes I’m just in too deep.
You’re right when you say getting out and about is helpful. One thing I’m grateful for is that I have a very busy few weeks coming up and the sun is steadily making more of an appearance.
I also need to make some time to exercise again. Can’t think whist sweating!!
Any other tips welcome.

One thing that helps me is being very structured- so literally writing out a list of what I need to do. Inc easy/nice things like ‘go for bath’, I just find it helps me to stay a bit more balanced. If I’m more stressed then I alternative tricky/easy tasks and having this self- micro- managing approach seems to work- plus no situation is ever improved by having no clean pants, or unresolved life admin, so sorting things out systematically helps in a practical sense+ with my mindset

I feel the same, in the process of buying a house and just think what's the point with the world as it is.
I also think about my toddler and this is what scares me the most, the thought of her alone and suffering. What kind of world have I bought her into. I feel like I'm just waiting for the worst to happen.
I have no motivation to do anything and not taking any enjoyment from life.
Getting out and about does make me feel better but it's just so grey and miserable day in day out.
I try to avoid the news and stay ignorant, but it's still on my mind every waking hour.