If you want to contact me to talk some more about what help and support I can offer or book an appointment, you can find my telephone number and email address by clicking the 'get in touch button' below.
Maintaining Wellbeing and Mental Health
If you feel you would benefit from the counselling support I have to offer (now also online and by telephone), please get in touch by emailing me at claire@cegcounselling.co.uk or you can call and leave a message on 07935 679005 and I will get back to you as soon as I can (usually within one working day).
The current Coronavirus (Covid 19) is changing many aspects of our daily lives and it is important that you follow the published advice which can be found at https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/ as well as taking steps to support and manage your mental health and wellbeing. Below are some strategies that could help but if you are concerned that you are developing a mental health problem, you should seek the advice and support of your GP. If you are in distress and need immediate help please contact your GP and ask for an emergency appointment or call 111 out of hours. If you have a mental health crisis team, contact them to say that you require urgent help. If you need emergency medical help call 999.
Hand Washing
The advice around hand washing can be a trigger for some who have issues around hygiene and washing. If this causes you difficulties, try setting yourself a time limit (only wash hands for the recommended 20 seconds) and plan something for after you have finished this. It can also be helpful to make others around you aware that this is causing you problems - perhaps asking others to stop reminding you to wash your hands, for example. Reading and rereading advice can sometimes also increase anxiety so it might be helpful to limit this.
Connect With Others
There are lots of ways that you can remain connected with others if you are self isolating or are working from home. Using the internet to video chat and sending texts or emails or joining online groups of people in the same situation can give you an informal support network. Listening to chatty radio or podcasts can stop your home being ‘too quiet’ and alleviate feelings of loneliness.
Decide on a Routine
Maintaining routine in terms of the time you get up and go to sleep can be helpful to give structure to your day. At the same time, developing a routine can also give you the chance to think about things you are not happy with currently and might want to change. It can be helpful sometimes to write down your schedule and put it up on the wall.
Keep Occupied
Having time at home can give you the opportunity to catch up with those things you haven’t got around to. For example, you could have a clear out of your possessions or perhaps consider a ‘digital’ clear out – delete old files or apps.
Keep Active
Exercise is an important part of maintaining your physical and emotional wellbeing. If you are self isolating at home building time for exercise into your daily routine can be as simple as getting up if you have been sitting down for a long period or setting time aside to clean your home. You can also look at online exercise workouts or dancing to your favourite music.
Get as much sunlight, fresh air and nature as you can
If you can, access some fresh air whilst still following the published advice. If this is not possible, sit by a window where you can look out over a view of nature and get as much natural light as you can. You can also listen to sounds of nature like birdsong or ocean waves.
Plan for working or studying at home
If you are asked to stay at home and away from other people, it might be difficult to keep working. You can prepare for working at home by speaking to your employer about their policies and putting in place any technology you might need. If you have children, you may also need to look after them if they asked to stay away from school or college. If children are set digital homework/learning understanding what technology they need/is available to them is a consideration. Finding things to occupy children can be challenging but there are free online courses from FutureLearn and BBC Bitesize that older teens could try out and younger children could choose books or podcasts that interest them. Some local libraries also have online resources and activities that children can access.
Find ways to be creative
Being creative can really help to relieve stress and this might mean arts and crafts or could be singing or listening to music. You could also try activities like yoga or meditation as well as learning to be mindful. DIY or upcycling might also be a way of being creative in the home.
Keep your mind stimulated
You might like to look at some of the free online learning courses available to keep your mind stimulated and challenged. You could even use part of your daily routine to learn a foreign language (there are apps that you can use for this).
Take care with news and information
It is important to keep up to date with current health advice and information, but be aware that some sources may not be as reliable as others.
Further Information
https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/coronavirus-and-your-wellbeing/
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/public-health-england
I hope that you find this information of some use and if you need urgent help please click on 'Other Help' above and follow the advice given