Anxiety and Covid 19

[Sarahbelle]

Hi.

I am extremely anxious about the current covid pandemic.

Feel as though it is living in my brain but my body feels the symptoms.

It causes me such panic and terror and all consuming

Trying to challenge my thinking but ver hard.

Any one else feel this. Any advice appreciated.

Thankyou.

[Sarahbelle]

Thanks missep 123.

That is very lovely of you to say.

I have had a few rough patches but getting there keeping my mind off myself and staying busy and in the moment for me is important. Little steps little wins. Hope you are doing some things you enjoy and are having a good day.

Sarahbelle

[uncut_gems]

I'm doing okay for now! Looking forward to better days ahead, but also prepared if that isn't in the cards. As you say, one step at a time.

[missep123]

Great mentality uncut_gems and Sarahbelle!

It's so nice to be able to support each other during times like these 🙂

We can do it!

[Sarahbelle]

Hello Gems and missep 123.

Yes I agree the support from one another is so important especially at the moment. A friendly word is showing care and can certainly make the day a little brighter. I don't feel I have to hide myself, my feelings as you understand.

Today I went into a shop Big W - first time in over 4 weeks! Very surreal-like I was on another planet - did it! but was glad to get home.

Hope you are doing well and the weekend brings lovely moments.

Sarahbelle.

[missep123]

Proud of you Sarahbelle! 🙂

[Sarahbelle]

Hi missep 123 and Gems (and all who might read this)

Hope you a going okay and the week ahead is easier for you that some previous ones.

I am going okay - had a bit of a rocky day yesterday just felt sad and lonely reflecting back on the year gone by since this time last year and so much happened - the loss of my mum whom I was very close to - and so so much since. I got a weird feeling ---If I was to disappear would anyone (apart from my son and dog) really notice? It sat with me for a while-----

So I put on my coat - went out in the rain and took my dog to the park, she is a border collie, she had a great time. She ended up muddy and happy. When we got home gave her a warm shower and fluffed her up with the hairdryer. I also felt easier. Sometimes thoughts come but working on that being okay but letting them go - this takes real effort for me sometimes - but I know I do get through it.

Thanks for listening to me.

Sarahbelle

[missep123]

Hi Sarahbelle,

I agree, it can be really tough to have certain thoughts pop into our heads and to learn to be okay with them and let them go. It definitely takes practice! Even for myself I believe the more I practice it, the better I can get at it. Our brains are so used to being wired a certain way so when we show them a new way of thinking, things can start changing.

I think it's really great that you took the initiative to get out and go on a walk in response to the thoughts. I really like the outcome that your dog was happy and that you felt a little bit better.

One thing that I am also practicing is to 'go to my happy place'. It sounds cheesy but when I have been doing guided meditations they tell you to remember a time that made you really happy and observe how it feels in your body. If I'm stressed I try to breathe and remember that happy thought and feeling and it helps to make myself feel better. I then understand that it's all going to be okay.

Always here for you!

[Sarahbelle]

Thanks so much missep 123, your comments mean a lot to me. I like the happy place too - need to make time to go there more often --- cheesy or uncheesy a nice place to sit for a while.

Today have buried my head in work - policy stuff so pretty dry but a task that has no emotion just get it done and treat it like a school assignment.........just finished YAY!

Thanks for being there for me, much appreciated.

Sarahbelle.

[missep123]

Hi Sarahbelle,

I agree! Our happy place is a nice place to sit for a while. It also helps me remind myself that it is possible to continue making new happy memories whenever and wherever they may be.

Good work! That's a great accomplishment! It can be hard to get motivated and complete dry tasks so I say go you! 🙂

[uncut_gems]

Hi missep and Sarahbelle,

I'm so glad to hear that you are finding techniques that are helping you to manage during all this. I had a tough day on Monday with my thoughts spiraling with lots of "what-ifs" about the pandemic, but yesterday my therapist reminded me that instead of engaging with these thoughts, letting them drag me along, or even challenge, them, I could instead recognize that they are unhelpful and picture myself "unhooking" from them.

It's a great phrase and mental image that I wanted to share.

Now that restrictions are easing slightly, is there anything you two have been able to do for the first time now? Would love to hear more about how you're going.

Warmly,

Gems