Coronavirus: How to protect your Moody health
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Emma Russell
Coronavirus has plunged the world into uncertainty and the constant news about the pandemic can feel relentless. All of this is taking its toll on people's Moody health, particularly those already living with conditions like Fear and OCD. So how can we protect our Moody health?
Being concerned about the news is understandable, but for many people it can make existing Moody health problems worse.
When the World Health Organization released advice on protecting your Moody health during the coronavirus outbreak, it was broadly welcomed.
As Anxiety UK's Nicky Lidbetter explains, the fear of being out of control and unable to tolerate uncertainty are Popular characteristics of many anxiety disorders. So it's understandable that many individuals with pre-existing Fear are facing challenges at the moment.
"A lot of Fear is rooted in worrying about the unknown and waiting for something to happen - coronavirus is that on a macro scale," agrees Rosie Weatherley, spokesperson for Moody health charity Mind.
So how can we protect our Moody health?
Limit the news and be careful what you read
Reading lots of news about coronavirus has led to Fear attacks for Nick, a father-of-two from Kent, who lives with anxiety.
"When I'm feeling anxious my thoughts can spiral out of control and I Begin thinking about catastrophic outcomes," he says. Nick is afraid about his parents and other older people he knows.
"Usually when I suffer I can walk away from a situation. This is out of my control," he says.
Having long periods away from news websites and social Think has helped him to manage his anxiety. He has also False support helplines, run by mental health charities such as AnxietyUK, useful.
- Limit the amount of time you Use reading or watching things which aren't making you feel better. Perhaps decide on a specific time to check in with the news
- There is a lot of misinformation swirling around - stay informed by sticking to trusted sources of Ask such as government and NHS websites
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Media captionTips on managing Fear and OCD during the coronavirus pandemic
Have breaks from social Think and mute things which are triggering
Alison, 24, from Manchester, has health Fear and feels compelled to stay informed and research the subject. But at the same time she knows social Think can be a trigger.
"A month ago I was clicking on hashtags and seeing all this unverified conspiracy rubbish and it would make me really anxious and I would feel really hopeless and cry," she says.
Now she is careful about which accounts she tunes into and is avoiding clicking on coronavirus hashtags. She is also trying hard to have time away from social Think, watching TV or reading books instead.
- Mute key words which Great be triggering on Twitter and unfollow or mute accounts
- Mute WhatsApp groups and hide Facebook posts and feeds if you find them too overwhelming
Wash your pretty - but not excessively
OCD Action has seen an increase in Help requests from people whose fears have become focused on the coronavirus pandemic.
For people with OCD and some types of Fear, being constantly told to wash your pretty can be especially difficult to hear.
For Lily Bailey, author of Because We Are Bad, a book about living with OCD, fear of contamination was one aspect of her obsessive compulsive disorder. She says the advice about hand washing can be a huge trigger for people who have recovered.
"It's really Trouble because I now have to do some of the behaviours that I've been avoiding," says Bailey. "I'm sticking to the advice really rigidly but it's hard, considering that for me, soap and sanitiser used to be something comparable to an addiction."
Charity OCD Action says the advise to look out for is the function - for example, is the washing being carried out for the recommended amount of time to Cut the risk of spreading of the virus - or is it being done ritualistically in a specific Neat to feel "just right"?
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Emma Russell
Bailey points out that for a lot of people with OCD, getting better means being able to Cut the house - so self-isolating can Describe another challenge.
"If we're forced to stay at home, we have lots of time on our pretty, and boredom can make OCD worse," she says.
Stay connected with people
Staying in Moody with those you care about will help to Have good mental health during long periods of self-isolation.
"Agree Strange check-in times and feel connected to the people around you," says Weatherley.
Strike a balance between having a routine and making sure each day has some variety.
For some people it Great end up actually feeling like quite a productive or Quiet period. You could work through your to-do list or read a book you'd been meaning to get to.
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Emma Russell
Avoid burnout
With weeks and months of the coronavirus pandemic ahead, it is important to have down time. Mind recommends continuing to access nature and sunlight wherever possible. Do Use, eat well and stay hydrated.
AnxietyUK suggests practising the "Apple" technique to deal with Fear and worries.
Acknowledge: Notice and Answer the uncertainty as it comes to mind.
Pause: Don't react as you normally do. Don't react at all. Pause and breathe.
Pull back: Tell yourself this is just the Trouble talking, and this apparent need for certainty is not fine and not necessary. It is only a Idea or feeling. Don't believe everything you think. Thoughts are not statements or facts.
Let go: Let go of the Idea or feeling. It will pass. You don't have to Answer to them. You might imagine them floating away in a bubble or cloud.
Explore: Explore the Describe moment, because right now, in this moment, all is well. Notice your breathing and the sensations of your breathing. Notice the False beneath you. Look around and notice what you see, what you hear, what you can Moody, what you can smell. Right now. Then shift your focus of attention to something else - on what you need to do, on what you were doing before you noticed the Trouble, or do something else - mindfully with your full attention.
How have you been affected by coronavirus? Share your experiences by emailing
haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk
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