During the current pandemic, we’ve all been faced with a lot of uncertainty, and experienced various and sometimes vast levels of impact from this. This is likely to take a large toll on all of us emotionally. It may also make some pre-existing anxieties or low mood more difficult to manage. As such, we’ve pulled together some resources that we hope will be helpful for you. This includes reliable sources of information about the coronavirus, help for remaining resilient during this time, and more specific resources for how this might be impacting upon specific anxieties, and low mood.
Reliable sources of information on coronavirus outbreak
Now, more than ever, ensuring the information we read and advice we follow is accurate and up-to-date is important. Remember to consider what information is required and helpful, rather than reading all that is contained within an article. Below are some resources to help with understanding and dealing with the outbreak:
Managing Anxiety and Covid-19
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) does not always relate to concerns about contamination or health. However, if you do experience this type of OCD it may be that the current pandemic is making things feel that much more difficult for you currently. If you experience other forms of OCD it’s also possible that the stress and anxiety of our current global situation is heightening those pre-existing anxieties further. Below are some helpful resources if this is the case for you:
Generalised Anxiety & Stress
It would be very natural for us to all feel like we might be experiencing an increased sense of anxiety or stress at the moment. It may be that this is something that you have always found a difficulty, but it is currently being exasperated given the levels of uncertainty we are all having to sit with. If this feels like something you relate to, the below resources may be helpful for you:
Depression
As we adjust to sensible measures to reduce the spread of the coronavirus our lives may start feeling more restricted, we may have more time to get caught up in upsetting thoughts and feelings, and we may be faced with sad and frightening news. It would be very understandable if this were to impact on our mood, and make us feel low – or exasperate feelings and symptoms of depression that may already have been present. The below link has some helpful guidance on managing with depression, and links to specific covid-19 wellbeing tips.
General self-help resources to look after mental wellbeing during this difficult time
We have put together a list of general resources that have been created specifically to help us all take care of our wellbeing during this difficult time below:
This self-help therapy resource is offering a free guide about living with the current uncertainty of this pandemic. Follow the link to access the information, which is also available in a number of languages.
A group of trainee clinical psychologists have put together a number of guides to help manage with the current outbreak.
Headspace are offering free online meditation exercises to help with stress, and some basics on how to bring calmness in to our days. These are free , and last a few minutes to ten minutes each.
The WHO have put together a guide to help manage the increased stress that might be experienced in response to this pandemic.
For some home working may not be a new way of life, but it may have increased. For others, it may be completely new. Either way working from home each day is likely to present challenges. The link above has some useful tips to help you think about how to best manage this.
Being indoors for longer, and perhaps experiencing an increased level of work, worry or stress in the home, can all have an impact on our ability to have a good nights sleep. The link above has some good advice on how to improve sleep for those who might be struggling with this.
Relationships
Where to access mental health support and help
Various charities are providing online information to offer support to people in mental health crisis or in adjusting to the new lifestyle changes required of us all during the coronavirus outbreak. The below are some of the sources of support that can be accessed:
The Samaritans have put together some support for those of us who have had their mental health impacted by the coronavirus:
Mind have put together some tips about how to look after our wellbeing, and how to think through the practical aspects of social distancing and self-isolation.
The Mental Health Foundation have worked with Public Health England to consider how we can all take care of our mental health during the coronavirus outbreak.
Rethink offer some tips and guidance on how to keep supporting those we care for with their mental health during the coronavirus outbreak.
The NHS has put together a guide to assist thinking through the different ways that day to day living may be impacted when caring for others, and where support can be accessed.
Good thinking is a website for London that looks at web based mental health support, and has put together a page regarding maintaining mental health during the coronavirus outbreak.