OK, so not going to lie. But I am terrified. Although I am enjoying the memes, jokes and shade that the internet is coming up with (scattered through this post), I am frightened of the unknown and whether we will return to a normal routine ever again. And is that normal going to be the same as the normal we had before the coronavirus outbreak or not.
I think something I have found to be important during this time is to keep my amygdala (fear centre of the brain) in check. My anxiety has been in overdrive and one way I have found to really calm it down has been reading the facts and staying up to date, not with the news, but with the information from health professionals, the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Australian Department of Health. Sometimes ScoMo has some useful things to say too.
Links:
https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019
https://www.health.gov.au/resources/collections/novel-coronavirus-2019-ncov-resources
What has left me baffled and concerned is the state our supermarkets have been left in - as much as it has been stressed by several authorities, people just aren't seeming to understand that toilet paper is not going to cure us of coronavirus (COVID-19).
And what I find most shameful is two months ago, we were banding together as Australians to fight the bushfires and floods but now we are pulling knives out on each other at Woolies for rolls of toilet paper. Not cool mate.
There is a lot of information around how we can stay physically healthy; coughing and sneezing into our elbows/tissues, washing your hands, staying at home and socially distancing. However, I think it's important to recognise how vital it is to stay emotionally healthy as well.
As much as I would love to go out, get back to the gym, go shopping and go brunching, we just don't have that luxury right now and as an extrovert, this is making me especially anxious and concerned for my mental sanity. So I have been taking steps to keep my sanity in tact and created a sanctuary at home by:
1. Surrounding myself with good and healthy food
2. Practicing self-care - facemasks, meditation, reading and listening to music
3. Keeping a tidy work area and keeping it separate to my meditation area
4. Spending time on my hobbies - writing and cooking
5. Supporting local businesses who are providing takeaway services
6. Scheduling times to chat with loved ones
7. And sometimes joining Pooh and Piglet for a drink
Everybody deals with trauma, anxiety and stress differently, and I want to highlight that it's completely ok to not be ok.
I think something I have found to be important during this time is to keep my amygdala (fear centre of the brain) in check. My anxiety has been in overdrive and one way I have found to really calm it down has been reading the facts and staying up to date, not with the news, but with the information from health professionals, the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Australian Department of Health. Sometimes ScoMo has some useful things to say too.
Links:
https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019
https://www.health.gov.au/resources/collections/novel-coronavirus-2019-ncov-resources
What has left me baffled and concerned is the state our supermarkets have been left in - as much as it has been stressed by several authorities, people just aren't seeming to understand that toilet paper is not going to cure us of coronavirus (COVID-19).
I find it sad that I can't walk into the supermarket and buy ingredients to cook pasta, because there's no pasta on the shelves. Plus, I am worried for when all us women get our periods next as there are no feminine hygeine products left either.
And what I find most shameful is two months ago, we were banding together as Australians to fight the bushfires and floods but now we are pulling knives out on each other at Woolies for rolls of toilet paper. Not cool mate.
There is a lot of information around how we can stay physically healthy; coughing and sneezing into our elbows/tissues, washing your hands, staying at home and socially distancing. However, I think it's important to recognise how vital it is to stay emotionally healthy as well.
As much as I would love to go out, get back to the gym, go shopping and go brunching, we just don't have that luxury right now and as an extrovert, this is making me especially anxious and concerned for my mental sanity. So I have been taking steps to keep my sanity in tact and created a sanctuary at home by:
1. Surrounding myself with good and healthy food
2. Practicing self-care - facemasks, meditation, reading and listening to music
3. Keeping a tidy work area and keeping it separate to my meditation area
4. Spending time on my hobbies - writing and cooking
5. Supporting local businesses who are providing takeaway services
6. Scheduling times to chat with loved ones
7. And sometimes joining Pooh and Piglet for a drink
Everybody deals with trauma, anxiety and stress differently, and I want to highlight that it's completely ok to not be ok.
There are an abundance of resources available to assist us:
- Emergency: 000
- Health Direct Number: 1800 022 222
- Lifeline Australia: 13 11 14
- Beyond Blue: 1300 224 636
- Kids Helpline: 1800 55 1800
- Mensline: 1300 789 978
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