Jojosuga

welcome to the forum. I am glad you found this thread.
please post here as much as you want.

if you scroll back Sophie asked some questions which only a few a dwered.

i will try and paste it in a new post.

moon, yes we need realism and positivity and putting things into perspective.
quirky

Hello everyone

for those who have recently joined this thread welcome.

sophie posed these questions which you may like to answer,

It may be helpful to answer some of the following questions:
What thoughts are helpful for you at the moment?
What are you doing to remain connected?
How are you taking care of yourself and others?
What are you finding helpful in reducing your anxiety during this time?

the emphasis is on positive ways we cN find helpful wats to hel ourselves and others,

I look forward to reading the answers.

there Re many in the same boat and we can hope that things will improve.
I don’t think even the super funds know what will happen.

Quirky

quirky those questions are beyond me all i need is a hug but that is not allowed.

matchy , you answered the question of what helps you is a hug.

The questions are just to help us focus on what helps us and what to do to reduce our anxiety.

They are meant to help not overwhelm.

The media is full of pessimism so we are trying to concentrate on ways we can help each other and take care of ourselves,.

A lot is beyond our control but there are things we can do for ourselves.
quirky

can you hug your children .?
u

Hi Greywise

Welcome!.....just a friendly note if I may....I respect your situation, yet if you have any concerns re coping with the coronavirus you are always welcome to post!

Ethnicity is not a consideration on the forums greywise as we are all equal here....Our superannuation may be affected temporarily....that may be a great question to ask the experts that run your superannuation fund?

Paul

Today I've learnt the techniques and am now practising social distancing measures. I'm now going to do my studies online 24 hours 7 days a week. I will now learn to adapt and establish new routines and go about how I will manage life without socialisation. I've now taken the time to seek help when I'm in the brink of starvation due to supermarket shortages. I'm also finding alternative measures to get food such as Uber eats or Deliveroo or sign up for food hampers from charities at a time of desperation. Well today is the day I've taken new steps to cope with the Coronavirus Pandemic. It seem I can reach out to people I trust either on the telephone or online via email or chat room. I will soon be in great shape in coping with the pandemic.

That sounds very positive Maria! Well done!

Tomorrow is the last day our church will hold a service and we are getting together to work out ways we can support anyone alone, elderly and who will be isolated during this time and may not have access to things like computers.

People in town are also talking about how we can help support our local businesses like cafes etc. I am in a large regional centre, so keeping these things running is so important.

It's good to see people working out ways they can keep from being too isolated and help others and help the local community through this! Good luck with your studies!

Hi Maria!

Thankyou for your proactive post! Nice1

as Tom Hanks mentioned when he and his wife were admitted to hospital in QLD...." we are just taking this one day at a time"

be gentle to yourselves.....Paul

Also firstly , a little tip on groceries some might find useful. when l'm on my own l only buy little batches of groceries , just can't be bothered. well a wk or 2 back l just started adding a few extras separately each time just a few sometimes just even 1 thing., stuff that'll keep mths just encase . And l'm a terrible shopper so l can say l'm quite proud of this because l've l've been putting all that in a separate cupboard and geez it's adding up now l can tell ya. freezers filling the cupboards filling. So no need to panic or worry people really, just try going this way you'll b amazed l've already about a mths back up so l'll just keep going that way myself it's hassle free.

rx

Hey RX....Thankyou for helping out when you mentioned about "slowly adding an item or two when you go shopping" Ditto Here RX...Nice1 :-)

This virus does come at a crucial time in our lives, remember we've had bushfires, floods etc, none of which we can really prepare for, maybe or maybe not, depends on who you talk to, and now the coronavirus where many small little businesses are going to have to close, reminds me of the time when interest rates were 17 to 19 %, good for investors, bad for overdrafts.

A vaccine will eventually be found, but I fear that the warnings to wash your hands on a regular basis my develop OCD for people who don't have it or to those who have 

may develop OCD for people who don't have it or to those who have it in another form and that's quite possible, as I learnt to have this illness many years ago.

Would like to hear from people where this may or has happened.

Geoff.

 

Hi geoff intetesting I had an ocd before with using hand sanitizer but since the coronavirus and their being a shortage of hand sanitizer i haven't been doing it as much when i should be as i am scared of running out.

hello everyone,
maria I like your uplifting positive post with helpful hints.

I can see a theme developing where people are sharing ideas, thanks random ,of things that help others. I can see communities supporting each other , neighbours helping neighbours, like what happened In the fires and floods.

Of course there will always be people who take advantage of a situation but there are more who show kindness.

If you know of anyone who is showing you kindness, or ways you have helped others, or any tips that will help, please feel free to share them.

I am ringing up friends in nursing homes just to have a chat .

If any is doing something different to help let us know.

Cheers

Quirky

Hello Matchy69, thanks for getting back and understand exactly what you have said and also appreciate your comment.

Sometimes what may happen when people decide they need to be 'washing their hands', may then replace this by substituting it with something else, depending on how much OCD has control, and I say this as what I needed to do in one house, I didn't have to do in another, it was replaced by doing something else.

Geoff.

What is ocd ?

OCD is obsessive compulsive disorder

Hi RX, as Matchy has said it's obsessive compulsive disorder and caused by anxiety.

Geoff.

I have a form of OCD called harm OCD (basically I obsess about the fear of hurting myself and others or people getting hurt) and its intensity does depend on how anxious I am. My compulsions aren't entirely that bad, I have to check things are closed/locked/taps are off/gas is off on the stove - I don't spend a lot of time doing those. My main challenges are the mental images/urges I get and it can get very exhausting.

I'm slowly learning (with my psychologist) how to let go, that my thoughts are just thoughts - they are not me etc and I feel I am making progress.

A few days ago, my girlfriend and I went to a number of chemists to get asthma inhalers but they had all sold out (people hoarding) but we managed to get a generic brand (same active ingredient etc) so that was ok. The day later I wanted to make sure she had a back up - so I got another one. Then I remembered a news report about inhalers in short supply. Then my anxiety kicked in and my OCD flared up and I couldn't stop thinking what I would do to make sure my girlfriend had the medicine she needed.

Then after about 20 mins I snapped myself out of it because I was holding the inhaler in my hand! I was thinking to myself 'Matt - calm your farm...you have the medicine in your hand... she already has one... they haven't stopped making them, its just in short supply. Shes going to be fine, nothing is going to happen to her'.

Now I'm ok with it. I know she has as a supply and it is available (although a little hard to come by).

I do get a little depressed going into the shops and seeing the empty shelves, watching the elderly trying to get things they cant. Especially when I know that there's no need for it. To combat that I joined a facebook group that shares random acts of kindness at the shops.

What I'm having trouble with at the moment is the normalcy amongst this emergency? like walking around town - people are acting like nothing bad is happening, people are not practicing social distancing, I get on the train like I normally do in the morning and got to work - along with everyone else. Yet every second news article is 'more people contracting covid' 'people loosing their jobs' then the government talks about it. So yeah its a mixed bag for me atm.

But, I try to stay level headed by saying

These are tough, unprecedented times.

This will pass,

We will get through this together

Things will get better.

I thought I would answer some questions that sophie posted to maybe try and help others during this time.

What thoughts are helpful for you at the moment?

The thought that I am loved and supported and that I have a roof over my head in my home town which allows me to actually practice social distancing makes me feel very grateful during this time when others are stuck in other countries or do not have these luxuries.

What are you doing to remain connected?

To stay connected I am talking to my friends and family on social media and talking here on the online forums.

How are you taking care of yourself and others?

To take care of myself I am trying to eat well but still enjoying some treats now and then and by making sure I spend some time outside whether it be in the garden or on a walk. I am also checking in on my friends and family seeing if they need anything or someone to talk to.

What are you finding helpful in reducing your anxiety during this time?

I am writing lists each day of activities I will try to achieve in the day such as going for one walk, applying for 1 job, clean one part of the house, practice a new activity etc... it has been helpful to keep the day filled and busy.

I'd love to hear everyone else's tips!

Thanks very much people.

I find to get outside helps

in the fresh air

remember all the self help things you did before when you were recovering and put them into practice again

its just a new journey

this too shall pass and you will be strong again

its hard I’m struggling too but I take a breathe meditate and get outside in the yard and just listen to the birds

phone a friend

write a letter

xx

What helps me these days?

It helps when friends share articles, entertainment, media, dvds, netflix suggestions, eg...i like swapping links and articles to keep myself distracted

it helps when friends visit.

It helps to buy small chunks of groceries, and to focus on fruit and vegies - because they are plentiful. that way i can stop getting annoyed about the fact that there's no milk in the supermarket :(

It helps to send little care packages to friends and family, and receiving them too is a nice feeling.

it helps not to watch the news too much, but to watch movies and tv

It helps to keep things simple, just send little check in messages to others, and to keep in some for of contact

it also helps my anxiety to call places before I go to see if they have shut down - because I get worried about the unexpected.

It helps to keep up therapy... I hope I will be able to do so

I am so worried that I might pass it on to someone else especially my wife and our close friends. Is the thought of inconvenient others. I'm depressed just to think of it. Any help?

Hi kim62,

welcome to this thread and for using your first post to help others.

Bef,

thanks for answering question and sharing your experience.

quirky

Hi Mark I don't have an answer, but that is a feeling I have as well. Sending support...

Thanks Sleepy21.
Sending supports too.
I am reducing our interactions with our friends for now. Hope this works.

Hi all,

Came across this. Hope it helps.
https://headtohealth.gov.au/covid-19-support

Stay positive and safe!
Gbu!

I mean no offense to anyone or anything.

But just wanting to know if anyone has one of those bidet things in their bathroom? You don't hear about them much in Australia. Other people in other countries use them.

Just interested that's all.

Well l sure haven;t but what are they what do they do?

 

Ooops , sorry it just dawned on my so l checked and ahh yessa . l've been thinking about one for years actually .

My gf said tonight , lets not worry baby worry no help , lets just forget and be happy, what will be will be.

Such nice words and thoughts , beauty in simplicity .

rx