Topic Tuesday // Comfort in chaos: Looking after yourself and others during challenging times // Tues 30th June, 7-8.30pm AEST

Hi @frog @Former-Member @NatureLover @Shaz51 @jem80 @Jupiter @Maggie @Fluttershy1 @Adge and everyone else! I've found several things helpful throughout this period for me:

- Journaling my thoughts and ideas about what's been going on with covid-19 and other things that have been causing me concern;

- Getting back into cross stitching which in haven't done for ages as well as knitting for charity;

- Being here on the forums and socialising with others in the digital world;

- Listening to music and avoiding the TV when things get too much.

Interesting that a lot of us are touching on connecting with others for comfort. That leads me into my next question!

With physical distancing in place, how have you been attempting to feel connected during this time?

I'm hearing zoom meetings @jem80 are better than nothing, talking to friends/family @NatureLover

Pets are great @Snowie. My biggest connection at the moment is my cat who keeps me company all day. I talk to her a lot

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@Jupiter wrote:

I find doing something nice for someone else helps me too, as it makes me feel like I am contributing something good to the world when things feel bad.

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Yes! This is great. 🙂

Great list @Judi9877! We seem to have a lot of crafty people here on the forums! Journalling is such a fantastic way to get worries out of your head. I like doing it just before bed if something is really on my mind

Journalling @Judi9877 Yes that's a good one, I do that too (every day).

Meditations (Breathing/ Mindfulness) help to improve my mood & clarity.

Yoga classes help - now that they have re-started (a few weeks ago).

Yes the Forums are definitely helpful.

Yet I cannot make use of forums when dissociated or overwhelmed (frequent in recent weeks) - Dyslexia combined with Dissociation makes typing & text-based communication extremely Challenging (sometimes impossible).

Adge

My pet, a lovely old dog, died recently and that was very sad and difficult in terms of feeling connected because she was such a constant in my life. I have been very fortunate that my health professional supports have been available. They have given me a real sense that what I’m experiencing mental health wise is shared by many people. The have allowed me space to express my vulnerability and also reminded me of how resilient I am. Another thing that helped me was seeing funny and uplifting things online. I have a couple of friends who were in touch that way and it didn’t quite normalise the situation (I just don’t think that’s possible) but I felt a bit lighter. Laughing in the face of adversity is really cathartic for me.

@Adge,

@Jupiter is single too , must be hard at times xx

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@Jupiter wrote:

Pets are great @Snowie. My biggest connection at the moment is my cat who keeps me company all day. I talk to her a lot

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Awww 👍

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@Jupiter wrote:

With physical distancing in place, how have you been attempting to feel connected during this time?

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I also discovered Facebook video calls and the volunteers at my volunteer job have been keeping in touch that way 🙂

@Adge @Former-Member @frog @Jupiter @NatureLover @Judi9877

I post photos on facebook. No need to type anything, a picture says a thousand words.

With physical distancing in place, how have you been attempting to feel connected during this time?

I am sorry to have to say @Jupiter I have virtually given up on attempting to feel connected.

Not completely (of course), but I've been on my own for too long.

Nothing has worked very well - there have been few positive outcomes (sad to say).

Adge