Mental health

[The Bronze]

So I thought a new thread away from the main topic of the day might be useful for people. I'll start off with my situation:

Apart from a bit of stress my mental health has always been in decent shape. I'm lucky enough to have all the basics covered and generally try to enjoy myself. However now we're into unchartered territory I'm struggling with anxiety I think, for these reasons:

I'm asthmatic so high risk.
I've been trooping into the office regardless.
Everything I enjoy has been cancelled.
Not sure what to do about seeing friends and family.

So now I'm likely moving toward isolation I thought maybe we could share some ideas about how to look after ourselves. So far I've come up with a few ideas. Firstly sleep. I normally operate on low hours but I think I'll need to change this, tiredness will make me worry more. Exercise. I'm going to set my weight bench up and actually use it. All the activity I usually do is off so I need to get something going. Figure out a calling system, maybe with cameras.

Would prefer to keep this as stories and ideas, so relatively positive and helpful.

 

[Fuffy]

I had quite a bit of anxiety earlier this week due to the unknown.

I've always been rather anxious and things like this fuel my anxiety, but I'm OK for now, distractions is key 🙂

 

[Skanky Vamp]

I hate to be the bearer of like, bad news, (who am I kidding, I love it!) but I worked from home for over a year. It flippin sucks! Lemme tell you what. The novelty of it is friggin' AWESOME and it's (as you brits say) ACES... for like the first month.

Then the reality sits in and you are tied to your house, unable to leave between certain hours in the event you get a call or urgent order, and well... it's worse than working in an office and having to put up with the people there.

My advice: find TONS of things to do. Stock up on those little crossword books, anything like that. Get as much activity as you can to do away from the computer. Get some arts and crafts stuff (try this youtube channel) for fun little things to occupy your mind and time away from electronics. Stock up on real books. Get a harmonica, banjo and/or a grand piano and learn something new. Actual activities are far better than simply reading though. Reading helps but it's not as... rewarding I guess, than actually making or doing something.

That's about the best advice I can give for people "trapped" at home.

 

[Bluebird]

I reduced my working hours a few years ago, cos I find self isolation anxiety freeing, but that's just me. Social situations drain my life force and I'm really not equipped to deal with other people's hang ups.
I've had enough excitement in my life to last two lifetimes, so I'm genuinely happiest when I have no plans and no one to see.

 

[Anyanka Bunny Slayer]

I normally suffer from severe anxiety etc, but in times of chaos I don't. Strange, but true. My mind clears up and I'm more focused. It's always been that way.

 

[Fuffy]

I normally suffer from severe anxiety etc, but in times of chaos I don't. Strange, but true. My mind clears up and I'm more focused. It's always been that way.

I'm the opposite, I am usually calm but if there are unpleasant changes or something goes wrong, my anxiety levels go off the roof-it actually got to the point where I stopped taking pills that I needed to take as it was basically like injecting anxiety into my body...

When I'm like that, it sometimes causes me to react to things in a way that's way too extreme such as crying or even a full blown outburst (which can involve kicking and throwing things).

Fortunately, it rarely gets to that level anymore and I have coping mechanisms in place such as trying to think of something I'm looking forward to or I reward myself with a movie I wanted to watch forever and never had the chance to.

But now we are in a situation that using some of my coping mechanisms isn't an option, living through this without going completely crazy is probably one of the hardest things I've ever had to do, which says a lot...

But with the help of entertainment, hobbies and memes I will get through this sane 🙂

 

[one eyed chicklet]

I’m so stressed from the uncertainty that I just feel sick all the time. I can’t wait for the world to go back to normal.

 

[TamsinValencia]

Anxiety and Depression.

Getting bored and restless with nothing to do.

 

[Puppet]

I've been having a good couple of months. Last year I worried that my OCD was getting out of hand, but it seems back to its usual now, and my depression has been manageable for several years. Forced isolation isn't going to affect me because that's how I've lived for over a decade, thankfully. Although being a hermit is getting old.

(manageable is a strong word, of course, mostly I've just gotten used to dealing with moments of black depression where I go on lockdown for a week)

 

[nightshade]

For those that are having to stay at home, here's a few threads to help you out:

Books:
https://www.buffy-boards.com/forums/buffy-and-angel-book-discussion.314/
https://www.buffy-boards.com/threads/unseen-trilogy.76128/

BB'ers doing podcasts:
https://www.buffy-boards.com/forums/bbradio.403/

General Podcasts:
https://www.buffy-boards.com/threads/recommended-buffyverse-podcasts-2.72495/

Videos:
buffy-boards.com/threads/thread-for-posting-btvs-ats-videos-pt5.65186/

Fanfic:
https://www.buffy-boards.com/forums/introduction-to-the-watcher-diaries.137/
https://www.buffy-boards.com/threads/fanfiction-recommended-stories.73392/

 

[nightshade]

Pffft. I got all excited till I saw it was all buffy related stuff.

@Spanky when I've got more time I'll probably add to it more general stuff, but for now it's just a quick list of things that are already on the boards. However you're welcome to do your own list!

 

[Skanky Vamp]

@Spanky when I've got more time I'll probably add to it more general stuff, but for now it's just a quick list of things that are already on the boards. However you're welcome to do your own list!

I don't have a list, that's why I'm monitoring this like a hawk. Work is my hobby and with me possibly being hobbyless in the near future I'm on the prowl for new creative ways to pass the days. I want to make something... but I don't know what to make or how to make it!

 

[Taake]

I don't have a list, that's why I'm monitoring this like a hawk. Work is my hobby and with me possibly being hobbyless in the near future I'm on the prowl for new creative ways to pass the days. I want to make something... but I don't know what to make or how to make it!

Get to work. I’d like a dragon.

 

[ILLYRIAN]

To all those people like @Nix or @Anyanka Bunny Slayer who suffer from anxiety, including me. Do you find yourself asking this question when people hit the nail on the head with a hammer.

"I didn't know the nail on your finger had a head."
Oh and by the way, tee hee.

 

[Ethan Reigns]

One of the advantages of being lazy is I have left myself enough tasks (mostly related to getting the stuff I have organized) that I can do as much or as little as I want for the foreseeable few months.

Definitely getting some necessary sleep is a good idea. Your immune systems works when you are asleep but gets prioritized into oblivion when you are awake.

 

[Bop]

I don’t really have much going on right now in general the only difference nowadays is I don’t have to go to uni so I’m okay mentally. I feel for those in the U.K. who have had their last years of school and exams taken from them especially the GCSE students.

 

[WillowFromBuffy]

I think getting as much exercise as possible is a good idea. I go on long runs and bike rides and do some embarrassing tumbling around on the floor at home.

 

[ILLYRIAN]

I prefer to keep as mentally active as possible, even if that means thinking about going on long runs everyday.

 

[nightshade]

General indoors free things: (I'll edit this post with other suggestions)

Education:
OpenLearn from The Open University
Coursera | Build Skills with Online Courses from Top Institutions
Open Culture - The Best Free Cultural and Educational Media on the Web.
Khan Academy | Free Online Courses, Lessons & Practice

Food:
Supercook: recipe search by ingredients you have at home - input what ingredients you have and it'll find recipes

Youtube:
TED
Freesciencelessons - anyone doing school level science (mostly GCSE)
Weird History
HISTORY
National Geographic
Nat Geo WILD
BBC Earth


Podcasts:
BBC Podcasts
Stitcher's Top 100 Shows

Audiobooks:
LibriVox | free public domain audiobooks - can also volunteer to read books

Books:
Homepage - Little Free Library - if allowed to go for a walk

Radio:
Radio Garden - radio from anywhere in the world

Art:
GIMP - and Puppet has a tutorial for it: https://www.buffy-boards.com/threads/puppets-art-tutorials-gimp.75285

Craft:

PPO

 

[Fuffy]

If you want to maybe dabble a bit with a new language, try Duolingo, it's fun.