Jouvence Aesthetics

Coronavirus: Looking after your Mental Health

Hello everyone,

Hoping that you are all staying safe & well?

If there is anything I can do to help any of my patients during this time do let me know. I am always available for a chat or a video consultation, whether this is skin health/aesthetics related or general health advice and support.

I will continue to update my website, instagram and facebook regularly. As soon as it is safe to reopen clinic I will let everyone know. I am certainly in need of some treatments myself and am looking forward to being able to access procedures again!

If you would like to unsubscribe from this newsletter at any time, please reply with 'unsubscribe'

Stay safe and take care,

Best wishes

Moira x

https://www.facebook.com/jouvenceaestheticscheshire/

https://www.instagram.com/jouvence.aesthetics.cheshire/

Website: jouvenceaesthetics.co.uk

Email: jouvence.aesthetics@gmail.com

Over the last few weeks the media has been full of updates about the Coronavirus - from daily bulletins on the TV to minute by minute stories in your social media feeds - it is hard to avoid. But this is not necessarily good for our mental health. There are looks some simple steps you can take to look after your wellbeing during this difficult time.

Like many people in the UK - I have been watching and listening to the news , not only on my TV but also on my phone and ipad. While I believe it is important to stay informed about the Coronavirus, having a non-stop stream of notifications and speculation isn't good for our mental health. For many of us it only serves to make us feel more worried. If like me, you are feeling overwhelmed then here are a few tips from Rethink Mental Illness :

Turn off news notifications on your phone.

These days we all have mobile phones next to us 24/7 and the temptation to grab the phone at every notification can be overwhelming. Instead, check your settings and turn off notifications for your news apps. Better still, check to see what apps are sending updates and uninstall them. If you want to stay informed, set some time aside each morning and evening to log onto the internet.

Mute people sharing updates or misinformation.

Both Facebook and Twitter have the ability to mute users. If someone you follow is sharing updates that make you feel uneasy or sharing misinformation then mute them. Muting someone doesn’t mean you have to unfollow them but it does mean you don’t see their posts for a while - and they won’t be notified that you have done this.

Equip yourself with information from trusted sources.

If you want to equip yourself with the latest information about the Coronavirus then make sure you turn to a source of information that you can trust. While the temptation is to turn to social media for the latest breaking news, getting information from a reliable source is important. Both the World Health Organisation (WHO), The UK Government and the NHS have pages set up to report the latest stats and guidance.

Discuss your fears with someone you trust.

If you are feeling anxious or worried about the coronavirus then it can be good to get someone else’s point of view. Think about who you speak to - speaking to someone else who is struggling might not be best. Find somewhere quiet where you can sit down and chat openly and honestly about your feelings and your concerns. It is easy to get overwhelmed in our own pattern of negative thoughts, so talking these though can help break those cycles. If you prefer, you can contact an emotional support service such as the Samaritans or if you are worried about your physical health you can call NHS 111.

Distract yourself with the things you enjoy.

Making time in your day to do the things you enjoy is a good way to distract yourself from the news cycle. Take an hour out of your day to go for a walk or maybe find somewhere quiet to sit with a book. Turn off the TV and enjoy crossing off a few books from your reading list. Exercise, yoga, pilates classes are available online and have been shown to boost our mental well being. Taking up an activity such as crochet, crafting or knitting will help to keep you busy. For those that are able to volunteering with a local group to help in your community can reduce your feelings of isolation and help others.

You might even want to take a look to see if there are any free courses on the Open University Open Learn website that you could take part in. Learning something new is a great way to stimulate the brain and tune out those anxious thoughts.

https://www.open.edu/openlearn/

Eat well, Sleep well.

It is very easy to forget to have a well-balanced meal when we are stressed or anxious - but cooking can help detract from negative thoughts and ensure that you eat well. If you are not into cooking then maybe ask a loved one or friend if they will help you. Sharing the task and talking about what you are cooking can help take your mind off your worries. There are a lot of good websites that have simple recipes that you can follow. If you are looking for inspiration then maybe visit the website of Jack Monroe, who offers simple low cost recipes that are easy to follow.

https://cookingonabootstrap.com/

And after a good meal, don’t forget to wind down ready for bed. Spend at least an hour winding down from your day with the television or the internet turned off and unwind with a warm bath or maybe a book. If you are tempted to check the internet - be bold… turn off your router so you won’t be able to, or leave your phone in another room.

Talk to your GP or mental health team

The NHS might have to make changes to appointments to help them tackle the spread of the virus. For example, they may cancel face to face appointments unless its an emergency.

If you find yourself trying to cope with extended periods of anxiety or stress then speak to your doctor. Many GPs now offer telephone consultations - check with your GP surgery to see if this is available where you live.