Everyone is facing a new ‘norm’ and it’s not easy. Even those of us who have had to change our lives completely due to illness / and or a disability are again facing new levels of challenge. This is going to be a long haul with the prospect of being isolated at home for the next year. It’s like we are entering a war but against this deadly virus instead of people.
Will we see history repeating itself and food being rationed to halt the crazy shopping and bulk buying. Education for our young could be so badly affected. What about medications for those of us who take a huge injection of such each and everyday. The news will eventually run dry, repeats will be self coming, deliveries mounting. Where will it end?
Hopefully, our ingenious and dedicated scientific teams are beavering away to help us. The amazing key workers still on the front line supporting us, the food shops helping as much as they can.
Perhaps though this is the time when our ‘community’ can give something back and support others who until now have not faced the ‘fear’ of illness, the fear of doing too much, pacing our days and constant worries about our health, filling our ‘home’ days and juggling social interaction in and out of home.
Many of us are waiting letters to advise us what we need to do. We face the prospect of 4 months inside the house on complete isolation. This amount of time is significant and extremely limiting but if that’s what needs to be done to keep us safe then we have a duty of care to all of you to abide by this legislation and ensure we only venture to vital hospital appointments and some moments of fresh air. Hospital appointments over the phone seem a complex and daunting situation to be in, especially when its a physiotherapy appointment.
There are some key things to think about and these are just ideas that I hope will help:-
Have a clear structure to your day.
Sign up to gov.uk newsletters. Read what is relevant to you, absorb it, then delete it and take any action that was relevant to you and your family.
Create a box each made up of books, gadgets, cards, puzzle books and little games that you can dip into if you’re at a loss with how to occupy yourself.
Do some exercise - use online resources or come up with your own circuits at home.
Spend time with others in your home but also plan time apart.
In this kind of adversity you may not think about making new memories but it’s a great thing to do.
Find a good balance in your day with moving around physically and ensuring mentally taxing activities take place as well.
Have good sleep hygiene - utilise yoga and meditation to clear your head and help you relax.
Expect to make mistakes but don’t dwell and don’t put pressure on to complete certain tasks.
Stay connected with others and you're hobbies.
Take up a new hobby
Use iPads and Tablets for word games to keep your mind active.
Sign up to an online course.
We need to take each month as it passes and follow the advice given. No point in stressing and going over anxious about our futures beyond this as the answers just aren’t there. We have to trust the government will steer us through it stronger than before. life will not be ‘normal’ for anyone right now but as all the group community initiatives are started let’s embrace them, celebrate our successes and move forward together to build our future.
But please if you feel like your sinking reach out to us at Time to Heal or Alltogether Active Essex'. There are numerous blogs on the website that may be of help to you. Ask us questions if you like through facebook or through email. Please bear in mind though that we will answer you as soon as possible but we are also re-adjusting. This is a complex transitional change and some steps will allow us to battle at our best and do what we can to help and support each other. We await letters and phone calls from the hospital to see what the ‘vulnerable’ and ‘very vulnerable’ categories contain and restrictions applied.
Perhaps taking a positive spin, this could actually help people who are lucky enough to be fit and well to understand the impact of having a long term illness or disability that renders us to live the way we do, having to make compromises, listening to our bodies, watching our mental health. All these are vital if you want to come out the other side sane, happy and healthy.
We need to take each month as it passes and follow the advise given. No point in stressing and going over anxious about our futures beyond this as the answers just aren’t there. We have to trust the government will steer us through it, stronger than before. life will not be ‘normal’ for anyone right now but as all the group community initiatives are started let’s embrace them, celebrate our successes and move forward together to build our future.
Below are some links which we at Time To Heal are feel could support you and your families.
Important links
Important links is a blog post to explain some of the ways we are managing and sharing our experiences and ways of coping with the condition, giving you links to the important and reliable facts.
Children’s Special Journal
This document was produced for children with Pituitary Conditions and Addison’s disease. However, it could be a great resource to tap into. You can find some craft activities, cooking activities, word searches about hospitals and downloadable resources such as cue cards, children’s yoga, health logs and how to make a ‘Dazzle box’. Be sure to read the parents guidelines for some ideas about helping your children through this difficult time, especially if they do have a underlying medical condition as they are bound to be concerned by what they hear.
Exercise
Exercise is important and some links can be found here:-
Our Blog Page
There are various blogs relating to pacing, art therapy activities, coping strategies and mental health support.
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