nav[aria-label="Primary Navigation"] { padding: 0; & ul { list-style: none; width: 100%; display: flex; flex-direction: row; justify-content: start; align-items: start; gap: 30px; padding: 0; & li { margin: 0; } & ul li { list-style: none; } } }

We want to hear from you: please tell us about your experience of the online community.

Coping with stress, low mood and isolation – a support thread

Cher_Alumni

What is this thread about?

We realise theseare particularly difficult times for all who visit Scope’s onlinecommunity. The impact of covid-19 hasbeen far reaching, not least emotionally, as we all cope and ‘muddle through’ eachday the best we can.

As a means ofsupport, the Community Team have compiled a list of resources on this thread to help with any feelingsof isolation, stress, and low mood you might be experiencing. These are not intended to substitute professionalhelp and we recommend contacting your GP if troubling feelings persist. Equally, should you ever believe your welfareis in danger, make sure to call 999 and ask for the relevant emergency services.

This list is notexhaustive and will be added to regularly so please do keep checking back. Also, if our lovely members have any other helpful links or ideas, feel free to drop them in the comments section below.

As ever, if you want to talk about your individual situation - we are here to listen. Don't be afraid to make a post and ask for help.

Generalcoronavirus support

Scope’s Coronavirus website section provides practicalguidance around money, food, housing and more.
The‘Having carers during coronavirus’ thread explains how to keep yourself,carers and personal assistants safe, and what to do in event of emergency.

Mentalhealth

Scope’s ‘Mentalhealth and coronavirus webpage’ offers advice for both adults and childrenon how to cope with anxiety and isolation.
Mind’s Coronavirusand wellbeing webpage gives tips for looking after your emotional health.
This NHS Mentalwellbeing whilst staying at home webpage provides a list of things you can do rightnow to feel calmer.
YoungMinds Coronavirus and mental health webpage has advice for younger adults.
Rethink’s Coronavirusand mental health webpage helps those severely impacted by mental healthconditions and their carers.
You can call the Samaritans on 116123 anytime for confidential support and they have a webpage about what do to 'if you are worried about your mental health during the coronavirus pandemic'.
This Blurt webpage explainshow breathing and grounding exercises can ease anxiety and panic attacks.
This online community thread looksat ‘What do you do to relax’.
Plus, our ‘Wouldyou like to go to a spa?’ thread has suggestions on ways to relax too.
This “Are youfeeling stressed?” post discusses the signs and symptoms of stress.
The Positiveaffirmations thread contains mantras to practice and boost self-esteem.

Apps

Headspace is an appfor meditation, anxiety, sleep etc.
This NHS webpagehas a list of mental health apps.

Exercise

The ‘Stay in Workout:Accessible ways to exercise’ thread includes links to routines you can do athome.
The Active at hometimetable is a good way of keeping fit and exercising along to pre-recordedvideos.
A diaphragmatic/abdominal breathing exercise suggested by @chiarieds. This helps with stress and pain.
Gentle Tai Chi and yoga videos also suggested by @chiarieds.
This 'How to meditate' guide from @leeCal can help you feel more at peace and relaxed.

Socialising/loneliness

The ‘Willyou be lonely this Christmas’ thread contains fun activities to keep youoccupied beyond the festive period.
@chiarieds ‘Activitiesfor the little grey cells & 'Free rice' which helps the World FoodProgramme’ thread has a list of online quizzes to get you busy thinking.
Independent Age have a 'How to stay connected in old age' webpage with advice on how to connect with others.
This 'Riddle me Ree' thread has a list of puzzles to do, including impairment-friendly accessible ones.

Education/learning,work, and volunteering

This threadhas tips for how to keep your work life balance in check.
While, this thread lists‘books and educational journals available for free’.
For Have ago month we discussed available online learning courses.
The ‘Are you looking for a new job or fancying a career change’ thread gives career advice to help with job hunting.

Money

Make sureyou are getting all the benefits you are entitled to with Scope’s Benefitscalculator.
Scope’s Supportwith council tax during coronavirus webpage gives information about hardshipfunds, council tax reductions and deferred payments.
This#EndChildFoodPoverty map helps you find the nearest emergency food support closeto where you live.
Visit this Moneysaving tips thread to see handy hints for cutting back spending.

Parenting

Scope's Family services webpage links to our Navigate, Sleep-Right and Parents Connect information pages - services designed to support the parenting of disabled children.
The top tipsfor a blissful bedtime thread has pointers on improving children’s night-timeroutines.
This ways tokeep kids entertained during lockdown thread has lots of fun activity ideas.
@KimLawtherAT's home-schooling website supports parents and care-givers educating children with additional needs.

Specificimpairments

Read thisguest blog post that discusses ‘Being autistic in post lockdown world’.
Read TheIndependent newspaper article on: ‘Autism and the loneliness of socialdistancing’.
This ‘Managingpain during isolation’ thread has ideas on how to alleviate chronic aches and pains.
Scope’s ‘Cerebralpalsy and coronavirus’ webpage gives advice specific to people with CP.
If you are strugglingwith insomnia, read our ‘Searching for sleep’ thread as we share and comparewhat helps us sleep.
Beyond Word's picture stories can help explain what is happening with coronavirus to people with learning difficulties.

Emergencyhelp

The detailed‘What is domestic abuse and how does it affect disabled people’ thread outlineswhat abuse is, how to report it and where to access emergency support.

Stay safe everyone and remember we are here to support you though this

Find more posts tagged with

Comments

Tori_Scope

This one @lisathomas50: Coronavirus website section?

Sorry, I just want to clarify so that I can check this for you

Lisatho11987777

@Tori_Scope yes that one thank you

Tori_Scope

No problem @lisathomas50. Scope work across England and Wales, so I imagine that the information and advice on those pages would be applicable to those living in these areas, unless stated otherwise.

There's a lot of information on those pages, and a wide range of resources, so if you come across anything specific that you're unsure about then please do flag it up to us so we can check it for you

Was there anything in particular that you were wondering about?

Danny3

66Mustang said:

chiarieds said:

Another perhaps odd thought I had @66Mustang - would you like to try going for a 'slow' drive with Google maps? You might look at some of your favourite roads, or explore somewhere new, which you might visit later when able to go for a drive again.....something to look forward to, perhaps.

That’s a really fun idea actually, I might give it a go, thank you

Hi 66Mustang and chiarieds! Whenever I feel trapped, I look up my favourite places on google earth. Some bloggers do tours of famous cities and places of interest, or go for long drives through open countryside with their car go pros. They can be really interesting. Especially if you know the areas they are driving through. Seeing places through the eyes and experiences of others is also useful in helping me to render down some places on my bucket list. Seeing some tourist spots and monuments on google earth from street level, has quite put me off wanting to bother going anymore :-)

Lisatho11987777

@Tori_Scope how to get help when you live on your own and you got corona virus and need food or anything

Cher_Alumni

Hi @lisathomas50

This Government Coronavirus: Accessing food and essential supplies webpage has links to who to contact and what support is available. Importantly, it says:

You may... be eligible for support from the NHS Volunteer Responders programme. You can call 0808 196 3646 and ask for help to pick up food, prescriptions and essential items.

You can also contact your local authority to find out what support services are available in your area.

Does that help?

Lisatho11987777

@Cher_Scope I have contacted my local council the other links only apply to England I did phone but they both said becsuse I live in Wales its different here

I live rural so its quite difficult our local good bank has closed down due to corona virus sickness and now struggling to get volunteers and the other two are over whelmed because there are to many people needing help

I have a bit of food so I will spread it out I get paid on the 2nd of February so hopefuly be better by then

Thank you for the links though

Cher_Alumni

@lisathomas50 What am I like forgetting you live in Wales? I'm so sorry. Here is the equivalent government advice for people in Wales.

How are you getting on? I hope you are keeping safe

Lisatho11987777

@Cher_Scope thank you I am still testing positive I have four days left so I will get tested again in four days and go from there

The nurse who comes here brings my things she has brought me some fish to have now so I will try

Thanks for the advice

Cher_Alumni

@lisathomas50 Take care of yourself lovely, not long to go now

encaser

Personally speaking, I think a lot of people are living in the now too much and not seeing the far more likely lighter times ahead.
@66Mustang you clearly have some ongoing and debilitating complaints (I won't say issues, oops!) to deal with on a daily basis and yet you are still compassionate towards others and so I see more than a little light there. I too love driving but realise that if I just went for drives with no intention of getting out, what if I had a breakdown or accident and if most people started to do this, it would raise the risk far higher.
I would imagine your support worker is trying to guide you towards stepping outside of yourself, as much as actually going anywhere. Going outside can be liberating, of course, but ultimately a person needs to be able to live with themselves where ever they are; as the old saying goes, you always have to come home to yourself. Perhaps try to invest more in what you can do and see yourself more holistically, which includes a sensitive, caring person with a sense of achieving fun in what he can do. Alternatives are useful substitutes to still gain distraction and hopefully pleasure but don't have to be absolutes when change is quite possibly on the horizon if you let it be.
I hope that doesn't sound too preachy or cheesy..umm, cheese!

Lisatho11987777

@encaser I supose in a way its hard to focus on the future the way things are with the lockdowns wsles has been rolled over for another three weeks and new rules come in all the time

encaser

@lisathomas50 I agree that the continual changing of rules can be confusing and irritating. I think that had our various nations stuck to a lockdown to ride this out, it would've been far better and people would've known where they are. It's somewhat cruel in a way, to keep dangling the carrot and suddenly bring out the whip again.
These are isolating and difficult times to adapt to, what with governments that have mislead and reacted rather than acted in our best interests.
I have stuck to the highest level of rules, as I only see this as the best way to get out of this pandemic. If everyone remained considerate of not only themselves but others it would help massively. This should ultimately be a relatively short-term event. It is also a time where home comforts, access to the net and so wider access in the sense of contact, libraries, music, films, games and TV whether factual or fiction are all available. Many can still go out for exercise and get the foods and daily needs sorted out, or have others they know, charity workers or those in paid help there. There are of course, though, people struggling desperately just to subsist, which must be simply awful on top of all this.
There is, however, real hope in vaccines coming and so the above is what I try to focus on. As I said, If people live in the now and focus on what they can't do, it will of course make times more difficult for them. I'm certainly not saying I always see things in rose coloured glasses, as I spend the vast majority of my time in a bedbound world due to disability and ongoing medical issues.
All a person can do is their best, to try and not disable themselves in mind and body and where possible enjoy what they can. And when they can't, have a vent and grumble on here or with other friends and rellies! Venting is definitely something I believe in, as it may not change things but it also allows you to release some of that bubbling mess inside

And, Hello, to you Lisa, I should've started with that!

Lisatho11987777

@encaser hi I totally agree with what you say hopefuly things will change for the better soon and hope you are ok and keeping fairly well

encaser

@lisathomas50 thanks Lisa, I'm muddling through.
Good to see you're making the most of this forum and making an effort to get on as best you can. Stay safe.

Lisatho11987777

@encaser thank you so much for your kind words means alot and you stay safe

Seanchai

I,m so sorry your feeling so low 66Mustang.....and everybody else who is feeling low just now. I can understand how you feel . I have some days where I can cope better than others . I know there are many in a worse position than me ...I have my wife to keep me going . She is correct when she says that there are people far worse off than us....many people are on their own and have no family around . I know I should ( and I do ) feel grateful for having family around , who are happy to get us anything we need and leave it at the door. Alas ...the fact I am luckier than some others does not help at times .
I certainly think letting people go out for a drive , I,m sure that would help many people ....especially when there is one law for some and a different law for others . we cannot step out the door but highly paid footballers can get buses up and down the country ( and in some cases , fly to other countries ) totally out of order I believe , if a law is good enough for us , it's good enough for others .
I have a playstation 4 (which my son gave me when he got his new playstation ) i can,t really get into gaming , even though the graphics are amazing . He gave me a few games with it as well....but i just cannot get into gaming at all .
I am learning five string bluegrass banjo , so I try to spend some time on it a few times a day . ....that helps me cope.
Please take care out there guys ....and may your God go with you ?

leeCal

Sorry @chiarieds I posted this elsewhere in error,

meditation is a great way to relax,
https://www.lionsroar.com/category/how-to/

chiarieds

Hi @Cher_Scope please would you add leeCal's link on meditation to your resources above. Tori said she would like it, but I missed her today, thank you. And thank you @leeCal

Cher_Alumni

@chiarieds Certainly, I've just added it to our exercise section. Thank you @leeCal