Taking care of your mind
Top tips if you’re feeling worried or anxious
The COVID-19 pandemic has affected us all in different ways, and it’s been a worrying time for many. You might feel nervous about the future or frustrated about how your life has changed.
Every Mind Matters has put together 11 tips to cope with anxiety about getting ‘back to normal’ after the pandemic. These include tips and tools for:
- taking things at your own pace
- challenging unhelpful thoughts
- taking time to relax
The following sections provide more advice and support.
Sleep and managing anxiety
When we’re anxious it can be hard to sleep. NHS Good Thinking provides information and support on sleep, including apps and online help.
Tomo is a free app to support you with keeping on top of your daily tasks, anxiety and poor sleep. The app combines digital peer support with the best of social media and proven therapeutic techniques. Mindfulness is a great way to help calm your mind and help you get to sleep.
The NHS has a mindfulness meditation video to help you to sleep.
Caring for someone and taking care of your mental health
When you're caring for someone, it’s important to know what help is available.
Carers UK has helpful information about the support available to you, and those you look after.
The Alzheimer’s Society has information if you live with or take care of somebody with dementia.
Get help if you have money worries
Struggling with money can be a stressful and lonely experience. Some people feel guilt or shame, or they worry about what others think. This can be distressing and it’s important to remember that you’re not alone, this is a challenging time for many people. There are places you can go to get help and advice.
There are organisations in Southwark that can help you with debt and money advice or support with work or employment
The NHS provides top tips on coping with financial worries.
Employment advice if you're struggling with your mental health
The Work Well Advice Line offers confidential telephone and email advice on employment and mental health to anybody who needs it.
Work Well is part of South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust.
Whether you're currently unemployed or stressed at work, you can speak to one of their friendly employment advisers who can help you find the support you need.
You can contact the Work Well Advice Line in the following ways:
- call 020 3228 2041 (Monday to Thursday, 10am to 4pm)
- leave your details with Work Well to request a free callback
Further information on employment advice services in Southwark.
Support if a loved one has died
Losing loved ones is always difficult and it’s normal to experience feelings of grief.
You can refer yourself for bereavement talking therapy support with the South London and Maudsley (SLaM).
Support if you have lost a loved one to suicide
The South London and Maudsley in partnership with South East London Mind can also support you if you have lost someone to suicide. This support includes practical help with things like funeral arrangements and emotional support throughout the grieving process.
National bereavement support organisations
These organisations provide bereavement helplines and can also help you find support services:
- Cruse provides bereavement support, information and campaigning
- The Good Grief Trust offers bereavement advice to people across the UK
Healthy lifestyle healthy mind
When we're stressed or feeling low, it's tempting to:
- smoke
- drink alcohol
- eat unhealthy “comfort food”, to try and make us feel better
However, these all have the opposite effect on our bodies and can make us more depressed.
Alcohol is a depressant. It stops us from sleeping well. It may make us do or say things we regret and can make us feel low.
Unhealthy food can make us feel bloated and tired and depressed. And in the long term, it increases our risk of diseases like heart disease and some cancers.
Smoking affects our breathing and our lungs. We know that COVID-19 attacks our lungs. So there‘s never been a better time to think about stopping smoking.
Together these unhealthy choices can weaken our immune system, making us more likely to become unwell, as well as contributing to us feeling low.
- if you're a smoker and want to quit
- if you want to eat a little more healthily or lose a bit of weight
- if you want to cut back on how much alcohol you drink
One of the best things we can do for our health right now is to move more. It helps boost our mood, manage anxiety, and helps us to sleep better. Get advice on moving more.
Page last updated: 22 May 2024
