CLICK HERE TO SEE ME TALKING ABOUT “SELF CARE”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_NEY9Z25u5I

Today I want to talk to you about “Self Care”.  It may not sound as sexy as “vaginal orgasms” and yet self-care is the finest way to get you to orgasm, and to attain the many other pleasures of intimacy, deeply emotional and sexual intimacy, for which you long.

This weekend I attended an online conference hosted by “Disaster Psychiatry Canada”.  The focus was on examining the psychiatric dimensions of disasters, with the emphasis on COVID-19.  It was geared to understanding the impact of COVID-19 on health care providers, most especially frontline workers and first responders.

I am going to share with you a few of the vital take-home messages.  Perhaps you are not a health care provider.  No matter.  These messages apply to everyone, as we are all living at different levels of the disaster of COVID-19 and our responses are universal as well as unique to each one of us.  All of the messages fall into the category of SELF CARE.

SELF CARE TIPS

  • Regulate your emotions.  As we move into reintegration, different emotions become prevalent: distrust of others, and of spaces. Familiarity no longer feels familiar. Merely acknowledge this discomfort to yourself rather than judging yourself for feeling uncomfortable and afraid.
  • Daily practice of meditation, breathe work, Pilates/yoga are the best tools to self regulate.
  • The conflict between you and your partner/children/colleagues escalates after such a long period of sheltering.  Be kind and compassionate to yourself as you navigate these intimate relationships.
  • Isolation, separation from others, means that now as you reintegrate the usual ways of being and sharing with others, is different.  Create new rituals of greeting in person.
  • Balancing work and family life is essential.  It determines the road to your recovery and prevention of PTSD.  Self-care entails boundaries. Saying ”no” and “yes” feel more critical now than ever.
  • Sustaining hope now mitigates against anger and stress.  Find individual, couple, and family goals that make you feel hopeful.
  • Support from colleagues and friends really goes a long way to feel less lonely/depressed/anxious.
  • Connect… connect… connect.
  • Sleep, eat, drink water, exercise.

I summarize with this acronym: PMVC

 

Phone          – be present and set your phone aside

Media          – turn it down so you are not overexposed to the news

Vision          – turn away from screen time and look outside into nature…  and if no nature close by, scroll nature images.

Connect       – with someone daily.

Feel free to reach out to me via WhatsApp. Anonymity is guaranteed.  Let me know where your anxieties, fears, and worries sit with you. Tell me what is soothing for you.  And what you need in this time of radical uncertainty.

 

060 890 1062

Feel free to book a teletherapy Zoom session with me right here… https://www.dreve.co.za/appointment/

For more information please contact my PA Shantel: shantel@dreve.co.za

Take care

Marlene #stayhome