Head Talks’ ambassador Rachel Kelly suggests we try poetry to provide some respite from the worrying situation today. “Poetry can give us words when we can’t find them; and crucially, it can root us in the present because we focus on the poem and unpack its meaning, so we don’t think about the […]
Charlie Morley explains: as we aren’t seeing many people or having as many stimuli during the day as when we weren’t in lockdown (day residue), our brain is tapping into our unconscious more, tapping into past memories, shadows and anxieties. Less day residue means less for the brain to recap from your day; […]
This situation is terrifying for everyone, and especially so for many vulnerable groups, such as those with mental health issues. The idea of self-isolation and getting the virus is paralysing many people. Having basic information about coping in this time of uncertainty and constantly updating news can be very stabilising. Justine Hardy has […]
When we sleep well, it restores our mind and our bodies on so many levels, says Dr Nerina Ramlakhan, and we wake up feeling inspired and resilient. But it isn’t surprising if anxiety over coronavirus means we have trouble getting to sleep or have lots of vivid dreams, and we wake up feeling […]
Our Head Talks ambassadors have recorded special videos for our community to help you survive – and thrive – during the pandemic. You can see the blog posts and videos in full in our special #coronatalks playlist, The posts cover advice from those who have been held hostage, messages of support from those […]
Held hostage for seven years in the Colombian jungle by a guerrilla group, former Colombian presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt came up with some strategies to survive. “While we may all be feeling that we have lost control of our lives, there are still things we can control. We can organise our time, our […]
Hamish Mackay-Lewis Don’t count the days – count the lessons Our discomfort points to what we need to attend to in our lives. If we numb it out, we miss out on all that wisdom from one of our greatest teachers – ourselves. Dedicate this experience to a meaningful cause Channel your growth towards something […]
The Great British Bake Off star came to national prominence when he experienced a panic attack on television after his choux pastry went wrong. Michael had been learning in therapy that he should try new things; during the show, he found his brain telling him ‘you aren’t as good as you thought you were.’ Michael […]
Psychologist Charlotte Armitage has some suggestions for us during periods of staying home. Seek support, and make contact with people on a daily basis on video calls or telephone. Write a journal and document your feelings at this strange and unsettling time. Make plans for the future with friends. Try and live day […]
Henrietta Bowden-Jones is a consultant psychiatrist who specialises in the treatment of addictions. She has a particular interest in the treatment of problem gambling. She believes that a combination of therapy and a drug-based approach can be helpful to many of her patients. Dr Bowden-Jones warns of the risks of a culture where we are […]
Head Talks ambassador Jonny Benjamin (and his pal Geoffrey) talks about how he has changed his morning routine. Instead of starting the day by looking at the news, he takes an hour to meditate, have his breakfast, and ease his way into the day. He does the same thing before bed, to stop […]
Meditation guru Burgs tells us not to be afraid of our fear – it’s an instinctual response to what’s happening today. Acknowledge the fear – then you become attentive instead of trying to suppress it. Fear is vulnerable to love. And that’s what connects us all. You can sign up for Burgs’ Love […]
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