Psychotherapist and ITV “agony aunt” Lucy Beresford explains the benefits of random acts of kindness – and it works both ways. If you’re on the receiving end, it makes you feel supported and seen, and it can change your feeling of self-worth. And if you’re the person doing the kind thing, it will […]
Jada Sezer says the lockdown has meant a rollercoaster of emotions to her, a process of grieving for our past life and its routines. The model and campaigner said: “Every week is different. I might start the week happy and end the week collapsed on the sofa. There’s a heaviness in the world. Some days […]
The most important thing during the lockdown is community, says writer Ruby Wax. “Isolation is painful. We’re going through a phase where people really want to hug each other, but they’re terrified, so how do we deal with the terror?” Ruby practises mindfulness, and has turned her Frazzled Cafe online to bring people […]
Love Island star Jack Fowler has spoken to us before about his challenges with his mental health. In this exclusive message for Head Talks, he gives us an update on how he is coping in the lockdown. “It’s imperative you understand that we are not going to be in this position forever. Right […]
Author and consultant Mark Simmonds finds that making time for exercise is vital for his mental health. Using his spare room during the lockdown, he has set up a routine that involves a cupboard, a wall and the floor – no need for YouTube videos or expensive equipment! He has turned his spare […]
Anandi Lack of sleep will not only affect your chances of picking up coronavirus, but also how well you recover from it. In simple terms, when you have an infection, inflammation rises in the body. If you remain stressed and not sleeping, your body will not be able to reduce the inflammation efficiently. Your immune […]
Mindfulness coach Terrence the Teacher has a breathing exercise for us that has been proven to help us relax very quickly. This exercise can be used for people suffering from panic attacks or anxiety, or if we feel very stressed. You can also listen to a podcast from Terrence here.
The current situation is extremely troubling for people with mental illnesses, says author and professor Andrew Solomon. Some people can weather the storm, but those who already have a diagnosis of acute anxiety or depression are likely to be triggered. “Part of our daily project is to prevent the rational anxiety we feel […]
Head Talks ambassador Katie Phillips gives us a journalling practice for us to do every day. This will help us make sense of our thoughts and worries.
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 […]
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