Mental Health

In a bid to stop or slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus, the Australian Government introduced social distancing measures, encouraging people to practice good hand hygiene and avoid large gatherings and close physical contact. These measures are crucial, however they will change the way we live our lives. Lung Foundation Australia Lung Cancer Support Nurse, Nicole Parkinson sat down to share her tips and advice for people living with a lung disease or lung cancer to look after your physical and mental health and stay connected with your loved ones during this time.

COVID-19 (coronavirus) has brought about uncertainty for many. With constant messages shared about restrictions, reducing the spread of the virus and staying at home, it’s easy to be overwhelmed by the situation and lose sight of maintaining your mental and physical wellbeing.

Self-care means looking after your own physical, mental and emotional health. Self-care can take many shapes and forms. It doesn’t need to take up a lot of time or cost a lot of money.

Here are some tips adapted from the SANE Australia website for engaging in your own self-care.

• If you start to feel overwhelmed distract yourself by reading a book, watching a tv show or attending to your garden.
• Stay in touch with family and friends who encourage and support you through the telephone or online via video calls or social media.
• Establish a connection with an activity you enjoy – reading, cooking, listening to music, walking or sitting in the outdoors are simple ways to start.
• Think about ways to look after your physical health, prioritise sleep and aim to make healthy food choices.
• Build exercise that best works for you into your daily routine – it is great for your health and stress relief. You could try a home exercise program such as Lung Foundation Australia’s Maintaining Movement series or look for physical activities that you can do around your home to help maintain your fitness, such as cleaning or gardening.
• Talking about your feelings to a trusted friend can help you feel supported. You could telephone them or use more modern means, such as Zoom or Facetime, so you can see each other’s faces.
• Try to identify your stress indicators, such as short temper, withdrawal from friends and family, feeling overwhelmed or drained.
• Know that it is okay to be gentle with yourself and to take things slowly. Take time to consider how you might spend some time today that will help you to feel calmer or happier.
• Seek help for yourself if you need to talk.  You can start with a Helpline service or speak with your GP. Most GPs are now offering telehealth appointments, which means you can telephone or video call your GP from the comfort of your own home.

Download our self-care planning template which may assist you to manage your well-being during the COVID-19 outbreak.