Sleep

Sleep is essential for our overall well-being and is a core part of psychological health.  Below we have included some links to helpful websites that may be able to guide you to a better night’s sleep or highlight some unhelpful habits that might be getting in the way of sleep.

Sleep Health Foundation –  Tips for good sleep during COVID 19

Evelina London Children’s Healthcare:  Sleep tips for families

Stress

Experiencing stress during Covid-19 is normal.  This may be especially true in the case of health and financial worries with many people seeing a drastic change in their daily lives in a very short space of time.

Department of Psychology – Tips on managing stress and worry

It’s normal to feel stressed and worried in the current situation and for some of us it can help to take time out and explore about how we’re feeling. Download our self-assessment sheet to reflect on your coping and wellbeing.

Mental Health Ireland  –  Guide to managing stress

Low Mood

Feeling low is another normal response to COVID-19. It impacts on our lives and it has changed our ways of being with loved ones, colleagues and neighbours. Remember irritability, exhaustion and aches and pains in the body can also be signs of low mood.

NHS  – Self help guide 

Download this informative guide on depression and low mood based on a cognitive behaviour therapy approach

If you are experiencing low mood Aware and the Samaritans are here to offer you support either by phone or online

Anxiety

Anxiety is another normal response during COVID-19. It might feel like things are out of our control at the moment. This can cause fear, which can lead to feelings of anxiety, physical, mental and emotional distress. Understanding your feelings and reactions to anxiety is the first step to coping with them.

Psychology Tools – Guide to living with worry and anxiety during COVID-19

Mental Health Ireland –  Anxiety Booklet

Building Resilience

Resilience essentially means being able to adapt and bounce back in response to challenges in our lives. Resilience is something that we can intentionally build and grow over time. Have a look at our tips below on what might be helpful.

Department of Psychology:  How to build resilience (1 sheet)

Aware – Personal accounts of resilience 

Read a range of personal accounts from some well-known people who reflect on building resilience and what they have learned from difficult life experiences

American Psychological Association – Building resilience

Dealing with Isolation

COVID-19 has put all of us in a period of self-isolation that we’re not used to and this can be difficult at times. This article from the British Psychological Society offers a range of tips on dealing with isolation that comes from research completed with groups who live and work in isolated, confined or extreme settings, such as polar scientists, astronauts, submariners, oil-rig workers and cavers.

Although the physical circumstances are different, there is an overlap in the psychosocial stressors that people in COVID-19 isolation may share with these groups.