Caring for yourself
and connecting with others
How we respond to stressful and distressing situations varies. Regardless of the level of distress you may feel, taking care of your own emotional well-being is critical, especially in times of distress. When we maintain a calm mind, we are better able to help care for and protect the emotional wellbeing of our loved ones and our communities.
Practical day to day steps for self-care
The following advice and techniques have been kindly contributed by HA member, Sam Fiaali'i – Pastoral Carer and Humanist.
They refer to managing stress in general, they must be personalised to the individual and the situation. It is important to emphasise being self aware and being aware of the situation that a person may find themselves in. People respond differently to stressful situations and not everyone will experience the same level of stress in the same situation.
· Connect with family, friends, your community including your other sentient beings.
· Take breaks from watching, reading, or listening to news stories, including those on social media, and be critical about the information received.
· Keep to a daily routine as much as possible, including sleeping your regular hours.
· Consume healthy meals and stay hydrated.
· Stay physically active.
· Avoid use of substances - tobacco, alcohol and other drugs.
· Exercise the mind and the body with mindfulness, meditation, appropriate stretching, and breathing techniques.
· Focus on positive activities or activities that encourage the state of flow.
But do keep in mind, please do not use the above as a blanket approach to managing all forms of stress. In particular, if stress and distress are being triggered by politically divisive or hostile community and world events , then it is emphasised to connect with those who you trust and share how you are feeling.
Reach out to your community
Reaching out to your community is a very important way of managing distress. It is well understood that social isolation is a significant contributor to distress. Social connection works to limit and manage those emotions.
Reach out for professional support
At HA we are establishing and developing our humanist wellbeing program, but until this is more substantially up and running, there are other options for seeking professional support:
Speak to your GP about a referral to a private mental health professional. An initial 6 sessions (up to 10 sessions in total upon a review) can be accessed via your GP using a Mental Health Care Plan under the national Better Access Initiative. This includes the Medicare rebate to cover part of the cost.
You can also access 24/7 support via Beyond Blue.
In an acute crisis, contact:
Lifeline 13 11 14
13 YARN (13 92 76) for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians
Are you seeking humanist informed support from a qualified carer?
We are still building our networks and resources in this area, but please do let us know who and where you are. We will do our best to connect you with someone able to offer skilled, compassionate care.