Are you feeling ill at ease due to isolation?

It's not always easy to recognise when stress is the reason you're feeling or acting differently.

We are all being asked to do things that are pretty alien to us; stay at home, avoid contact with family and friends, limit our time in public and the latest Scottish Government advice includes us wearing face masks when we venture out to do our weekly food shop.

It’s unsettling and it certainly isn’t easy. We are living through challenging times thanks to Covid-19 and while there is great emphasis on our physical health and the symptoms of the virus, we are all in danger of neglecting our mental wellbeing, missing the signs of stress and the damage it can do.

Your mental health is just as important as your physical health. Here are a few tips to try to reduce or manage your stress levels at this difficult time:

Reduce alcohol intake - alcohol is a depressant when taken in large quantities, therefore using alcohol as a way to alleviate stress is not ultimately helpful.

Prioritise physical activity - it can help reduce stress levels, cope with frustration, give you a sense of achievement and provide some important “me time”, all of which help with stress.

Get more sleep - you should aim to go to bed at roughly the same time each day so that your mind and body get used to a predictable bedtime routine.

Try relaxation techniques - each day, try to relax with a stress-reduction technique.  There are many tried and tested ways to reduce stress so try a few and see what works best for you.

Talk to someone - Just talking to someone about how you feel can be helpful. We have private consultations rooms at all of our pharmacies so don’t be afraid to ask your pharmacist for help or advice.

There are some great resources on the Parent Club website, including mental health advice for parents during lockdown or visit the NHS Inform website to access online support and advice on how to look after your mental wellbeing while staying at home.

It’s important during this time of crisis and lockdown that we look after ourselves and the people around us. Your local community pharmacy is open and available to help you stay well in body and mind, so please do contact us or refer to the online help mentioned above if you are in need of support.

For all the latest advice & information about Coronavirus please visit NHS Inform or Health Protection Scotland

Contact a Samaritan if you need someone to talk to. You can call the free helpline 116123 any time, day or night.

PROTECT YOURSELF & OTHERS

Please do not enter our pharmacies if you think you have symptoms of COVID-19. These include:

  • A new continuous cough
  • High fever
  • Shortness of breath

Instead, please return home immediately and seek advice from:

  • NHS Inform
  • The Free Helpline - 08000282816
  • If your symptoms worsen call 111

Community Pharmacy in Scotland continues to operate on the frontline to support the National healthcare response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our colleagues, suppliers, and patients for their support during this unprecedented and uncertain time.

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