RUSSIAN/Ukrainian war anxiety support

If you're feeling anxious and scared about the world right now, please know that you are not alone in these feelings. It's hard to manage anxiety when you have zero control over events. Check in with your thoughts and remember your feelings are normal, being anxious is a normal human reaction, here are some tips to help you during this current time:

Take media breaks from social media and the news - both can amplify anxiety. Choose one news source to stop any confusing, conflicting information from multiple sources.

Connect with colleagues, friends, family and share your concerns to relive stress. If you are feeling overwhelmed at work, please speak to your Supervisor or Manager.

Try to keep allocating time to things, activities and actions that are good for your mental health - wellbeing is different to everyone so do what is right for you Take time for Mindful Meditation/self Hypnosis as often as you need it

Sadness, fear, anger, feeling overwhelmed or helpless… these all are totally natural reactions to this unprecedented situation. Staying with your feelings and giving them space can be hard but helpful, as it can bring relief. Allow yourself to hear and express what you feel, use your breath, movement or ask the sensation in your body, recognise what does your body need.

Remember that this too will pass......

Remember that the catastrophic future scenarios are only one possible outcome of the situation, there are many others. Many you may not have thought about. For now focus on living ‘one day at a time’.

Helping others is one of the five steps recommended by the NHS to improve mental wellbeing and there are countless ways to help with the Ukraine crisis. A number of charities have launched appeals, including the British Red Cross, the UNHCR refugee agency and Unicef, while many individuals across the UK are raising money and collecting donations independently.