I’m stuck in the house again- what helps your mood! If you’re in the same situation?

[MSTKing]

I am back stuck in the house due to the pressure sore causing problems again.

What helps your mood when you are stuck inside - for a short or prolonged time?

I would really appreciate any tips to help distract myself.

[Haz58]

I don't have what you've got but I see noone has replied which I don't want to make you feel in an even lower mood feeling your own. I have really bad times with RA and don't go out sometimes for days or weeks. I listen to audio books, light hearted ones. I also play games on my phone or if my hands allow on my Nintendo switch, puzzle games that get my brain going. I call it my 'other world'. X

[MSTKing in reply to Haz58]

Thanks so much for replying. Do you use Audible for books? I find my concentration is really bad but maybe if I listened for a bit each day??

I’m going to edit my question and leave out the stuff about spinal cord injuries. You were right when no replies…

Thank you again. I hope you have a good weekend.

[Haz58 in reply to MSTKing]

No don't apologise! I rant on the NRAS site many a time. It's good to make contact with others. X

[MSTKing in reply to Haz58]

Thank you x

[Scotsman53]

I don't have SCI but chronic pain has kept me "grounded" for weeks on end. Of course distractions can be good short term but the best thing long term for mood has been learning to meditate and doing it every day.

[MSTKing]

Thanks so much and so sorry about the chronic pain.

I would really love to learn more about meditation. Do you think there’s anyway I can learn to do it -without having to go to a place to be taught how to do it??

[Haz58 in reply to MSTKing]

I use an app called 'relax meditation'. It teaches you. If you want the full content you have to pay but the free ones are a good start. I find it very useful. And yes I use Audible and listen through headphones or through an Alexa. X

[MSTKing in reply to Haz58]

Thanks so much - I will check it out x

[SouthernSally in reply to MSTKing]

Insight Timer also has a very good free version. If you choose a guided meditation you just follow along.

[MSTKing in reply to SouthernSally]

Brilliant - thank you.

Calming my mind would be great - because being stuck inside again is making me think thoughts that aren’t helpful.

[Madlegs1 in reply to SouthernSally]

I use it all the time. As you say , the free version has more than enough content to keep the mind busy for years.

But it does take a while to find the tapes that suit. Well worth the journey.

[cyberbarn]

Different situation, but my son and I are pretty much housebound, we only go out to medical appointments.

My son's total social life (he has a physical disability which limits his walking and autism) is solely online. Twice a week he takes part in roleplay online. It started started 14 years ago when the kids met at age 12. They have all gone their separate ways, marriage, jobs, moving, and others have joined in that time, but they all find that weekly catch up where they don't actually discuss their personal lives is really uplifting!

I have taken a rather extreme path, I am doing a PhD! There are so many educational things online now, and since the pandemic and the development of Teams and Zoom I never have to go to the university. In fact, this morning I am having a Zoom with my mentor where we will just chat about life in general.

Something else I have done is become an Expert by Experience with our local community hospital trust. They have a large team (over 200) of patients and carers who have experience of receiving health care who get involved from everything from reviewing leaflets to sitting on strategy boards and working along side clinicians and non clinical NHS people to help make the NHS a better place. Again, I do it all from home. Different hospital trusts have different levels of patient involvement, but a good start would be to contact your local hospital trust's patient engagement team.

Has your GP surgery got a social prescriber or a care navigator as they are sometimes called? I used to chair a Patient Participation Group at a GP surgery and we worked with the social prescriber to find more members. She would refer people who wanted to do some volunteering to us to join the committee. But she also knew of all the other supportive roles and groups for people to tap into. For example she got my son (who is a wheel chair user) onto a 6 week session at the local arboretum which he enjoyed much more than he would have enjoyed meeting at a pub which was the only activity for people with autism in our area.

I hope this might give you some ideas to follow up. Maybe not today (well, it is Saturday!) maybe not tomorrow, but maybe next week.

[MSTKing in reply to cyberbarn]

Thanks - that has given me loads of ideas. I have been tempted by a creative writing course (all online) at the OU. Really impressed with you doing a PhD.

I didn't know about experts by experience but will check that out.

I’m new at this GP surgery and have been keeping a low profile due to them messing about with my medication, but with the District Nurses back I could ask one of the nicer ones. I think she should be here Mon or Thursday next week.

Thanks so much for so many ideas. Have a good weekend!

[cyberbarn in reply to MSTKing]

I can highly recommend the OU. Several of my son's friends and some of mine too have done OU courses, some getting not just undergrad degrees but post grad too.

My son wants to be a writer and spends one hour a day writing, but I didn't know about the OU creative writing one. I will keep that in mind for him, so thank you for that!

[MSTKing in reply to cyberbarn]

They do an MA in creative writing -or he could do individual modules. It does look really interesting so I’m thinking of starting it late Autumn. Gives me something to look forward to and aim for.

[anonymous123123123]

I have been stuck in my house for two months now (other than doctor visits or a pharmacy drive thru). It’s tough, not gonna lie. I hav sound wasting time on social media, playing games on my phone, binge watching tv, reading if I can (so far not so much), adult coloring books, knitting, napping and chatting with others in a similar boat helps. I’d say I’d you’re on Facebook look for a group for your condition especially if there’s one for your state or region with it as you may find some folks there you can relate to. I have found a few friends that way and even met up with a couple IRL. It’s also where I have found great recommendations for all kinds of doctors.

Remembering I’m not alone definitely helps too so try to remind yourself of that. You’re not the first and wont be the last so there’s always someone out there who can relate it’s just a matter of finding them. Also when I’m flaring I seriously knock myself out on the combo of meds my dr gave me as much as I can - less time awake is less time suffering.if you’re able to sit up you can also try puzzles or board games with your friends/family. I got really into those airport security shoes on nat geo for a little while - they are awfully creative in how they smuggle drugs in (and even more so in how they know where to find them!). And finally when I hit rock bottom my husband makes me out to dinner even if I don’t wanna. Sometimes just seeing the real world helps.

[MSTKing]

thanks so much! I do spend a lot of time on Social Media - last year when the pressure sore was really bad - I got interested in true crime cases on YouTube but I always had that nagging feeling in the back of my head that I seas wasting my time and not being productive. I was also not connecting with people. Joining more groups online makes sense and it would be good to try and make friends with more people eho maybe could become ‘proper’ friends.

Thanks so much for the ideas - have a great weekend xx

[SouthernSally]

Udemy has loads of free courses online. Watch funny movies on Tubi, Pluto, or YouTube for free.

Listen to podcasts.

[MSTKing in reply to SouthernSally]

Thanks - will check it out!

Have a good weekend., x

[CreativeKitty]

Okay, my suggestion isn’t productive or educational but is relaxing and definitely distracts me from pain…..online jigsaws! They don’t take up any space, you don’t have to clutter up a table with them, they’re free and you never lose a piece!

There are loads of apps out there and with many you can turn your own photos into a jigsaw, making it as easy or difficult as you like. I do however find them a bit addictive so try to ration myself to an hour or so.

[Madlegs1 in reply to CreativeKitty]

Great idea. I must try it when I retire!

[MSTKing in reply to CreativeKitty]

Never heard of that! Thank you!

[SouthernSally in reply to CreativeKitty]

Who knew this was a thing! Really? I must check it out! I love the taking up no space part.

[Konagirl60]

Sudoku puzzles, crossword puzzles, YouTube videos, Netflix, listening to calming music and meditating.

[MSTKing]

thanks - really going to have a try at regular - daily meditation because my mind is often full of thoughts - often self-destructive. I need to try and calm myself down and start to think about getting through the day - not thinking about the future and worrying about stuff that might not happen

[Madlegs1 in reply to MSTKing]

See the replies above re "insight timer'