If you've been struggling with focussing since this pandemic was announced last week, you're not alone. Executive function (the part of our brain that helps us to focus on the task at hand) is impacted with stress. Our stress response is valid right now. It is a stressful time.

While stress can have a purpose - allowing us to fight or flight a dangerous situation - in these modern times, our adrenal response is somewhat lacking in messaging to our body. The battle is everywhere, how can we fight or run?

Our body urges us to do a behaviour, but right now *inaction* is absolutely the best behaviour. Staying at home, if you are able, is the current Gold Standard action you can take to protect yourself and the world from this virus.

Inaction feels inadequate. But it is the right thing. We can see the evidence from other countries that have enacted strict quarantine laws; home isolation and maximum social distancing WORKS. But the problem of coping & focussing in this situation is still there. What do?

Disclaimer: I am not a psychologist. I am a health professional with a psychology honours degree and (almost) a PhD in health promotion. I am not a virus expert, nor a treatment expert. I am a health scientist that is hell bent on sharing evidence-based information to help YOU.

I offer this advice on a personal level:

- expect less of yourself right now
- try the pomodoro method; if you get one in per day, you're smashing it
- take maximum care of your mental health; DBT strategies coming up next tweet
- take maximum care of your physical health

Mental Health strategies in times of distress (please refer to disclaimer above)

Accepts model:
A: Activities
C: Contributing
C: Comparisons
E: Emotions
P: Pushing Away
T: Thoughts
S: Sensations

Mental Health strategies in times of overwhelming distress (again, please scroll up for disclaimer, I am sharing what has been personally helpful for me) ~

TIPP skills:
T: Temperature
I: Intense Exercise
P: Paced Exercise
P: Paired Muscle Relaxation

I'll end the thread there, as it's past my bedtime. But I see you all out there, focussed & unfocussed at the same time; you're not alone, I'm in the boat too.

Let's go as gently as we can, do the right thing, but make the best of things as we all adapt. Sending big love

lol, I was obviously very tired and (hilariously) not focussing when I wrote this thread last night about not being able to focus right now. In the TIP skills tweet above, the first P is Paced Breathing, not Paced Exercise. Go to bed past-Jane.

Hope you're all doing ok today