Mental Health in the Current Climate

We are all aware of the world's shortages and where our economy has been heading since 2020. There are some things I can't control, and therefore, I will not worry about them. Nevertheless, I believe that anyone facing mental health challenges is more disadvantaged than the average person in our current environment. Therefore, what can we do as we face even more shortages? I don't want to be caught by surprise nor unprepared.

Last year, when the pandemic started to become a problem, Mom and I gathered what masks we did have for two nurses who did not have enough. I'm afraid that surrealistic experience is only the opening act for what we will see.

While the purpose of this thread is to know how to prep mentally and emotionally, I may as well include what I'm doing to prep physically.

Yesterday I received the two twelve-packs of lip balm that I ordered and rotated my supply of applesauce cups.

I would say Food would be the most important! Make sure you have enough food in for yourself and your mum and/or any pets you may have. Are there places were you can buy food in bulk in your country? - online or at a physical store/warehouse?

Tinned and dried foods can last years and are safe long after their best before date so a place selling stuff like that cheap cos it maybe out of date then or very soon...maybe good to stock up if local shops/supermarkets have empty shelves? ..try an online search

Over the counter medications that may help with cold or flu symptoms, sore throats or coughs, so you're not having to risk going out when you're already not feeling good. They are also saying that covid is presenting as cold/flu symptoms in people vaccinated so it maybe hard to distinguish which it maybe?

If you have medications for it, you would at least know based on whether your symptoms got better after taking the flu medications (if it has had no effect it maybe covid?) and you would have enough food in for you and/or your mum if one of you had to go to hospital?

YunaTheSummoner wrote:I would say Food would be the most important! Make sure you have enough food in for yourself and your mum and/or any pets you may have. Are there places were you can buy food in bulk in your country? - online or at a physical store/warehouse?

Tinned and dried foods can last years and are safe long after their best before date so a place selling stuff like that cheap cos it maybe out of date then or very soon...maybe good to stock up if local shops/supermarkets have empty shelves? ..try an online search

We have a pantry and easily a year's supply of specific items I need, such as Glucerna shakes (for my blood sugar) and applesauce cups. I'm unable to swallow pills. Therefore, there's one med I take that I have to grind and mix with applesauce. I've been rotating my stock, as I've mentioned regarding the applesauce cups.

YunaTheSummoner wrote:Over the counter medications that may help with cold or flu symptoms, sore throats or coughs, so you're not having to risk going out when you're already not feeling good. They are also saying that covid is presenting as cold/flu symptoms in people vaccinated so it maybe hard to distinguish which it maybe?

If you have medications for it, you would at least know based on whether your symptoms got better after taking the flu medications (if it has had no effect it maybe covid?) and you would have enough food in for you and/or your mum if one of you had to go to hospital?

I've been getting every OTC medication I can think of, budget allowing. However, cold medicines were not high on my priority the last time I ordered. I have Listerine and cough drops for sore throats and cough syrup for coughs. As for Covid, I'm taking Vitamins C, D3, and Zinc to boost my immune system.

What I don't know is how to prepare mentally and emotionally. As I said in the opening post, a shortage of masks was a surreal experience, and that was just one item!

Something's are difficult to prepare for before they happen. I guess if you have any creative hobbies you can try and keep busy that way?

Do you have space to grow food? like a small garden or in pots on windows/small balcony? ... lettuce, tomatoes, herbs..things that might get hard to get in shops and have a short shelf life?

Gardening (or other exercise) and creative hobbies are meant to be good for mental health. Having a routine helps too and a 'back up plan' might help you feel more in control? If your MH is better, you would cope better if things get harder.

Mom has tried several times, in different ways and with various vegetables. Out of three tomato plants, all she got was one small tomato. Everything else she tried failed.

I have a beneficial interest, first aid. I even have a customized medical kit with an emphasis on bleeding, chest, and airway.

We (my alter and I) live by the philosophy that experience is the best teacher, and we try to gain from everything experience is teaching. The problem is, experience can't teach us things we've never encountered.

Arik wrote:Nevertheless, I believe that anyone facing mental health challenges is more disadvantaged than the average person in our current environment.

Not everybody! The restrictions (social distancing, isolation, short time work and/or home officing, etc.) due to the pandemic were quite relieving for me (only the disease itself worried me, like everybody else as well).

Yes, not just shortages in goods but also in funding/resources. Some treatments/ideas/comprehensions seem to have dropped off the face of the earth. I noticed recently that Emergence Plus UK had shut down. I hope they get their funding back, they're a good organization. There seems to be a lot of support for some things and very little for others.

On the topic, have also seen a lot of empty shelves however.