Life at home
Hi everyone
A week further on in this extraordinary world and perhaps our responses are changing as the initial excitement of rising to the challenge and novelty is replaced with a realisation of the long haul, the uncertainties of what next, the loss of freedoms, and the issues of being cooped up. And while the Queen gives a rallying call, the Prime Minister is worryingly admitted to hospital.
So as before first a word on keeping safe and the virus out. Let’s talk shopping and masks. A question has been raised about fresh vegetables. What to do? Assuming you are doing the basics with the wrapping, you can wash your veges on arrival with diluted bleach, Milton, hydrogen peroxide or soap. They may reduce the goodness of the items a bit but will ensure you are not handling virus covered products. Secondly pets – last week I said that the chances of a pet transmitting the virus is very small and so it is but the British Veterinary Association have released guidance (posted separately on the website) both about keeping pets and walking pets which is more stringent than my advice. Theirs is based on a very cautionary principle.
Masks. These are becoming a hot topic as different countries adopt different approaches – and in the USA so even does the first family. There are two types of mask – the basic surgical one most people you see around would be wearing and the N95 respirators mainly used in hospital. Both stop you (if infected) spraying out the virus in your breath and thereby infecting others as well as reduce your own chances of becoming infected through touching your face after touching an infected object. In Wiltshire at present this latter route is the main method of catching the virus and the mask provides a simple reminder and physical barrier to prevent our unconscious habit of putting our hands to our face. The N95 respirator mask additionally prevents the inhalation of the virus. So should you wear them? My advice now would be no for exercise alone but yes if you go shopping or do other activities which will bring you into closer contact with others or with potentially infected objects.
I am pleased to see Italy’s daily death count has started dropping since the 4th – as predicted – so even though that is only two days so far hopefully the British figures will also peak around the 17th and then begin to fall. A date to look forward to. And one other perspective of reassurance without wishing to belittle the seriousness. On average last year each day over 1700 people died in the UK and some or many of those dying now would have been in that total……..though dying probably surrounded by relatives and friends.
So that’s the external picture – what about closer to home?
Well, one correspondent wants to warn you about car batteries becoming flat. She wrote that her ‘intelligent’ car gave her the message that ‘not much better life left’ which seemed rather alarming but then AI – artificial intelligence – knows a thing or two even if it cannot spell.
Another wrote in saying he thought people were becoming rather disinhibited. He wrote: ‘I was in Sainsburys last week and approached the last and only box of fruit/vegetables, which happened to be full of limes, at the same time as a short middle aged man (possibly a builder or electrician in his 40s). He said ”Do these do the same as lemons?” I replied ”I was just about to ask you exactly the same question” and then went on to add “but if you want my hot tip for the day, something I’ve just learnt from a reputable source, garlic up your backside is a very good anti-viral.” He looked a little shocked. I went on to say that the French have administered medicines up their backsides for years much more than us uptight English. He looked increasingly worried. “Just needs one clove with a little olive oil and pointed end first." We parted company.’ So if you find yourself smelling your friends from six feet you now know what they’ve been up to and you may welcome social distancing.
Disinhibited in the supermarket? – maybe it goes further as it is said that boredom and youth are the two great aphrodisiacs! What else is happening to our mental and emotional state as we deal with uncertainty and loss. Pandemics tend to amplify our usual ways of dealing with the world. So if you tend to be anxious, you will be more anxious; if you are a conspiracy theorist, then you will be have a big conspiracy to tell; if you tend to be over optimistic, you may deny the seriousness of the situation. Your attitude determines your behaviour so being aware of it can be helpful. For the anxious every symptom of a minor illness is seen as Covid19 and you may seek unnecessary medical advice – this is my pattern and I over self-diagnose so fast! You may additionally spend a huge amount of time trying to ensure you are living in a safe environment. Or you may be an optimist and be over relaxed about keeping yourself safe. And if you live with someone of the other type that can be a real problem as you both feed into each others’ mindsets. Being aware of this is a first step to helping yourself and your household as it can lead to productive discussions.
So two weeks into being cooped up at home, you may be thriving or you may not. The old patterns of behaviour do not necessarily work now and you may find yourself becoming bored or lacking motivation. It is challenging. So it is important now to really take hold of how you choose to spend your time, shedding unhelpful patterns and taking on new behaviours – stimulating your mind, taking care of your body – food and exercise and little alcohol – managing your emotions, finding meaning in your life. What are your values and how are you expressing them? Are you choosing to be strong and loving, or weak and fearful? Louis Pasteur – the great French nineteenth century microbiologist responsible for the principles of vaccination – famously said ‘The microbe is nothing, the terrain is everything.’ Take care of your terrain. We are blessed with the presence of the internet and if used wisely this is a wonderful resource. If not managed well, I have found it to be exhausting. We have the opportunity of a huge simplification of our lives and the opportunity for reflection, the enjoyment of simple pleasures, of community involvement. I have heard that many children are now calmer, more open, more giving than before – presumably due to more family time, less pressure, Joe Wicks, being more present. They can teach us. See the slowing down as a gift.
I finish with a couple of resources that I can recommend:
The College of Medicine has put together an interesting series of talks/skills training from leading experts at https://www.healthflix.online/
For good news take a look at the Octopus website and some of environmental benefits already seen.
I welcome feedback and do send details of any resources you have found particularly useful.
With love
Derek