Strengthening Support through CoVID-19
Dear 7 Cups Community,
We have been and are entering a challenging time as individuals, families, and regions face CoVID-19. Its a time of feeling isolated and concerned for your friends and family. But please remember that we are all in this together, you are not alone. I wanted to update you on the things we are doing to increase support around the world.
Our efforts started when a group in Wuhan reached out to see if we could help provide support for people in quarantine. We started the quarantine support forum to help answer questions and provide guidance in these unique circumstances. You can access the forum here. Lisa, our Clinical Director, wrote up an excellent post on what you can do to support people in quarantine here. As with most things, it is the simple things like listening, reaching out, and being consistently reliable that help quite a bit.
We have also re-started our translation efforts. Our goal is to translate the key parts of the site in the top 5 languages in the next few weeks. You can read more on this initiative here. If you are fluent in any of these languages and would like to help, then we would welcome your efforts to help us make faster progress.
Additionally, look for news from @Heather225 and @asilentobserver and @hope for a new CoVID-19 group support room that will open soon.
We think this will be a particularly challenging time as we collectively adapt to the new landscape, but believe there is space in this crisis to learn how to better cope and support one another as well. If you need support, then know that we are here for you.
If you would like to listen to others, then you can sign up to be a listener here.
If you have other thoughts and ideas on ways we can work together to come out of this stronger, then we would love to hear them. These ideas can happen on 7 Cups, on other sites, or offline. Please share ideas in our forum here.
Our community is hard at work to help scale support. Our team is thinking of you and your families and sending you beams. We believe that we will grow through this and be stronger on the other side.
Sincerely,
Glen
Having a routine really helps. The closer to normal things seem, the better I feel.
Ive read enough at this point to know that this is going to be part of our lives for quite a while, so lifestyle adjustments need to be made.
Beyond that, I focus on doing my best to feel happy; find things to be happy about, new ways to enjoy myself within these conditions, notice all that I have that I appreciate.
@Lakshmi108 great to hear. We have a discussion in 26 minutes in Fifty plus if you care to discuss Forgiveness - letting go - not clinging - release
Thanks, @soulsings. Just now saw your reply and invitation to join group chat session.
Still figuring out how to navigate the site and app; Not finding it to intuitive or easy.
I do have some interest in mindfulness, so please let me know about future group chat sessions.
Thanks! 😊🙏🏼
it's so hard to practice social anxiety techniques when you can't get closer than 6 ft from anyone in public. being at home all the time can drive you insane.
@LostScorpio I hear you. I am finding I spend more time in discussions here. They help fill the socializing cup. Here are some of them https://www.7cups.com/home/communityCalendar.php
The quarantine is working, and the numbers are leveling off, so I stopped checking them a couple days ago.
The more I
@Lakshmi108 yes a new normal is what I am heading for. I am prepared for this to go as long as needed.
@soulsings Yes, I
Hi I never thought to say this but my health is getting really bad because of the corona virus and I wish it would go away and I've been having suicide and self harm thoughts and I don't know what to do
Also I don't need my thoughts because my BFF who is really close to me will be moving schools when we do go back once it's all over and I'm always stressed half the time and I don't know what to do but no one knows about this and I don't know what to do but I really can't cope with my feelings.
I also have got called a few mean names to like retard and prick and just some horrible names and got threatened by a person to 😭😭😭😭I can't cope I need some advice from someehere
@limeSquare3413 i am sorry you got called names. what other people think of us is none of our business.
attend to yourself. if i know anything it is don't project in to the future-STAY in the PRESENT. try a meditation or something and breathe.
@limeSquare3413 please call the suicide hotline if you feel like you are overwhelmed to that point. 1-800-273-8255
@limeSquare3413
If that is okay with you, i am praying for you that you will start feeling better... and that you will overcome this covid19, and make a full recovery... and the experience will make you stronger than ever. Please do reach out for professional help as 7cups advises, as We are not trained professionals, and you really deserve the best of care right now. @islandgypsy Thanks for the post on the hotline number and your very kind post! Maybe also can you call your school counselor? The school shouldhave a number to call for people struggling emoyionally...and it sounds like you are going through a lot. Or if you are in the usa (not sure where you are located) and you have medical insurance or your parents have EAP (employee assistance program), you can maybe get some free or discounted counseling sessions through telehealth (where they zoom, or facetime you online). This has been so helpful for me. When i am feeling stuck or hopeless or my emotions are too strong, just knowing i have appointments coming up or someone to contact has really helped. Praying for you! Hope you ate anle to get the help and emotional support you need and feel better soon!
@limeSquare3413 our secrets must come to the light! People calling us names while we are already distressed is always horrible, but you are in a good place here! Your life matters, even when you can't see that.
@limeSquare3413 how are you doing now??
Hey guys, so I've been thinking about CoVID-19, and maybe, with the help of our prayers, if we look at all the signs and symptoms of that virus and then we get all the medicines for that sign and symptoms, then mix them up into one powerful tablet, by Allah's grace, we will find a breakthrough and find a cure for CoVID-19, are you with me on this?
If you are, help me share this on every health care sites you know.
Thank you.
being cooped up with husband made me want to drink again. i feel like i am going crazy. i have over 3 months sober....i need to find a way to carve out time for myself even though we are living in a hotel room right now thru the covid19
@islandgypsy congratulations 🙏🏼👏🏻🌼🌸🎉🎊on your 3 months sober! That's really awesome! That sounds really challenging to find quiet space being in a hotel room... don't know if this might help....I can be an insomniac, and when stuck in a hotel room with other people, i have used the bathroom like an extra room. I would put towels and sit on the floor, or bring my computer in or ipad and skype or attend meetings online.. do yoga ...exercises or meditate briefly... other times i would just sit on the bathroom and play my playlist, call a sponsor or friend for support.
My family also came up with code words or things we agreed we could say, to let the other person know we needed some time out alone. That was really helpful-- being able to say i need some time for myself and being able to disengage and watch a movie with headphones or listen to music...
....i am praying and hoping you find something that is able to help and that you are able to get creative and find a workable solution.🙏🏼
@Flowingstreams thank so much! i love the idea
I joined today because I'm trying to navigate all of this COVID-19 stuff amid family stressors, being in graduate school (now virtually), and dealing with the isolation myself. We just learned that someone at my grandmother's assisted living facility has COVID-19. My mother is panicking, and she and I don't get along in general because she doesn't handle her emotions well. She drinks a lot and always has. ON top of that, my dad was diagnosed with brain cancer last month and started treatment 3 weeks ago. He's vulnerable, my grandmother is vulnerable. My social supports are limited to my dysfunctional family. Its so hard to navigate the stress and assert boundaries to maintain my own health while feeling all of this anxiety and concern for my family members. How do I stay afloat right now?
@rachie526 hi love! I'm so sorry to hear that these things are happening to you. If it's okay with you I will pray for you and each one of your family members in this stressful time. I as well am struggling with how to deal with this chaos and trying to adapt to this new way of life. My mother watches the news every second she can and is freaking out about it. This is a time to spend with your loved ones and truely appreciate their presence. I have found that when I need to deal with my own stress during this time that self care is such a wonderful thing. I'm not sure where you are or if you're able but enjoying nature is my absolute favorite and is something I find so calming. Try relaxing and reading a book or pump up some toons and sing as loud as you want even if you are stuck inside. Take this time to find yourself and appreciate the things around you. I know this is a very upsetting and stressful time for many people and I hope this might have helped.
I'm starting to get depressed about this whole COVID-19 pandemic. I don't usually leave my house - but when I do it is very therapeutic. Since I have been unable to do so - except for essentials. It's been very hard. You may think it would be easier because of the amount of time I spend away from civilization. I think it feels more difficult FOR ME than it would if I was just starting isolation. I am certainly not saying that it isn't more difficult for people just starting to experience isolation. I'm just saying that for me, it's more difficult to have the limitations put on me than from an outside force rather than by my body. Hang in there, everyone!
@SCUBAwish , I understand how you feel. External Restrictions and internal Restrictions are totally different and brings about different emotions and reactions in a person. One means , you have the power to decide when and where but the other means , you do not have a say in it.
@SCUBAwish sorry to hear you are feeling stressed in your house. For me part of the release happens when my mind gets to see new sites.
For that I go to http://www.youtube.com and search for virtual tours in the search box at top of that site. Many places to visit virtually. It works for me.
@GlenM
I think there could be a better strategy for keywords in the 7 cups website SEO. It seems to me that a lot of people are looking for something like 7 cups, and there will be millions more in the coming weeks. The website may not be showing up high enough in search engines. Let me know if I can help!
Bethany
(please DM me in case I can't find my way back to this forum <3)
Thanks for providing this!
@BethanyAndFrida thanks for your post.
FYI when you post in a forum you get an alert under the golden bell when someone posts in this thread. Click on bell to see alerts. Some alerts disappear from that list when you click on them.
Hi , I'm new here . Not really sure how this works . My husband is a union electrician in the city of Chicago. I was able to convince him to stay home for 3 weeks as I have a 17 year old daughter & he has an 11 year old son & I don't want him or them getting sick. I've also found out that the high blood pressure meds I take have angiotensin receptors that the virus latches to which can cause severe complications. I'm 39 years old . I've had HBP for 10 years now. Since I've found this out about medication I take and the virus latching to the receptors that it sends through my blood stream absolutely scares me to death!!! To the point I can't function. I get sick and panic every time I leave the house. I wonder if the day I have to go to the store is the day I'll contract and in another 7 days I'll be sick and highly likely die . Since my husband is going back to the City is he going to get it ? Is he going to bring it home ? I am so nauseous I have IBS and GERD constantly! I can't even eat without getting heart burn . I have no energy. I am so scared & I just want to be able to calm down. I know I'm not doing any good for myself, my children or my husband but possibly causing them more stress because of my own.
Thanks for listening ,
Jennie
@petrovicgal
Wishing you and the family well.
Stay safe.