Our lives have been turned upside down; were already seeing the tremendous physical, mental and emotionaltoll that Coronavirus has brought into our world.

Coronavirus Anxiety is a thing. Its also completely normal; were all experiencing it to some degree. The good news is that we can find ways to counter it, and it is absolutely possible that we can come out on the other side of this a healthier, more positive version of ourselves.

Across the world, were all asking the same questions, How long is this going to last? What happens if I get sick? Are my loved ones in danger?What about my job? Andfor the most part, we dont have any answers, which feels really scary.

Small steps, along with big shifts in our attitude and outlook, can help us to manage our fears, doubts and uncertainty so that Coronavirus Anxiety doesnt get the best of us

We are incredibly resilient. Its up to us if we choose to allow this to break our spirit.

One area that many of us do have some level of control over is how were taking care of ourselves. Really simple changes can have a huge impact on our wellness changes that we can start immediately, if were not already doing it.

I cant emphasize enough how important it is to make a point to seek out the positivity. Embrace the happiness in even the smallest flashes of joy that pop up throughout our day. We may need to actively seek out these moments theyre there, I promise, we just dont always see them. Start by tuning in to even the smallest acts of compassion and resilience so that we intentionally fill our energy and our minds with these stories of kindness, compassion and grace.

One space that we can look to for inspiration and positivity is the incredible response of so many organizations working together to do good. From nonprofits to Fortune 500 companies, they are making big changes to the way they do business to help support our frontline workers and our community.

And I know its a challenge, but now more than ever, we really need to do our best to manage stress as much as possible. Chronic stress wreaks havoc on our immune system. Very little is in our control right now, and stress is all around us, so its up to us to determine how we handle these stressors. Set boundaries on exposure to news and Coronavirus updates. Stay informed, of course, but make sure were taking enough time to step away and separate our thoughts, energy and focus.

Another tool to incorporate is habit stacking. This is a term used often by the team here at Thrive Global. Habit stacking refers to adding a new habit that were trying to form on top of an existing one, to create a built-in reminder for our new habit to take hold and really sink in.

One example of habit stacking is the gratitude hand wash. While youre washing your hands, take the 20 seconds to think of one, two or three things you are grateful for.We could sing Happy Birthday twice, or we can take the opportunity to reflect on the good that is in our lives.

Routine can benefit our emotional health, plus it can help us strengthen healthy habits, reduce stress levels, and cope with the changing world around us. Think about what your daily schedule will look like in terms of sleep, work (especially for those working from home), physical activity, mealtimes, and chill time.

Block off windows of time for your focus + productivity hours, scheduling it like you normally would any other meetings or calls. During these times, do your best to minimize distractions from emails, texts or calls, or social media. I realize this may not be as feasible when youre layering in home schooling with working from home, but as best possible, try to coincide kids study time with your own focus time.

Take breaks. Stop for mental refreshers throughout the day. Carve out time to make lunch, go for a walk, read a magazine, sit outside, or call a friend (especially one whos calm and steady).

Stop working. Its hard not to keep on working when you are at home, because it can seem like nothings ever finished. We also dont have the normal end-of-day cues like we do at the office, when other people are leaving for the day. Set a time to stop working and stick with it. The work will always be there, we need to be sure were protecting our emotional energy as well.

Review your to-do list before you wrap up. Before I end the workday, I run through my list for the day or coming days and scratch off what I accomplished. I prefer pen and paper for this, versus a digital list, as theres just something satisfying about crossing items off the list.

This is a mental clean-up for me; I also re-write this list as needed, as Ive often jotted notes and more to-dos throughout the day.

Fill our downtime with things we enjoy. Take walks with family or other quarantine-mates. Cook dinner, experimenting with new recipes. Read books, watch movies, work on those projects youve wanted to do or try, but didnt have the time.

This is all just a small sliver of the steps we can take to ensure were truly caring for ourselves. Continue to surround yourself with positive messaging. Follow wellness experts on social media who are sharing stories of inspiration and self-care. Tune in to the simple things that have a huge impact on our happiness. All of these are things that we can start right now.

Click here to listen to Mollys podcast version of this article.

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Molly Kimball, RD, CSSD is a registered dietitian + nutrition journalist in New Orleans, and founder of Ochsners Eat Fit nonprofit initiative.Tune in to her podcast,FUELED | Wellness + Nutritionand follow her on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter at @MollyKimballRD. See more of Mollys columns + TV segments atwww.mollykimball.com.

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Adapting to Our New Normal: Strategies to deal with Coronavirus Anxiety - Thrive Global

To say the COVID-19 pandemic has presented challenges to the UW-Madison campus community and the world would be an understatement.

Most everything is different than it was just over a month ago. People are grappling with issues that test their physical and mental health, determination, and creativity.

But when life gives you lemons

Ive been trying to focus on a lets make lemonade attitude as much as I can, says UWMadisons Li Chiao-Ping, a Vilas Research Professor with the School of Educations Dance Department. When I check in with my students, I let them know Im concerned about their well-being. Thats very important. But this situation can be a great lesson in resilience.

Like faculty and staff across the university, Li has transitioned the in-person classes she is teaching this semester to alternate delivery modes. She is currently leading two advanced-level, studio dance courses.

And while there have been plenty of proverbial bumps in the road, after overcoming an initial fear factor I had never taught online, so this was horrifying at first, Li said she remains upbeat about how the spring semester is unfolding.

The quality of the work our students are producing is very high and in some ways even better than before, says Li. Despite all of the challenges, they are rising to a new level and its making them be more creative and think through assignments more deeply. (For several examples of this work, scroll to the bottom of the story for links to student videos.)

It was Thursday, March 12 when UW-Madison announced it was moving all face-to-face instruction to alternate delivery modes on March 23, immediately following spring break. Li says that by the next day, Professor Kate Corby, chair of the Dance Department, scheduled a lesson for faculty members with Assistant Professor Natalie Zervou, who Li calls an in-house online expert.

Spring break was spent coming up with a plan to transition my classes online, says Li.

The two classes Li is teaching this semester each meet twice per week, for 100 minutes per meeting. Initially, she cleared out a good amount of space in her living room to teach from but found that didnt work well because most of her students have quite limited spaces to work in. Li is now teaching in her office at home so that she, too, is more confined.

She explains that one class Dance 312: Contemporary Dance Theory and Technique is typically taught in one of our beautiful large studios at Lathrop Hall, with live accompaniment by one of our dance musicians. The major objective of this class is to build the technical and artistic skills and strategies the student dancers will need for performing at higher levels but to do so somewhat individually.

Several students shared how coursework for dance majors depends a great deal on connecting with others, sharing space, social interaction, and feeding off of each others energy all things that are challenging to reproduce without meeting in person.

The toughest part about meeting for these classes online and not in person is the shift out of the wonderful community that exists in Lathrop Hall into a more personal practice, says student Bailey Seymour. A huge aspect of dancing is community, and being involved in a group energy and learning experience. Physical touch is often an aid in dance teaching and training. In our department we often work on partnering, so navigating this shift at times can feel lonely.

Adds student Megan Schimke: We are all sharing our energy and love of moving when were in the studio together, and to replicate that by yourself in a confined space for an undetermined amount of time is nowhere near the same experience. As amazing as the internet is, it cant replace the physical presence of your friends dancing by your side and the motivation that brings.

The other course Li is teaching this semester Dance 455: Advanced Composition focuses on the making of dances.

Its a class where Ive been able to really challenge our choreography student artists, says Li.

Li has been utilizing the Blackboard Collaborate platform through Canvas to continue meeting with students during the originally scheduled class times. The biggest challenge, notes Li, is that she cant see all of her students while teaching.

I am used to observing them throughout class and can feel what is working or not working by being in the room and walking around them, she says, adding that the online communication is also clunky and less natural.

Notes student Cassie Last: The loss of social contact has been especially difficult because our department is such a strong community. I hadnt realized how much I value the social aspect of dance classes until I lost access to it.

Despite these issues, Li says that over time she has become more comfortable teaching from a distance and she is driven to continue finding the most effective ways to connect with her students.

This is an opportunity for me to innovate pedagogically, she says. Im obsessed with this now and cant stop working on it.

Li continues to stress the positives with her students and note that more normal times will eventually return. Her students, too, are doing their best to make the most of a difficult situation.

In the meantime, Li has been thrilled with videos being produced and shared by her students.

The importance of art in the world is being seen more than ever, says Schimke. The amount of creativity that is being shared over the internet is heartwarming and exciting. Hopefully it keeps us inspired for better times. I know that dancers are eager to get back into the studios as soon as possible.

Following are links to examples of student dance work:

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Dancing at a distance: During trying times, Li Chiao-Ping focusing on the positives - School of Education - University of Wisconsin-Madison

"Wanna Talk About It?" That's a question many of us are asking each other right now. It's also the name of Netflix's new weekly Instagram Live series, in which stars of the platform's most popular shows talk about how we can take care of ourselves during the coronavirus pandemic. The series kicked off with Noah Centineo of All the Boys I've Loved Before in conversation with Ken Duckworth, MD, the chief medical officer at the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), talking about self-care: how we're struggling and how to prioritise mental health right now.

"I suck at it. I need help," Centineo said of self-care, at the start of the stream. He talked about how, at the beginning of the pandemic, he thought that watching the news and "hours of government updates every day" could provide comfort and control; instead, it became a source of stress.

"You need enough media to know what's happening," Dr. Duckworth said. That might mean checking in just once or twice a day. "If you dose it too high, you might find yourself up half the night worrying about it." Right now, a big part of self-care is using the news and social media in a way that helps you, instead of stressing you out. (Here are eight therapist-approved ways to manage social media right now.)

Centineo went on to describe the ways he's doing self-care right now: taking breaks from work, checking in with friends, making his bed every morning, and journaling. He's also been trying out the Wim Hof Method of controlled breathing with some of his friends.

"We've created a group chat, checking in with each other every day, saying, 'I did my session.' It creates a community aspect," he explained. And once he's done 20 or 30 minutes of breathing and checking in with himself, "I become more open to myself. My anxiety and my stress fall into a separate category, separate from myself." He's able to journal and write about his feelings from "a bird's-eye perspective."

Dr. Duckworth also encouraged people to view the period of physical isolation "as an altruistic act to help the vulnerable." Centineo agreed, adding, "I'm being isolated with millions of other people around the country and the world. It feels like I'm a part of something greater than myself by doing this. And then I feel so much less isolated when I'm isolated."

Centineo, who said he's currently sheltering in place with his sister and her boyfriend in LA, said he's also using the time to connect with his housemates and act with more of an altruistic, philanthropic attitude. "Developing those communal bonds is so important and finding little ways to do that are helping me substantially during this time," he said.

Dr. Duckworth distilled the talk down to four tips for dealing with anxiety and prioritising self-care:

Mental health professionals are offering remote tools like teletherapy so you can get help without leaving your home. You can also find resources on NAMI's website. If you're having a mental health crisis, you can text "NAMI" to 741741 to connect with the National Crisis line.

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Noah Centineo Opens Up About His Self-Care Routine on Netflix's New Instagram Live Series - POPSUGAR Health and Fitness Australia

A national survey by the Federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration found that 11.4 per cent of 12 to 17-year-olds were depressed in 2014.Ruby Walkerwas one of them. Her book,Advice I Ignored: Stories and Wisdom from a Formerly Depressed Teen is the only book on teenage mental health written by a teenager. It answers the question everyone's been asking her:What happened?

I was depressed. Thats the easy answer, the one I give in polite company, Walker told us. And maybe its the accurate answer too. But the word depression means different things to different people, so its worth elaborating on exactly what I mean. Its not a constant feeling of sadness, although I was often sad. And its not a constant feeling of numbness, although I was often numb.

Walker is an 18-year-old college student, activist, artist and writer. She lives in Austin, Texas, and is currently studying art at Trinity University in San Antonio.

I felt tired sometimes - a bone-deep slowness, like everything in the world was too much effort, Walker told us. Id lie in bed for hours just staring at the ceiling and listening to music to drown out my negative thoughts. Id wonder if I could really move.I felt terrified that I would never have peace of mind again. Sometimes Id think about dying; I never planned it out or attempted anything, but I couldnt imagine living to be an adult. I felt angry too. When people tried to ask me what was wrong, Id snap. How could they expect answers from me when I was the one who felt the pain of this confusion most acutely? What was wrong with me? Wouldnt I like to know!

Walkers own family couldnt get through to her. When she was 15, she stopped going to school altogether. She was tired of trying. She didnt know what to do. She couldnt imagine a future for herself. She just assumed shed be dead before adulthood.

Sometimes I would feel good for a few days. Good didnt mean happy, exactly, but a reprieve from panic and despair. Id get way too excited about it, filled with some kind of wild corrosive energy, like a live wire, until eventually the ecstatic feeling drained out and I felt even more empty than before, Walker told us. Most of all, I hated myself. I hated every stupid useless word that fell out of my mouth. I hated my hair, my body, my voice, my teeth, my face. I was a hollow waste of space, a lost cause, a defect. The people who loved me were fooling themselves - basing their feelings on some false impression of me they made up and idealized in their minds. If they really knew me then they wouldnt care.

Walker went from a numb, silent, miserable high school dropout to a joyous loudmouth in one year flat. Full of stories, honest advice, and fierce hope,Walkers book is a self-help book for people who hate help and themselves. It'sthe only book about teen depression written by a teen.

More than a year after dropping out of school, when I was sixteen, I started drafting advice I ignored on notebook paper, Walker told us. The people around me had seen a very profound change happen in my attitude, my mannerisms, and my general outlook. I wanted to give people some kind of explanation for how I got from point A to point B.In my recovery I had done a lot of journaling and a lot of drawing, so an illustrated book felt like the most natural way to express my thoughts.

Walker says when she was depressed, she read a lot of self-help books.

I appreciated them but I struggled to take their advice because I didnt feel like their experiences were close enough to mine, Walker told us. I wanted to write a book for my 14-year-old self, something personal enough to get past the eye rolls.

Walker hopes depressed teenagers realize that theyre still in the backstory section of their lives.

Recovery is a wonderful thing, but please dont think you have to wait for your life to start. You dont matter because you have so much potential, Walker told us. You arent worthy of love and respect because of the person you might someday become. Even at your worst, your most dysfunctional, your absolute pit of hollow despair, you are still a human being and you deserve every ounce of respect that everyone else does. You dont need to be successful or productive or pretty or okay to matter. You are a human being. You matter. Period.

Categories: Depression , Mental Health Awareness , Teens | Tags: mental health, teens, depression

Patricia Tomasi is a mom, maternal mental health advocate, journalist, and speaker. She writes regularly for the Huffington Post Canada,focusing primarily on maternal mental health after suffering from severe postpartum anxiety twice. You can find her Huffington Post biography here. Patricia is also a Patient Expert Advisor for the North American-based,Maternal Mental Health Research Collectiveand is the founder of the online peer support group -Facebook Postpartum Depression & Anxiety Support Group - with over 1500 members worldwide. Blog:www.patriciatomasiblog.wordpress.com Email:tomasi.patricia@gmail.com

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Teen Writes Book For Fellow Teens On Advice She Ignored While Going Through Depression - Theravive

The anxiety, grief, and profound loss so many people are experiencing during the pandemic cant be underestimated. COVID-19 is traumatizing it can be difficult to keep our spirits up or find joy amidst so much pain. At a time of crisis like this, happiness is particularly elusive and attempts to find it may lead to the opposite hopelessness and frustration, Inna Khazan, Ph.D, a health and performance psychologist and lecturer on psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, tells Thrive.

But we know people who have a penchant toward optimism are also more resilient in the face of a crisis. In a recent piece in The New York Times, Emily Esfahani Smith, author of The Power of Meaning: Finding Fulfillment in a World Obsessed With Happiness, referred to a study conducted after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. The participants were students who had not personally lost loved ones in the attacks. All the students reported experiencing heightened distress after the attacks, but the more resilient participants reported having more positive emotions, like love and gratitude. But that didnt mean they were Pollyannas, Smith writes. They experience despair and stress, and acknowledge the horror of whats happening. But even in the darkest of places, they see glimmers of light, and this ultimately sustains them.

Even if youre not a natural optimist, looking inwards and seeking meaning such as a greater appreciation of life and a deeper sense of spirituality can help to ease psychological pain and improve our mental health. Studies show that finding meaning, rather than seeking happiness, leads to greater fulfillment and better health, says Khazan. What she refers to as meaning-making can help us build resilience because its something that you can choose to do, she says. It reinforces a sense of mastery.

While we dont have any control over the virus, we do have control over our attitude and response, Khazan points out. Finding our inner resources that we didnt even know existed, and connecting to our deepest core values increases our optimism, she says, which in turn has a positive effect on our well-being.

Even if you dont see yourself as an optimist, you can behave like one, notes Inna Khazan. By choosing to interpret the situation as a challenge, and believing that we have the resources to meet it, we can become healthier and more resilient.

Here are six ways to find meaning and strengthen your resilience the way natural optimists do.

Connect with family and friends

Spend time with loved ones, even online. Getting support from friends and family during a difficult time and providing help to others will help you cope better, says Khazan,and feel more connected, says Khazan, which boosts well-being.

Focus on the gratitude

Fostering a sense of appreciation for whats good in your life maybe simply that you are safe and healthy will direct you towards what really matters. It doesnt mean dismissing the difficulties and suffering, but being grateful will help you become aware of the positive and important aspects of your life, which can often be dismissed at a time of crisis, Khazan says.

Tap into community

Being part of a religious, spiritual, or social community has been found to be comforting during times of crisis, as has giving back. Whether you join a mindfulness group, a Facebook group of people sharing similar experiences, or just schedule a regular virtual meeting with close friends, the conversations youll have with like-minded people will lead you towards meaningful reflections and a greater sense of purpose.

Give back

Giving back not only boosts our meaningful connections with others, but its a powerful act of self-care as well. It can improve our motivation and resilience and our physical health, too (studies show that people who volunteer regularly have a decreased risk of high blood pressure). While we are following social distancing mandates, one meaningful way to give back is through the First Responders First fund, an initiative from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Thrive Global, and the CAA Foundation, in which donations provide healthcare workers with the physical and psychological resources they so desperately need. Doing small acts of kindness for those in our communities, such as grocery shopping for those who are immunocompromised, supporting the crowdfunding initiatives of local businesses, or sending cards and letters to people who live alone can help bolster both your community and your sense of meaning.

Learn something new

Expanding our horizons can help us become more positive and optimistic about the future, says Khazan, author of Biofeedback and Mindfulness in Everyday Life. Unless you are a first responder or an essential worker, you may well have more time at home. Take advantage of self-isolating for goals that youve never had time for in the past, says Khazan, like learning a new language, discovering more about history, playing an instrument, or completing an online college degree.

Remember youve persevered before

One proven resilience-boosting tactic is to think back to a specific time in your past when you overcame an obstacle. Take deep breaths and recall a time when you persevered. Remember that youve made it through difficult situations before, and when you do, youll feel more resilient so you can persevere through whatever youre facing now.

Follow us here and subscribe here for all the latest news on how you can keep Thriving.

Stay up to date or catch-up on all our podcasts with Arianna Huffington here.

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Coronavirus Crisis: 5 Ways to Find Meaning and Optimism - Thrive Global

Nothing is the same any more. Coronavirus has thrown everyones daily lives into turmoil, turned our world upside down and presented us with challenges we have never seen before.

Football has also seen time stand still, with the sport on hold until further notice. Instead of training with your team-mates and looking forward to the business end of domestic competitions, the UEFA Champions League and international qualifiers, players now have to spend most of their time stuck at home. This is also the case for Austrian international Viktoria Schnaderbeck, who has been playing her club football in England with Arsenal since 2018.

"For me personally, on the one hand its important that I keep myself fit, and at the same time make sure that I prepare for the time when it all gets going again," she said in an interview with FIFA.com. "The league may well start up again. From my point of view, I would say that every player is obliged to do their level best. On the other hand its a challenge when you dont have any certainty on how and when it will start up again."

"If Im being honest, the time Ive got now is no bad thing at all as its an opportunity simply to come down a little. Not in terms of sport but the mental side. When you get into a rhythm of permanently playing matches, youre also under permanent mental pressure. As a footballer Im used to that, but now that its gone away, it gives you time and space for things that otherwise you wouldnt do in your daily lives," said the former Bayern Munich player, with whom she won two womens Bundesliga titles.

Fortunately for Schnaderbeck, who hails originally from Graz, motivation has not proved an issue. Recurrent knee injuries have meant that she has often been forced out of action, so she already knows how important it is to concentrate completely and utterly on rehabilitation and preparation.

"I try to vary things, keep challenging and motivating myself," she explained, and I have to say that Ive managed pretty well so far. Arsenal have sent us a detailed plan of when and which days we have to train and how much we have to do. We also get options for strength and distance training.

"At the end of the day we can adjust things individually, so for me its a mixture of strength and stamina training. For me its important to maintain a rhythm, and that I keep involving some ball-work. Im currently at my girlfriends place in Norway and the pitches arent closed off here, so I can do my individual training with a football. Its obviously not the same as being with the team, but ball-work is ball-work. Runnings a lot less fun without a ball."

Things had been going just swimmingly for Schnaderbeck before the break. Arsenal are through to the quarter-finals of the UEFA Women's Champions League, while Austria are at the top of their group in qualifying for the European championships. Their crucial clash with France has been postponed indefinitely for the moment, and we asked her whether that is a good or bad thing for the team.

"We had a really good training camp in March in Spain and a lot came out of it. This match would have been a good opportunity to see what wed taken away from that. But to make things perfectly clear, there are more important things on the agenda at the moment," the Austrian captain said.

"It would be selfish to say that we dont understand why it is how it is, and that its knocked us out of synch. Its happening to everyone. Everyone needs to adjust and adapt to their own situation. Obviously itll be a challenge when the time comes, since the team will have lost its rhythm, but that will be the case for other teams as well.

"You have to make the best of it, as they say. I think though that weve got a good team spirit and that well come through this OK. Thats my attitude to things in general. Its times just like this one that show how good a team is or not, as the case may be."

Even though the team is not allowed to meet up at the moment, they are still of course keeping in contact. The players are asked to analyse videos featuring individuals and teams as well as dealing with what is happening at the present time. "I have to say that our sports psychologist has offered her help in this respect, for those who need support, who want to work on themselves or simply need to talk," said Schnaderbeck. "Its not just about working through negative processes its also about developing yourself mentally."

For Schnaderbeck, it is not only important to keep herself fit but also to motivate others to do so, which is why the affable 29-year-old is an ambassador for the Fit for the Job initiative a health award that is organised once a year by the Steiermark Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Department for Sport and Leisure Institutions. The main aim of the initiative is to increase employees occupational health.

"Health not just physical but also mental is very important for me, both in normal, everyday life and also in crisis situations," she explained. "If youre physically and mentally fit, its easier to overcome setbacks or even crises and you have a lot more energy to go about things in both your working and your private lives."

When you get into a rhythm of permanently playing matches, youre also under permanent mental pressure. As a footballer Im used to that, but now that its gone away, it gives you time and space for things that otherwise you wouldnt do in your daily lives.

Viktoria Schnaderbeck

Excerpt from:
Schnaderbeck keeping everything on track - FIFA.com

News

Modified 13 Apr 2020, 19:07 IST

The COVID-19 lockdown is worldwide. It has either paused or stalled everything we are used to do in our day to daily lives. All sports are off schedule, with no real action possible for some time. Now is when mental strength, along with physical fitness, would be put to the test.

It is impossible to run on the road or practice at public parks with your teammates. In these unprecedented times, cricketers can improve their fitness, as well as work on the mental aspects of their games. Players must strive to improve their fitness, with the real challenge to do so being the limited resources available at home, says Jatin Patel, a renowned cricket coach.

Coach Patel expressed his view on how fitness, strength, and conditioning can be improved through a multitude of exercise routines involving, but not limited to, resistance band, cardio, deadlifts, etc.

There will be a time when the Coronavirus pandemic will be over, and sports activities will resume. With this in mind, a player must prepare to be ready once the action begins. Now is the time one can sit down and think about one's game, decide what one wants to do next, and how one can improve further for one's betterment. As is often said, 'the biggest room in this world is the room for improvement'.

Mindset matters the most, and mental preparation is a huge factor in today's sport. A lot of cricketers fail to reach their potential because of a lack of mental strength. This is a time when work can be done on this aspect of the game by reading books, listening, or watching other sportspeople talk about their experiences. Trying to relate to things happening to athletes from across the world, and finding out what suits one the best are also keys in this respect. Virtual/online-based training, mentoring or coaching are huge beneficiaries during these extraordinary times.

"The bottom line here is that there is a lot that can be done as a cricketer"- coach Patel.

Fitness matters most in sports, and a crucial part of sport fitness is mental toughness. Like most sports, cricket is played more in the minds than on the field. It constitutes around 80% of the performance stack as compared to about 20% of a player's skill and talent. Mental skills that cricket demands, are claimed to be higher than that of most other sports. Innovative, on-the-fly problem-solving is an asset in cricket which only the greats possess. It involves combating stress with the right attitude.

"The body achieves what the mind believes".Metrics like self-esteem, stress levels, mood swings, etc. are some essential factors that impact better decision making. With the "mind over body" ideology, one can maintain higher levels of concentration and stay focused. This helps in combating the many distractions that drag you into depression, fear of failure, and performance anxiety.

At the end of the day, what is the use of the muscles, the power, and the dollars if one is not happy within oneself? A stable mindset and a well-balanced mental strength will help athletes perform well, and stay ahead of the competition.

During a recent discussion about mindset and mental strength with coach Jatin Patel, who is also a pioneer in coaching education in the USA, CEO of International Cricket Network ICN360, Yash Khandor interestingly said "If you don't come out of this quarantine a better/improved version of yourself; you never lacked time. You lacked DISCIPLINE."

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Mental strength and Cricket The symbiosis - Sportskeeda

Even as the threat of the COVID-19 pandemic looms large and prisons are becoming dangerous hotspots of contagion, even as the Supreme Court of India directs prisons to release undertrials and convicts on interim bail, even as the Indian nation grinds to a halt following a lockdown, even as hundreds of thousands of migrant workers are stranded and sheltered in schools, there is one thing that no virus appears to be capable of stopping the Indian states persecution of one of Indias foremost intellectuals, Dr Anand Teltumbde.

Why is Teltumbde considered so dangerous by the ruling neoliberal, Hindutva regime?

When violence first broke out at Bhima Koregaon in 2018, the police investigation concentrated on two Hindutva activists Sambhaji Bhide and Milind Ekbote. However, the rightwing forces of the Sangh parivar quickly released a report finding fault with this line of enquiry. They instead falsely accused the Elgar Parishad a collective of progressive Ambedkarite organisations and activists that held the annual mass gathering at Bhima Koregaon of having links with the Maoists.

It is common knowledge that Maoist organisations are banned in India. Why was an Ambedkarite Dalit commemorative event portrayed as a Maoist event? Anyone who has followed the events that have transpired since will clearly understand that such a far-fetched, fraudulent link was made with the sole purpose of targeting Dalits and Ambedkarites, making use of the legal apparatus in its most vicious forms.

Soon, even the word Maoist was dropped and for the sake of garnering great publicity and also to build consensus around the arrest of activists from around the country, the ruling dispensation started deploying the term urban Naxal.

This unique terminology allowed them to carry out their witch-hunt of intellectuals and activists in the cities; anyone with the remotest Leftist sympathies could be hauled into this urban naxal net if needed. This allowed them to concoct a headline grabbing plot alleging that there was a Left-wing conspiracy to assassinate the Prime Minister Narendra Modi. On the basis of this fabricated plot, they have already sent to jail the respected labour lawyer Sudha Bharadwaj, English professor Shoma Sen, advocates Surendra Gadling and Vernon Gonsalves, social activist and researcher Mahesh Raut, journalist Arun Ferreira, editor Sudhir Dhawale, political prisoners rights activist Rona Wilson and celebrated octogenarian Telugu poet Varavara Rao.

Two more activists were also named in the chargesheet: Anand Teltumbde and journalist-activist Gautam Navlakha, both of whom have been told to surrender to the National Investigation Agency on Tuesday, April 14.

Also read: A Letter to the People of India, on the Eve of My Arrest

The nature of the case and the absurdist fabulous plot has also allowed the police to harass anyone anywhere: a professor in Hyderabad (Dr K. Satyanarayana) and a professor in Delhi (Hany Babu) had their homes searched, their computers trawled for information. Sadly, these might not be the last arrests we see.

Why is Anand Teltumbde being targeted in this vicious manner? Why have the powers-that-be decided that he, along with Gautam Navlakha must go to jail even as the Supreme Court wants prisoners to be released so as to contain the novel coronavirus pandemic?

Prakash Ambedkar, grandson of Babasaheb Ambedkar, has already pointed out that one of the prime reasons behind this targeting is that Teltumbde is a son-in-law of Babasahebs family. The hidden agenda of the BJP-RSS and the cluster of right-wing organisations called the Sangh parivar is to attack the legacy of Babasaheb. Anand Teltumbde neither attended the Bhima Koregaon event, nor was he involved in the organising team, so why is he being singled out for this witch-hunt? This is because of the politics that he articulates, a politics that is anathema to the rightwing, neoliberal regime.

He is one of the followers of Babasaheb who has continuously highlighted the need to fight Hindutva on both the social and economic front. One the one hand, he has laid bare the Brahminical anti-social casteist nature of the Sangh parivar, while on the other he has relentlessly attacked the anti-people economic policies of Neoliberal Hindutva. One of his recent publications is titled Republic of Caste: Thinking Equality in the Time of Neoliberal Hindutva. He upholds Ambedkars radical vision of ushering social and economic democracy in India through the annihilation of caste and state socialism.

Teltumbde has pointed out the explicit socialist vision of Babasaheb Ambedkar:

I should have from that point of view expected the Resolution to state in most explicit terms that in order that there may be social and economic justice in the country, that there would be nationalisation of industry and nationalisation of land, I do not understand how it could be possible for any future Government which believes in doing justice socially, economically and politically, unless its economy is a socialistic economy(December 17, 1946).

In the same article, he quotes Babasaheb again to emphasise the importance of anti-caste revolution for the success of socialism,

Men will not join in a revolution for the equalisation of property unless they know that after the revolution is achieved they will be treated equally and that there will be no discrimination of caste and creed. The assurance of a socialist leading the revolution that he does not believe in caste, I am sure, will not suffice. The assurance must be the assurance proceeding from much deeper foundation, namely, the mental attitude of the compatriots towards one another in their spirit of personal equality and fraternity.

Furthermore, this programme and doctrine of annihilation of caste alongside socialism is articulated by a scholar from a Dalit background and it is the Dalit-Bahujans who form the majority of Indias de facto working class. This means challenging caste will also present the greatest challenge to untrammelled, exploitative capitalism.

This radical vision of Babasahebs anti-caste socialism is directly antithetical to the RSS-BJPs Neoliberal Hindutva, which wants to thrive on caste, class and gender inequality in society. The targeting of religious minorities is its main weapon to polarise and divide India on communal lines to achieve that regressive end.

Also read: Dont Pity Anand Teltumbde, Pity the System that Incarcerates Him

Right from its genesis, the RSS has worked as the stooge of British imperialism and upholder of Manuvad. When British colonialism was exploiting Indian resources and Indian people for their own interest, RSS chief M.S. Golwalkar had famously uttered at the peak of Indian freedom struggle, Hindus, dont waste your energy fighting the British. Save your energy to fight our internal enemies that are Muslims, Christians, and Communists.

It is another matter that patriotic Indians, including Hindus, never listened to anti-national Hindutva and fought British colonialism tooth and nail till the country got independence. In another instance, Golwalkar, praising Manu wrote,

It is this fact which made the first and greatest law giver of the world Manu, to lay down in his code, directing all the peoples of the world to come to learn their duties at the holy feet of the Eldestborn Brahmans of this land.

However, much to the Sanghs discomfort, the constitution of India Article 15, clearly laid out prohibition of discrimination on grounds of religion, race, caste, sex or place of birth.

Also read: Why We Must Defend Anand Teltumbde

Teltumbde belongs to that league of Ambedkarites who stands like a progressive intellectual wall against the neoliberal Hindutva of the RSS-BJP. It is important for the anti-people, RSS-guided Central government to breach this progressive intellectual wall for their forward march towards an unequal, regressive society of Hindutva ridden with caste discrimination, class inequality and patriarchal domination. They want to accelerate this time machine which will take us into the dark ages. For this reason, they have concocted a fake story of Maoist instigated violence and save the Hindutva activists who were behind the Bhima Koregaon violence and falsely implicate the Ambedkarite-led Elgar Parishad.

However, the truth will eventually prevail. For this reason, it is important that all patriotic Indians must refute this nefarious attempt of the Sangh, using the Modi-Shah led Central government machinery to discredit progressive and egalitarian Ambedkarite intellectuals like Teltumbde.

His planned arrest on Ambedkar Jayanti is a blot on our nation. We demand his immediate release, and we demand the release of all the activists, thinkers and advocates who have been jailed in the Bhima Koregaon case.

Jignesh Mevani is MLA for Vadgam, Gujarat. Meena Kandaswamy is a poet and writer. Her most recent book is Exquisite Cadavers.

Continue reading here:
Why Is Anand Teltumbde So Dangerous for the Narendra Modi Government? - The Wire

FREDERICTON -- While life, in general, is becoming more difficult amid the COVID-19, it can be especially hard on days such as Easter Sunday. With many residents at home in self-isolation, an New Brunswick therapist wants residents to know they can overcome these difficult times, and that there is no shame in seeking help.

Therapist and mental health advocate, Laura Gatien, says when the pandemic was first declared, dozens of people cancelled their therapy sessions. However, recently, business is picking up again, with people seeking help for growing feelings of anxiety, fear, worry, hopelessness, and helplessness.

"What I've been helping people do is try to really work on the things that they can control," says Gatien. "So, that is their perspective and their attitude right now."

She says many of her patients express how much they miss their family and friends, and how difficult that can be on their mental wellbeing especially on a holiday weekend when families gather.

Recently, Premier Blaine Higgs acknowledged his Easter weekend wouldn't be as family-filled as usual.

"My mother and I were talking about this weekend, and she said: 'are you coming home for Easter dinner?'" said Higgs during a recent press conference. "I said 'absolutely not,' and we discussed the reasons why; she was very understanding that this would not be an Easter that we should celebrate together."

Higgs also acknowledged the difficulties of the lifestyle change to which many residents have had to adapt.

"We believe there's a balance here, because if people don't have a job, if they don't have income, if they don't have a future that they see and a livelihood, they can become more stressed," said Higgs. "We can have social situations that become unbearable we don't want to see that happen."

In the meantime, New Brunswick's Department of Health has authorized health care professionals to see their patients virtually including those working in mental health services, like Gatien. She acknowledges the challenges of the times but says brighter days are ahead.

The way my mom put it is: 'we're not cancelling Easter, we're just postponing our celebration as a family,'" says Gatien. "We're doing what we need to do right now for the greater good. Focusing on that in itself, and knowing that you're doing what needs to be done, can give you a sense of empowerment."

Meanwhile, Gatien notes she and her team are available to meet online at any time and is offering low-cost counselling as well as free Friday sessions from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. for those struggling financially.

Read the rest here:
N.B. therapist says there's no shame in seeking help amid COVID-19 - CTV News

Dr Joshua Michaels

A SURGEON has thanked the public for observing lockdown restrictions in testing times and described how a change in attitudes has boosted NHS workers on the coronavirus frontline.

Dr Joshua Michaels, who lives in West Hampstead, said there was a new positive momentum building among his colleagues as stories about reckless sunbathers and social-distancing flouters began to subside.

The 29-year-old, who works in the intensive care unit at the Royal London Hospital, Whitechapel, said there was now more of a collective unity with the public on the wards. He has this week launched a fundraising page for the Barts Charity, which helps staff in his hospital. It has received more than 10,000 donations in just a few days.

Speaking before his 13-hour night shift, Dr Michaels told the New Journal: At the beginning of the lockdown there was the disdain for the measures, there were a lot of stories about the difficulties people were finding in sticking to the rules the fears people were facing every day. The daily death count is not helpful for people suffering from anxiety. It would have been very easy for people to get stuck on this wrong path.

But the positivity we are seeing now in the hospital has come from the change in peoples attitude. There is a sense of collective duty, you feel that when you see the empty streets.

Dr Michaels added: There are a lot of people in West Hampstead, for example. There are three stations and supermarkets. But when I look outside, I cant see single person right now. And we are all getting a boost from that at work. I cant urge enough people to stay at home, and I cant thank people enough for doing so.

He added: My resounding message is that its not just people on the frontline that needs celebrating. It is not just the charity work that is being done. It is also the people that are sticking to guidelines in difficult circumstances; the single mother who lives in high rise flat and who wants to go outside; a grandmother who lives by herself.

I lost my father six months ago. My grandmother, whose son it was, also lost her husband in the space of a year. She now lives in isolation but she is sticking to the guidance. Without the support of people observing the guidance and staying at home, the fight will falter and we will fail.

Dr Michaels said he had decided to put himself forward for the intensive care unit at the Royal London because of a passionate sense of what was right and the greater good. He had worked as a surgeon specialising in Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) for one year after four years at medical school.

He said: They have this fantastic system at work its called a traffic light system. At roll call they ask you to raise your hand if youre feeling motivated thats green. You raise your hand if feeling apprehensive amber. And red is understood as being very scared. Then what happens is a green person teams up with an amber person. They share their fears together you have that mental support and buddy system to help get through the day. It is so important to have that network to bounce ideas off.

It would be naive to say there are people with no concerns though. I have worries at times. Personally, I use the Headspace app outside of work. I go for runs and listen to it, and before I go to sleep. It helps release the stress. There are counsellors and guidance co-ordinators.

Dr Michaels said he was aware of shortages of protective equipment but his experience was there was enough at his hospital.

He said he had set up the fund particularly to help patients access technology needed to talk to relatives, adding: We are providing patients with iPads and tablets so they dont just see a masked face all the time and can communicate with their relatives. If i was a patient, and I spent every day seeing masked, hooded figures I would find it very worrying. We want to give patients a face to look at.

Dr Michaels said funds were needed to support staff in the rest of the hospital, where there are still cancer patients, emergency surgery, motorcycle accidents, car accidents, stabbings, adding: Horrendous things are still going on that need to be responded to.

Speaking on the pressures facing the NHS, he said: You are always going to have waiting lists, they are impossible to remove. The supply and demand is never going to be in favour of patients. It takes a long time to train doctors, but the answer is always going to be yes to more money in NHS.

Dr Michaels is calling for donations however large or small to help provide our hospital, staff and patients the vital equipment and support we need. It has raised almost 10,000 in just a few days.

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/joshua-michaels

Excerpt from:
West Hampstead doctor says coronavirus staff are inspired by those staying indoors - Camden New Journal newspapers website