Coronavirus, bears, tea and cake.  Fab information about feeling anxious, and what we can do.  (BSL below)
Imogen Wall wrote a Facebook post about how we can think, feel and behave weirdly in reaction to a threat like COVID-19 / coronavirus, and what we can do to feel less anxious.  This is a translation of her post into British Sign Language (BSL).  It's in 14 parts, the first 4 parts are about coronavirus and anxiety and are a few mins each, then parts 5 to 14 are about different ways of helping you feel less anxious; but these videos are only about 1 minute each.  

Imogen has a website with more resources (in English): www.imogenwall.co.uk/resources​

Resources that may be useful:
In preparing these translations I found a lot of resources in BSL that you may also find useful.  Just in case you've not seen these, they're all listed below.  Click any of them to go to the web page:

If you need help in BSL you can call NHS 111 in BSL by visiting interpreternow.co.uk/nhs111 or use their app on your mobile device. Or use the NHS 111 online service at 111.nhs.uk/covid-19. Do not go to a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital
FREE video interpreter for GP, dentist, hospital, etc.  (Click any of the links for information in BSL)

Do you need an interpreter for GP appointments, dentists, pharmacies / chemists, opticians, NHS hospitals and any other health-care related appointments?

If there is no interpreter available, then you can use a remote (video) interpreter for FREE, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, through BSL Health Access, a partnership between SignHealth and InterpreterNow.  
If you want to use a PC or laptop, use this link, and click on “call/connect now” here https://www.bslhealthaccess.co.uk/about-us/

If you want to use tablet / iPad or mobile phone, download and open the app from here:  https://www.bslhealthaccess.co.uk/bsl-users/

Information and advice in BSL:

You can email RAD if you need advice and support related to coronavirus in BSL - advice@royaldeaf.org.uk or you can contact their Information and Wellbeing Service through LiveChat

You can also contact Action on Hearing Loss for information and support in BSL.

Deaf UK Coronavirus has updates and links, including about support for self-employed people from the government.  You can sign up for updates from them.

SignHealth has lots of really good  information about coronavirus, with updates, and information for people who may have a higher risk of catching it.
​
BSL Zone does news updates about coronavirus every day in BSL.

BSL Zone also has livestreams with advice about coronavirus, self isolation, mental health, and answering audience questions.

RAD did news updates everyday about coronavirus in BSL, and also has advice about why you must stay at home, and prevention and symptoms.  You can see them all on their YouTube channel.

If you are feeling lonely:

If you are at home, maybe feel lonely or isolated, and want to sign with other deaf people, join the Deaf Stay at Home group on Facebook.

If you need an interpreter to help with problems because of coronavirus:

If you need a volunteer interpreter for help with problems because of coronavirus, join BSL Interpreter Volunteer Facebook group.  

Mindfullness, meditation and breathing:

Trudi's Mindfulness for Deaf Community Facebook page, with mindfulness videos.

Trudi Collier explains about mindfulness and good mental health.

Every Wednesday RAD has Mindfulness videos in BSL on their Facebook page

Dr Sarah Powell explains about mindfulness.

SignHealth (Rebecca A Withey) explains about mindfulness in 5 videos.

Deaf4Deaf has two video about mindfulness, one for adults, and one for children.

This is the 'two minute breathe bubble' exercise that Imogen Wall talks about.

Exercise & yoga:

If you want to exercise at home RAD are live streaming exercise classes in BSL.  Find out about this on their FaceBook page.

Bethaney runs Yoga classes in BSL, and is doing classes you can join from your home.  Go to her FaceBook page to find out more, and see some videos about Yoga.

If you need some fun or to watch something funny:

BSL Zone comedy channel :)

If there are other good BSL resources about coronavirus, let me know, and I'll add them here.

Part 1 - Intro, coronavirus bears cake and tea (A Facebook post by Imogen Wall, translated into BSL)
So… my goodness. A couple of days ago, I threw out an off-the-cuff post on aid worker tips for surviving lockdown and quarantine. Today I’ve woken up to find it’s been reshared thousands of times. I’m getting comments from strangers around the world, messages of thanks, even requests to translate it. If you’ll forgive the expression, it appears to have… gone viral.
 
The overwhelming reason it seems to have a struck a chord is that it talked about how we’re all feeling a bit wobbly. It sounds like there are an awful lot of people having reactions they don’t really understand. So today I thought I’d write a short follow up with my mental health first aider/therapist hat on. 

Ladies and Gents, this is Pandemic Anxiety 101. 

​Part 2 - In crisis we do weird stuff
​IN CRISES, WE START DOING WEIRD STUFF: Over the last week I have struggled to sleep, stayed up late into the night reading endless news articles, bought pasta I don’t even like very much, got angry with my mum for not staying home. My spelling is a disaster and I’m definitely drinking more. I’ve been a bit teary, and all I really want to eat is cake, cake and more cake. From what I got back from my post yesterday, I’m not alone. 
 
If you’re having a wobble, you may also have noticed all sorts of weird stuff going on. Are you arguing more, talking faster, struggling to sleep, restless, desperate for information? Or are you teary and overwhelmed, perhaps feeling a bit sick? Struggling to make decisions? Just want to stay in bed? Tummy upsets? Having palpitations, butterflies, headaches? Ranting, picking fights or getting into arguments? Laughing unexpectedly or saying random, inappropriate things? Developing Very Strong Opinions on epidemiology overnight? Or have you just completely gone to ground? 
 
If you are feeling any of these things: good news! You are not going mad. And you are 100% not alone. You are, in fact completely normal: a fully emotionally functional human being. Congratulations! Why? I’ll explain: take a seat and put the kettle on. 

​Part 3 - We are living in turbo-anxious times
​WE ARE LIVING IN TURBO-ANXIOUS TIMES. Well, no kidding. We’re in the middle of an unprecedented crisis that has showed up unexpectedly (they do that) and which presents a mortal threat to ourselves, our loved ones and our way of life. It’s terrifying and it's getting worse and it makes us feel totally out of control. And this is on top of anything else we have going on. 

Part 4 - Here's the science bit
​HERE’S THE SCIENCE BIT. When we are exposed to threats and need to deal with them, our brain springs into action. Specifically a tiny, innocent-looking thing buried behind your ear called the amygdala (fun fact: it's the size and shape of an almond). It’s the bit in charge when we are frightened and right now, it’s in full tin-hat klaxon mode. Unfortunately, it’s also very ancient bit of kit. It came into being when threats basically consisted of being eaten by large scary animals like bears. You know that thing about when you have a hammer, everything looks like a nail? Well, to the amygdala, everything looks like a bear. It’s also pretty basic, so it really only has two settings. They are no bear and BEAR!!!. SETTING: BEAR!!!. 
 
Because all threats look like a bear to the amygdala, it preps you accordingly. There are really only two reactions to a bear about to eat you: fight it, or run away really fast. So this is what the body gets you ready to do. It’s called the Fight or Flight response (there’s also freeze, meaning you just get paralysed). It does this by flooding your body with chemicals like cortisol, and adrenaline. Your heart rate goes up, you feel super alert, your breathing goes shallow, your muscles are ready for action. These chemicals are also largely responsible for the huge range of other cognitive/physical/emotional reactions in my intro. In group fear situation like a pandemic, this tends to happen whether you think you're scared or not - anxiety is even more infectious than COVID. Your body reacts even if your conscious mind doesn't. BEAR V VIRUS: 
 
Obviously this is all great if you really are running away from a bear. But we’re now in a situation where we’re being asked to do the EXACT OPPOSITE of running away. We are being told to sit tight. Literally stay still. Process large amounts of information, make complicated and life changing decisions, and stay calm. All while a bit of your brain is running around yelling BEAR!!! BEAR!!! BEAR!!! This isn’t easy. The result is an awful lot of stress and anxiety. And if you’re anything like me, you end up feeling really overwhelmed and having all sorts of reactions. 

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS: Anxiety isn’t just mental – it’s also physical, cognitive and behavioural. You will notice all kinds of things: stomach upsets, headaches, insomnia, changes to eating, changes to the way you talk. It’s also cognitive: it’s very difficult to think straight when you’ve got the BEAR!!! BEAR!!! BEAR!!! thing going on – so we also become very bad at making decisions, absorbing information and generally thinking rationally. Which is EXACTLY what we need to do. 

​Part 5 - So what to do?
SO WHAT TO DO: well, the good news is it is possible to calm down. We can turn the amygdala from BEAR!!! to NO BEAR , and not just by distracting it with cake and tea. Here are some solid, scientifically proven things you can do. Here are some solid, scientifically proven things you can do. ​

Part 6 - Breathe
BREATHE. It’s so basic, but breathing exercises are basically magic. They work in minutes and you can do them anywhere. They work because of all the physical reactions the amygdala triggers, rapid breathing is the only one over which we have conscious control. Control your breathing and you are basically telling your body: it’s OK. There is no bear. Your body will then start to dial down the adrenaline and cortisol and all the other reactions will slow to a halt. How to control your breathing? It’s easy – and if you want help just put "two minute breathe bubble" in into YouTube. 
 
The golden rules are these: • In through the nose, out through the mouth. SLOWLY • Make the outbreath longer than the inbreath – imagine there’s a candle in front of you and it mustn’t go out • Breathe from the tummy not chest – really make your tummy go out when breathing in. • Do it for two minutes - time yourself - and see how you feel Seriously, try it – this technique is used by everyone from top athletes to the US military to help stay in control while under stress. There are all sorts of versions – from yogic breathing to box breathing to 4-7-8. Google them, mess around, figure out what works for you. 

Part 7 - (Video) call a friend
CALL A FRIEND: Don’t suffer alone. Call a mate - someone who’ll listen while you have a bit of a rant, or a cry, or a general wobble. Someone you can trust not to judge you and who’ll just sympathise. And if you get one of those calls, just be nice to them. You only need to be kind. You can’t fix what’s going on so just give them a bit of space to rant and tell them they're normal and doing great. And if you’re OK, call your friends and check in on them. Especially if they’ve gone silent. 

Part 8 - Laugh
LAUGH: it doesn’t matter what is funny – laughter is a huge releaser of endorphins. Silly memes, silly jokes (BSL Zone comedy), stand-up, rolling around with your kids – videos on YouTube. The sillier the better. Also v good for bonding with friends, which will also help you feel less alone. 

Part 9 - Do something with your hands (as well as BSL!)
DO SOMETHING WITH YOUR HANDS. Yes you can meditate if this is your bag, it’s amazing. But if it’s not, and personally I’m rubbish, then trying to start when you’re already anxious is really hard. So do something instead with your hands, that you have to focus on to get right. Cook. Tidy. Knit. Draw. Bake. Garden. Mend things. This is what nice middle class therapists like me call Mindfulness. 

Part 10 - Treat your body
TREAT YOUR BODY: We hold stress in our bodies at least as much as our minds. Take a bath or a shower. Put on things that feel good on your skin. Use nice smelling body creams. Stretch. Skip. Do yoga. Dance. Eat healthy but delicious things - fresh if you can get it. All of these will help calm you down. 

Part 11 - Sunshine
SUNSHINE. It’s SPRINGTIME amid this horror – enjoy it. If you can’t go outside, open the windows and feel it on your face and breath it in. If it’s safe for you to go outside (maybe you live in the country) do it, while of course observing social distance. Go for a walk. Being outdoors, connecting to nature, is hugely calming. 

Part 12 - Step away from social media / the news
STEP AWAY FROM SOCIAL MEDIA/THE NEWS: All it will do will scare you more and make things worse. Turn off the telly and for gods sake avoid the psychopathic digital wild west that is Twitter. Stick to sensible sources like the BBC, the NHS and BSL Zone BSL updates, and limit yourself to short need-to-know bits a day. You’ll feel better immediately. Talk to friends instead - this is physical, not social distancing.

Part 13 - Step away from terrible coping mechanisms
STEP AWAY FROM TERRIBLE COPING MECHANISMS: They will all translate as BEAR!! to your poor brain. Especially don’t get drunk, especially if you’re alone (BEAR!!!), take drugs (BEAR!!!), stay up all night reading (BEAR!!!), get sucked into conspiracy theories (BEAR!!!), pay attention to ANYTHING Donald Trump says (BEAR!!!). See? Stress levels going up already. Breathe. 

Part 14 - Be kind (and eat cake)
BE KIND: to yourself and others. Now is not the time to go on a diet. Nor is this the time to start on Proust or makeover your life. You'll probably struggle to concentrate, fail and make yourself feel worse (hat tip Laura Gordon for this bit). Don’t make this more stressful than it already is. Think comfort books, comfort telly, comfort everything. Personally I re-read children's books. Everyone is wobbly, everyone is going to have a meltdown at some point. Understand that if someone is angry or aggressive, then they are also just scared. And eat more cake. Cake makes everything better. So, there we go. Hopefully a bit less BEAR!!
 
Now, that kettle should have boiled by now. Go make a nice cup of tea, sit by a window and drink it in this lovely morning sunshine. We are British after all. And save me some (vegan) cake.