After much encouragement from my mum, I downloaded BBC Sounds to listen to Radio 4’s brilliant comedy series, Clare in the community, which I am currently listening to for the third time...or is it the fourth? My interest in history has been reignited with the highly informative and entertaining You’re dead to me podcast, and I have been left drooling over recipes and cooking tips from The kitchen cabinet! Like iPlayer, it has provided me with a much needed distraction, helping to really lift my spirits.
Although I love baking, I have always struggled with cooking. While I love to eat and try new things, my phobia of being physically sick has resulted in avoiding handling raw meat for fear of food poisoning. However, I found myself moving forward, having recently felt able to face my fears. The BBC Good Food app is full of delicious and easy meals, and I was able to find recipes which did not require too much meat-handling, such as fish pie mac’n’cheese (sounds weird but is utterly delicious) and sausage pasta. I guess you could say it helped me to step up to the plate (sorry!).
ASMR and ambient soundscapes
I am incredibly sensitive to noise with certain sounds resulting in a meltdown, and others really relaxing me.
I discovered the wonderful (although sometimes bizarre) worlds of ASMR and ambient soundscapes. These have been helping me sleep and relax as my brain focuses on the sounds and sensations I am feeling, rather than whatever it is going on in my head that is making me feel anxious. (ASMR is pleasurable internal sensations caused by watching or listening to repetitive things.)
I love listening to sounds that evoke a cosy atmosphere or happy memories, like a crackling fire with the sound of rain hitting a window. I have downloaded the Sleep Sounds app and use YouTube for ambient soundscapes (with some amazing and intricately detailed animations). My favourite channel is Ambient worlds where each animated video features a location in a fictional world (for example, a Hogwarts common room or Bilbo Baggins’ cottage) with film soundtracks and sounds you would expect to hear there played softly in the background. I really love the Chronicles of Narnia video, set in a winter forest with the Disney film’s soundtrack quietly playing, accompanied by the sound of snow falling, birds singing and leaves rustling. I feel as though I am there...I wish I was there...maybe I should start investigating my wardrobes again?
Amazon
Sometimes I need a little retail therapy to help me feel better! I bought gym equipment to make up for not being able to go to the gym and because exercise is a great stress-buster. I have also bought a lot of books because sometimes, all I need to feel happy and relaxed is a cosy night in, cuddled up to my dog with a nice, big cup of hot chocolate (with extra marshmallows of course!) and a lovely, romantic book!
I have also been having a lot of fun asking Amazon’s Alexa to play Disney songs so that I can have a good dance and sing-along (albeit very badly) to shake off all the tension and stress. I have also found myself having the odd conversation with Alexa: I feel it is only polite to ask her how she is every morning and to show gratitude whenever she patiently responds to my wacky requests and intense interrogations. After all I am not a monster! Although you are a monster if your heart does not melt when you ask her to make a porcupine noise! Sometimes, just being silly and embracing my inner goofball can make me forget everything and have fun.
