Category: Uncategorized

September is a period of great change whether you are retired, a working adult, parent, graduate, student, teenager, or child in normal times. Summer 2020 has ended, the leaves are starting to fall, but Covid 19 is still with us. Nurseries, Kindergartens, Schools, Colleges, and Universities are due to start in a few weeks.

Most of our young people have not been in education since March 2020. I know that some parents are very pleased that schools are now open, they have been the ones shouldering the burden of keeping their children’s education on track along with their own jobs, the house, food preparation and so much more.

Some parents have had a horrible time during lock down, coming close to a breakdown with a household full of non-compliant children and adults who are constantly hungry. Anger has been a dominant feature in some households.

When you are the taxi driver of a teenager it can be the only time, they talk to you, when they pass their test and are able to drive by themselves this can stop along with a sense of connection. If this has happened to you, you may have noticed the changes accumulating in your body for some time, a quiet dread that begins to engulf you.

For parents who have become much closer to their children during lockdown, letting them go is difficult? The biggest change is for the parents or guardians of young people going to University. Nineteen-year olds might be going on their first long drive if they have passed their test? They might be travelling by themselves for the first time. They might be disorganised.

Quite often this huge change and sense of loss can coincide with The Menopause; strong emotions can affect hormonal changes which in turn create imbalances such as itching, burning, migraines, hot flushes, skin irritations, digestion imbalances, fatigue and bladder infections!

If you have a daughter, you may have been at war with her during the whole of lockdown? What if you are the mother of a daughter and you have become best friends during lockdown?

How are you supposed to cope when your household changes so rapidly?

• Do you feel abandoned?
• Are you thinking of your child constantly?
• Are you tracking their phone?
• Are you on the edge of crying at any moment?
• Does your chest feel heavy, like a weight on your chest?
• Has your anxiety increased?
• Has your diet changed to accompany your loneliness?
• Is your sleeping pattern disturbed?
• Do you feel out of control?
• Are you drinking too much wine?

If you answer yes to the questions above, please get in touch.

I can help you cope with grief, loss, overwhelmed feelings, anxiety, and anger.

Warm wishes.

Lucy Teixeira

Email: lucy@lucyteixeira.com

(14 Sept)

Can homeopathy help in this current health crisis?

Homeopathic medicines have been used extensively for flu-like symptoms and in epidemics around the world, and your homeopath will select remedies based on your unique symptoms.

As well as helping with physical symptoms, homeopathy can also help you and your family with feelings of anxiety, fear and stress – all of which are common at this extraordinary time.
Homeopathic options can form one part of your approach to the current virus outbreak but should always be used alongside other measures.

If you have current symptoms or are concerned that you may have been exposed to coronavirus, it is important to call 111 to seek appropriate advice, in keeping with current NHS guidelines.
111.nhs.uk/covid-19
NHS stay at home advice for everyone, for people at higher risk, if you or someone you live with has symptoms
www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/

Supporting yourself

Taking care of yourself, your friends, and your family can help you cope with stress. Helping others cope with their stress can also make your community stronger.

• Take breaks from screens, reading or listening to stories, including social media. Hearing about the pandemic repeatedly can be very upsetting.
• Take care of your body, breath deeply, stretch and meditate. Try to eat healthily, prepare meals for you and your family, exercise daily, get plenty of sleep and avoid alcohol and drugs.
• Make time to unwind, try something new.
• Connect with others. Talk to people you trust about how you are feeling.

It is natural to feel stress, anxiety, grief, and worry during and after a disaster. Everyone reacts differently, and your own feelings will change over time.
Notice and accept how you feel. Taking care of your emotional health during an emergency will help you think clearly and react to the urgent needs to protect yourself and your family. Self-care during an emergency will help your long-term healing.

Be aware that there may be rumours during a crisis, especially on social media. Always check your sources and turn to reliable sources of information like your local government authorities.

Feelings of anxiety, fear, depression

Be aware that there may be rumours during a crisis, especially on social media. Always check your sources and turn to reliable sources of information like your local government authorities.

Look out for these common signs of distress:

• Feelings of numbness, disbelief, or fear.
• Changes in appetite, energy, and activity levels.
• Difficulty in sleeping and concentrating, nightmares and upsetting thoughts and images.
• Physical reactions, such as headaches, palpitations, body pain, stomach problems and skin rashes.
• Worsening chronic health problems.
• Anger, short temper.
• Increased use of alcohol, tobacco, or drugs

If you experience these feelings or behaviours for several days in a row and are unable to carry out normal responsibilities because of them, seek professional help.

Contact me for an appointment from your home, via Zoom, FaceTime, and phone. Email:lucy@lucyteixeira.com

Safe, gentle, effective – choose homeopathy, over 200 million people worldwide do.

Oxford Mindfulness Centre are offering free weekly online mindfulness sessions, open to those who feel they would benefit.
Each session will also be available as a free podcast shortly after for anyone who missed the live session or wishes to practice again. oxfordmindfulness.org/online-sessions-podcasts/

Headspace – mindfulness exercise and guided meditations apps.apple.com/gb/app/headspace-meditation-sleep/id493145008

Calm – sleep more, stress less, live better apps.apple.com/gb/app/calm-meditation-and-sleep/id571800810

Yoga with Adrienne – yoga at home www.youtube.com/user/yogawithadriene/featured

Thanks to Oxfordshire MIND for sharing these free resources

The Open University have a variety of free online courses: www.open.edu/openlearn/?

Lots of museums have great online virtual tours, discover the top ten online top10.com/virtual-museum-tours

BBC Bitesize have online training and learning modules around a whole host of topics bbc.co.uk/bitesize

Mindful colouring, which can be done via the internet or through printed pages mombooks.com/mom/online-activities/

Online books, which are free to view and can be printed out as PDFs if you prefer to read a physical book gutenberg.org

Gentle, home workouts, which can be completed from the comfort of a chair via the nhs.uk nhs.uk/live-well/exercise/10-minute-home-cardio-workout/

Free music courses which incorporate audio and visual learning open.edu/openlearn/history-the-arts/culture/music

The Ashmolean Museum website has a host of free case study and project videos which are free to download and listen to ashmolean.org/case-studies-and-projects

Elefriends is a supportive online community where you can be yourself. We all know what it’s like to struggle sometimes, but now there’s a safe place to listen elefriends.org.uk
If you feel like you need more support, the Oxfordshire Mind Information Service can provide free support, guidance and signposting:

tel: 01865 247788
email: info@oxfordshiremind.org.uk oxfordshiremind.org.uk/wellbeing/information-service/

Useful contacts

Homeopathic pharmacies

Ainsworths Pharmacy, 36 New Cavendish St, W1G 8UF tel: 020 7935 5330
www.ainsworths.com

Freemans Pharmacy 18-20 Main St, Busby, Glasgow, G76 8DU tel: 0141 644 1165
www.freemans.scot

Helios Pharmacy, 8 New Row, Covent Garden, WC2N 4LJ tel:020 7379 7434
www.helios.co.uk

Homeopathy Research Institute – research and evidence www.hri-research.org/resources/essentialevidence/use-of-homeopathy-across-the-world/

Useful websites

NHS stay at home advice www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/self-isolation-advice/

NHS Covid19 Overview www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19

NHS 111 online 111.nhs.uk/covid-19

World Health Organisation (WHO) www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public

(01 June)

On April 12th, 2020 life changed completely for me and my family. My father Captain Tom Moore was due to celebrate his 100thBirthday on 31st April 2020. He is an Army Veteran who fought in WW2 at 21 years old and went to Burma in India via Cape Town, training troops on how to drive tanks and ride motorcycles.

He has lived with my sister, her husband and their children, my niece and nephew for 12 years. My mother died in 2007, after which my father lived on his own for several years until my sister and husband’s relocation enabled him to be involved with a large property that included all of them. This has worked very well with my father involved with many roles within that property including gardening, recycling and being the go-to mender and fixer. He had purpose, and enjoyed living within this environment, meeting the family for meals, and cooking for everyone as well. I saw first-hand how good living in a multigenerational household is for everyone.

18 months ago, whilst emptying the dishwasher he tripped and fell breaking his hip and deflating both lungs. He was very unwell; he endured a hip replacement and a long haul to get back to fitness. 1 year ago, a lump on his head was diagnosed as skin cancer, he received first class care from both sets of NHS staff with a team of people looking after him for many weeks.

During the Autumn of 2019, my father ordered a running machine and began walking on it to keep going through the winter months. During the Easter weekend with warm weather my father began walking up and down the paved drive. Whilst the family watched him, they discussed the possibility of him walking 100 laps to celebrate his 100th birthday and raise £1000 for the NHS charities to say thank you for all the treatment he received.

Within one week the total had gone from £1000 to £10000; by his 100th birthday and smashing his 100 laps, and after appearing on BBC1, GMB, Radio 2 and channels from all over the world he has raised almost £33million pounds. He has received calls from The Prime Minister and received multiple awards and recognitions. My sister and I have also been interviewed many times by journalists from all over the world.

I have been unable to visit my father on such a grand occasion; I like many have been disappointed not to be with loved ones on special occasions.

Symptoms I am helping with are grief, depression, stress and loss.

(22 May)

Covid 19

Since January we have watched the world react in different ways to the spread of the Covid 19 virus. In the United Kingdom we have seen our way of life change completely. We are a nation of nearly 68 million people made from all nations of the world.

The emotional impact of this virus is going to have long term effects for millions of people who are consumed by fear, anxiety, and trauma. I am helping many people who contact me with many of these conditions especially depression and anxiety. There are also many men and women who are working in environments that are incredibly challenging due children at home, lack of space, noise, and variable communications, this all adds to a stressful environment from which to work. A feeling of dread creeping upon that person after 6 weeks of lock down that they are forcing themselves to get through it day after day.

I run two businesses my homeopathic practice and my Weleda business, am lucky that I can continue to work during lockdown offering hair analysis and online consultations.

During the weekly clap for the NHS I have managed to have a check in with my neighbours while adhering to social distancing. I live close to Reading station, before the lock down my husband went into London most days with a daily cost of £55 for a return ticket. Whilst the weekly catch up with my neighbours and friends who are also commuters and long-haul travellers it has become clear that they will never go back to previous ways of working. ALL are expecting to work from their home office long term. They are all expecting to travel less, with meetings and pitches being held online. One of the main reasons for this is our connectivity, communications and that offices cannot accommodate spaces that adhere to social distancing. Whether it is our broadband, phone or tablet we can all communicate with people and businesses around the world and have become accustomed to talking and selling online. Zoom being my favourite for its stability and the ability to have 100’s of people on a call if necessary.

Elderly people who are over 75 have been asked to stay at home for 12 weeks, this is having a detrimental effect on their health too, many are extremely worried about catching the virus and giving it to their other half, this is a long period of isolation especially when on your own. I am helping this group usually with a consultation over the phone finding out how they are, how they are coping, what are they worried about most, would they like to improve their immunity?

How are you?

(15 May)