Hi. I made an easily printable google doc containing all these tips and also some things that I tell myself when feeling scared or overwhelmed: docs.google.com/document/d/10bDwtsvNAxtti63a2JNNvIOeQHeGimZkpvw0HvXrDG8/edit The original document, written by Dr. Bepi Raviola, can be found here: www.pih.org/article/10-mental-health-tips-coronavirus-social-distancing If you are concerned about your mental health, PLEASE reach out for help. Ask a friend to assist you on the road toward health, or reach our directly to a mental health professional. Lots of them are doing teleconferencing/e-therapy these days. If you live in the U.S., you can learn more here: www.samhsa.gov/ Thanks for being here with us. -John

“I just don’t have a brain that’s particularly well suited to disease pandemics”

I read someone refer to social distancing as “physical distancing” and I like that much better. We do not have to end or sacrifice our social lives. We can stay distanced physically and still be closely connected socially.

“Your now is not your forever.”

From the list, this made me cry: “Doing things on this list IS BEING PRODUCTIVE. Taking care of myself and others is the productivity that matters most right now.” Yes! ❤️😭

John! All of Europe's radio stations are playing "You'll never walk alone" at the same time these days. It's a beautiful island of togetherness inside and outside of the stadium.

UKposts autoplay recommends me to watch "fitness for nerds" after this video, so I guess UKposts decided which tip I should start with

I would like to add to this list: continue to take your meds (if you take meds). I take 3 different meds to help me maintain mood equilibrium. In the past, when I wasn't working or in-person schooling, I would stop taking my stimulant, or take it infrequently, which ended up being bad news bears for my overall mental well-being. Now I think of my mental health as a delicate flower. A flower needs sunlight, rain, AND soil to grow. Take just one away and the flower withers. 🌻

This is one of those videos where you take some time to just read all the comments. Thanks John (and Hank) for fostering this amazing community of support and togetherness.

I would add one to this list: Actively Create. (I wanted to add 'art in that statement, but that may cause self limiting boundaries in the message) CREATE! The act of creation is a positive response to a null situation. Whether it's writing, painting, cooking, sculpting, knitting, building, photographing, singing, stacking dominos, card making, book binding, weaving, letter writing, gardening, origami, rock writing, pom-pom gluing, MC Village fixing, craftstick knotching, paper doll making, or yarn spinning - bring something into Being that was not present before. And bring it without judgement. Create. The journey from Zero to One is creation. The step from from nothing to something reminds us that we have power within us and are not random leaves blown about in stormy times. Actively. Create.

As someone who suffers with OCD, I’m actually not as panicked as one would expect because my mind has pretty much been living in a pandemic my whole life😂

As someone who depends on communication with others to silence the noises in my brain. This made my heart warm.

You've got this John, I'm so proud of you and how hard you are working to stay positive.

I don't call it social distancing, I call it distant socializing. Feels much better (and less impersonal) that way.

Honestly having been through seven life changing mental health crises in as many years I've felt really blessed that I've got the mental tool kit to cope. It's put me in a very privileged place to support my friends and family in figuring out how social distancing will work for them. As Hank said a new normal is on the horizon and in the mean time we all just need to be kind to each other, and kind to our own self.

In Global Health Like so much else Everyone needs to learn from everyone - John Green

A friend had this useful tip: Dress like you're going out

i've been having a hard time during this because i'm socially isolating (edited for the actual right words) with less than ideal conditions for my mental health. but the livestreams have helped a lot, so thank you (and sarah) for engaging with us a bit

With school going online I'm studying more than I've studied the this whole year and it keeps me busy in the morning. It also makes me wake up early which is great for my mental health but I don't need to go to an unhealthy environment like school. I also concentrate more and I can use crash course for school and I have fun while watching because it's something I would do in my free time. Thank you for all the videos and the live streams. Edit/Update: I started studying physics for the first time this week and now i’m stressed.

Man, John, or Mr. Green, however you choose to be called. You are just such a good person, your relatable, you write books, you do UKposts, your a good public speaker. If you didn’t exist (or didn’t write tfios, or any other of your books that moved me), I wouldn’t be writing a book of my own. Your words make my mind sing with glory. And best of all, you think about the needs of others. Thank you for everything - Elias

Having or making a list of "things you can do" is really helpful in a lot of circumstances when I feel scared or overwhelmed. Seeing that I can do something concrete and immediate makes me more able to break out of that kind of anxiety-paralysis.

Thanks for sharing this John. I don’t think I’ve ever felt more anxious than about a week ago, laying in bed until 4 am panicking out of my mind. Since then I have found things to get a lot better by practicing these tips in little ways, but it’s putting a voice to them and naming the habits that truly helps me visualize and take specific action.

My mom had depression when I was growing up. My heart goes out to anyone that struggles with emotional or mental illnesses ❤️❤️❤️

I was listening to a podcast that said, “it’s important to live life by design rather than emotion. Basically, sticking to a routine is what allows us to be the healthiest version of ourselves (especially when you're fighting these demons ex. OCD for me). I’ve had to overhaul how I approach taking care of my brain (exercise, journaling, studying etc) by practising mediocre consistency. Now I try to put in consistent 50-60% effort into my journaling habit - to make sure I do it I began recording it and posting it on my youtube channel. Historically I have a habit of going too hard, not being able to sustain the Herculean effort, giving up and hating myself. So now I’m trying to give a small, consistent mediocre effort everyday. And its crazy how it adds up. I finally feel less dysregulated and prepared to tackle my other issues like my loneliness.

Me: Okay, this is fine, I'll just work from home and create a nice daily routine My inattentive ADHD: hahahahaHAHAHA (for real, though, John: thanks for these tips! I'm going to try to implement some of them today!)

As someone who was always emotionally distant, I'm finding this social distancing to be a wonderful improvement in my life. That I already thought Jelle's Marble Runs was the world's greatest sporting event doesn't hurt.

The last six days since my cat and I have come to stay with my family, rather than alone in a small apartment in a big city, have been extremely difficult for me. Being here triggers a lot of memories of my worst periods of depression, and even though I'm with my family, I feel far more lonely here than I do in my own home. Every minute I feel like I'm balancing on the line between being okay and completely dissolving into an emotional breakdown. It's been exhausting, to put it mildly. But I'm trying to focus on these tips, and I'm doing my best not to turn social distancing into emotional isolation, which is a surefire recipe for personal disaster. It's hard, but I'm still here. And I'm glad you are too.

Yes, I think my anxiety disorder and my introversion has helped me cope a lot better with something like this. I have some friends who are much more social and extroverted who are struggling right now. Actually cooking stores food I have, walks in the countryside, and gardening now that I don’t have to be at work all the time (I’m a teacher) is relaxing. I’m actually working through my pile of history books I’ve been meaning to get through and the new Animal Crossing game has been wonderful! This is a good list of tips! Best wishes to all!

I've started having a minor anxiety attack each afternoon for maybe 30 minutes. I think I may as well just schedule it,

Thank you John! I've traided bedtime routine with my daughters to go for a run. Was considering to not go and just watch UKposts. Opened up, watched this video, put on my gear and went. 15 minutes later I'm stopping mid run to write this to say I already feel better. And I would've sworn that I wouldn't. That staying home and doing all I could to not think about COVID19 and work would be better. Thanks for the reminder. And to anyone reading this : do some exercise, it'll be OK.

Dear John, Thank you so much! Take care of yourself, I wish you all the best in the world!🤗 I'm blessed to be so stressed with online classes that I have absolutely no time left to get too anxious. Your video (as always, if I may mention that) brightened up my day and I'm incredibly happy to be part of this community so I can scroll through the comments and feel a little bit better :) Lots of love😊

another john green video to battle away tearful panic attacks. thank you john. my love to you and your family during this ongoing pandemic.

I have always appreciated how open both you and Hank have been about your mental health. I have PTSD, complete with anxiety and depression, and have a family who feels that makes me incapable of...everything. Of course, this is the same family who gave me PTSD in the first place, so there’s that. Hearing very intelligent and capable people discuss their own mental health issues so openly and matter-of-factly has done quite a lot for me. Thank you.

I wrote this poem a few years ago, on a particularly rough mental health day. I come back to it from time to time when I need to feel strong. I hope you guys find it helpful too. Where Light Used To Be The universe is 13 billion light years wide Everyone on earth Who ever lived Could travel it In order One by one And they would all die Before they reached the other end But I'm in here Everything is dark I cant breathe I can only feel My body Tearing I fell in Now I'm a prisoner of the place where the light used to be If i look back i can see it all Crushed into a pinprick Everything that ever was Shining You don't escape a black hole But I'm not in a black hole The event horizon is just the penumbra The shadow of shadow The way I escape is such There was dark There will be dark But now there is light So long as there is light I can see So long as i can see I can escape And so I escape The pinprick becomes wider Until it is everything And the great horrid dark Is a just an absence of light A chip in Orion's belt buckle And come what may Right now I'm here And here There is light

I woke up this morning feeling like everything was pointless, and I should just sleep the entire day. It's difficult to find purpose for yourself when your only vocation is student, and at the moment that's been ripped away from you by the cruel folks who created spring break. And this year it's an extended spring break, so for 2 weeks I need something to hold onto. I've been trying to continue with the routines I already have established for myself (waking up, making tea and my bed, spending time with the Essential Mystery that is God), but that can be difficult. Today I chose to push the feeling of pointlessness back, and I'm grateful for you sharing these tips that will help me to make that decision in the future, again and again. We will make it past this.

Tom Rosenthal's music is also a big happy factor in these times. his lyric "There is a dark place but I'm not going there" sometimes pulls me out of my pit a bit. Listen to "You might find yours" or "Big pot of hummus"

John, I’ve noticed on live streams that you and Sarah are both stressed about teaching your kids. Know that one of these weeks was meant to be your kids spring break so maybe take a week off and let them, and yourselves, relax.

Every time I see this kind of tips videos or articles I turn to them because the mere listing of ways to be healthier is usually soothing enough, but then there's always one about enjoying time with your family and my family and I are locked in different countries and I immediately break the f down. Bathing though, that's the real thing. Oftentimes it's the only thing capable of dragging me away from the internet and it even helps me not go back to social media as soon as I'm outta towel.

I've really been struggling and honestly these tips are things i know i should do on some level but hearing someone say it helps so much more

today I started to be so nervous about the whole quarantine thing & it's only been 1 weeek. thx John for this video ♥

such a helpful reminder as I'm struggling with so much anxiety and depression, as well as the giant change in my life that is living at home again and trying to adapt to school online. forever grateful for this little corner of the internet and being able to rely on these videos twice a week

Just what we need in this trying times. Thanks for the video John. Hope you are doing well.

I have been having near unending anxiety issues over this, panic attacks, struggling with OCD and depression. A thousand thank yous for this. Trying to build a schedule during this time has been tough and escaping my own mind even tougher.

The videos that you and Hank are posting throughout this time are really helpful for me. They are reassuring without being unrealistic and they help me feel connected to a larger community. Thank you both so much!

On meditation, I have recently gotten into praying the Rosary. I'm Protestant, but I have always been fascinated by prayer beads of various religions, the Rosary beads being the closest representation of what I believe. I have also studied psychology and learned how the repetition of phrases can be helpful (granted, it's not everyone's cup of tea). There have been a bunch of Rosary prayer livestreams pop up recently, but the one I like best is by Rosary Army (slightly biased since I've been listening to their podcast for years). Theirs is every night at 8pm ET. For me, this has helped. I don't have a Rosary (anymore.. lost in a move), but use a virtual one for the time being. And helps when anxiety hits.

I didn't get my comment into the chat of today's reading fast enough so I'll share it here: The part about the Paramount logo and feeling something like happiness but not reminded me of my favorite part from my favorite novel from college, Hemingway's A Moveable Feast. There is this part where he describes looking at Cezanne's paintings and feeling hungry because he spent all his money on alcohol and had none left for food, and he compares his hunger to the hunger he imagines Cezanne felt as he painted. That feeling of happiness but not quite reminded me of the way he describes the feeling of an artist as they're creating - maybe it's something like hopefulness or how it can feel really good to want something. Thank you so much, John! Your books have really meant a lot to me. Also, I laughed out loud at so many jokes! Thanks again!

When the pandemic first became evident to me, one of the first people i thought about was you, John. I've moved away from my obsession with your content over the past few years, but your openness and authenticity about your mental health struggles was always so important to me. I remembered you talking about your anxieties about disease and viruses and pandemics over the last 10 years or so, and imagined how difficult it must be to have one of your worst anxieties realized. I'm thankful and happy for you that are in a much more stable place with your mental health these days, and I am proud of you for all the difficult work you put in to keeping yourself above water. You inspire me a lot. Thank you for always being honest and hopeful with your audience.

John, just like Hank’s, your words confort my soul in these troubled times. Your honesty, kindness and help is always wonderful. Thank you for sharing it with us once again.

I am not a crier, not at movies or at books or at happy videos. John Green’s calm, warm hopefulness and helpfulness makes me cry every time. thanks for being awesome🙅🏼‍♀️

I've been thinking about you a lot this week John, glad to hear you're taking care of yourself. Thank you for sharing ❤️

Dusted off some anxiety coping tools I haven't needed for years last week but still had a panic attack. I moved in January and have no people in my local circle. My new year's resolution was to meet people and make friends. This weekend I dug out a lot of home projects I'd been putting off (unpacking the Last Box, writing a novel...) and I'm making very detailed schedules for my freetime. It kept me from pestering long-distance friends for attention or all-day TV marathons. This is a whole new ballgame for most of us, we're all figuring out how to live our lives, it's important to be patient with ourselves. Just cause we didn't have the perfect routine today (as if such a thing even exists) doesn't mean we won't improve the routine tomorrow.

Thank you! Having many anxiety disorders and other things including a chronic pain thing lots of these are hard but should be really helpful! I'll try and do some of them!

You're such a good role model and example. I owe you so much and I feel truly blessed to be alive at this time and have found this channel

Thank you for this, John, and also for your livestreams. I haven't been able to watch live since you've been broadcasting at like 2am my time, but I can still access the record from my notifications and they've been a great source of calm, and something to watch that feels current (as opposed to hiding under the duvet of old sitcoms) but that isn't turning on my tv and seeing nothing but the virus on every single goddamm channel all the time.

We're only about 36 hours into isolation and I spent the vast majority of those hours hunched over my laptop. The only time I stopped was when John's live stream came on. So thank you.

As another person with an obsessive anxiety disorder, this helped me immensely. Thank you SO much for this video, John! We're all in this together. ❤

As someone with mental health struggles of my own, I just wanted to thank you, John. I wanted to thank you not just for this video, but for all of the times that you have opened up about your mental health. It has helped me in immeasurable ways, as I’m sure it has helped so many others.

Thank you John and Hank. I have anxiety as well and this past week has been harder than most. The videos you both released have helped me to stabilize my ever moving thoughts. You both have earned a spot on my list of gratitudes.

Thank you John. Also, thank you so much for doing the livestreams. Many of my favorite things have been disrupted from shelter in place/stay at home, and while I am going to do my part to look out for everyone, it was such a relief when you said you'd be livestreaming. A switch in my brain went off and said: "This! We know how to do this! Community and support and nerdfighteria!" and it was (and is, and will be) such a comfort in a difficult time.

These videos and the live streams have been so helpful. Seeing people talk about how they feel bc of isolation is in itself making me feel less isolated? I don’t know if that makes sense but thank you for making these videos :)

This was a much needed reminder today! Been struggling not to spiral in the last couple of days and the bit about not wanting to exercise but it making you feel better really hit home.

I've been thinking about you recently, John, and how you've been doing in all this. Thank you for sharing. Best wishes to everyone! Stay safe!

You are loved & appreciated. Thanks for being vulnerable & transparent! As one who also is on antidepressant & antianxiety meds, it helps to know I'm not the only who feels like this! Thanks John!

"Social distance cannot mean emotional isolation." I love this and it is so true, I find the more I am with my loved ones, the happier and calmer I am. It is therapeutic adjacency (kind of like this channel :). Thank you as always John, you and yours stay safe and healthy!

I started a gratitude journal at the beginning of this semester. I was proud of myself for keeping up with it every day, but then I started slipping the past few weeks. I still have to remember to keep writing in it even when I feel like there is not so much good going on in the world right now because I know that there is still so much to be thankful for. I think it is in moments like these that it is especially important to recognize the goodness in our lives and appreciate all of the little moments of happiness that usually go unnoticed. Thank you for reminding me to write in my journal, John

More content like this please! I have been spiraling for weeks. Printing out the list now, thank you so much.

I started rereading a series from my favorite author that I haven’t read in AGES and it’s giving me a happy little break amid all the strange stress and anxiety. Tamara Pierce is the bomb

John your video brought me to tears because it was exactly what I needed in this time. Ocd is hard when you have to be apart from people so this will really help

Thanks John, I needed this. I've been stuck at home studying and my work is now done remotely, so my wife leaves to stay with her parents most of the day so my girls aren't being loud and i can work/study effectively. However, I'm now mostly alone most of the time, and not gotten out except for a few instances, and it's taking a toll mentally. I'm planning on finally taking some R&R after my last Midterm tonight, but just knowing I'm not alone is a really big help. That should be like 1b) sharing with others to help both you and them not feel so alone. Like you mentioned earlier, the only way out is through and the only way through is together. Stay awesome Green Brothers!

Well done, John. I have been surrounded my entire life with loved ones with various intensities of OCD. (I have a very mild touch of it myself). You candid, careful transparency is so heldful and important. You are dear to my heart and I’m grateful fir you.

Thanks for this, it really helped me feel more grounded living in this crazy world. During these times where I can barely will myself to sleep, and barely force myself to get up in the morning, recognizing what I CAN control, and the things I need to accomplish daily, really means the world. Stay safe everyone 💕

John, I don't know how you do it, but in so many videos you have a way of saying just what me and my anxiety need to hear in order to cohabitate my body more harmoniously. Thank you, thank you always

Thanks for this John, I was feeling really overwhelmed yesterday and just wanted to spend the day in tears, this helped

Thank you so much, John - take care of yourself 💖

I've never kept a regular routine myself. I've always relied on my external circumstances (school, work), for structure. Internal routine is soul-crushing, so boring it becomes nearly impossible to focus on what needs to be done.

Thank you, John. I really appreciate you passing on these tips. I think the thing everyone around me seems to be struggling most with is a thing I've had to accept while I've been unable to work for mental health reasons in the past: right now is not a normal situation. The normal things we think of as productive or helpful might not be, and we will adjust to that, and it's okay that we haven't yet. And we all deserve the love and grace we would give a friend. All the love, nerdfighters. We're gonna get through this.

Thank you for sharing. It always helps to know that this struggle is not just mine. Anxiety is so overwhelming and isolating on regular days and I was anxious that it would get worse (most of my anxiety is about my anxiety). I've recently limited my news to just the daily updates I get emailed from the New York Times and that's helped A LOT. I've also put limits on apps on my phone. Both of these things have helped tremendously. I've also gotten back into a regularish routine thanks to online classes starting this week. Often, I think back to the famous "Your now is not your forever" quote and as others have pointed out, it's very comforting in this situation.

John! Thank you so much for this video. I have ocd too and your videos always make me feel less alone.

As someone currently struggling with crushing mental illness, these videos are on my list to watch everyday. You two find a way to always make me re-evaluate my thinking, and though I can't speak from experience with being a parent, I know that everyday is a struggle for those who suffer from any mental sickness. To anyone reading this, please realize you're doing great every single day just by taking another breath in and out by the second. You've made it this far, and you should keep going.

I just want to thank you for what you have done during the covid out break john. these types of things from someone like me is reassuring.

I am a support worker and, even if my work routine is unpredictable, knowing that I can use at least some of these suggestions has given me a relief I didn't know I needed. Thank you John

You guys really are a wonderful comfort thru all this. Thanks to Hank for sharing his thoughts and being my favorite fact reading robot. Thanks to John for his honesty and relatability. And thank you so much for reading to us. I love the story you shared.

John you are a hero. You don't think of yourself that way and probably don't want others to either, but it's true. You put yourself out there in all your pain and show others how they too can survive this. Thanks for being one of the heroes we need every day, especially (but not just) when times are tough.

Thank you for this video, John. As someone fighting her own anxiety and other issues, I find comfort in the fact that I'm not the only one struggling and fighting. One again, thank you.

I love that both of you are so real about mental health. You help me and many others. Thank you.

Thank you so much John! I am dealing with postpartum depression alongside my regular depression and anxiety. So this COVID-19 thing is really throwing me through a loop. These tips are very helpful alongside your list of things you tell yourself when you are scared. I am so thankful for you and your willingness to share your experiences!

I have an app called Citizen that gives me local crime updates as I am living in a really rough neighborhood right now, but they also send out a once daily COVID 19 update for my county/state. Ive made the single several sentence update that app sends me essentially the only COVID-19 news media I consume each day. It's helped a lot.

Hi can I take a moment to say how much I appreciate how open you are John?!! Like I've had mental health issues galore (including anxiety and OCD so I feel you there) for. Years. And when I was first trying to figure out what was wrong with me you being open helped SO MUCH like no this is not my fault it's just a thing. It helped and continues to help so so so much. I just recently listened to the anthropocene reviewed episode entitled "velociraptors and Harvey" and.... I was genuinely in tears because of how well you said your things and how open you were and idk it just means a lot so thank u for everything. DFTBA

You guys are so amazing for informing us a little about the virus, but especially informing us on how to be good versions of ourselves, how to live our lives as fully as possible during this period, how to learn from one another and how to deal with our troubles. Many thanks to the both of you from the bottom of my heart!

Thank you, John ♥️ I also struggle with anxiety, but I've been working on it and even got back on writing a novel I'm actually planning on finishing this time 😊 best wishes to everyone

It’s nice to hear someone else talk about their anxiety in a time when I feel like mine is sky-high. And it’s 10 times better hearing about it (and what I can do to make it better) from one of my favourite authors and UKpostsrs 😄 Thanks, John!

Your livestreams have been helping me so much, so thank you!!

Thank you. This was first in my mental health playlist of 14 videos and I watched the playlist many times when I was struggling with depression and anxiety and didn’t know what to do. I had support but to get through the day I used videos like yours. I also loved your book turtles all the way down. Now I feel a lot better with the medication I’m taking and I wanted to thank you for helping me get to where I am now. You helped me get through those tough times

Thank you so much for drawing our attention to this list of tips from people who really, truly, know. And thank you for the live streams.

Something my therapist told me to do is make a list with stuff that makes me happy. I wrote down small things, like having a solo-dance party in my kitchen and reading this book full of drawings of birds and laying on the floor. It helps me SO MUCH to stay positive and not spiral into madness

Puff levels are out of the frame high. Thank you for making this. I think I've had the hardest time today so far in the whole social distancing and it's comforting to hear from someone who actually understands having a very tenuous relationship with hope.

This did effect my mental health as well, and I agree with you that keeping a route does help. Also, liking your book so far from what I heard in your live videos. Can't wait to read it.

Thank you John Sending love to everyone out there! 🌱🌸

This video is comfort in dark times, and also a very good reminder of the things I Know About Myself and my mental health. Thank you john

I cannot explain how thrilled I am at your appreciation of baths. I've always loved them, they got me through the hard times. Hearing you love them just feels like I know you a little bit more. Cheers to baths and all their wonder!!