Covid-19

by Leave a Comment

Covid-19

The Trauma of Covid-19

It’s no secret that Covid-19 has brought on a fair share of questions and worries. In fact, the situation we are currently living through is one that has left many people dealing with trauma. This article will be looking at the trauma you may have experienced during the lockdown as well as how you can get back up from it.

Uncertain Times

There has never been a time before that has brought as many questions as Covid-19 has. Not only this, but this pandemic has brought uncertainty that was merely a fictional possibility in the past, something we’d see in movies like 2012 or The Day After Tomorrow. Now, it’s almost impossible to book a vacation without fearing that we won’t be able to make it back without having to quarantine, and a second wave is on the horizon. These uncertain times can create trauma in a person as having no control over the events that follow is stress and anxiety-inducing.

No More Stability

In the United Kingdom, we are becoming more and more aware of the recession that is coming our way (in fact, we are already in one). Because of this, most of us are rather worried about our jobs. We aren’t sure we’ll be able to make it until Christmas and this lack of stability is extremely stressful. This is another form of trauma that you may be experiencing, alongside feelings of depression that have unfortunately been on the rise throughout the UK. The life we were used to up until now feels like it may be gone forever. The cafés are closed, or close at 3 PM in London’s city center– unseen before–, the pubs are half empty and the housing market is cheaper than ever before. Yet this all screams uncertainty. So, who can blame you for fearing the current circumstances and feeling traumatized by this rather swift change of events? Although this may be a bleak perspective of life, there is a positive side to all this– you can do something about it.

Indeed, trauma doesn’t mean that you will struggle with this forever. Instead, you can take care of this trauma by reestablishing control and a routine where you can. If you feel like you’ve lost control and like the uncertainty and instability are too much, look at what you do have control over and focus on this, even better, engage in self-care! This should be a good start to feel like you are gaining control over your life once again. 

by Leave a Comment

Being Alone Not Lonely

Being alone is something that many of us have grown accustomed to. Over the past few months, we have become much more used to the idea of being alone, and in fact, some of us may even like it quite a bit! If you are an introvert, perhaps being alone is something that you love and you do not feel as though anything needs to change. However, at one point or another, many of us start feeling the repercussions of being alone all the time. So, this week’s article will give you tips on being alone comfortably, and without feeling lonely. 

  1. Keep up the contacts

Although some of us have started to feel the “Zoom fatigue”, or the feeling that we are constantly on screen talking to others – especially while working or studying from home –, it is important to keep up our contacts. If you start to feel lonely while being home alone, try calling a friend, even if it is just for a few minutes. Taking the first step might be the hardest one of all, but once the person starts talking, you can also let them know that you are feeling lonely and just felt like having some company. 

  1. Understand that you are not alone in this situation

Feeling lonely is complicated as it has varied effects on different people. Some people have difficulty feeling isolated because of their relationships and jobs, such as when one works primarily from home. Other people have difficulty feeling alone and do not have any close relationships to turn to when they feel lonely. Still others have problems because they are not very outgoing or do not like meeting other people, so they may not even know where to go and who to talk to when they feel alone. This is especially true during Covid-19, and it’s made worse for those who struggle with anxiety about falling sick. As you can see, feeling lonely can stem from a variety of different factors and can manifest itself in different ways in different people. So, you are truly not alone. This is something you can talk to people about, including your therapist. 

  1. Keep yourself busy

One of the few amazing things that was brought on by the current situation is that we have a lot more time on our hands. Therefore, you have time to pick up new habits or new fun hobbies. If you have always wanted to start up a small business, now is the time to start brainstorming it. Even better: you can make new contacts to ask them for their opinion about it. You can keep yourself busy by joining livestreams, joining free online events or setting up small goals for yourself that you get to accomplish every day instead of focusing on the fact that you are alone. 

In times like these, it’s especially important to think of those who have been chronically lonely for a long time– the elderly and maybe single parents. The individuals who are currently in care homes, or even just students who are alone in their dorms, are currently facing a serious loneliness epidemic. So, take the time to call them, as speaking to another lonely person who is alone, may make the both of you much less lonely in the end. If you feel the need to speak with someone, reach out today– I can help.

by Leave a Comment

What To Expect Once We Are Out Of Lockdown

We are all waiting for it– the end of Covid-19! Of course, it may be rather optimistic to think this far ahead, but why not give it a try? When it comes to mental health, it is no longer a secret that these past few months have taken their toll on us all in some way or another, some in a good way and some in a negative way. That being said, with the pandemic being over at some point, we must also consider what to expect when we are out of lockdown. So, let’s talk about it. 

  1. Tackling Social Anxiety

We can work on reducing the impact of mental health issues every day. Whether it is by feeling less lonely, keeping in touch with our friends even if it feels like we’d rather just be alone in bed, or working on boosting our moods every day, there is always a way to work on bettering our mental health. As we are approaching the end of the lockdown, we should also consider certain things, such as whether or not feelings of social anxiety may resurface, and how we will deal with them. Indeed, if you feel like you are likely to want to avoid being in contact with others due to this, perhaps now is the time to start finding ways to cope with your social anxiety in order to have a smoother transition out of lockdown. 

  1. Re-integrating “normal life”

Re-integrating normal life may seem rather unlikely at the moment, but it will happen. Of course, it may be a different kind of normal, but it will still entail certain things such as going for coffee with friends, returning to the workplace, and no longer working from home or staying home every day of the week. So, a way to ease yourself into this is to keep yourself aware that this is coming soon! Similarly, you can try to think back of your old routines and may want to think about what they can bring. Can you re-establish these in your current day-to-day lifestyle? Is this something that is triggering some stress or perhaps anxiety? 

  1. Don’t be afraid to ask for help

When we come out of lockdown, chances are that you may feel rather overwhelmed about coming back to normalcy. For example, some may feel a bit anxious about having to attend social events again or others may not like the idea of going back to their original work place instead of working from home. Indeed, we are creatures of habit. So, after almost a year of this, it is normal that we have some reticence to going back to the way things were before simply because we have grown accustomed to the way things are now. If this is your case, do not be afraid to speak about this to someone. It’s always okay to ask for help, especially in such times! 

If you are anxious about returning to normal, or if you don’t feel comfortable with the lockdown ending soon for any particular reason, reach out today. Don’t be afraid to ask for help!