Coping with lockdown stress

With more and more people seeking help to combat post-lockdown anxiety, a leading psychotherapist is offering some valuable and timely advice.

Keeley Taverner, whose Key for Change practice is based in Uxbridge and London, believes being realistic about the coming months is vital as is acknowledging that life has been challenging over the last 12 months.

‘Feelings of anxiety around lockdown restrictions beginning to ease are not anything to fear,’ she says. ‘In fact, they’re only natural.

‘What we do have to remember though is that we’ve been here before. When restrictions eased last summer, we went through the process of reintegrating and got back to some kind of normality, even if it was short-lived.

‘It’s key for people to remember to approach situations with optimistic caution, not to be afraid of feeling anxious and to accept that life has been challenging over last 12 months.”

Here are her top tips to Sorted readers for dealing with the post-lockdown blues:

Optimistic caution

For people who like to plan and have order, a lockdown date shifting by just a few weeks could be detrimental. Make tentative plans but nothing too concrete.

Anxiety and fear

Think about the signs that show your fears are beginning to take over. Are you dropping the ball with your finances, health or well-being? These are the things to look out for and to seek help with.

Fear of future lockdowns

Rule-breakers cause frustration and anxiety. So think about whether your anger or rage is down to the actions of a minority, or whether there’s a more deep-rooted problem?

Acceptance

Acknowledging that life is challenging right now can empower us to look at what we can do to feel better, however small that may be.

Accountability

As restrictions begin to ease, set yourself small goals and be accountable for them. So, arrange to meet a friend for a walk, another for a coffee. Taking mall steps can really help.

Be realistic

There is no cure for Covid19. Vaccines are going well but there will be new strains and people will still get sick with the virus. Accepting this helps.

Opportunities

The last year has undoubtedly tough, but there have also been lots of positives and opportunities and this is what we need to focus on as we come out of lockdown. They don’t have to be big things, they can simply be about spending more time together as a family, meals as a family unit everyday and having time to sit down and communicate. Some of these we will want to take into our post-lockdown lives.

Charity delivers African jabs

While 50 per cent of adults in Britain may have now received their COVID-19 jabs, we should spare a thought for the billions of people around the world who are less fortunate – including many who live and work in remote and hard-to-reach places.

One organisation committed to supporting these hard to reach people is the team from the Mission Aviation Fellowship, a UK-based charity in Folkestone.

Since 21 March, MAF planes and pilots have been delivering jabs to rural healthcare workers based at remote mountainside clinics in the African state of Lesotho.

So far, MAF’s efforts have resulted in more than 200 healthcare staff being vaccinated, enabling communities in Kuebunyane, Labakeng and Matsaile to continue receiving essential support.

‘Reaching these locations by road is just too difficult,’ said MAF pilot, Grant Strugnell. ‘We are the only air service to connect these remote regions to vital medical supplies. It’s really good news these rural healthworkers were included in this round of vaccination.’

Vaughan Woodward, the charity’s International Development Manager, added: ‘While the demand for COVID-19 vaccines continues to exceed supply in the most vulnerable countries, MAF teams are doing everything they can to provide global, last-mile delivery of vaccines as quickly and safely as possible to ensure equitable access for the most isolated communities.”

Lesotho’s rural vaccine rollout is using the vaccine produced by AstraZeneca.

If you wish to find out more about MAF and its work, please click here.

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Army seeks ‘virtual’ runners

Churches aren’t always noted for being innovative – but the Salvation Army is seeking to change these widely held misperceptions.

The Army is attempting to recruit a team of virtual runners to take part in this year’s London Marathon – becoming part of up to 50,000 athletes who will complete 26 miles at a location of their choice. A further 50,000 runners will complete the traditional course – from Blackheath to The Mall.

Both events will be held on Sunday 3 October.

Participants in the virtual event can complete their run at any time on the day of the event – and are also set to become part of a Guinness World Record challenge.

Last year’s virtual event attracted almost 38,000 runners – ensuring it set the bar for the 'most users to run a remote marathon in 24 hours'.

This time round, officials want to beat that figure – and post a new record number.

All virtual runners receive a running number before the event as well as a coveted ‘official finisher’ medal and T-shirt. In addition, the Salvation Army is also providing runners with a team vest and dedicated London Marathon rep to give you all the support you need!

• More information on becoming a virtual runner for the Salvation Army can be obtained by sending an email to challenge@salvationarmy.org.uk or calling 0207 367 4819.

Zahawi: the Covid-19 hero

Of all the people we should be giving thanks to for their selfless efforts during the pandemic, one particular man deserves singling out. His name is Nadhim Zahawi.

The Iraqi-born 53-year-old – the Conservative Minister charged with sorting out the nation’s rollout of the Covid-19 vaccine and the sitting MP for Stratford-on-Avon – is, in my humble opinion, one of the shining lights to emerge from the last year.

He has worked his socks off to ensure almost 29 million Britons had received their first jab by last night, and he has done it quietly, not seeking self-promotion or his moment of glory for making a success of the UK’s rollout programme.

His politics are immaterial. If he was a member of the Monster Raving Looney Party, it wouldn’t matter, for what is all-important is his competence to do the job. And, in this regard, he has proven to be a rare gem.

What we needed

It is so refreshing to see a government minister thriving in a pressurised role. I would go as far as saying, Nadhim Zahawi is an answer to prayer.

His appointment, on 28 November 2020, came at the precise moment the country needed someone of character to get us on track. We had been beset with controversy after controversy to do with the education system, and we needed some respite.

And, my goodness, haven’t we been blessed with precisely what we needed?

While the rest of Europe and much of the world flails, Britain has been able to steer a course that has given hope to the most vulnerable people in our society and is ensuring our society and communities will be returning to normal much quicker than our cousins across the English Channel.

If my comments appear celebratory and nationalistic, than I apologise unreservedly. This is not my intention. I simply wish to give credit where credit is due.

After so much bad news, it is wonderful to finally see a light burning brightly at the end of the tunnel.

So ‘thank you’ Nadhim Hahawi. You deserve our unreserved thanks and continued prayers.

PM praises selfless Christians

The shaming of the FA

There has been a stench in football for far too long.

The smell of corruption has tainted the national game for the last 40 years. More often than not, the chicanery and wrongdoing has involved money and greed.

But last night, as I watched the third part of the hard-hitting BBC series Football’s Darkest Hour, I realised the national game has finally sunk to an all-time low. It is rotten to its core – and the Football Association must shoulder almost all of the blame.

Cash is one thing – and let’s face it, people (particularly men) will always be greedy.

But child abuse takes things to another level. And to hear so many heart-wrenching accounts of sexual abuse committed on young boys, who loved nothing more than the thrill of kicking a football about, has sunk the game to a depth I never thought it could go to.

The perpetrators of the abuse on 800 innocent souls – men like serial predator Barry Bennell – quite rightly had there crimes exposed. Some were jailed, some died before they could be brought to justice. But their names will forever be associated with the evil deeds that wrecked the lives and careers of so many.

Negligence and incompetence

But what of the bosses of the Football Association, the chief executives and presidents who have come and gone over the years; the people who were employed to protect youngsters. Who is holding these people to account?

Unfortunately, like in so many other cases, I fear their negligence and incompetence will be overlooked yet again. The scale of the ineptitude is so great there can be no other outcome.

After all, there have been so many scandals at the FA, I fear nothing can change the mentality and behaviour of the people driving football’s ruling body into the gutter. There are too many vested interests; too many dark secrets; too many Masonic handshakes.

It seems to be an unaccountable organisation that cares about two things: money and power.

If I am wrong, and I hope I am, then now is the time for the Football Association to truly get its house in order and work with the government to put in place a structure, which includes an independent regulator,  that ensures systematic abuse can never happen again.

I live in hope – as I have been doing for the past four decades. And be assured I will be praying for the victims, the perpetrators, and the men and women within the FA who have repeatedly turned a blind eye to everything that has gone on.