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.