Covid-19 and your Mental Wellbeing
Prior to 2020, some of us may have already felt that our lives were a bit of a mess. When Covid 19 struck, there was extensive coverage of a secondary event that tabloids dubbed the “Mental Health Pandemic”. Restrictions, lockdowns and outbreaks fueled collective fear and saw many of us stuck inside a lot more than usual - living under artificial lights, decreasing our movement and becoming disconnected with nature. It also reduced our opportunities to meaningfully connect with others. It became nearly impossible to live in the moment, it felt like Groundhog Day and many of us became complacent in doing what we must do to take care of our mental health.
Yet what we seem to fail to acknowledge, is that we were already struggling. Mental health statistics rose including yearly suicide rates.
Working as a psychologist, I was at that point already working against a tide of mental health and unwell. When the pandemic reached full force, it seemed to me that many people were now just treading water, and most of my colleagues had closed their books to new clients due to demand.
The pandemic and the resulting lockdowns took many tolls, some yet to be realised. If we genuinely reflect, all of us have had our well-being and mental health impacted in some way. If I was to list examples, flow on effects and sliding door moments - this blog would exceed the word limit. Anyone who was struggling prior to the pandemic now had a plethora of new and foreign issues to face - with serious roadblocks such as the loss of control and isolation. What we may have failed to realise however, is that the world reopening is not an alleviation of the feelings surrounding Covid: they are additional and accumulative.
A quick perusal of the internet will tell us that there are many and varying reactions to this next phase - from excitement through to terror at our changing world.
From here, it’s important and healthy to acknowledge the self-reflections and any questions asked during this time, as we may have chosen to carry this heavy burden for too long, and now could just be the time to put down some of that weight and take a big stretch. Be truly honest with yourself, and reflect in a meaningful and safe way.
If instead we consider the re-opening of the world to be a fresh start - and allow our consciousness to identify and kindly release what no longer serves or aligns with your desired reality. What feels like a forced hiatus can perhaps with a little tilt of perspective be considered a blessing.
Growing and evolving reveals the true metal that makes you. Consider then which metal you might want to test. Is it a Lifestyle audit? Relationship overhaul? New job? Dealing with mental illness? Learning self-compassion? Maybe it’s a combination of all of the above. Create space and see what comes - you might be pleasantly surprised.