Adjustment, Change, and Challenge. Living in the Times of a Pandemic
Can you rememebr the general level of anxiety and fear created in February 2020 as we braced ourselves in the UK as the almost visible wave of the Covid-19 virus crept towards our shores? The majority of us went into survival mode; cancelling social plans, panic buying food, bottled water, increasing our medical supplies until bathroom cabinets were overflowing. We lived with the very new fear of contact and subsequent infection with other human beings and even objects as a result of this new and very unfamiliar virus.
Did you experience a feeling of relief, anxiety, possibly even guilt when we were instructed to lockdown and isolate in March 2020? At least in the first lockdown it felt, to some degree, a measure of temporary safety, something we were all doing together and generated a feeling of community and togethernesss. However many people also suffered a sense of isolation, living on their own or in environments of conflict. We all experienced a sense of loss.
As gradually we return to the “new” normal, and lets face it, “normal” as we once knew it has profoundly, often subtely changed. Many people are aware of experiencing unaccountable anxiety, irritation, unexpected bursts of anger, a feeling of flatness or hoplessness, exhaustion and lack of emotional resiliance as a result of the demand of yet more changes (as we return back to offices, the relaxing of rules and regulations surrounding the virus). Our emotional coping mechanisms are simply not as strong or resiliant as they used to be.
We have learnt to moderate our excitement our sense of hope as the disappointment of canclelling plans due to all to frequent changes to rules and regulations (holidays, Christmas, parties, weddings). Many of my clients complain of their ability to make decisions being impaired or losing their motovation to plan ahead. Hardly surprising when we have been living with such overwhelming uncertainty for the last 2 years!
My focus in therapy is building up self-care and enabling clients to talk openly about their fears and anxieties about the present and the future. I understand that it’s not easy sometimes to identify where anxiety comes from, it can be complex and involve many aspects of life and relationships. Together we can try to identify the source and consider techniques and exercises to help manage negative feelings and build up emotional resiliance and social confidence.It’s simply a personal investment in yourself and your sense of well-being.
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