How To Juggle Mental Health And Wellbeing Amongst, Lockdown Fatigue And Isolation Worries
Lockdown. Isolation. Quarantine.
Not words you were expecting to use so frequently to describe your life in 2020, I’m guessing. Me neither. And in all honesty the thought of it initially terrified me, I don’t always cope overly well with being stuck at home all the time. I like to get out, to see people, do stuff, wander about. And as someone who works from home a lot anyway, and has a history of mental health difficulties, those little visits with the outside world can really shift a whole day’s mood.
So it’s been quite a surprise for me to find that the low days have been few and far between. Perhaps down to a few things I’ve been doing (or not doing):
Not watching the news
Not reading anything about the pandemic
Exercise
Dog walks
Sunbathing in the garden with Simon
Working
Watching the entire Frasier boxset (a work in progress)
Eating well
Eating badly
Exercising more
Working more
Regular video calls with family & friends
Gardening
Burying my head in the sand
Listening to music
Baking (why are we all doing this?)
Learning new stuff
I’m sure that all looks pretty familiar. And it works! Those little distractions keeps the mind ticking along just fine… For the most part.
But sometimes the mind can slip, the distractions fade and we’re left to ponder the severity of what’s happening right now. Or perhaps you speak with a friend and find out what an utterly rubbish time they’re having. The truth of how awful life is for people you care about bursts your rosey ‘reality’ and brings you right back down to Earth.
I can only speak for myself here but it seems a few others are feeling the same, we seem to be coping with isolation by further isolating ourselves in a little bubble of blissful ignorance. Merrily pottering around the house & enjoying hobbies we never had time for until now. We can cope with life if we only have to manage our own. But, of course, we should also be aware of other people & our loved ones. It may not be our desire to be reawoken by the sadness of it all but it may alleviate someone elses problems for just a moment to have you listen.
I’m not saying in anyway we should put our own needs to the side. Whilst your strategy for coping may be to shut the world out, perhaps on those positive days you could share some joy with others. Send a silly video to a friend, sing down the phone to your dad, wave a really big wave to a stranger. Perhaps this way we can spread some happiness throughout the community, even if it’s only fleeting.
Let’s face it, we’re all going to have good days and we’re all going to have bad days. I’m not going to lie, some days are so awesome; I get to stay at home in my pajamas all day, hang out with my best friend and plant flowers? SIGN ME UP. But then again, some are really, really dark; the quiet, the fear, the unknown, the known, the uncertainty and the sense of impending doom.
I think it’s important to be aware of both sides so we can make the absolute most of the positive days. Perhaps if we can really revel in the carefree moments it will make it easier to get through the grey.
In all honesty, it’s hard for me to write anything in a cohesive way as my head is quite muddled right now. But what I think I’m trying to get across here is:
Whatever you want right now is okay. However you need to be is justified. Anything you’re feeling is justified.
If you need to shut the world out, close the door.
If you need to watch Netflix all day and eat junk food, go ahead.
If you need to sit in your bed for an hour and sing to yourself, be my guest.
If you need to cry, ball your eyes out.
If you need to talk to someone, reach out.
If you feel like screaming, let it all out.
If you’re happy and you know it then CLAP YOUR DAMN HANDS.
There’s nothing you can do to change whats happening right now, other than staying in and keeping your distance, it’s all out of your control. What you can control is how you treat yourself.
Be kind & be patient.
This too shall pass.
Sara xx
One last thing…
Over the years I have tried a range of techniques & coping mechanisms. Some work better than others. Some work one day and not the next. But I’ve included a few of the main ways I deal with anxiety & depression below. Mental health treatment is not one size fits all. It may be a combination of things to help get you through a dark patch and I must make it clear that I’m not a doctor (shocking, right), and my suggestions should not be used as a replacement to seeking medical or professional help.
Speaking to friends & family
Whilst this may seem terrifying, sharing your problems with people that care about you is a huge step in the direction of brighter days. It’s important to have support around you and you’ll be surprised by how many people can share your experiences too.
Ditching the booze
Although I was never an alcoholic, I certainly enjoyed getting absolutely trolleyed on a regular basis… I’ve been alcohol free for 6 months now and I believe it’s had the single most positive impact on my mental health.
Exercise
Obviously not much of a shocker here. But do not underestimate the incredible effect of sweaty, empowering, endorphin releasing, seratonin increasing, body aching, blood bumping fitness. If I didn’t do regular exercise, I would be a very different person.
Meditation
It may not come very naturally to us all but I would strongly recommend spending some time to learn breathing techniques, mindfulness & meditative practices. It’s done wonders for me and many other people.
Daily gratitude
You don’t have to write them down if you’re not a journaling kinda person but just spend a few minutes a day listing things in your life that you are grateful for. They don’t have to be big things either, my breakfast is ALWAYS on the list.
Hypnotherapy & CBT
If you are fortunate enough to be able to source help for yourself then finding the right therapist & therapy for you can be a life changing investment. I found mine ten years ago and I will still visit her as and when needed. I owe so much to the work she has and continues to do.
Eating well, sleep, love, DOGS, herbal remedies all also great ways to combat that dark cloud. I would love to hear about anything you’ve found useful in managing low times?
You can find a list of mental health helplines here.
You must not rely on the information on this blog as an alternative to medical advice from your doctor or therapist. If you have any specific concerns about your mental health, you should consult your doctor and you should not delay seeking medical advice, or treatment for your mental health, because of information on this blog.
