What Impact Has Lockdown Had On Our Mental Health?
Obviously, you can only answer this from your point of view, and that of those around you. And, everyone's answer will have different variables.
What new challanges have we had to face with regards to our mental wellbeing? If you live alone, and are working from home you will have to be faced with - YOURSELF. For some, this can be a truly difficult thing to have to start processing. There will have been (and may still be) a process of learning about yourself in a way that there wasn't before. Mayeb some old issues came up, maybe new ones have emerged. Being on your own may mean that you spend a lot of time on Zoom meetings or voice notes to stay connected, and again this can come with it's own issues.
If you life with your partner then this will being so many new issues. I, myself have noted the small subtle differences in how I manage the household vs how my partner does. It's caused a minor issue or two, but nothing more. Relationships will end during this time, they may also strengthen. Some people may be in abusive relationships, and unsure of how to get support. I'll pop details below of people who can help.
If you don't have children, maybe you have started a new hobby, or done that thing you always wanted to do at home. Maybe you have found new ways to cope with the boredom. Maybe you haven't.
If you do have children, there could have been huge arguments, tantrums and big emotions. You will have to deal with their feelings and yours at the same time. You may not get a break until bedtime. You may have Jow Wicks-ed your body for a bit every morning but that doesn't help the children go to bed easily.
You may have to work, school and manage a household - as well as manage your relationships with your friends and family. AND THERE JUST ISN'T THE TIME. Sorry for yelling, I really am. But it felt important.
Processing this new way of existing we need to do a few basic things - we need to first off recognise the times we are living in. These are pandemic times - remember the last pandemic that sent the us into lockdown and how we all dealt with that? No? Because it hasn’t happened in this way during our time. Ever.
So take time to process that we are doing this for the first time, and we need to allow ourselves some space.
What could “space” look like to a person working from home with multiple children of multiple ages? 20 minutes after bed time. 10 minutes before everyone wakes. Or even half an hour in front of a film.
We are all doing our best, whatever that looks like for you.
Being kind to ourselves has never been more important. Reaching out to those who can help has never been more important.
Put you mental health as a priority and take space.
