ISO and Mental Health Survival
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Evidence has shown that the impact of lockdown in Wuhan, China, helped to reduce the spread of the COVID 19 virus, but not knowing how long this period of isolation will last can be anxiety provoking. Social lockdown is going to have common effects on families and individuals that will challenge all of our mental resolve. There will be those that thrive by maintaining a positive attitude, an active routine, and healthy patterns of behaviour. However, many of us, particularly households consisting of numerous people, may struggle with confinement in a small space. Finding it difficult to find privacy, or a quiet space to effectively work from home. A person who lives alone is likely to feel more isolated, but there are social media solutions that can help them to keep in touch and ensure social contact. In order to survive a potentially lengthy lockdown, it will be a case of embracing and working with your personal strengths. People who are curious might decide to do a new online course, start a new hobby, or learn to play an instrument. If you have a zest for life, are an energetic person who values exercise and activity, then you can harness your creative side and adapt the living room floor into a gym. One person used their apartment balcony to run a marathon, and another used the stairs in their house to climb the equivalent of Mount Everest. A key strength we can all use is caring and giving, taking the time out to contact others who might be struggling, particularly the elderly. Providing kindness to others improves the health of both yourself and the person receiving your act of beneficence. The COVID 19 pandemic is challenging our society in ways that our generation has not experienced before. The social routines we have found comfort in for most of our lives have been turned on their head. We are no longer certain of our food supplies (or toilet rolls), personal safety, or the future of our careers. We fear catching the virus or giving it to others. The weekly shopping task has become a virus avoidance mission. Uncertainty creates anxiety and worry, and it is important to stop this in its tracks by knowing what you are anxious about and putting it in perspective. Write a list of what you can do and create an action plan. Focus on what you can control and realise what you cannot. This will help you manage activities within your central locus of control and bring about a sense of comfort. These are just some of the strategies we have embedded in our online positive mental health promotion course, that will set you in good stead for the challenges ahead. Here are the wellbeing and resilience team’s top 10 tips for staying mentally well.
Post Pandemic Life: So what next? For many of us lockdown has been a time to reflect on our pre-COVID lives and it has given us time to think about how we want to live in a post-COVID world. Is it time for some personal change? People have had to adapt to the closure of the usual social outlets such as going to the football, cinemas, restaurants and bars. They have been driving less, buying bikes and going for walks in the countryside or parks as a way of getting some space and fresh air. The environment has had a break from our usual industriousness, and many have built veggie gardens or taken up new hobbies. Like a phoenix rising from the ashes, your post COVID future is an opportunity to set new goals, change your career, and shape your life in a way that matches your personal strengths and preferences. It is still important to acknowledge that many people are doing it tough, in different ways, and there aren’t ‘quick fix’ solutions. An important element is that we are mindful of the difficulties of the last few months so that we can use it to appreciate the things we are afforded in our lives. Remember it’s a marathon not a sprint – approach the transition with self-compassion and keep your expectations realistic to avoid becoming overwhelmed. For some it may mean managing mixed emotions regarding transitioning children back to school or childcare, returning to work, or beginning the stressful task of finding work. The new habits we have formed that have helped us manage this period of isolation may be useful tools to help keep us grounded during this new chapter of transition. As anxiety and tensions increase in the home, there is a risk that high expressed emotions and poor coping skills may lead to difficulties with relationships or worse outcomes.. It’s important to get help early and break the family tension through positive health strategies – see the following websites below for help if you feel that things are getting out of control.
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Mike Musker, Senior Research Fellow, Wellbeing and Resilience Centre
Source: https://www.wellbeingandresilience.com/iso-and-mental-health-survival |
