Managing your mental health amid Covid

How has your mental health been during lockdown?

This is a topic we can all relate to in one way or another and it’s key we discuss some of the more serious implications of going through the lockdown and the overall catastrophic events of this year.

For many of us, lockdown has been an immensely difficult time to go through. Lack of social contact, isolation, feelings of loneliness, helplessness, hopelessness to name a few. We’ve all been effected in different ways but those of us with mental illness more so than anyone else. We’ve already got our own personal health issues but then to add a national lockdown on top of this has proven extremely difficult and often at times overwhelming, overbearing and suffocating. You are not alone in your feelings, and know that despite the fact we may be miles and miles apart from one another, millions of people around the world are feeling the exact same way you are and your feelings are valid and completely justified.

It’s been a tough time to find motivation to tackle our mental health, even more than usual. The entire year has provided a difficult environment and set of circumstances to live in for all of us, and so to think about having to manage and rebel against our negative thoughts and typical behaviours is an exhausting feet. But there are ways we can try. Trying is all we can do. And doing our best is always enough. There is no need to push ourselves beyond our means or capabilities – especially in the times we currently find ourselves in. Being gentle with ourselves and self compassion are vital to being able to get anything to work and to try and find ways to stay on top of our mental health despite the difficult situation we all find ourselves in.

The best thing we can do is to keep our mood up. Our mood is the catalyst that drives most other things, including motivation so to have a good mood, is to have a prime opportunity to achieve all that we wish to. Find activities that you enjoy and do them regularly, rediscover an old hobby and immerse yourself in it, keep in contact with loved ones in anyway you can, and try your hardest to be hopeful and positive. In a darkening world, we all need a little bit of light.