The Lockdown Easing

On June the 21st England plans to come out of lockdown. I have seen many memes and jokes about what people may wear or do. As much as this is wonderful news for many, it's also terrifying for others. One of the things we know about a time of crisis is that it’s not the event itself but the fall-out. That's why it's called POST-traumatic stress.

If you are concerned about your mental health in the lead-up and/after lockdown, please know that this is completely understandable considering the distress that the pandemic has caused. Remind yourself that this is still an abnormal situation and that your pace is as valid and important as anyone else.

If you are someone who isn't going to struggle once lockdown has been lifted, please still be aware that others may.
Be mindful of your friends and family and their level of comfort in socialising. Try to be empathetic, understanding and flexible.

Mental health professionals are cognitive that the deterioration in mental health could linger long after the pandemic has subsided. Studies suggest that therapists who have been exposed to the same traumatic conditions as their clients can experience long term emotional distress. So let's pace and be gentle with ourselves. With a 31% increase in anxiety in the US and a 9% increase in depression in the space of a year, these stats aren't going to shift dramatically when restrictions are eased.

The knife is still in the wound. And it's not until it's removed that we can assess and treat the damage. So in the meantime let's go easy on each other and ourselves.