If you find yourself worried and anxious about life after lockdown, you may be experiencing ‘post-lockdown anxiety’.
While many of us were eager for life to return to normality just a few months ago, a poll carried out by BritainThinks has revealed that only 1 in 10 of us want life to return to normal “exactly as it was before” once the pandemic is over.
Whether anxious for the health of loved ones, our own employment stability, household finances, or concern over our children’s education, all of us have been worried about coronavirus in one way or another. In fact, the mental health charity MIND described us as being in a state of “mental health emergency”.
For some, this month’s lifting of restrictions has brought forward longed-for opportunities to see friends and resume contact with family (even if at a social distance), but for many, the stress and strain of the pandemic has taken its toll, with the “new normal” bringing a wealth of anxiety.
Chartered psychologist Dr Saima Latif comments: “As restrictions are lifted, it does not necessarily mean anxiety will lift too, because the way in which our lives changed in the months from March to June, has left many of us vulnerable and less able to cope emotionally.
“The pandemic is likely to have affected us in many different ways. It’s important that we learn how to cope and manage with the fallout of our emotions that the pandemic and lockdown has brought along.”
There are a number of tried and tested techniques that can help ease post-lockdown anxiety. Here, Dr Latif shares her top post-lockdown coping strategies.
Five ways to keep your post-lockdown anxiety at bay
- Read regularly
Studies have shown that reading puts our brains into a pleasurable, trance-like state, much like meditation and with similar health benefits. Avid readers are able to sleep better and have more confidence and self-esteem, with lower stress levels and depression rates than non-readers.
“When you are reading a book, magazine or an article online, you can become completely engrossed and you no longer feel alone or isolated. Consider joining a virtual book club or subscribing to a magazine so you have something to look forward to each month”, according to Dr Latif.
- Find a routine
During the lockdown period, changes to ‘normal’ daily routines are likely to have rocked many people’s senses of stability and security.
According to Dr Latif, it’s important to try and maintain a consistent routine, even if our normal routine of work or education is still not back to normal: “A planned and more organised day is a less stressful day because we know what to expect and can be more productive.
“Routine is often taken for granted, yet it is important. The term ‘creatures of habit’ is exactly what we are as human beings. Our habits and schedules, if changed drastically, can affect our mental agility, performance, energy levels and emotional well-being because we experience instability and insecurity”.
- Restrict your intake of bad news
You wouldn’t be alone in thinking that every time you’ve read the news, been on social media or turned on the television lately, that you’ve been flooded with bad news stories. It’s inevitable that we’ll see many COVID-19 headlines and, of course, these can help us keep ourselves safe. However, too much bad news can have a negative impact on our mental wellbeing.
“One useful coping strategy is to seek out good news. If we actively seek out good news ( (for example, five good news stories per day) not necessarily about COVID-19, but anything, then it is likely to redress the balance. Just as negative news makes us feel sad, positive news makes us feel happy and restores our faith in human nature”, said Dr Latif.
- Take up practical-based hobbies
Another coping strategy for easing post-lockdown anxiety is to seek out a new hobby. This can help take your mind off the stress and strain of everyday life: “Hobbies allow you to relax and seek pleasure in activities that are less stressful than work, chores and other responsibilities”.
In fact, online subscriptions for hobby and craft magazines have skyrocketed 97% since COVID-19 restrictions took hold, with sewing and knitting magazines up 82%, arts and crafts up 78% and home and gardening up 198%, according to research by Pocketmags and magazine.co.uk.
“If you picked up a new hobby that you previously had no time for, the easing of lockdown restrictions doesn’t mean you should give it up. And if you didn’t pick up a new hobby – it’s never too late to start one!” continues Dr Latif.
Learning a musical instrument counts as a practical hobby that anyone can try. Studies have found that playing an instrument reduces stress and is good for anxiety. Why not look into electric guitar classes online and see if helps you?
- Use writing as a form of therapy
Writing is a form of expressive therapy with many people keeping a ‘coronavirus diary’ during lockdown to make sense of their thoughts, feelings and experiences. Research has shown that writing can improve memory function, decrease symptomatology and provide us with greater feelings of happiness as we organise our thoughts in a meaningful way.
Dr Latif suggests this can also be done post-lockdown so we can focus on trying to recreate a sense of normality again:
“Writing about our feelings allows us to gradually ease feelings of trauma. Writing a letter, penning poetry or simply writing freehand and journaling allows us to observe our thoughts and feelings.
“Physically writing things down allows us to release these worries, fears and memories onto paper and thereby release the tension and stress which may be weighing us down.”
Photo by Priscilla Du Preez on Unsplash
