Feeling: Worried about life after covid
We get it if you willingly said see ya later to the hustle and bustle and are happy in your homely bubble.
While many miss the buzz of a loud football stadium, cramming into small sweaty gig venues, or water cooler office gossip, some have been glad of the excuse to recharge their batteries. Three lockdowns have offered some respite from environments or activities that can make us feel stressed or anxious.
If your home has become a safe hideaway during this chaotic time, the thought of stepping back into normality can feel daunting. We’ve become accustomed to lockdown life, quieter spaces and seeing less faces, so it’s normal to lose a little confidence in things we’ve not done in a while.
When the time comes to jump back on a busy tube, or head back to a crowded gym, don’t be too hard on yourself and try to ease back into it slowly if possible. Who knows, maybe you’ll appreciate the hustle and bustle more when it returns. You can read more about anxiety here.
Feeling: Worried about my job/home/financial situation
Let’s be honest, this pandemic and lockdown have created some really difficult situations. From losing your job or losing a loved one, to struggling to make ends meet, or being stuck in a home where you don’t feel safe or loved or comfortable, if you’re struggling because of the circumstances you’re in, the pandemic can feel a whole lot more intense.
The best way to start to deal with the stresses is to talk to someone, that could be a trusted friend or family member, a GP or medical professional, an advisory service like Citizens Advice, or a helpline like CALM. When things feel overwhelming, it can be really difficult to see a way forward, talking to someone can help you find a way. You can also read more about the stuff that’s getting you down over on our Get Help Guides – there’s tips and info on everything from work stress to depression and anxiety.
Feeling: Not sure how you’re feeling
With lengthy ramblings about restrictions and not being able to sit and mull things over with your mates at the local, it can be hard to get your head around everything. Even with a roadmap out of all this, the route can still feel confusing. There’s uncertainty around when things will return to ‘normal’ (and what does normal even mean?) and a lot of apprehension over the thought of being locked down again if things don’t go to plan. All of this can leave us feeling a bit…baffled.
If you’re see-sawing between emotions at the moment, you’re not alone. Some days optimism comes easy, other days the Covid blues take over, and sometimes it’s hard to muster up the energy to feel, well, anything. Trying to make sense of things can be overwhelming, so try to give yourself a break from busy thoughts by distracting yourself with your favourite series, doing something you enjoy, or just turning off the news every now and then. Remember, these are weird times, so it’s completely normal if you feel a bit weird too.
No matter how you’re feeling, CALM is here
There’s no right or wrong way to feel during this strange time, but if you’re struggling, CALM is here to help. It’s normal to have bad days, but if you’re feeling anxious, stressed or low for long periods of time, you might be struggling with your mental wellbeing. If things are feeling a bit too much, call CALM on 0800 58 58 58 or contact us through our webchat. Our trained helpline workers are available from 5pm to midnight everyday to provide practical support and advice, whatever you’re going through.
And if you’re bored during lockdown, why not make a Spotify playlist full of feel-good bangers? We chatted with a bunch of musicians about music and mental wellbeing. Take a read here.