What an unprecedented time we have been through. Three years ago this week we were about to embark on an extraordinary journey when the government forced us to stay in our houses as part of a lockdown policy in response to the dangers presented by the spread of covid19. So, now that we have had some time perspective on the other side of that shock, I wonder about the legacies of that policy and the impact on social and work changes that took place during this period.
Our social and work lives might have been changed and transformed as a direct consequence of the pandemic. There was a sense that time was frozen. It was enough to be existing, staying safe and ensuring an adequate number of supplies. Whilst there were very real existential issues to do with mortality, meaning, purpose, illness and money worries, there was also some unintended benefits such as an increased emphasis on the present time and less pressure, perhaps, of having to do things. Some might now be more accustomed to enjoying more autonomy in their lives and in their working week. Post pandemic flexible working has perhaps given us a new outlook on how we live our lives and how we might seek to rebalance our work and home commitments. We might have developed a new attitude to sleep, exercise and diet. Most of us are using video technology more widely in our work and in our social lives. People who occasionally commute are now beginning to wonder how they ever undertook 5 days a week travelling on packed trains. But are we more depressed and anxious as a result of the pandemic?
There is a view that the pandemic changed some people’s mental health especially those who already lived with conditions such as depression, or PTSD, or anxiety, and even those who did not previously have a mental health diagnosis. Having a solid social support structure, with a daily routine, can act as a distraction from troubling thoughts and feelings in normal times. Ordinarily a positive self care regime will entail good diet, regular exercise and restorative sleep and these foundations are even more critical for those who already have lived with conditions such as depression and PTSD. When extraordinary circumstances are experienced, such as relationship difficulties, or loss of job, we are challenged to rely on more of our own inner resources to cope. The lockdown and subsequent lifestyle might have created some unhealthy coping mechanisms as a result of extraordinary social circumstances.
The pandemic might also have destabilised, in a subtle way, some of the very structures that may have been previously successful in keeping at bay a lot of the particularly difficult and discomforting thoughts and feelings associated with past events. Even if our jobs were protected, and our relationships remained intact, there were still many challenges to maintaining good emotional regulation, especially in such uncertain times with constant bad news stories and doom mongering about the future on social media, TV and radio. Increased amounts of time with one’s own thoughts might have added to the potential for heightened rumination, thinking about the past and seeking to resolve unhealed past emotional wounds. A change of routine could have been challenging particularly if the previous routine had been relied upon to maintain clear thinking. The pandemic might, therefore, have created a perfect storm for unhealthy coping mechanisms to take hold when seeking to find the optimism to imagine a more positive future and to dream of a brighter time ahead.
I made these points to a Huffington Post article on how our mental health might have changed following the pandemic.
What can you do to seek support if your mental health has been negatively impacted?
It is important to seek help and not to think that because there are stretched public resources, that your problem is not serious enough, and that others might be more worthy of support. The warning signs are worrying more than usual, finding it increasingly more difficult to enjoy your life, suffering sleep problems, having increasingly discomforting thoughts and feelings and all this is contributing to problems in your daily life.
Sometimes it can also prove beneficial to talk to someone whom you trust about how you are feeling. Such a person could assist you in seeking to find appropriate and relevant information, act as a useful pair of ears to discuss your options with you, perhaps come with you to appointments, and maybe help out with everyday tasks.
If you are worried about your mental health you could speak to your family doctor in the first instance. A GP can ascertain if there are any physical health issues possibly impacting on your mental health. They can undertake appropriate health checks in addition to potentially signposting to other clinical support services. Dependent on such outcomes you could explore any options in mental health services as well as to consider joining support groups. Your GP would be able to advise on the various support services offered by many national and local charities.
Counselling and psychotherapy on the NHS may be an option that is offered but might not be available immediately and could entail a long waiting time. Unfortunately, the NHS has a system based on late intervention and crisis response. Early intervention initiatives and programmes tend to be viewed as being resource heavy by commissioners particularly when we are living in austere times. You could always explore the options offered by speaking to a therapist in the private sector which would offer an immediate opportunity to address your concerns. Some counselling centres have an affordable service, too, based on your ability to pay and this could be explored by searching for such places in your area.
Noel Bell is a UKCP accredited psychotherapist based in London and can be contacted on 07852407140 or noel@noelbell.net
