Sheena’s tips to help beat lockdown blues
AS people get used to another lockdown - albeit a little less stringent than the first - some may be struggling to cope.
News of a potential vaccine has offered some light at the end of the tunnel but, as politicians are keen to point out, we know there are still hard yards ahead of us.
And eight months into the pandemic a fair few have already been travelled.
This can all take its toll on people’s mental health, especially for those who are lonely or isolated, says cognitive behavioural therapist Sheena Rydings, from Macclesfield, Cheshire.
Sheena, 31, has 12 years’ experience working in mental health and has put together some tips and strategies to help those struggling manage their mood and wellbeing.
She said: “All of us have been affected by the global pandemic. Many of us have experienced difficulties with our mental health with symptoms such as low mood, worry and stress.
“If you are struggling, cognitive behavioural therapy may help teach skills and techniques to manage your problems and difficulties to feel more in control.”
These strategies include: CREATE A ROUTINE
A routine gives structure to our day.
Most of us will have had a change to our daily routine, whether this be working from home or on furlough.
This can lead to feeling very isolated, you might find that you have lost motivation to do things and reduced energy.
The first step is to create a timetable for the week ahead and fill with as many activities and tasks as you can think of.
As humans, we thrive off routine, completing daily goals and having more structure allows us to feel in control of something.
This will then keep you more occupied and make your days feel more fulfilling.
STAY CONNECTED WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY
This is more important than ever right now. even if it is just a simple text or message, this can help us feel connected to our loved ones while we spend so much time in our homes.
Calling them through video chat is more likely to result in a fulfilling conversation.
Avoid talking about the lockdown too much and have more fun lighthearted conversations.
DON’T BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU READ
Try not to use social media too much and seek information from mate sources.
Set specific and limited time aside to go on social media or news articles rather than going on numerous times throughout the day.
Spending too much time on these forums can mean it stays in the forefront of your mind.
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SET TIME ASIDE TO WORRY
This can sound very counter-intuitive, but requires you to set time aside each day to worry (two to three times).
Set your alarm and when it goes off give yourself 15-20 minutes to worry.
If you notice a worry in your mind outside of this set time, write it down ready to worry about at your chosen time.
It is then important to establish if the worry is a real worry or hypothetical.
What this does it allow you to have more control and not react to worrying thoughts all day.
In turn, you can free up the mind for other more fun or interesting activities.
For more information visit www.sheenarydingstherapy.co.uk.