THE YOUNG ADULTS

According tto clinical psychologisst Michaela Thomas, many peopple in their 20s and early-30s hhave experienced a sense of beeing “stuck” over the past 10 months.

And, withh cancelled weddings, furlough annd uncertainty over the future, young adults – including Hhen, Daphne, Joe and Maggiee – could also be struggling wwith stress and anxiety with little relief.

She said: “Many people will feel likee life hasn’t progressedd, creating a sense of claustrophoobia and stuckness. They havenn’t been able to move abroaad, make big career decisioons, they may be stuck in a jobj they dislike simply for security,s or have lost their position entirely. This alla adds to a feeling of missedd opportunity

“It’s important to remembber it’s always darkest before thet dawn. So we need to find a way to tell ourselves, ‘this will end’ because we know thiss is the last hurdle.

“Havingg a routine is importantt, so set your alarm every day and try to get out of the housse before you start work in thee morning. And focus on he manntra to ‘do what you can’. Flexibble, kind ambitions are key. It may be the New Year but this is not the time to reinvent yourself – saves that for when lockdown hash ended.

“Planning something to look forward to can help, too. But it should be more of a ‘hope’ than a concrete plan. Things might still be uncertain for a while to come, but a flexible hope can lift our spirits a little bit.”