Leaving lockdown and feeling anxious about it is not uncommon. We have now been dealing with COVID for well over a year now, we have got used to not going out so much, to not mixing with people, to our lives simplifying and slowing down. This has been really hard for many people, and it has had a huge impact on peoples emotional and mental wellbeing.

Now that we are opening up again, you might be feeling anxious about more interaction with people and the possibility of catching COVID or you might be beginning to see the bits of lockdown that actually you might have quite liked and would like to keep hold of. You might be feeling stressed and anxious about having to start to do things again that you haven’t had to do because of COVID. For example, going out, seeing family or friends, commuting to work. Negotiating your way back into society opening up could be tricky and stressful and provoke feelings of anxiety.

Below are three tips for negotiating your way back into society post lockdown.

1. Don’t rush – It doesn’t matter what other people are doing. Take the precautions that you want to take and that are right for you and your situation.
2. This is an opportunity – in many ways our lives have been put on pause for over a year, we have all learned that we can do things differently and adapt. Do you want to make changes to your life, for example work from home permanently or more often? Do you want to get back in touch with certain people that you haven’t seen for a while? Are you going to stick with online shopping?
3. Try not to avoid doing things – There will be some things that you need to do that you have been putting off, getting a hair cut, going to the dentist, the routine doctors appointment. Try to plan these things, they are important self care activities that will improve how you feel.

If you are feeling a great deal of anxiety about lockdown ending take a look at our blogs Managing Anxiety 3 Quick Tips and Anxiety Apps.

The NHS also has a useful webpage – 11 tips to cope with anxiety about coming out of lockdown

If though you are looking for more formal support call Paul Carter now to book an appointment or to discuss your issues further. At the moment Paul is only working online or the telephone due to COVID. To make an appointment please call Paul on 07843 813 537 or fill in the form on the Contact Page, if he doesn’t answer he is probably in a session, please leave him a message and he will call you back as soon as he can.