No one could have anticipated the impact of Covid-19 and reports are increasingly focussing on the devastating impact on mental health.
The cumulative effect of long term stress is serious says psychotherapist Noel McDermott:
“Effectively what is happening is those that were far away from mental health issues are now much closer, those that were close to being ill will be pushed into illness proper and those that were already ill and have a history of illness will be in relapse or a much more serious condition.”
What we are dealing with is the knock on effect of not just one but now three lockdowns, coinciding with January, a time already known to be challenging for many due to post-Christmas blues, cold weather, increased darkness and financial worries. And on top of that many parents are facing the stress of home schooling once more, perhaps alongside having to work from home.
An important thing is to focus on self-care. Now is not the time for high expectations and over-ambitious New Years resolutions but as Rosie Weatherley of Mind says: “Cut yourself a lot of slack… You’re surviving during a global pandemic – this is the only achievement that matters.”
Check out this Sky News article for some more tips on how to cope and find ways to improve your mental health and well-being during these challenging times.
Remember support is out there! You are not alone. For more info please don’t hesitate to get in touch with one of our counsellors today.
