No matter how positive or proactive you are as a person.
No matter how much you focus on the moment and being mindful.
No matter how hard you try to keep in a routine.
No matter how much you reach out and communicate.
No matter how much you keep work going as best you can.
No matter how much you exercise.
No matter how much time you invest in self-care.
No matter how much you keep to a balanced moderate food plan.
No matter how much you focus on all you have to be thankful for.
You are only human.
At some point you will hit the wall.
And when you do – you need to be kinder to yourself then ever.
Lockdown is hard. And that’s an understatement. Lockdown challenges people in a way they have never been challenged before. Power is taken away. Choice is taken away. Fear sets in. Anxiety sets in. Dark thoughts creep in. Sleep suffers. Hopes and dreams are taken away. Loss is very real. People hurt. People suffer. Mental health is challenged in so many ways. And it is hard. It is really hard. Owning that – now that takes courage.
Being able to say – this is tough. This is heavy. This is draining. I am tired. I am worn out. I am afraid. I am scared. I am anxious. I feel low. I feel stressed. I feel overwhelmed. I feel on edge. These are real feelings. These are real emotions. Avoiding them only allows them to grow. Pretending everything is ok only makes things worse. Suppressing things with alcohol, food or drugs only compounds the issue. Owning this stuff – staring it right in the eyes. That takes strength and that is what inevitably makes it more manageable.
We are all human at the end of the day – and at some point lockdown will get to us. At some point we will cry. We will feel broken. At some point we will shout. We will argue with those closest. At some point we will feel lost – maybe insecure. Maybe alone. At some point things will take over and at some point it will all feel too much. Anger is bound to hit all of us at certain points and at some point the magnitude of what’s happening in the world will hit us all.
Don’t be surprised if this happens to you. Don’t think you have to be ok all of the time. Don’t beat yourself up if you don’t get it ‘perfect’ all of the time. There is no such thing.
You haven’t got to be cope all the time in lockdown. You haven’t got to hit all of your exercise targets in lockdown. You haven’t got to achieve your highest academic or work achievements in lock down. You haven’t got to look your best, cook your best, be the most amazing partner, parent or friend. You haven’t got to say yes to every form of online communication. You haven’t got to post happy pictures of you always enjoying the moment.
You just need to be you. And all that makes you ‘you’. On the days you feel like reading or doing yoga. Do it. On the days you feel like a slice of cake or a glass of wine have it. On the days you feel like sleeping longer – sleep. On the days you feel like reaching out – communicate. And so on. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself right now. It will only make things worse. Try to keep the balance. Try to keep moderation in mind. You will be amazed at the difference that makes. But fundamentally – it doesn’t have to be perfect. And nor do you.
Give yourself a break. If you hit the wall. You hit it. You will come back up again. Do what you need to do to get through it. Ride it out in whatever way you need. Things will work out in the end and you will find your own path. It doesn’t need to look like anyone else’s. Just be real. Just be you.
And don’t forget it you need us – we are here.
Info@yourcounsellingservice.co.uk or 07590 663938.