Just over two weeks into lockdown and the view from the the area formerly known as the kitchen table is becoming very familiar. The back door is open, the birds are tweeting, the roads are quiet but my mind is full - like usual. I'm just on a work call about the current situation with 'the virus' and listening to a useful run through from one of the Mental Health First Aiders about what you can do to try and stay sane. It's a good call. But I'm still concerned about what longer term impact this is going to have on people's longer term mental health, on their anxiety, on their ability to cope with uncertainty and the effects anxiety cam have on your mind. Like these from the MIND website. I've seen a few things in the media recently about this being one of those times in life when the special skillset the anxious have been blessed with comes to the fore. We are after all some of the most experienced people in society at struggling with the challenges of anxiety and what to do to ease it and make things easier to cope with. In fact you could say we're experts, woop woop, i'm finally an expert at something. I actually feel remarkably well equipped to cope, i'm not saying I'm enjoying it and I don't feel anxious, lonely, scared, uncertain, frustrated and a million other feelings, but anxiety is not a new thing for me so I have learned ways to cope. You probably have too if you've struggled in the past and maybe now is your time to help others. If you've done some CBT maybe explain it to a friend who seems to be struggling more than normal, if you've found a coping mechanism to distract your mind and give it a rest (like when I paint) then tell someone or if someone simply needs you to listen to not judge, offer solutions or mend them then offer to do so because you realise how important that is. You have a special skillset, use it to help others, it will help you too. Take Care Paul
1 Comment
john
4/15/2020 01:58:38 am
Appreciate your insights and help, keep posting. Thanks Paul
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AuthorMr Paul Wyse Archives
January 2021
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