Mental Health During Covid-19 - Guest article by Shannon Herbert

First of all, let me introduce myself. My name is Shan.  I’m 29 years old living in Warwickshire.   

 

When I was approached by Connor to do a guest post on his blog, at first I was unsure on what to write about, until one afternoon I was sitting in work and it came to me. Mental health and wellbeing during the Covid-19 pandemic. It has been a difficult time for us all, especially with the UK lockdown. I work on a reception desk within mental health services and I am quite often first point of contact for people who are struggling. Nobody is alone in this. No matter how small you may think your problems are your mental health and wellbeing is so important, especially in current circumstances. 

 

As you may have read previously in Connor’s blog posts. Some of us, at the beginning of the pandemic were lucky enough to find each other and form a group based on our mutual love of Taylor Swift.  That for me has been my main coping mechanism for my anxiety during this time. They have really been there to pick me up without realising. There is never any judgement and I can’t thank them enough for that.   

 

Not being able to see your friends and family, not having your typical daily routine of getting up and going to work or even feeling anxious when you just want to pop to the shop for a loaf of bread. We all may be facing different struggles during the pandemic.  Restrictions are rapidly changing and you may not feel ready to venture out yet – and that is more than ok! I wanted to highlight just a few tips that I’ve personally found very useful to maintain my mental wellbeing over the past few months.

 

Stay away from the news

 

One thing a friend said to us recently in the group was that she limits herself to checking the news once a day.  It can be very overwhelming with the amount of negativity right now and may cause a lot of anxiety. The amount of ‘fake news’ and rumours going around on social media do not help either! Try and use a trusted source such as the gov.uk website.  

 

Give yourself a break from social media 

 

Leading on from my last point, - although it may currently be the main source of contact for a lot of people right now, I for one find it very difficult to put my phone down. It can be incredibly good for you to just give yourself a break.  Go for a walk if you are able to, or grab a blanket and watch your favourite show on Netflix (I recommend Gilmore Girls for ultimate cosy vibes!) – I promise you that Instagram will still be there when you get back!

 

Try and stick to a routine

 

For me, routine is a huge thing for me and I struggle without it. A lot of people are working from home and this may impact your daily routine quite a bit. Try and match up your routine as best you can as if you were still in the office.  Set boundaries so that you are not overloading yourself and set yourself time for breaks in between and even ensure that you’re getting some social contact in between maybe with your regular colleagues via video call or email.  Even if you are not working, try and stick to a routine to suit your lifestyle whether it’s going for a walk each day, specific meal times or ensuring you get to bed at a reasonable hour!

 

And finally… talk to somebody.

 

You will be surprised just how many other people are in the same boat as you. Do not feel ashamed to open up to somebody about how you are feeling. You may find some relief in it, whether it’s a member of your family, a close friend, or even a health professional.  The support is always there. 

 

A big thank you to Connor for letting me write on his blog today!  I hope this has helped in some small way!  Stay safe, and I hope to see you again soon!