TW: This article makes reference to mental health conditions and attempted suicide.
For those who suffer from mental health conditions, in some ways, the lockdown has felt like a double prison.
For some lockdown meant going from not being able to see the light, to feeling as though the light had been turned off altogether. For some who constantly worry about an all-consuming fear of a tragic, unlikely disaster, then something as unprecedented and as terrifying as a world-wide pandemic happens. It has been a low and lonely time for so many people across the nation, and the world, for those with or without pre-existing mental health issues. However, when taking a certain perspective, there are positive mental health lessons that we can learn from lockdown too.
March was a scary month for many. The impending lockdown felt like many people’s impending doom. It was not anyone’s idea of perfect, but for a significant number of those who suffer from depression, anxiety, PTSD and/or other mental health conditions, the idea of life being put on hold seemed unbearable. As we entered lockdown and a quieter life, our own thoughts and worries had the chance to get louder. So many people lost access to their usual support systems and their fail-safe ‘calm down and cheer up’ activities, people, and places. Most of us have these- guaranteed locations and situations which make us feel at least better than our worst.
Lockdown made a lot of tried and tested coping mechanisms seem like unreachable havens, lost to the stars.
When faced with a lack of options, many people created new ones. Various self-care tactics have been invented and developed during lockdown, using limited resources and next to no (conventional) involvement of the world outside our homes. These methods, rituals and activities can be adopted to look after our minds now that life is somewhat returning to its hectic normality, acting as a reminder that it is okay, healthy even, to slow down and practice self-care.
Here are three young women’s ‘mental health in lockdown’ stories and some positive actions which can be adapted into post-lockdown life:
The use of rituals and routines such as these have been a common tool used by many throughout lockdown. As our lives re-intensify and free time becomes scarcer, surely, it is more than possible to squeeze in 2 minutes of writing lists and affirmations to re-focus ourselves. Amy, 21, from Belfast shared her reaction to lockdown and the subsequent actions that she took.
Amy said: “Lockdown made me feel quite lethargic because I felt like my day-to-day had lost all direction. To put things into a more positive perspective I started to write down a list of things which made me smile each day. I also wrote down a moment/success for each day. It could be as simple as ‘laughed with my sisters’ but it has reminded me of how good the small things are each day.”
Isla, 23, from Edinburgh developed various rituals and routines, limited her social media usage and shared her joy of adopting a pet during lockdown.
Isla explained: “I was in quite a bad way with my mental health when lockdown started so it sort of put a halt on recovery, but I am doing a lot better now and a few things have helped. Initially I spent a lot less time on social media, but I have now eased myself back in slowly and use sites more healthily. I keep a diary and journal every day. I also do yoga every morning without checking my phone until after, which is a great start to the day.
“I also adopted a cat in May which has by far been the biggest positive change. It means I have to stick to a regular cleaning schedule and routine since she sheds lots of fur, and this also helps my mental health!”
Heather, 18, from Doncaster shared her story of living through lockdown with mental health issues and how she is overcoming the challenges she has faced. She also explained her lessons from this experience.
Heather said: “For me lockdown was a huge risk. I’ve been in hospital since October due to my mental health and was on a section three, meaning I had no freedom of liberties. Covid-19 was becoming more of a risk every day and my ward was unsure what would happen. Anyway, we went into lockdown. I was still on a section. Still trying to take my own life daily.
“They sent me home. The Dr ignored all risk to my health and sent me home to self-isolate. I had not seen my own bed for 7 months. The biggest challenge of my life. I never went back & have pretty much been sedated with medication to make me sleep. No routine.
“Now, I am trying to find new things. I’ve started running, writing, working! I have a planner of events and timetables and meal plans. I also prioritise down time, time with my family and my pets. Walks, cuddles, movie nights! Every single day is a mental struggle, but I feel that now I can go out without feeling criminal. I can go back to cafes and libraries to study.
“You could say lockdown found my drive to survive and that’s what I’m taking into post-lockdown, in-recovery life.”
For many, lockdown has felt like an overwhelming veil of darkness. For years to come the world may remember 2020 as the year the earth stood still in fear as we watched so many unprecedented events and tragedies happen around us. However, extracting the positive lessons remains ever as important as we move forward into the bewildering unknown that is post-lockdown life.
Jessica Morris
Tweet to @_Jess_Morris
Featured image courtesy of author.
