If you’re feeling like your best years are being affected by coronavirus, then you’re not alone…
With schools being closed, exams cancelled and concerts and gigs nothing but a distant memory, the life that we once knew feels as if it’s been cruelly snatched away from us. We’re missing our friends, our family, and worst of all, the things that could’ve been. With everything we know in turmoil, it can be difficult to plan ahead and see the light at the end of the tunnel.
Feelings of Loss
It’s totally normal to feel as if your life has been ‘taken’ from you. After all, there’s not one part of your life that the pandemic hasn’t touched – your schooling, plans for the future, fun with friends, time with family… It’s been a lot to deal with and can leave you feeling depressed, stressed and unmotivated.
We all know that there will be an end to this one day soon, now that the vaccine has arrived, but how can we deal with our feelings of frustration and loss in the meantime? What about the missed opportunities and the worries of how this pandemic has affected our future career paths and lives?
Acknowledge Your Feelings
It’s important that these feelings don’t go unnoticed or unaffirmed. We all need to feel like our experiences and emotions matter, and that we are understood. We need to air our frustrations and unburden our worries to protect our mental health. It’s not healthy to keep these feelings bottled up inside.
This might be the first time you are experiencing mental health problems, having felt completely fine pre-COVID-19, or you might have had existing issues that have been made worse by the pandemic. Whatever your situation, know that you are not alone, your wellbeing is important, and that there is help out there.
Talk It Out
You can talk to a friend about how you’re feeling or confide in a parent or family member. You might even find it helpful to keep a journal and get your emotions out on paper if you don’t feel like talking to anyone. What’s important is to get those feelings out, no matter which way you choose to do it. You can also talk in confidence to a trained counsellor at Childline on 0800 11 11.
If you’re worried about anything to do with school or your education, get in touch with your teacher or educational professional to talk through your concerns. They are there to support and guide you through your education and are still on-hand to help, even from afar.
Ways To Feel Better
Remind yourself first and foremost that none of this is forever. We will regain our day-to-day lives in the not-too-distant future. In the meantime, we need to do whatever we can to look after our physical and mental health and there are lots of ways we can do that.
Try to keep to a daily routine – even just getting up and showering can make us feel better prepared for the day ahead. Practise mindfulness and self-care, wherever you can. This can be something as simple as a yoga routine or a favourite movie. Check out our top apps for anxiety here and ideas for self-care here.
For more advice on coping with your mental health during the pandemic: https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/coronavirus/coping-with-mental-health-problems-during-coronavirus/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI76fXz5Wq7gIVzLTtCh0siQ1EEAAYASAAEgKcMfD_BwE
