Why do I feel this way in the most recent COVID-19 Lockdown - what do I feel more okay?

It makes so much more sense now understand each lockdown feels so much harder...

Now with lockdown #6 extended, we are having to absorb more covid trauma. With each lockdown, stress from the trauma can build if you don't release it. What needs releasing is the fight, flight, and freeze response within your nervous system.
We explore why this lockdown feels different to earlier lockdowns in terms of mood, energy levels, motivation, hope, interest in usual activities, increased feelings of frustration and anger and thoughts to include “what is the point” … people are finding themselves feeling burnout with increased levels of fatigue to stick to their daily tasks. We need to adopt a range of activities to help discharge our stress fully. We have incorporated the Polyvagal Theory to make sense of this, including the fight, flight, and freeze response within your nervous system. We’ve drawn on the autonomic nervous system in attempt to help re-pattern the nervous systems, build capacities for regulation, and create autonomic pathways of safety and connection. This makes so much sense to me and people are finding some of the below strategies helpful.


Here is a list of suggestions. You no doubt have been doing some of these already to cope. I recommend printing them out and ticking off a few each day to help discharge the stress fully. This way you can emerge from this traumatic period unscathed and healthy. For your Fight Response (Anger/Blame): • Boxing bag/Sparing • Hitting into a mattress • Weights/Resistance training • Gym • Using straps, bands at home • Treadmill on incline • Stationary bike on strong resistance • Martial arts/Tai Chi • Playful Wrestling • Pillow Fights • Competitive sport • Tantrum kicking laying down on a mat/bed For your Flight Response (Fear/Escape): • Walking • Jogging • Running • Sprints • Rebounder trampoline • Up and down stairs • Swimming • Push Bike • Exercise Bike • Start jumps For the Freeze Response (Depression/Hiding): • Meditation • Bubble Bath • Long shower • Call a friend or family member for a chat • Spend time with your animals • Hugs/cuddles • Massage • Play • Games • Art/Drawing/Painting • Stretches • Yoga • Singing • Dancing alone/partner • Play music • Reading/Listening to Books • Gardening • Journalling • Being in nature • Sitting in the sunshine Ticking off a few of these each day will help calm your nervous system greatly! It's great to have this list where you can see it each day because stress and trauma affects your memory, and you can easily forget to do them. You may benefit from making an online enquiry with one of our psychlogists to discuss how you may structure your days to improve your mood and functioning during this pandemic. After exploring the psychological impact of covid 19 crisis on mental health, will you start to implement a few strategies each day? We will be exploring some other practice strategies via our social media platforms over the week of the 23rd August 2021, therefore be sure to follow our social media platforms. Join us on Facebook

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