I have had many conversations over the past couple of weeks both professionally and personally about the return to work/school, in relation to the person themselves or their children. I have spoken with people in Europe, at home in Ireland, Australia, and here in the UAE. Each country has different measures on how they are supporting everyone and what precautions need to be put in place.
Parents need to do this, staff need to do that, students need to do the other, you figure it out and wait…it changes again in the blink of an eye. It is a lot to take in and a lot to take on, on top of your own work, the current situation, and everything else that is on your list.
For anyone that has read some of my earlier posts, you will know that I am a type 1 diabetic, which puts me high in the at-risk group. As I have also said before everyone will go through different phases of anxiety and feelings about COVID-19 at different points. Throughout the last couple of months, I used this time to better myself with a goal of coming out of this situation having achieved something, which I am achieving and still working on at the same time, writing a blog post every week being part of it. I hit my low point a couple of weeks ago. The thing with anxiety is, you do not always see it coming. Although when you look back, there are the signs it is creeping in, like feeling tired, unmotivated, which can be easily passed off as a result of staying up late and it being too hot to go out and exercise, etc.
Due to my diabetes, I have had limited my contact with people since March and the summer was not much different, seeing only a handful of people, which was fine with me as I worked on my other projects and goals. Now suddenly, I was due to be around 100s of people a day. It was overwhelming, more so than I had ever expected it to be. Knowing that I am at risk and knowing how important my job is not to be anxious, I was able to come to an arrangement with my school so I can still work effectively and support myself at the same time. Not everyone is that lucky; that they only have themselves to look after, when it comes to their own health and wellbeing. That is just me, and my side, as an adult who knows how to support her mental health and well-being and can recognise when I need support. Children do not always have these same coping skills; this can also be the same for some parents and other adults.
What causes all this anxiety? Anxiety is in each and every one of us; it is a good thing at a healthy level. Too little anxiety and you will be reckless and not consider the consequences, too much and you will overthink what may or may not happen, causing yourself more pain and hurt. The right amount is to know there is a risk, understand the concern, and act accordingly. Anxiety is there as our body’s way of warning us about potential danger.
The current situation is very unknown, which does make us all the more anxious in ways. I know some people are worried about sending or not sending their kids back to school, others are worried about their jobs so do not share how they are feeling. Others are being strong for a loved one or the people around them as they feel they need to be. The big catchphrase of this year was #inthistogether and yes, we all are but we are experiencing it all very different and we cannot hold judgment to how we or others are dealing with it. I will not lie, I do get frustrated when I see someone close to me not wearing a mask as that is my anxiety warning me that I am in potential danger. When I step away, I try to remind myself they are also doing their best and I do not know what is going on for them.
Anyway, I have babbled on for ages there and now it’s time to get to the point of this article. No matter what you have decided for you, for your family, for your staff, you are doing the best that you can in this situation. I want to now talk about some ways to manage how you are feeling to still be able to get the best out of what you are thinking and feeling.
- The most important one is to talk. Not to someone who will tell you not to be stupid, but someone who will listen and let you or support you to figure out your thoughts
- Use precautions as guided by the government as best practice, but if you feel you need more protection than recommended you also do that. E.g. Here children under 6 do not need to wear a mask, if you feel it is safer for your child to wear one then that is okay.
- Keep informed but do not get obsessed with the information you are being given. Schools, companies, medical staff do not know the answers and things change so quickly that puts more pressure on different groups. I know from my experience places are doing their best to limit the risk.
- Write your thoughts down if you cannot face sharing them. This might help you to support yourself with your thought patterns
- Use breathing exercises
- Practice daily self-care
- Do not expect to be the way you or your child was last year
- Remember things will not go 100% right all the time
- Remind yourself you are doing your best
- Imagine yourself in your happy place when you start feeling overwhelmed
- Remember, you have made it through lockdown/schooling from home/working from home and many more things already this year. We can get through one more new normal
- Keep doing your best, this too shall pass, hopefully soon.
