Covid 19, 20 , 21 .........when will it end

Starting a recruitment business over the pandemic has been emotional, not just in it being difficult but also listening to how people have struggled mentally. Having guided people to social engagement, taking exercise but ultimately speaking with friends and family about what they are going through I hope I have helped. We wanted to highlight some of the struggles people are going through from first hand experience and give guidance on the best practises to help cope with these.

People are feeling so many emotions right now and for a range of reasons. Anxiety rates have increased – caused by the fear of catching Covid, uncertainty about the future, and, increasingly, fears about how to re-enter workspaces and social environments. None more so than me having started my dream business just before the pandemic, been on the brink of bankruptcy, fighting mental demons and turning to alcohol. Having managed to come out the other side stronger and fitter with the help of friends and family I am writing this to make them aware you are not alone on how you are feeling and there is support out there.

More than half of adults and over two thirds of young people said that their mental health has become worse during the period of lockdown restrictions, says a report from charity Mind. This report notes that restrictions on seeing people, worries about the health of family and friends, boredom, and loneliness are all key factors driving poor mental wellbeing.

Another important thing to consider is the difficulty in asking for help amid a pandemic. That’s not simply down to a lack of doctor’s appointments and stay at-home orders, but the feeling of guilt connected to struggling mentally when Covid-19 means so many others ‘have it worse'. The nation is facing a “mental health pandemic”. The prevalence of depression has doubled, and NHS data showed a huge increase in urgent and emergency referrals for crisis care. This indicates our mental health has deteriorated across the board – from mild mental health problems through to those reaching crisis point and even needing to be hospitalised.

Top reasons for worsened mental health during lockdown: According to a Mind survey, the most common reasons people gave for their mental state deteriorating in lockdown were:

• Being unable to see family, friends or partners that they didn’t live with
• Feeling anxious about family or friends getting coronavirus
• Not being able to go outside except for essential reasons
• Feeling bored/restless
• Feeling anxious about getting coronavirus

Many people will be grieving – not only for lost loved ones but also for past lives, missed milestones, and forgotten routines. We know as well that depression rates are likely to have increased – brought on by the combined effects of fear, boredom, and isolation.

Experts have raised concerns about the impact less sunlight, uncertainty about the new coronavirus variant and more restrictive measures coming into force again could have on people's mental health. Lockdown 3 is particularly associated with a newer more infectious strain of the virus, which could itself heighten feelings of uncertainty about what to expect. Together these factors may make another winter lockdown more challenging for maintaining good mental health and impact severely on a second pandemic of mental illness.

It is imperative to utilise the support networks you have to battle through these dark days and look forward to spring, summer and beyond. We know we may have to live with this as the norm but to enable you to feel better it is important to get the support now. What I have learnt over the last 12 months;

Get plenty of sleep

Sleep is really important for our physical and mental health. Sleep helps to regulate the chemicals in our brain that transmit information. These chemicals are important in managing our moods and emotions. If we don't get enough sleep, we can start to feel depressed or anxious. This is something that I have managed to stay on top of after 12 hours a day building a business this comes natural.

Eat well

Eating well isn't just important for our bodies, but it's also important for our minds. Certain mineral deficiencies, such as iron and vitamin B12 deficiencies, can give us a low mood. If you find you're a particularly stressed or anxious person, you should try limiting or cutting out caffeine as this can make you feel jittery and anxious. Oh yeah this is me all over - caffeine, caffeine, caffeine - not good limit this to two a day max. i found myself counter acting the 6 coffees a day with 8 beers a day in the evening.

Avoid alcohol

When you've had a few drinks you can feel more depressed and anxious the next day, and it can be harder to concentrate. Excessive drinking for prolonged periods can leave you with a thiamine deficiency. Thiamine is important for our brain function and a deficiency can lead to severe memory problems, motor (coordination) problems, confusion and eye problems. irritable and anxious. This is something that has crept in with my daily routine and it is not good for anybody. The first thing to do is admit the problem then work to reduce this to just weekends or even better stop completely.

Get plenty of sunlight

Sunlight is a great source of vitamin D. Vitamin D is a really important vitamin for our bodies and our brains. It helps our brains to release chemicals which improve our mood, like endorphins and serotonin. Try to go walking or running when the sun is out, you will feel fantastic.

Activity and exercise

Activity and exercise are essential in maintaining good mental health. Being active not only gives you a sense of achievement, but it boosts the chemicals in your brain that help put you in a good mood.

Manage stress

Try to manage your responsibilities and worries by making a list or a schedule of when you can resolve each issue. Often if you break down your worries and stresses and write them down, you realise that they are manageable. Try to avoid burying your head in the sand, and tackle problems face on. If you find you are having trouble sleeping, or are waking up thinking about all of the things that are stressing you out, write them down and reassure yourself that you can deal with them in the morning.

Do something you enjoy

Try to make time for doing the fun things you enjoy. If you like going for a walk, painting or a specific TV show, try to set aside time to enjoy yourself. If we don't spend any time doing things we enjoy, we can become irritable and unhappy. We love our Sunday board games as a family and totally switch off from technology.

Connect with others and be sociable

Make an effort to maintain good relationships and talk to people whenever you get the chance. Having friends is important not just for your self-esteem, but also for providing support when you're not feeling too great. Research has found that talking to others for just ten minutes can improve memory and test scores!

Do things for others

Helping others isn't just good for the people you're helping; it's good for you too. Helping someone can help with your self-esteem and make you feel good about your place in the world. Feeling as though you're part of a community is a really important part of your mental health. You could try to volunteer for a local charity, or just being neighbourly. Its a small thing but I put my next door neighbours bins out and take them back every week - she is 90 and has been shielding continuously, just a little wave every morning is enough.

***Ask for help***

One of the most important ways to keep yourself mentally healthy is to recognise when you're not feeling good, and to know when to ask for help. There's no shame in asking someone for support if you're feeling low or stressed. There are loads of charities locally and nationally out there, don't think you have to suffer on your own.

If you need a chat or guidance on any of these points then please do give me a ring, I don't mind lending an ear as people have done for me. 07599297462

The sun will shine again and the UK economy will fight back.