Freedom Day- Anxieties/Worries/Loneliness

Back in March, I wrote a blog about people feelings toward the governments roadmap leading to step 4 aka 'Freedom Day' and now it has arrived.

Obviously Freedom Day is important for many UK businesses within the economy having their employees return to work and most people just want to return to their normal lives but for a large number of people, the anxieties and worries around COVID 19 are still present as it is still around and has affected our mental health in ways beyond imaginable.

Some facts I discovered on the mental health charity 'Mind' is that 9 in 10 young people said that loneliness during the pandemic has made their mental health worse with one in five adults not seeking support as they didn't think their problem was serious enough. The pandemic has reduced many peoples social lives during these last 16 months and the people who weren't socialising before COVID have had loneliness increase within their lives.

With cultural sectors such as theatres and arenas reopening, some people find it too soon to reopen and find they are too anxious to go to events that they used to go to. Whatever your thoughts on entertainment venues being reopened to full capacity, there is no denial that there is a different vibe to visiting venues now and is not going to be the same as it was before which will last for a good while.

I, myself, am struggling to come to terms with freedom day and places returning to full capacity as this pandemic has changed my mind set, as it has with many others, in so many different ways. I know one day it will return to the mode where I feel comfortable going out in crowded places again but for now I am taking things at my own pace and only doing those mini mind challenges when I feel ready to do so. I am keeping busy by practicing self care activities from meditation sound baths to cycling/walking/running/swimming as well as having mini adventures and days out and also taking myself outside my comfort zone as I am currently undertaking an online mental health first aid course which is going really well so far.

If you are feeling anxious, worried, lonely or unsure about freedom day, please know that it is completely normal to feel this way and that you are not alone with what you are feeling. My advice for anyone out struggling to returning to normality is keep busy doing the things you are currently enjoying. As someone I know once said 'Always have something in the diary to look forward to no matter how big or small' and only do things when you feel you are ready to do so.

For anyone struggling or wants to talk about the struggles of freedom day, DMs and comments are always open. Thanks for reading