LOCKDOWN 2.0 'Where do we go from here?'

‘Perhaps the butterfly is proof that you can go through a great deal of darkness and still become something beautiful’ – Beau Taplin. 

Coronavirus and it's rising cases has brought our country to a point of a difficult decision, the thing is, unfortunately there is no 'right' or 'perfect' way to tackle this pandemic as we do not yet have the vaccine or magic powers to make it all go away. It's about managing and saving as many lives as we can. Reducing cases, yet also working to maintain the economy, stability and caring for our mental and physical health as much as possible. It's now in the known that Prime Minister Boris Johnson has made the choice to enter a second lockdown of at least a month, and as overwhelming and frustrating as this is, it's the decision that has been made and we now have to stick to in order to hopefully reduce the cases. Of course without the vaccine we cannot yet remove the virus completely, but in sticking to the proposed guidelines we can aim to reduce its mortality rate.

Of course this decision has difficult implications, there are pro's and con's to most choices we make in life. It will have a knock on effect on the economy, socialising and our mental health, but through accepting that, the government and us as individuals can then make helpful and conscious choices to ensure we are looking after ourselves through this difficult period. Furlough hopefully continuing, government support, Facetime and phone calls to keep us in the loop with family and friends, continuing to keep active in ways that we can to avoid unnecessary pressure on ourselves in what is an already tough situation. 

It's no surprise that stress, anxiety and worry will be just some of the emotions that we will all face right now, but it doesn't have to be detrimental to our health. We have to take it day by day, support others and allow them to support you, reach out and accept, look out for others, we are all going through the same turmoil, some may be struggling more than others but that's when coming together and reaching out is so vital for a greater good.

It can be through accepting yourself and your current situation, acknowledging when things are out of your control, and taking things step by step from the present moment that enable us to come to terms with our personal traits, grow to understand ourselves and be both rational and calm when making choices in order to cope and manage right now. We cannot remove the response of stress completely, just like we can't remove the virus yet completely, but we can manage it, being aware and sensible. How to manage and respond. With less clarity, freedom and goals right now, the unknown can take over and our minds can jump to instant conclusions and become fearful or anxious about things. It’s in these circumstances that we become too overwhelmed and can find ourselves in a permanent state of unnecessary ‘stress’.

‘Stress’ is a physical, mental or emotional factor that cause bodily or mental tension. At times this response is necessary. When we are faced with a potential threat, stress can initiate the ‘fight or flight’ response, which is our body’s involuntary response to help prepare us for any necessary action that may need to be taken in order to survive. When our brains perceive what they believe to be a threat, this response and our alertness is activated, our breathing and heart rate increases, hormones adrenaline and cortisol are released, blood flows away from where it’s not needed to assist muscles and the heart. As this response is initiated, we can take action. Ultimately, stress is what happens when our equilibrium is disturbed by what we call ‘a stressor’, this ‘stressor’ can be external or internal and not always be a bad thing, as it alarms us when there is possible danger and our bodies immediately and involuntarily respond. We need it in order to survive.

That being said, being in such a ‘high-strung’ environment, we often forget that a constant state of ‘stress’ doesn’t need to be how we operate. It’s useful for when we are faced with a threat, but not when we perceive a threat that isn’t actually reality. A lot of our habits and thoughts occur without us choosing them, we follow the social ‘norms’ and what we’re taught, we pick up on what we’re exposed to from external sources without even realising. We forget that although some behaviours become a habit, we can choose to become conscious of them by increasing our awareness in the present, and let things go if they are not helping us or causing damage. The mind is so powerful that we can convince ourselves something is the case when it may not be what’s in reality. It seems that when it’s your own thoughts, it is reality. But our mind can lie to us. When in darkness it can be difficult to establish what is in reality and what’s not, which is why I stand by talking, sharing or asking for help and it not being a weakness. When we allow others in, we can voice our thoughts, we can try and articulate, we can explain, understand, realise, change and relieve ourselves.

With a certain amount of ‘stress’ our bodies can work at their personal optimal, there is a certain level within us all where we are able to cope, be alert and vigilant in certain situations in order to keep us safe. Like the level of alertness that’s required when driving for example. Or the butterflies that we get when we’re nervous. The fact that the fluttery stomach feeling is known as ‘butterflies’ is no coincidence, like butterflies are free to roam, we are free to experience that feeling without it having a negative effect on us. Though it can cause a little discomfort, it can bring out the excitement in us and supply us with adrenaline to perform, or take action when necessary. This feeling is only present because blood flow is being prioritised elsewhere, therefore the stomach muscles are extra sensitive and our digestion slows in order to support respiration as our heart rate and breathing increases. So despite the stigma we attach to it, stress is highly beneficial and can be harmless.

When it stops being harmless and becomes harmful is when the brain perceives a threat that isn’t actually threatening. The state of ‘stress’ becomes chronic rather than acute. A response to false alarm of a threat. Cortisol levels remain high and some bodily systems aren’t provided with necessary attention because the body believes it’s required to be in a state of ‘fight or flight’ to protect itself. Too much ‘stress’ on the body can occur both physically and mentally. The brain becomes oversensitive and remains under constant ‘stress’ as a result. Sometimes we are unaware of it. Living in a highly wired society, we’re taught to believe we have to be active all the time, rather than doing what our body requires. Unaware of the pressure stress can put on the body, mind, hormone levels, reproductive, digestive and immune system. 

When our brains perceive something that isn’t a threat as a threat, and we choose not to challenge it, it believes what it perceives as truth and the body protects us with its internal action, unaware of the harm it’s causing. We can push ourselves into fatigue and ill health as a result. Overtime, because we don’t question it, the nervous system wires itself to produce this response over and over and this cycle of stress and pain repeats itself. We then think we are stuck in this state when in actual fact, we’re not. Our body thinks it’s being kind and protecting when it goes into the ‘fight or flight’ mode which of course, in those cases of a true threat, it is. But when our brains perceive incorrectly, it becomes detrimental and we have to inform brain otherwise. It’s about outlook, and outlook can become clouded by thoughts. Our minds only amplify what they choose to when we allow them.

Though our thoughts are real, they do not control us. The virus and the government may be implementing restriction, but you are in control of your thoughts, despite what your mind may tell you. Even in very unknown and daunting times, your mind is yours. Though your thoughts may be unkind, you don’t need to fight back in order for them to pass and move on like little clouds in the sky. As Gandhi said ‘a man is but a product of his thoughts, what he thinks he becomes’. Remember, though you may not be able to control everything right now, you are in control of your thoughts. You may be scared, anxious, stressed or frustrated, you have every right to feel that way, this isn't easy by any means. But look after yourself as much as others, step by step rather than mile by mile.

Sending love and support to you all x