Notes from a psychologist attempting to live in COVID normal (spoiler: there is nothing normal about it).

Although we were SO ready for lockdown to end, the shift has still somehow caught us off guard.

This period feels unsteady. Every high seems to come with a low. Optimism with fear. Joy with anxiety. Hope with uncertainty. And since when was normal so exhausting? 

Social Psychologist Dr Amy Cuddy has given this unsteadiness a name: pandemic flux syndrome (see article at this link from Dr Cuddy). 

So if you feel in flux too, here’s some ideas that might help you find your feet.

1.         Lockdown has left our brains depleted and accustomed to a slower pace of life. This is why a swift return to reality may have left you feeling psychological whiplash. Just like a scuba diver rising to the surface, we have to take it slow to avoid the psychological “bends.” Start with environments that are easier for your brain to process. Less people. Less sensory input. When it comes to recovery, less is more.

2.         Know that your brain tends to overestimate how good things will feel. This is why that moment of seeing your friends and family for the first time may not have felt like it lived up to expectation. Tune out of expectations of how you should feel and tune in with curiosity and compassion to your emotions. What ever they may be.

3.         The challenges of the last two years were unprecedented, so your need for rest to recover should be unprecedented too. Give yourself permission to listen to you body and take time out when you need. Ask yourself: “What does healing look like for me?” 

4.         It’s OK to miss the sense of control and stability that lockdown may have given you. However, try to notice the parts of your life that are still in your control. Get back to basics. Find ways to complete the stress cycle. Find your way back to a daily self-care routine that works for you. 

5.         Although it can be tempting to just push through this period to the other side, studies of post-traumatic growth show us that until we process a traumatic experience, it can continue to impact our ability to recover. Try to journal about the experience of your lockdown. This isn’t dwelling on the past, this is given yourself space to process so you can move on and grow. 

The rule book about how you should like your life was thrown out the window during the pandemic, rather than racing to pick it up, let’s write a new one.

You are not alone. Reach out for support often and early.

Beyond Blue Coronavirus Mental Health Support.

1800 512 348.

Lifeline. Crisis Support.

13 11 14.

Rainbow Door. LGBTIQA+ Support.

1800 729 367.

Support Act. Arts worker support.

1800 959 500.