As many people are feeling excited about getting out and about again, meeting up with family and friends and even planning holidays after being in lockdown for so long, for others, it’s not such a bright prospect.

In a recent survey by No Panic, 85% of you said your biggest fear was either yourself or a family member catching the virus.  With lockdown restrictions slowly being lifted the main concerns were having to go back to work, using public transport and sending children back to school. 

All these worries are completely normal when you think about how ‘out of the ordinary’ this past year has been.  Our televisions, social media feeds and conversations have been flooded with nothing but Covid_19 and everything that goes with it, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  The uncertainty of the whole situation has unsettled our everyday lives causing negative thinking and increased anxiety. 

So how do we get ourselves back to some kind of normality?
How do we step out into the world again and start to socialise? 
How do we stop our fears taking over our lives?

• The first thing to remember is that we are all in this together. You are not alone with your worries. Don’t be afraid to speak out and share what you are feeling. 
• Try not to let negative thoughts about what may happen wander around in your mind. Focussing on the bad will only make your anxiety worse.  Take each day as it comes. Do the best you can, with what you have.
• Take care of your body. Looking after your physical health can reduce stress and anxiety as well as improving your mood.  This should include exercise, sleep and diet. 
• Calm your mind. Meditation and mindfulness are ideal for this but there are many other things to try. Colouring, painting and reading are a few examples. Listening to soothing music or a relaxing podcast are also ideal. Try the No Panic Breathing animation.
• Take things step by step. Moving forward slowly is better than staying where you are.  Meet up with one or two friends to begin with instead of a group? Maybe you will be able to continue to work from home on a part-time basis? Maybe you could car share instead of using public transport immediately? Look for solutions instead of focussing on problems. 
• Limit your social media and news intake. Not everything you read is true. Follow accounts that make you feel positive and have a clear out any negative people.
• Remember you have done this before. When the lockdown was put into place, you adapted to a new routine with many life changes. As restrictions are being lifted, once again changes will happen and you will adapt once more. 
• Lastly, if you feel you need further help, take a look at the links below.  

If you are worried about going back to work, take a look at the UK Government’s Working Safely Guidance.

If you are worried about sending your children back to school, take a look at the UK Government’s Education and Childcare Guidance.

If you are worried about your financial situation, take a look at The Money Advice Service.

How can No Panic help?
No Panic specialises in self-help recovery and our services include:
Providing people with the skills they need to manage their condition and work towards recovery.
Our aim is to give you all of the necessary advice, tools and support that you will need to recover and carry out this journey. No Panic Recovery Programs