The news that the UK has recorded a daily high of almost 89,000 Covid cases on 16th December 2021 and the spike in the new Omicron variant has left many of us feeling anxious and even overwhelmed. Everywhere we look we are bombarded with information about Coronavirus and the new variant. Many people try to cope by dissociating themselves with the news but most of us can’t escape it completely. And for those working in the NHS, shops, public transport or other frontline services, they simply don’t have a choice but to deal with it as best they can.
Apart from the illness itself, there’s evidence that the pandemic has negative psychological effects. These include post-traumatic stress symptoms, confusion and anger. It has triggered mental health problems in people without any previous history of mental ill health. One in six adults experienced some form of depression in the summer of 2021 compared to one in ten adults before the pandemic. There are signs that this is increasing with this latest wave of the virus. A poll conducted by IPSOS Mori on 8th December 2021 showed that 52% of respondents are struggling to stay positive about the future up from 44% in September 2021.
In the midst of this situation, it is vitally important that we each do whatever we can to take care of ourselves, physically and emotionally. There is evidence that mindfulness might be well-suited to responding to the mental health challenges of the pandemic, helping us to manage both the short term as well as the longer-term effects of Coronavirus on our mental health.
Through developing mindfulness skills, we are able to establish a non-judgemental approach to our experience. This helps us to understand and accept uncomfortable, difficult and painful experiences by being present with them until we are ready to let go. By bringing kindness to ourselves and our experiences we are able to feel things as they are in the moment. Mindfulness skills also help us to see and experience the lovely and beautiful things around us and gain pleasure from those. Sessions with a trained mindfulness instructor together with signposting to additional resources such as apps, information and helplines can help us to develop the mindfulness skills that can really improve our wellbeing and cope with the emotional effects of the pandemic.
I want to make mindfulness practices available to anyone who needs it, to help cope with the effects of the pandemic and beyond. If you are interested in mindfulness training and taking part in a free, introductory mindfulness session then please let me know on info@mindfulzone.co.uk
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