The Blemished Rose

During the current coronavirus situation, more and more people are turning to the media as a source of information, which results in additional anxiety and fear. I see a major flaw in the way that the media communicates with the public as they don’t appear to consider those who are mentally suffering. I often hear ‘we must all pull together in this crisis’, which is all very well for those who are able, but what about those who are already mentally unstable? A depressed person, for example, may not feel able to ‘do their bit for the community’ as just getting out of bed may feel like a chore for them. As a result, they may feel worse about themselves for not being able to help and feelings of guilt may arise.  How has the lockdown affected you? You may have experienced a whirlwind of emotions as your life has changed drastically. In particular, if your life purpose or livelihood has been pulled from under your feet and you wonder what you have left to live for. Thoughts of se...

We’re all living in uncertain times as cities and countries are going into lockdown during this Covid-19 pandemic. Along with fear of the unknown comes anxiety and catastrophizing which can spiral into a whirlwind of panic. But we mustn’t let a pandemic make us feel like victims; we can’t control what is happening out there but we can control ourselves. There are things that we can do to manage anxiety and fear at a time like this. Limit media time It’s inevitable that during a pandemic we want to be informed on the latest countrywide and worldwide news and updates, but there’s a lot of misinformation and fearmongering out there so be discerning about what you read. Limit the amount of time you spend watching the news as this can feed your anxiety rather than ease it. Perhaps consider having a specific time that you check for updates each day and keep it at that. If it is easier for you to avoid media altogether, ask someone you trust to pass on important information to you...