As a novice to LinkedIn I am new to posting and my past two blogs have been an attempt to engage people with ideas on how to raise moral and manage anxiety caused by, amongst other things, Covid-19. These posts were aimed at people who were feeling anxious, isolated, or uncertain about the future and the constant change resulting from this dreadful virus.
But this week I have felt a change in the national response to new restrictions and the impact that this will inevitably bring to our economy and to employment. I been reminded that no post is going to make the threat of losing a job easier and no blog is going to ease the worry of financial pressure. Difficult life events will cause pain and anxiety and I wish I had the words to console and reassure but we cannot avoid feeling, we are human.
When we feel under threat, as is the case when we face unemployment, most of us go in to a state of panic. We may doubt our ability to cope, we may catastrophise about the possibility of a future and we may even question our worth as a partner, parent and employee.
These feelings are normal and we should not judge ourselves for having them. We need to allow ourselves time to grieve the future we thought we had, process and assimilate what has happened and eventually create new plans and goals for the new future.
We need to allow ourselves, and others, time to feel sad, angry or worried and when offering support, we sometimes need to provide understanding and a listening ear rather than a quick solution or a platitude.
Last week Nicola Sturgeon in her daily update said, ‘If we stick with it- and, above all, if we stick together- we will get through it’. Now, whether or not you agree with her politics, she recognised our human need for support during difficult times. As a partner, friend, parent or colleague, we all have the responsibility to look out for person who is flailing. Your offer of a coffee or a hug could make any struggle just a little bit more bearable.
However, for many people, even with the support of family and friends, the worry of an uncertain future can feel too much to bear. If this happens, or if your feelings begin to affect your relationships and prevent you from generating possibilities for the future, then it is important that you talk to a professional who may be able to help you remember the strength and resilience you have forgotten you had.
