For some of us it feels as if lockdown has been a very mixed blessing. It’s been the chance to reset, perhaps refocus and give ourselves time to rest. However, it’s also meant that our usual ways of coping and/or distracting ourselves are not available to us.
How has it affected you? Are you aware of any feelings/emotions coming up that you usually distract yourself from by working hard/going out/meeting friends etc? It can be a rude awakening to have the realisation that all is not quite as well in our world as we assumed it was.
A way of recognising whether you are trying to distract yourself from uncomfortable feelings is by noticing if you are suddenly have the urge to do something, or eat or drink something. Another sign that you may be avoiding emotions and pushing them down is if you find yourself being snappier than usual, or feeling more overwhelmed or less able to cope.
Being able to be with our feelings can take real effort and courage as often we have been avoiding them for years or even decades!
Counselling gives you the safe space to be able to acknowledge, be with, and explore those feelings at a pace that feels right for you, without judgement. Exploring your feelings in this way can really help, particularly if you feel, or are worried about feeling, overwhelmed.
There’s something really powerful about being able to say exactly how you feel, without having to edit yourself or worry about hurting anyone’s feelings. Counselling gives you the space to focus on you, which may feel a little uncomfortable, but that’s when it reaps the most reward.
We’re a team of therapists that work 6 days a week and you have the choice of face to face, online or telephone counselling. If you’d like a free initial telephone consultation to see if you’d like to work with us, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
