LIFE AFTER LOCKDOWN
Love it or loathe it, the expression ‘new normal’, just like ‘social distance’ and ‘self isolate’ is now part of our lexicon. By Jo Henwood
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fter almost three months in lockdown, restrictions in the UK are slowly beginning to lift. Shops have reopened, people are tentatively returning to the workplace and we are all looking forward to an eventual rebirth of our social lives. The ‘new normal’ will mean wearing masks on public transport, keeping our distance from people in shops and maybe walking in a one-way system around our offices or working from home more. Consultant clinical psychologist Claire Iveson (pictured right), says that the way we behave in this next phase will depend on our personalities, our own expectations and how we reacted during lockdown. She
says that our shared human response to the pandemic, born out of a desire to help one another, keep each other safe, be responsible and stop the spread of coronavirus will continue as we move on to the next stage. “We as humans perceived the virus as a strong threat,” says Claire. “It is unseen, it is everywhere and nowhere. As this filters through our mind, it triggers our survival brain. We become alert and on edge.” When lockdown began, Claire thinks that we all suffered a form of collective social grief. She said: “The virus took away a lot of things that make humans work and help buffer our working lives. “Taking holidays, being able to meet friends for a drink, going out for our tea, these help us create a life balance and they were all taken away. “Some people were in denial, some felt anger and many of us felt a sense of loss for our life as it was.”
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The virus took away a lot of things that make humans work. Claire acknowledges that lockdown will have affected people in very different ways. “Some people have sadly lost loved ones,” she said. “Others who are dealing with more difficulties than others – poverty, poorer mental health, living in abusive relationships or Claire Iveson without homes. Such adversity and social inequalities will impact services, like mental health and education, in long and far reaching ways.” But she also recognises that lockdown for many will have been a very positive experience. Claire says: “Some people have rediscovered old hobbies, appreciated nature more during their daily walk, spent more happy time with their family, even slept better.”
Lockdown for many will be a very positive experience.
