I don’t know about you but adjusting to ‘lockdown life’ has been more of a rollercoaster this time around. I’ve found myself doom scrolling the newsfeed, nervously checking exposure sites, worrying over the number mystery cases, not to mention the situation unfolding in NSW. Sure, some of it is necessary in order to stay informed, but a lot of it is probably more an unconscious and futile attempt to feel a bit more in control.
When we feel vulnerable, when our lives are disrupted, when we’re placed in uncomfortable situations, our instincts are to brace against the current circumstances and wait for it to pass. It can work okay if the discomfort is fleeting, but living through a pandemic is more akin to dealing with chronic pain. Years ago, I learned something interesting about chronic pain. Those afflicted are almost never in pain 100 per cent of the time; their pain generally ebbs and flows or even stops for hours but eventually it returns.
What we know happens in the mind of someone dealing with chronic pain is that they are either in pain or anticipating being in pain and, either way, they spend every waking moment bracing against their pain whether it is actually there or not. Worse still, the nervous system of someone in chronic pain acts like an echo chamber – amplifying and reinforcing the discomfort.
What does this have to do with lockdown? One very effective technique taught to those suffering with chronic pain is to become more adept at noticing the spaces between episodes of pain and learning how, when not in pain, to relax the unconscious bracing. Those times of neutral sensation act like a balm to the nervous system and they find they can breathe, move, and hold themselves differently and, in time, their chronic pain improves.
If we focus on the pain of lockdown – the things that we can’t do or the things we are worried about – then we are certain to amplify the uneasiness. If, on the other hand, you can notice the neutral times – the rituals and habits that remain the same, perhaps you still sit down for family meal together, or you snuggle up in your favourite chair or spot in the garden with a good book, a cup of tea or a glass of wine – it can really help create some ballast for your mind that can bring much needed respite. If you like this idea, try making a list of all the little things that you can and still do despite lockdown. Kind of like a gratitude diary but more of a ‘steadiness’ diary.
It’s also possible that lockdown can bring some benefits, for example, some people love working from home. For me, I’ve rediscovered a love of running which I’m really appreciating. So, you can also add these lockdown bonuses to your list too. Keep in mind, it’s still going to hurt sometimes, but hopefully you can find some much needed respite as well as moments of joy along the way.
