The Importance of the Inner Check-In
While our skin may be needing a little more TLC in times of isolation, it’s even more important to check in with our mental state.
It’s no surprise that the pressures of COVID related isolation have had a profound effect on the health of our community.
While the symptoms of the virus itself are widely known, the mental implications of those living in the difficult present time are beginning to become more and more apparent to mental health care professionals.
Our resident Psychologist, Tash Rae of The Morph Clinic, weighs up on how experts are finding the pressures of Covid are affecting us mentally.
Tash has delved deeply into recent studies surrounding isolation felt by those part of Antarctic and NASA expeditions. Results found that isolation can be felt in stages of four. Each quarterly phase represents a different mental process and sentiment to the concept of feeling isolation.
Currently, us of those in Victoria are caught in the third quarter of isolation.
Stage three of isolation is especially tough on us due to the initial novelty of the first two stages wearing off. The current mental sentiment is that hope is diminishing, and we’re unsure of when the end of this ordeal will be.
You may be familiar with the old adage, ‘Hope Deferred Makes the Heart Sick’.
While stress, anxieties and loss of hope are all emotions felt my many at the moment, it is important to take time to honour your feelings as well as feed your happiness.
You’re probably well aware, but making time for activities that fill you with joy will help bring perspective into the current situation.
Below are activities that help us feel connected, grounded and bring hope;
- Exercise, walking, running.
- Yoga, meditation and mindfulness.
- Cooking, baking and searching for new recipes and inspiration.
- Listening to music, podcasts and eBooks.
If you have any questions about the above, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with Tash Rae of the Morph Clinic.
We’re all in this together.