For many of us Covid-19 pandemic was the most stressful time of our lives. Is it really over or are there remnants still affecting our wellbeing?

To many of us the Covid-19 pandemic feels like a distant memory that has forever changed who we are and what is important in our lives. The world was unhinged with social distancing and healthcare systems were in critical overwhelm. We all had to change to survive. All aspects of our lives were challenged from diets and lifestyle to our relationships and work/career path. We had to reconnect with our priorities and confront our habits and belief systems.  This upheaval in life put a huge amount of different stresses on everyone.

Short term stress is natural and necessary, however long term triggering of these stress hormones, like a world in chaos for ~2 years, has a negative effect on our general wellbeing - physically, emotionally, mentally and energetically.

The various stresses during lockdown were different for each person, but many of us have not fully dealt with it, supressing and ignoring the emotions that came with the stress rather than allowing them to be felt and released.  Emotions are ‘energy in motion’. If we do not allow negative emotional energy out, it does not just disappear, it remains inside our body tissue. Starting as niggles and discomfort and gradually compounding to chronic stress, physical pain and emotions that “come out of nowhere”. There is no time limit for this stuck energy/stress to dissipate and it can have increasing affects our wellness over a long period of time.

Our body’s have the ability self-heal and self-regulate but it cannot do this while in a sympathetic state (fight/flight response). We need to be in a parasympathetic state for our body begin to heal and repair itself.

It is not completely surprising that as emerge out of the pandemic and life returns to what was known before (for the most part), there are increased reports of long-term physical damage to our bodies and a rise in auto-immune diseases. Breathlessness, chronic fatigue, “brain fog”, stress and anxiety have also been listed by the NHS as common complaints in Post -Covid Syndrome.  We have spent this time in an extended stressed/heightened emotional state, that our bodies have “lost connection” to self-heal and self- regulate. The remnant of covid-19 and lockdown are still with most of us, but there are ways to help de-stress and create a parasympathetic nervous system to help our healing and wellness journey. Here are some of my favourites:

• Keep hydrated. We are made of a high percentage of water, from 22% in your bones to 70-90% in your organs. There are so many benefits when drinking enough water.

• Eating healthily means eating food that is right for you, that nourishes your body and gives you energy and vitality. Being conscious of what you eat and drink will give your body the opportunity to heal and regenerate more easily.

• Plan exercise that suits your lifestyle, whether it is walking or running, gym, yoga, etc. You should try to be active regularly. Being active helps your energy levels, hormones, detoxing and healing.   

• Breathing is part of our essential life force. Take deep slow breaths (or practise box breathing) when you are feeling stressed or anxious to calm the autonomic nervous system and reduce stress.

• Stretch, breath and sleep! Listen to what your body needs. Recognize your natural cycles to stop feeling tired, stagnant and stressed.

• Happiness and laughter are some of the best medicine. Surround yourself with people who bring joy to your life.

• Plan a little time for yourself each day, whether you journal, meditate or spend time in nature, do something that brings you calm and peace.

• Invest in yourself. Try to treat yourself with a monthly holistic treatment, like Body Talk, Reiki or a holistic massage, which calm your nervous system and lowers your cortisol levels.  These treatments may also help with any trapped/unconscious stress/energy that you haven’t fully dealt with.