Adapting to change
Occupational Therapist Charlotte from BEAM Shropshire gives her tips for adapting to change and coping with isolation.
Change and wellbeing
The effects of change
Change is inevitable but we don't always see it coming. Having good mental health and wellbeing is often dependent on how we react to change and difficult times.
Charles Darwin said ‘it is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent that survives. It is the one that is most adaptable to change’.
When we feel alone or stressed out, we naturally go and see friends, try to be more active or go and talk to someone. These are useful techniques for adapting to change.
How to adapt to change
Acceptance
When we accept things peacefully for what they are, we can make plans to adapt. When we allow despair or rage into our minds, we may get even more anxious.
This is hard and we have to work through the various feelings carefully. We will feel negative emotions but they will pass. Acceptance is a process and it can be quite messy! You are not alone.
Communication
Talk to people about how you're feeling. Call a friend and ask them how they are. Maybe call your grandparents or other family members or friends. You will feel better for this, and if you can FaceTime you'll feel even better because you can see people smiling back at you.
Creativity
It is good to be as creative as possible. Making posters, drawing, playing - there are so many things we can do to stay active. Be gentle with yourself and try not to over work or study. Allow time for relaxation and creativity.
Grounding techniques
When we think in negative ways it makes us feel pretty rubbish, often anxious and sad. When we are stressed our immune system becomes weak so we need to do things that bring us out of our thoughts during these times.
Try taking your shoes and socks off and standing on grass. Feel the earth, close your eyes, focus on your breath, listen to the birds and smell whatever is in the air. This is called grounding. Try it every day.
