How to preserve emotional well-being during de-escalation

COVID-19 has changed our reality in many ways. Our individual and collective behavior has been affected suddenly, unexpectedly and imposed by this global pandemic. After months of confinement as a safety and health protection measure, we are facing the de-escalation process.

The de-escalation of this confinement is a process by which it is intended gradually and cautiously regain normalized functioning and return to normality, always keeping in mind the safety of our health as the main objective.

This new process of "out of refinement" supposes a change in our lives and routines, a new reality, which implies an adaptation to this new change as part of the process. Each of the de-escalation phases of confinement will involve a change in routines and behaviors that in turn will generate emotional and cognitive changes in the individual.

• Related article: "10 daily habits that improve your emotional balance"

How can disorientation affect us psychologically?

Our psychological state is affected by what happens around us. When we experience a radical and unexpected change, our emotions are affected and with them our stability and psychological well-being.

This process that we are currently experiencing can generate some emotional instability; thus, The first thing is to know what emotions and feelings can address us in this new adaptation situation.

We may experience an increase in concern about the contagion of COVID-19, anxiety in the face of continuous uncertainty that we live, fear of recovering part of normalcy at this time, fear for our well-being and that of our relatives and friends...

In other cases, we experience each change with joy and eager to reconnect with our loved ones, wanting to go out and regain part of "normal life".

There are also cases of people who feel nothing but indifference, sadness or low mood about the changes that occur in the different phases. This can cause us a feeling of contradiction, because we have long wanted to regain normalcy, but now we feel heartbroken and unmotivated.

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Keys to maintaining emotional balance during deconfinement

Once the difficulties that this de-escalation process may entail have been established, it is convenient have the necessary strategies to face the situation of change in the most adaptive way possible. It is very important to have certain strategies for its management and in this way avoid part of the suffering generated by not adapting to changes in the environment that surrounds us.

1. Establish routines and organize your behaviors

The fear of contagion as we progress through the phases may be greater, and that can lead us to perform maladaptive behaviors, generating high levels of anxiety.

Therefore, if we adopt certain prevention measures and create a habit (always wear a mask, carry disinfectant gel, keep social distance ...), in addition to being protected, we will feel tranquility and relief, since the measures are established consciously and objective.

2. Do physical activity

Some of us have already established a small daily routine of physical exercise during this confinement, and now we can go out, we must take advantage of this routine or part of it on the air free; that it will be of great benefit to our mood.

3. Reset and adjust daily routines and update your goals

It is likely that after these months, the vast majority of us have undergone various changes in different spheres of life, and as we go through phases of disharmony, these occur in a more fast.

Thus, it is important to adapt and be flexible according to the needs of the moment, although with a marked line. And do not forget the importance of combining new obligations and new leisure, this combination provides us with long-term emotional stability.

4. Recover social relationships

We know the importance and emotional need to socialize, and despite confinement, many of us have gradually adapted to new forms of communication to be close to our loved ones despite social distancing, but it is important not to get carried away by comfort or fear of contagion, to avoid social isolation and the consequences that they can generate in the medium-long term.

5. Find out from reliable sources and what is necessary

Staying informed is necessary, but overinformation and information from unofficial sources is one of the main causes of widespread fear and the anguish that uncertainty and contradictory and excessive information generate us.

6. Ask for help

Every process of change entails its own adaptation process in a natural way, adaptation allows us to evolve.

But depending on the characteristics of the change (voluntariness, immediacy ...) and the individual differences of each individual, the situation will provoke a different response towards change, which can be adaptive or maladaptive: It will depend on the coping strategies and resources that each one has.

If you consider that you do not have these resources and tools, do not hesitate to contact a professional and ask for help.