After two years of lockdown, we are now re-emerging.  We want to get back to normal, and are trying to find our way.

Lockdown is over, and we are going out more, but we find ourselves questioning: who do I want to see; should I wear a mask; dare I greet people with a hug?  This hesitancy is natural as we take steps to return to normal.

We might wonder: “What is normal?”  Perhaps life has changed: we have suffered a bereavement, we have lost or changed our job, relationships have moved on.  We are looking for something new, a new normal.  We can help ourselves by getting involved in new activities, making new friendships.  And we are not alone – others are going through similar difficulties, and are keen to reach out for support and companionship.

But what if this process of renewal gets stuck: the change is too hard, the stress too high, the grief too painful and difficult to work through, self-confidence too low?  You too are not alone.  If you reach out for professional help, counsellors can offer the opportunity to explore and work through all these thoughts and feelings, and help you to find a new way of being, a new normal for you.

If you would like to discuss anything in this article, please do contact me, Nick Henshaw, via my website: nickhenshawcounselling.co.uk