It is difficult to not just withdraw from life.
A pandemic still ravishes the Earth and I am still just going day to day!
I am certainly no expert on how to cope post lockdown, my mental health can be dire at best, but here are my 5 suggestions how to move forward with:
Socialise.
Unfortunately fairy tales do not always happen. Neither a relationship, nor your true love, is just going to appear on your sofa whilst you binge watch Netflix. You are going to actually have to get your hands dirty and interact with people. I know that the idea of this sounds horrific to the people with social anxiety and the first step will always be down to you. Even this may sound scary believe me the benefits will be major. Not only will socialising raise your confidence, you will also be able to make new friends and meet people you would never usually have met.
Although there is no substitute for real face-to-face contact, social media and video chat allows people at home to be able to have contact with others without even leaving the house.
Remember, you are human.
You have faults and this is a human condition. You might have more than others to deal with because of your disability but don't forget that everybody has these faults and it is not just you.
Remember, the others are human.
It is easy to get lost in your own head but remember to peek out at others, be understanding and patient. Remember that just because you cannot see somebody's disability does not mean that they are not struggling.
Smile.
A smile can go a long way A smile might be the only interaction that an individual needs that day to make them feel better. A smile costs nothing to give and not only makes you more attractive but makes those around you feel happier.
Be the Flame.
This simply means that when you are feeling as good as you are able to, then you come across to others in the best possible light. The simplest way to do this is to do the little things that make you feel good, don't be afraid to wear the dress/shirt that you have been saving for a special occasion or to put on the aftershave/perfume that you like to wear when going out. Put on that special piece of jewellery that you don't usually show off. The idea being that if you do the things that make you feel special, the good feeling will spread and this will attract others to you like moths to a flame.
Be the flame.
