This week marked five years since the first lockdown of the pandemic of 2020.
For most people the lockdown was a shocking and difficult experience. Our lives were affectively put on hold and we were very limited in what we could do. Many people felt lonely. For some Survivors of sexual abuse it proved even more testing because Survivors of sexual abuse and violence may have faced times of powerlessness and isolation in the past; and the sense of lack of control and loneliness felt even more acute at this extreme and unprecedented time. After the pandemic came to an end some people re-adapted to socialising very quickly, for others it has been a much longer journey. And although five years down the line they still are finding being with others – perhaps trusting others – extremely difficult. This makes sense if you are a Survivor and your trust has been broken severely in the past. We would encourage you to set some goals of socialising and give yourself time to achieve them. Take small steps at a time. Perhaps starting with a face to face coffee with a friend – make it for a limited time if that feels safer to you and take it from there. Remember the journey of a thousand miles begin with the first step…congratulate yourself for every new step you take.