There are more people in the parks, increased traffic on the roads, garden centres are open again, and for many workers their day-to-day lives have resumed after weeks of lockdown.

For some people the easing of lockdown restrictions has been something to celebrate; a sign of hope that we are making small steps towards normality again.

But for others the idea of stepping out of their front doors in to this new, different world is a source of stress and anxiety.

Coronavirus is still here and spreading among the population, after all. Safety measures and social distancing put in place to protect us from the virus may feel unusual and unsettling.

鈥淟ockdown, which came with many challenges, has become our norm, security for many,鈥� says our member, counsellor .

鈥淣ow we鈥檙e told that we can venture into the scary outside world, albeit tentatively, to start to get our 鈥榦ld life鈥� back. The thing is, everything looks different now.鈥�

, a counsellor and one of our members, adds: 鈥淣ow we鈥檙e being offered more freedom, it brings a new wave of anxieties for some. The storm is subsiding, but the danger prevails.聽聽聽聽

鈥淭his raises difficult questions about how we are going to live and work and re-engage with the world. 鈥�

Indira believes people are feeling conflicted 鈥� they're experiencing a mix of feelings of relief and apprehension.

If you鈥檙e struggling with these feelings and with anxiety about the ease in lockdown restrictions our members have some advice and strategies to help you.

You can also contact a counsellor or a psychotherapist to speak to online or over the phone through our directory.

Deal with each worry

Indira says that one way of coping might be to deal with each worry that you have.

She adds: 鈥淔rom a work perspective, one way to start doing this would be to find out more info about procedures in the workplace and how you are going to get there?聽 Are they staggering shifts?聽 Are they providing masks?聽 What will workplace conditions be like for you to maintain social distancing.聽

鈥淚f you are worried about shopping for example, then find a shop where you feel more comfortable.聽 For example, it may have wider aisles with less peoples and where you can see supermarket staff taking care to sanitise trolleys.聽 Shop at quieter times of the day, preferably midweek and not weekends.鈥�

Think about what you can and can鈥檛 control

"Some of my clients have found it helpful to look at areas of their life that they can and can鈥檛 control 鈥� most find that the 鈥榗an鈥� list is longer than the 鈥榗an鈥檛鈥�, which is empowering in itself,鈥� says Rebecca.

She also says that you can take control by thinking of things you have enjoyed doing during lockdown and making sure you continue to do these.

鈥淚f you鈥檝e enjoyed additional family time, try timetabling this into your week as a priority. The key here is you have a choice and moving on from lockdown doesn鈥檛 mean that all control is taken away," she adds.

Try to create calm feelings

Rebecca recommends that if you鈥檙e struggling with anxiety then try to do activities or use strategies that help prompt the opposite feelings and help you feel calmer.

鈥淚f you recognise you鈥檙e feeling particularly anxious, try having a 鈥榗alm box鈥�, full of anchors to indulge your five senses. Ideas could be a super-soft blanket to wrap around you, a scented oil or candle, chewing gum, a playlist of your favourite chill-out music, a photo that makes you smile, a feel-good novel.鈥�

She adds: 鈥淢ake time to nurture yourself a priority.鈥�

Pick out the positives

Look for the small positives in your day to day life that help you feel better about lockdown easing and your situation.

Rebecca says: "It could be something like 鈥榟aving an excuse to put on something other than a tracksuit鈥�, 鈥榲isiting the garden centre鈥� or, 鈥榤eeting up for a socially distanced picnic with a friend鈥� 鈥� indulge in the positives, put on your best outfit, notice the vibrance and scent of the flowers, enjoy how the freedom of sitting outside, smiling and reminiscing feels."

Think about positive changes this could bring

鈥淭his emergence from such a unique and unprecedented situation may well provide us with the foundations for some really positive change,鈥� says Rebecca.

鈥淚t could be an opportunity to review your own boundaries 鈥� what you will and won鈥檛 accept 鈥� and plan to integrate these into your new, post-lockdown world.

Remember you coped with change before

Three months ago we would never have imagined spending seven weeks at home, with schools and shops closed, and unable to visit family or friends.

We鈥檝e already adapted to this major change in our lives, as well others over the years.

Rebecca says: 鈥淭hink about how you have felt say, starting a new job, new relationship or the most recent change, lockdown. I imagine that in the majority of cases, you have adapted and become comfortable in your new environment. And you will with this one too.鈥�

Take one small step at a time

It鈥檚 important to recognise anxieties about lockdown easing are understandable 鈥� and you won鈥檛 be alone in feeling them.

Don鈥檛 pressure yourself to feel better about this straight away. Instead take one small step at a time to help you overcome your anxiety.

Indira concludes: 鈥淣one of this is straightforward.聽 We鈥檙e in unchartered territory and so will take time for us to process and get our heads around.

鈥淭o have anxieties in the current climate is perfectly reasonable and finding ways to overcome them can be tricky but hopefully achievable by taking one small step at a time.鈥�

To find a counsellor or psychotherapist who can help you with anxiety visit our Therapist Directory.