A CUMBRIAN clinical psychologist has shared some expert advice on helping to maintain emotional wellbeing during the coronavirus lockdown.

Dr Catherine Parker, consultant clinical psychologist at the North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust, said that feelings of fear, anxiety, loneliness, grief, frustration, helplessness and guilt are all common during the current crisis.

She sad: “Many report an emotional rollercoaster, from hour to hour, day to day.

“There is no ‘one-size fits all’ approach to coping with this challenge and all reactions are understandable and valid.”

However, Dr Parker has suggested several strategies to help see the crisis through. One is creating your own “wellbeing plan”.

“Begin by asking yourself some questions,” Dr Parker said, “including what are your usual coping strategies in difficult times and what has helped in the past? What aspects of these things can you reintroduce now? How can you adapt them for social isolation?”

Another strategy she suggested is to “focus on what you can control rather than what you can’t.

“You can focus on how you follow Covid guidelines, how you relate to others and how you choose to spend your time.”