“Just like everyone else trying to make sense of this strange new world we are living in; I have good days and bad days.
On the plus side I’m still able to go into work and do my breakfast TV show from Monday to Friday which gives me structure and a routine, but it does mean being constantly steeped in all of the latest news and developments, and that can often be overwhelming.
My workplace is also very different these days, usually the studios are full of purposeful bustling, but now it is just me and a producer and a couple of crew members all observing strict social distancing.
Dr Hilary sits two metres away from me in the studio, and I interview my guests on the show in their homes via Skype or FaceTime.
Hearing about the daily numbers of dead from Covid 19 is heart-breaking and makes all of us deeply sad and also upset and anxious.
I am worried about my mum and dad who live just outside of Glasgow and who I obviously haven’t seen in person since the beginning of March. My 79-year-old dad John is extremely high risk as he is still recovering from a severe lung infection and dealing with heart problems and diabetes.
My mum Anne is as fit as a fiddle and coping incredibly well, but when I call them every day, I worry they are both putting a brave face on things so as to protect me, and I won’t be properly reassured until I see them face to face.
I know I am not alone in finding it difficult to get to sleep and then wakening up in the wee small hours and lying awake fretting. I can’t even begin to imagine what it must be like to have serious mental health problems, as I find my anxiety can be crippling at times.
What has helped me through is focusing on the positives. We are lucky to have a small garden and we can take our little dog Angus out for a walk. To be honest he has been a lifeline and a real stress buster.
I have also been doing my exercise classes online and that has been invaluable in keeping me physically fit after all the Lockdown comfort eating. Even more importantly it is good for my mental health. It’s not the same as seeing all my pals in class but at least I feel part of the gang for that one hour and I’ve been talking a lot more to friends and family and reconnecting with people, which has been a real comfort.
It is always important to share concerns and worries, but even more so now. We must not bottle up our anxieties and never feel that we can’t ask for help.
I have seen a real improvement in our attitude towards mental health over the past decade, but we have a long way to go. Sadly, too many people still have the “pull yourself together” attitude, which is not just unhelpful, but downright dangerous and even life threatening.
Anyone can be hit by mental health problems. It’s not a sign of weakness, in fact it takes real strength to get up in the morning and face the day, but even more so now as we try and adjust to the “new normal”. We will get through this together, but some of us might just need a bit of extra help.”
Lorraine Kelly is a journalist and presenter of the Lorraine Kelly TV show.