CARER

Your results suggest you’re a carer. This means that you’re likely to follow the rules because you’re worried for yourself and particularly for other people. You probably feel these emotions deeply and want the authorities to fix everything so we can go all back to normal.

You likely follow the rules quite rigidly, and support whatever it takes to get back to normal - perhaps you even believe the interventions should be stricter. You view the risk and severity of the disease as being higher than other people seem to; you probably know someone who’s health has been affected by the virus (if not having been affected yourself). Other areas of your life have likely been affected, including your mental wellbeing. You are possibly feeling scared and helpless, and you miss the days before coronavirus when there was less stress and more social comforting.

You are more likely to follow the rules because you’re worried about your own health and the health of people you love - but you also don’t want to ‘rock the boat’ or be seen as selfish. You trust official sources like the government, and you probably have a soft spot for SAGE and especially the NHS. The only thing that would make you question the government is if you saw their measures were hurting people - otherwise, we have too much to lose by not complying.

Compared to other people, you are probably agreeable and in touch with your emotions. You likely put a high value on kindness and on peace and social justice. You like to be related to other people and have friends you can talk to; you like to be comforted and you probably admire the caregiver archetype (like Mary Poppins, or indeed the NHS). You may tend to cope with trauma by denying it, feeling helpless to change it, or seeking comfort from elsewhere - which are things to watch out for.

To survive lockdown, you should:

Be social. Social relationships are important to everyone, but they are particularly important to you, particularly during this time. Although it’s hard to meet up with people, you should talk to others as much as possible, as this will provide you with reassurance and comfort.
Take time out. Things can get pretty overwhelming sometimes, especially for someone like you who is more in touch with their emotions. Try mindfulness or meditation to clear away negative emotions; and don’t spend too much time obsessing over the news.
Volunteer. Your mental health will be improved by anything that can move your focus out of your own head. Take time to remember what you’re grateful for in life, and consider applying your caring personality to charitable work. If you put others first, you’ll feel happier.

What's Your Lockdown Personality?