My journey during COVID 19

Ever since COVID 19 has made an impact on all of our lives, I have found myself struggling at certain times. I work in the vehicle repair industry and, to that effect, I haven't really stopped working ever since the UK went into full quarantine on the 23rd March, following the Mothering Sunday that had just passed.

This photograph was taken on the 21st March in order to show a friend how my new highlights have changed my hair (admittedly, I am awful at taking selfies so I usually rely on others to take photos of me!). By this time, we were not in a full lock-down yet. But there were those of us who knew that a lock-down would soon take place.

By this point, already I had my Choir stop meeting, my Young Embroiderers were told to stay home and not come to meetings and my Guides were encouraged the same. so that meant all the times I had to socialise with others had been cut to 0 in a week. And as an affectionate person who is tactile, having less people to interact with was already taking a small toll on my mental health.

But I was determined to not let it get to me, so I encouraged more people to connect with me via other platforms. Having Facebook groups with similar interests to my own have also been a big help, especially seeing as I still live at home with my parents, one of whom I often clash with because of differing personalities.

One thing that concerned me though was leaving my house to walk to work without a face-mask on. But neither did I want to buy them when there would be others who needed the professionally made ones more.

Thankfully, my mother being home and having a lot of time on her hands to clear out cupboards and such soon came up with a solution.

Two weekends ago, fabric was finally found within the dark spaces that is the house loft and it was decided between us to get my old sewing machine out in order to attempt to make some face-masks. Some of it was rial and error, and the first one was made wrong, but it actually gave my mother an I an activity that we could do together. What was more strenuous was the fact that the activity was to help teach my mother how to use the machine rather than her be afraid of it. With four masks made, it was still I that made them so I managed to convince my mother to learn to make a basic needle book to stop her being frightened of the machine.

She's still frightened of it but at least now has had the experience of using the machine herself to prove to herself that it is not the machine that is in control, but her.

This shows how long my hair has gotten in the past two months, basically reaching the bottom of my shoulder blades. That is a length I have not had since I was 12/13 which was when I first had my hair shortened to shoulder-length. But no, I haven't the courage or skill to cut it myself. If anything, it proved a reminder of the passage of time, of what it was I missing but what instead I found myself doing.

On April 10th, I was challenged by a family member to take part in the 25 press-ups for 25 days Facebook challenge. At first, I did not cope well what with having to do press-ups against the walls due to having no arm strength, never mind core strength.

While it may not look like much muscle, in comparison to how it was, there is some defined shape after 60 days of doing press ups. At first, it isn't easy, but it does get easier the more you try.

And it also helps with giving you something to work towards, something to busy your mind when there is little else you can really do. And how it can help your mental health in it's own way.