For better or for worse? Covid-19 Lockdown Perspectives

What do you miss the most? Hugs.

From mental health conditions worsening, suicide rates increasing and reported cases of domestic violence rising during lockdown, psychological health impacts have pushed to the forefront of the pandemic. It’s time to realise a lot of pain and struggle happens silently.

These issues are results of housing, financial and health instability, social isolation, working on the frontline and reduced access to mental health services amongst many other influences. The vulnerable population who have pre-existing mental health conditions, and those living in the most high-risk areas are most heavily affected.

This isn’t a problem exclusive to one demographic, anyone can be affected NCMD reported a 13% surge in likely suicide cases in children during the first 53 days of lockdown.

Covid-19 has brought judgement and hostility between some people as many are blind-sighted by their personal situations, rarely taking into account others experiences, making quick judgements on the way people deal with the pandemic.

We need to open our eyes and listen to everyone’s experiences, understand that it has been difficult for most people despite their financial, job and home situations.

In light of opening our minds, I have interviewed a plethora of people on their time in lockdown.

Adam - 38

Since lockdown, Adam has been working full-time whilst caring for his two young daughters.

How has the lockdown experience been for you?

The best word to describe lockdown is draining. That relates to general wellbeing, mental health and physical health which have all had to adjust and change to something entirely new.

What has it been like working from home and teaching your children?

Thankfully I worked from home half of the time and so that didn’t take much adjustment. However, trying to parent and home school at the same time as working 8-10-hour days was frankly impossible and often the home-schooling was ignored.

What things have you been juggling since lockdown, and how have you managed this?

Adapting to new working methods, parenting and trying to entertain two young children who couldn’t go anywhere.

We found that keeping a routine however dull it was, helped us get through it. Some days were easier than others, no two days ever really felt the same strangely.

What do you miss the most?

Two things I missed the most were seeing family and group running. I use running as a way to manage my mental health but the running solo was not the same. Our kids particularly missed their grandparents, cousins and friends hugely and this had a massive negative effect on their mental health.

Where will you go when everything is back to normal?

When things feel safer, we will go on holiday abroad. We have cancelled our summer holiday for 2020 as we feel it won’t be safe to go, even if restrictions are lifted.

What has been the worst part about lockdown?

Without a doubt, the worst part has been the unknown and the worry of what could happen to family and friends, particularly those who are older or in poor health.

What has been the best part of lockdown?

Spending so much time as a family. Whilst it’s brought its challenges, it has without a doubt been the best part of the whole situation. Hopefully, employers have realised the value of working from home also.

Do you feel you have been supported enough during this time? Why?

The government have supported the nation financially, and hopefully, that will keep the economy going. My employer has been a leader also in terms of supporting the workforce.

How do you think you will feel about this experience in a year’s time?

Hopefully, in a year’s time, the risk of the virus will have disappeared thanks to a cure or treatment and yet social distancing will remain, at least to an extent, to keep personal space a thing!

Ella - 13

A year 8 student working through Microsoft Teams. Living with her parents whose business has been closed and a brother whose work has been less frequent.

How has the lockdown experience been for you?

It has been good because I have been able to relax more with sleeping in in the mornings, I have spent more time with family, and I have been able to go on more walks which I didn’t do much before lockdown.

What has it been like doing schoolwork from home?

Sometimes it has been stressful and hard to keep up with the amount of work I got every day. They have been sending me a lot of work at the same time and not giving me enough time to do it. It has been hard to motivate myself sometimes.

What do you miss the most?

I have missed being able to see my friends and family and going places without social distancing.

What has been the worst part about lockdown?

Not being able to go see friends and family and getting more schoolwork that I would normally at school. As I don’t have classes, we get classwork on top of homework with no actual lessons, so it’s felt like a lot more work because it is all completed alone.

What has been the best part about lockdown?

Not having to rush anywhere, it has allowed me to experience a different way of life to the hectic, early mornings I’m used to.

Do you feel you have been supported during this time?

Yes. By my family, they helped me with my schoolwork and entertained me when I was bored.

How do you think you will feel about this experience in a year’s time?

I will feel shocked because it’s a global virus that hasn’t happened since the plague, I won’t be happy that it happened but I will be okay because I have been able to experience a different way of life and I will be able when I get older to tell my kids about what I've been through and showing them that they can get through things too.

I’m excited to see the films, TV shows and books about Covid-19. I think a lot of people will make them.

Marlene & Derek - 73

A retired couple who have been shielding since March with their two dogs.

How has the lockdown experience been for you?

Marlene: Awful. It has got me depressed; it has got me down. I didn't like it, it was awful.

How have you managed during lockdown?

Marlene: I haven’t had much to do so I started cleaning my cupboards out at the beginning. That helped me keep busy for a few weeks.

Derek: It hasn’t been challenging, I just looked after the dogs as usual. The biggest struggle was going out for walks because other people either didn’t bother with social distancing or they took it to the extreme which made my daily walks uncomfortable.

What do you miss the most?

Marlene: Going shopping, just the normal food shop. I missed going to my car boot sales. I also missed being able to see my grandchildren and hug them, that got me down the most.

Derek: Not being able to go on my usual walking route because it’s too far away to walk to and the car park has closed since lockdown so I can’t drive there. Which meant I couldn’t get my own space every day.

Where will you go when everything is back to normal?

Marlene: Shopping and car boot sales.

Derek: The tarn (my usual walk route).

What has been the worst part about lockdown?

Marlene: Being locked up with my husband and the dogs. We have had more arguments than we ever have in the 54 years we have been together.

The dogs haven’t helped either, because we have had all four of us stuck in one house and I couldn’t leave for a bit of peace. The dogs have misbehaved too which has stressed me out the most.

Derek: People not having common sense and not adhering by the guidelines and it has been very frustrating. I can’t understand why people haven’t just followed the simple rules because it is for their own benefit.

What has been the best part about lockdown?

Marlene: Nothing, not one single thing has been positive.

Derek: Nothing has changed enough for there to be a best part.

Do you feel you have been supported enough during this time? Why?

Marlene: Yes, my family have been brilliant. Family and friends did our shopping for the majority of lockdown so that was really helpful.

Derek: My family supported us a lot with getting food for me and Marlene. It would have been impossible without them. I didn’t like this too much because my family work full-time and I didn’t want them working full days to have to go shopping for us, but they did.

How do you think you will feel about this experience in a year’s time?

Marlene: I won't forget it, there's no way. I'm 73 years old and I never thought I would be alive to go through something like this. It will change my perspective on life completely. I would hope to God it never comes again, and nothing like it.

Derek: I will look back and think a lot about the global situation, but I don’t think there will be an end to it. There will always be another disease and I don’t think the world will truly settle.

Louise - 49

A children’s speech and language therapist, since lockdown she has continued to work as usual in hospital, but her hours have changed due to having to work in ‘bubbles’.

How has the lockdown experience been for you?

Surreal. It’s made some great things happen, but I have missed my eldest daughter so much as she doesn’t live with us. I have also found it tough ensuring my parents stay safe and are fed well - they are 60 miles away and shielding. I have really missed being with them in a ‘normal way’.

What has it been like working from home?

I have had to work one day a week from home which has been so strange as my job is so clinical working face to face with patients. I have had to do various projects and things to do with service development and its stuff I usually don’t have time to do. I feel very lucky though to have only had to do this one day a week and my other working days have made me feel like life is normal.

What things have you been juggling since lockdown, and how have you managed this?

The food shop for my parents and a couple of neighbours. I have had so much less to fit in!

Was it easy to manage?

It's been okay. Morrison’s opening early for NHS staff has allowed me to shop in a quiet environment and to feel safe - as I juggle 4 household’s shopping lists!

What do you miss the most?

Hugs.

Where will you go when everything is back to normal?

It depends on what is open. I miss parkrun so I would go there straight away.

What has been the worst part about lockdown?

Seeing people not following the guidance and seeing the impact lockdown has had on the NHS and my friend’s jobs and businesses. Seeing teenagers flouting the rules really badly makes me so anxious!

What has been the best part about lockdown?

Having time with my youngest. Lots of walks and runs to find new places around me, Fresh air. I also got to know my neighbours really well during this time.

Do you feel you have been supported enough during this time? Why?

Yes definitely. I think I have had the benefit of being an NHS worker and being well looked after.

How do you think you will feel about this experience in a year’s time?

I hope to remember the good bits and appreciate all that we have even more than I did before. I will probably still be worrying about my parents and whether this will all happen again.

Nick - 28

An Assembly worker and he has been working since the start of lockdown, but his side job as a comedian has been put on hold. He lives with his wife and two young sons.

How has the lockdown experience been for you?

Crap, I do comedy normally and I have not been able to do that, I am really missing it.

What do you miss the most?

Doing my stand-up comedy gigs.

Where will you go when everything is back to normal?

The first gig I can get on!

What has been the worst part about lockdown?

My wife lost her cousin who was in her 30s.

What has been the best part about lockdown?

The best part has been starting my comedy podcast.

Do you feel you have been supported enough during this time? Why?

Yes, I have a very close family unit.

How do you think you will feel about this experience in a year’s time?

Glad it ended and hopefully it never fucking happens again.

Campbell - 20

An American student living in the South of England, during lockdown she temporarily moved in with her university friend and her family.

How has the lockdown experience been for you?

Overall things started out well and despite feeling stuck inside for a few months I think I’ve managed well!

It’s been a bit harder recently going from staying with a family to just staying with a friend. Having company was really important through this time so having to adjust to having fewer people around was crucial. I think getting to enjoy some of lockdown by myself was important. I think it gave me time to reflect and think about the past year and where I want to go.

What has it been like working from home?

So, I work from home one day a week; for my internship, and I’d describe it as being alright. Now don’t get me wrong I love working in my pyjamas but it’s harder to stay motivated when we don’t have a proper office space, so working at a desk in my bedroom is all I’ve got.

I don’t feel as productive I have to admit. There’s something about leaving an office at the end of the day that lets you switch off and go to normal life, working at home you don’t get that same sort of “I’m done” feeling.

What things have you been juggling since lockdown, and how have you managed this?

I’ve juggled a part-time job, full-time internship and some university summer work. It’s been a bit of a struggle waking up at 6:45 getting home at 8 and then that’s my day 3 days a week.

Working weekends also makes it feel like you don’t have a break. But I’m still here and making it through so it is possible but wouldn’t say I’ve mastered it yet.

What do you miss the most?

Family. For sure. It’s hard enough going through a strange once in a lifetime experience let alone going through it when you’re across the ocean from the people you love and really care about. They’re everything to me so it was really hard.

Where will you go when everything is back to normal?

I’d love to go on an English holiday, I want a little break from work and to relax. I’m not too bothered about going to shops, so I don’t really have anywhere specific in mind! (Maybe the gym but we’ll see).

What has been the worst part about lockdown?

The worst part about lockdown was definitely knowing that so many people were dying every day and it was terrifying knowing it could happen to anyone. I think it was hard to comprehend just how many people we’ve lost and how many families couldn’t have funerals to say goodbye and to heal.

It's difficult not to complain about how you have felt throughout this, but I think it’s a good time to realize how much work the NHS put in and how dedicated they are to saving peoples lives.

We might not all agree on how this country is run but you can’t deny how hard the hospitals worked and how much praise all the doctors, nurses and frontline staff deserve.

What has been the best part about lockdown?

The best part was no work. I think we all realized how fast we were going and that taking a break helped us to slow down and appreciate the time we spend with others. I have gained some new hobbies as well; baking and attempting Chloe Ting workouts.

Do you feel you have been supported enough during this time? Why?

I feel like it would be greedy of me to ask for any more support. I’ve felt really loved and cared for during lockdown and it definitely would’ve looked different had that not been the case.

How do you think you will feel about this experience in a year’s time?

Well by then I would’ve graduated university and hopefully looking for jobs so I think I definitely will reflect on what an interesting social change it was, and I hope to remember how important relaxation is as well.

I feel like the world isn’t going back to normal and we need to change with it. I hope it’s somehow provided something good for all of us despite the deaths. That might not be clear yet, but I hope we’ll all be ok by then.

If you are struggling with your mental health or know a loved one who is please seek advice, contact and information from the following links:

Samaritans - Call 116 123

Shout Crisis Text Line - Text "SHOUT" to 85258 or text "YM" if you are under 19

Childline - Under 19s Call 0800 1111

Freephone National Domestic Abuse Helpline - Call 0808 200 0247

CALM (for men) - Call 0800 58 58 58

Papyrus (under 35s) - Call 0800 068 41 41 or Text 07860 039967 or email pat@papyrus-uk.org