Covid Lockdown

The end of lockdown was not just weird, but one also was in no doubt that our world had changed forever in the most fundamental ways, even aside from my later autism diagnosis in 2021 - I had a strong desire to connect with nature and to ponder all of the news reports, as I realised that evil in our world was a very real and tangible force - my autism diagnosis could not have possibly have invalided the truth that was slowly emerging about our world - on a few occasions during that summer, I’d also went to our local graveyard to pray the Rosary for the dead, as my Catholic faith was growing stronger and had already carried me through much of the sheer heartbreak of Covid - it was at this point that I’d also taught myself to pray the Rosary in Latin and I’d also found a Catholic webcam that had the Traditional Mass in Latin 

I agree - I had to get more tech savvy and I had to buy this iPad Pro and my first iPhone 12 Pro - tech problems became ever more frustrating as I was doing an online course - because some parts of Rural Ireland where I’m originally from did not have Rural Broaband fully set up, at some points I dreaded having to have Zoom Calls with family in Ireland - I think that here in the U.K. if Labour had been in charge they would have had armed police and Milltary on the streets rigidly enforcing the Covid rules as other countries were, but with the Tories in power we got off lightly, as the Gardai in Ireland were arresting old people for going to Daily Mass as for most elderly Irish people in Rural Ireland, their Catholic faith is hugely important to them - people in Ireland kept referring to lockdown as being “strange” but the most bizarre aspect of lockdown had to be the World Gay Pride Event that went on online in June 2020 with DJ’s posting footage of gay anthems from previous years and on Irish TV (RTÉ) they had Gardai and other emergency personnel doing weird “Jerusalema” dances - but the way that some countries were enforcing the restrictions was heartbreaking 

By far, the biggest issue for me was being separated from my family in Ireland living alone here in the U.K. so the internet became very important and being able to speak to family and friends via Zoom, as well as using our home parish’s webcam to see Zoom Masses from Ireland - I had a string of emails with the Irish Embassy in London desperate to go home, as the Irish Covid restrictions were much stricter and lasted for far longer than the U.K., even though I’ve always held and renewed an Irish passport the entire 23 years that I’ve lived in the U.K. - the other issue was the sense of heartbreak at seeing what was happening at the time as the truth started to emerge and the most pitiful and heartbreaking scene was webcam images from my home parish in Ireland at Christmas 2020 that I’ll never forget as long as I live 

I loved it. Apart from peace and quiet, I got to spend time with my daughter, who was 2 at the time, that I would not have otherwise had. We went for daily walks with picnics, and I cycled more than ever. The weather was good, and there was no expectation of interaction with anyone. 

I often wish we could go back to it for one month or so!

I think at first, Lockdown was very hard for everyone, FOr me it was hard at first, But I was happy staying indoors and keeping myself busy with music, magic tricks, movies and video games, But when the lockdown was lifted it was tough to get back into the stuff I used to do, Like, going to the shops, going into town and all that, 

Ok that angry emoji is NOT supposed to be there. 

I hated it. The first was put in place too suddenly, with no time for me to plan for it. I had previously been working from paper documents in an office using a desktop computer - I had to change to using my own laptop at home and working out how to manage documents electronically. I also had to work in my living room (as I don't have any spare space anywhere else) and so my home - my sanctuary - also became my workplace. I also got a very painful "frozen" shoulder from  working on a laptop on the sofa and then had to try to procure a small desk and office chair and reclaim the cost from my employer. I hated taking work phone calls at home, but not being able to talk to anyone about work was extremely isolating.

I couldn't get our usual weekly shopping delivery and we were having to walk miles to different local shops looking for things that were scarce like loo rolls, pasta, etc. But going to the shops was also anxiety inducing because we were unable to wear masks and I was scared we were going to be bullied or attacked, even wearing an exemption badge. My mental health was so bad at one point I felt I'd rather die of the virus than carry on like that.

For me, it was horrific. 

I found it very hard. Most of my coping mechanisms involve leaving the house.

Lockdown was enjoyable for me because it mandated that everybody do what I already want to do - not be around others. I very much enjoyed not having to socialise or go into the office or use public transport.

That first lockdown was magical, partly because of the weather - an unusually warm and sunny cloudless March, for pretty much the entire month. And there were no planes in the sky, nor cars on the roads. I went for walks every day and it was beautifully peaceful because most people had been terrorised and were cowering away indoors. I wish that the world could be like that always.

The later lockdowns were not so good for me. The roads were full of cars again, lots of people doing things as normal so the magical atmosphere was gone and it was more like normal but with people in masks everywhere. The police became absurdly authoritarian and began doing things that made no sense, such as arresting old ladies sitting by themselves on a park bench, or using drones to find hikers who were alone in the Peak District with nobody around for miles, or stopping people who are driving in the countryside by themselves.

It was after lockdown that my struggles became very apparent, the world opening up was when I really crashed.

I had got used to the world  being quiet, I hated the world for becoming noisy and invasive again.
I accidentally listened to a radio interview, two autistic people were being interviewed about how autism affects them, suddenly it all made sense. 
In one way lockdown and a series of events saved me, I had fully planned my exit.

I liked that I could take a step back from the world and lie in the garden all day if I wished. I liked that when I was out cycling, there was almost no traffic on the roads. However, I was worried because I am self employed so no furlough for me, and my work is going into people's houses to clean, so obviously that was a no-no too. I had to go on universal credit, which was a big blow to my self esteem. I also struggled with being unable to visit my mum as I was living apart from her.

My mental health would definitely have been worse had my friend not returned from work in London the week before lockdown hit. She moved into my spare room and we were able to form a household 'bubble'. If I had not had her around I don't know if I would have coped with no human contact.

I liked that I could take a step back from the world and lie in the garden all day if I wished. I liked that when I was out cycling, there was almost no traffic on the roads. However, I was worried because I am self employed so no furlough for me, and my work is going into people's houses to clean, so obviously that was a no-no too. I had to go on universal credit, which was a big blow to my self esteem. I also struggled with being unable to visit my mum as I was living apart from her.

My mental health would definitely have been worse had my friend not returned from work in London the week before lockdown hit. She moved into my spare room and we were able to form a household 'bubble'. If I had not had her around I don't know if I would have coped with no human contact.

Not even staff at the garden centre were safe from abuse, one was sworn at for wearing a mask, she had to work and had a vulnerable person at home.

I think it showed the best and the worst of people, those who cared and helped and those who are selfish and inconsiderate. Unfortunately we seem to have been lumped with all the inconsiderate and uncaring ones.

That's a pity that people didn't consider others. 

There were some people local to me that didn't stick to the rule about limiting people they mixed with.

I watched as covid crept north and west, it didn't arrive here until much later than further south and east, so we were a bit behind the curve and of course Westminster only considered southern England. When people started coming here for holidays the number of cases really increased. We had to stay masked for longer too, I don't know if being masked made that much difference, but of course the visitors didn't stick to it and were really rude to those of us who did.

I agree people were more friendly. I also remember listening on the news to what was happening in Wales and wishing we lived there as they seemed more cautious.

I'm still finding some of the changes hard, being a total technoklutz I still can't do zoom call or anything like that and everybody seems to be doing more and more of everything on smart phones and zoom, my life seems to be getting smaller again.

Lockdown had its challenges, certainly. But it wasn't too bad on the whole. Returning to the world after lockdown was the big problem for me. Everything was different. Things had changed and continued to change. I found that very hard to handle.

I loved the lock down, it was an ideal time for me.  Peace and quiet.

I would like to know from the OP how lockdown affected you? Then maybe I will share my own views.