When Coronavirus/COVID-19/SARS-CoV-2 struck the UK in March 2020 and we were plunged into a “lockdown”, it was a strange time.

Initially, there were some scary moments. Learning that those who had the virus would normally show symptoms after 5 days, but it could take up to 14 days to surface, caused many into a panic. The sensible consensus was; act as though you have it and assume everyone else has it.

In the UK scores of people began “panic buying”, many situations descending into chaos. Rumours of toilet roll made in China being destroyed meant everyone rushed out and bought 128, because that’s exactly how many a family of 4 uses in a month /s

My parents are older, and one has health conditions that place them in the “at risk” category more than once. As I insisted to friends and family to isolate, I shopped for friends and family more vulnerable than myself. I searched high and low for magical toilet roll once! A few 6am shopping trips were made. It was more stressful than it should have been.

Fast forward 4/5 months… and lockdown in being eased in some areas and made tighter in others. There’s frictions as some people try to “get back to normal” and others shout “but, nothing’s changed”.

Reflecting on the last 6 months, I’ve not coped well. Work has been overwhelming. Providing emotional support for those around me (through work, friends and family) has been beyond exhausting. It’s taught me that I encourage people around me to call me, text me, let me know their troubles, ask for help… but I don’t do the same.

Parts of lockdown, I think I shut down. Just worked and slept, auto piloted until Friday night video chats. Avoided 1:1 contact. In hindsight, it was lonely, I isolated myself. I’ve never been the best at texting people, I never think I have anything interesting to say, but I’m making a ¾ year resolution to text people, to let people in, to reach out.