Now that restrictions have been permanently lifted in the UK, I am feeling stuck and try as anyone might, in Covid-19 it’s not difficult to notice how much you’re muddling through, with dark coloured spectacles on.

In the early days of the pandemic, with most of us working together, I felt better. I now remain stuck, because I am home and my lifeline has been taken away, which makes staying motivated that much more difficult.

Precautionary measures

Precautionary measures were my lifeline to the outside world. The UK government’s own initial slogan of ‘My mask protects you, and your mask protects me’ is what sold us the importance of wearing masks, but now it’s literally sink or swim, and it’s the hardy that will fare better.

It’s not surprising I am stuck. From the beginning of the pandemic, like many other disabled people, we have been treated badly. Also, there was no information and still isn’t on how those like me, who are immunocompromised may fare with the vaccine. Anyone with a pre-condition, won't know just how protected they are, unless they take an antibody test.

Living with anxiety in Covid

In the early days of Covid, I was struggling to go out of the house without feeling anxious. With cerebral palsy and respiratory disease, I had also been missed off the Doctor's priority list, so didn’t qualify for home grocery shopping, because to qualify, you needed to be registered with the UK government as being high-risk.

I had to fight, but won that battle. Also, when measures were being dropped under ‘plan B’ it felt like the rug was being pulled from under me, even more so because I deal with a disability. It felt like I didn't matter, that my life didn't matter.

Masks reduce the spread of Covid

Everyone knows that wearing masks reduces catching and spreading Covid. That means I am now home. I can’t risk going out into confined public spaces, so indoor restaurants, shops, coffee shops, and cinemas are off my social list.

My life is permanently on hold

For the vulnerable and clinically vulnerable in 2022, our lives are on hold. Yes, for the vulnerable and clinically vulnerable who have barely set foot out of their homes in 2 years, their lives are now permanently on hold. I am struggling to comprehend the enormity of that fact.

Pre-conditions and vaccines

When it comes to any pre-condition and vaccines, we can't know how our immunity will respond to vaccines, or whether they will work for us, or how protected we may be. There is no research out there. Catching Covid can be dangerous even after vaccination, even more so when you’re immunocompromised and having cerebral palsy makes me immunocompromised. For those of us with a precondition, we may not respond to vaccines, but we're still being told to take the vaccine.

A final note to ponder, however you feel about Covid, or its handling, or which side of the fence you’re on, no one can disagree that what you’re looking at is overwhelming incompetence, particularly now that precautionary measures have been scrapped and thousands of us are left four-walled. No one with decency would do that.

The UK has not only been divided but it has been sacrificed for political expediency.

Sources: https://www.NYTimes.com  https://www.TheGuardian.com

Ilana Estelle is a mental health and wellbeing advocate who combines educational insight with her personal experience of living with physical, mental, and emotional disabilities. She holds diplomas in Counselling, Diet and Nutrition, Nutritional Therapy, Psychotherapy and Counselling, and Stress Management. Through her writing, Ilana supports others in navigating their emotional, mental, and physical health challenges. In addition to writing for The CP Diary, her work has appeared in healthy lifestyle magazines. Ilana is also the author of three books: Cerebral Palsy: A Story – Finding the Calm After the Storm, Spirituality, Healing and Me, and Survival: The Covid Years – Time for Change.

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