Since March 16, Corona has put us all in some form of quarantine. Funnily - or rather, sadly - for me this requires very little adaptation as both Fibromyalgia and the treatment for Colitis Ulcerosa with immunosuppressants have been forcing me to stay at home for over 14 years now, . The majority of that period I was in a toxic marriage and trying to stay on top of toxic relatives and in-laws while monitoring household, freelance work and parenting. There was no support from government, and my social circle grew smaller due to lack of energy and understanding.
I try to be sympathetic to those healthy people now confined to their own four walls, with their loved ones, being in each other's constant proximity while trying hard to keep a sane mind as well as feeling useful to both family and society. I try not to shout WELCOME TO MY WORLD, as that would be very nonempathic and also rude. But I do think it. I do think that they are lucky to be understood by their loved ones, their friends, the government. Because now "we are all in it together". Suddenly there is a major feeling of standing strong and raising awareness for mental health during these times of social deprivation. I both hail and get frustrated with companies, government facilities and employers in general who all of a sudden get very creative in creating possibilities to work from home. I was fired from my job as a therapist due to my illness, and there was no guidance, no re-mediating to a more flexible job that befitted me.
True, current technologies make a lot of these teleworking possibilities a reality. Back in 2005, 2006 this was still in its developmental shoes. But even in the years following my confinement at home, I have never been contacted to check how my mental welfare was, or how I dealt with suddenly being stuck at home, labelled "completely useless for the job market". I was forced to reinvent myself, mostly on my own, here and there aided and supported by the friends who still stuck with me.
Mind you, I am not angry with people who complain about their current situation. I just get upset because I feel the chronically ill, who lost their jobs due to their unwanted illness and have been discarded in very rude ways, who fight against anxiety and depression every day because they are isolated as a result of not being able to keep up with the healthy folks, who put a lot of energy in healing to manageable degree of pain and/or discomfort, who also try their hardest to be there for their loved ones, we spoonies, we seem to be forgotten.
Earlier, I read an article in the news about a former astronaut who was interviewed regarding this quarantine situation. "It is very similar to being in space", the man stated. And I was like, what the f***? Why not ask a spoonie about their social isolation? Or their frustration when they finally got enough spoons to go grocery shopping and stand in line to go in the supermarket, aching all over, only to find every toilet-paper shelf empty?
These times should bring out sympathy, solidarity, empathy. Reality often shows a tragically opposite truth.
Despite my rant, I am deeply grateful for all measures being taken to keep everyone healthy, to protect everyone from getting sick. I am grateful to health staff, mailmen, garbage collectors, veterinarians ... for still being there for us. Thank you. My cat Patches was saved from a severe allergic reaction to a (bumble)bee sting in her face, and without our vets, I dare not think what would have happened. Thanks to my mailman, I got lovely cards for my birthday and online orders are still being delivered.
I just wish us spoonies were considered more important than as a mere footnote in the comment "most people likely affected by covid-19 are the elderly and the chronically ill, due to their insufficient immune systems". I am on both Ledertrexate (Methotrexate) and Remicade, both of which affect the immune system in not too good a way. And I worry - even though my doctors convince me I should not.
What I want to say -- be kind, be as understanding as you can manage, follow the rules, protect others by protecting yourself. And when this is all over and all you healthy folk are allowed to return to your jobs and to roam the streets, parks and restaurants again, remember that for us spoonies this current way of living merely continues indefinitely.
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