Michelle's blog: Life in lockdown when you are clinically vulnerable

National lockdown, tier three, self-isolation, local lockdowns, social distancing, shielding … wherever you look or whatever you hear there just appears to be an endless barrage of terms that everyone is using … but does anyone understand them?

With extra restrictions seemingly being imposed every week I’m sure I’m not alone in not being sure what I can and can’t do. I have been listed as clinically vulnerable and told to shield, then told I wasn’t, then told I was again … but now there is new guidance and it doesn’t seem to tell me if I should or shouldn’t be staying in, even if I try to dig around for the information there are conflicting reports everywhere I look.

It feels like I have put my life on hold for 8 months. I couldn’t follow the guidance I was given to the letter. With a 7-year-old daughter at home not coming into close contact with members of my own household was never an option for me.  I did however stay in wherever possible, organise food and medication deliveries rather than going to the shops, and I stopped seeing my family.

Lockdown passed but shielding continued, it felt like it was never-ending. I have been in an area classed as high risk all the way through and before the nationwide lockdown, I was placed in Tier Three. To say it’s been a long 7 months would be the biggest understatement I’ve ever made. I miss my family, I miss going out, I miss the office, and I miss my life!

I wish I had some words of comfort to all of you who feel the same. I know its little relief to know that there are others in the same boat, if anything it makes me feel worse to know that there are so many others who feel the same. However for all our service users, I guess I just wanted to say that you’re not alone, there are plenty of us here at Progress Lifeline who understand. If you need to talk to someone please press on your alarm, speak to us – we can’t always solve the problem but we care, we are here for you. Being socially distanced doesn’t mean losing human connection – not if we can help it!