'For shielders like me, we rely on others as much as ourselves to stay alive' From today, restrictions lift for people shielding in England But after 131 days, what's life been like for those in isolation, and do they feel safe returning to society?
As people I knew started to post pictures of meeting up in large groups, something as innocent as a picture of people from different households hugging was enough to bring me to tears or spike my anxiety. Because while some people weren’t socially distancing, shielders were still being told they were at risk of death or serious illness.But the stark difference of my daily life to other people’s my age has been so surreal and isolating.
My Mum stepped in out of desperation, aged 68. But the time so-called 'Super Saturday' rolled round, she was exhausted, with a sore back from helping me. So, as shielding lifts, navigating public transport, bars and restaurants again feels a vast bridge to cross. All the trending hashtags like #nomaskselfie makes me really anxious, as it seems my life - and others like me - is not of priority for these people.
Shielding has strained my family relationships too. I’m so scared of catching the virus that I am making them wash and change their clothes every time they’ve been outside. The only way I can get my mind to quieten is to make sure at least my house is safe.I think the hardest part for me has been the uncertainty of it all. At the start of lockdown, there was a time where I was checking the government statistics everyday.
In the beginning, I definitely felt people were being more considerate - there was a real community spirit. But once restrictions lifted this didn’t last long. As lockdown began to lift I had to make the decision to leave my job. Working from home was not an option for me and I didn’t qualify for additional furlough.'I can go to work but I can’t sit in a friend’s garden'I don’t feel safe stopping shielding. Cases are rising where I live and where my new job is.
I’ve been on my own most days because my partner still had to work so it’s been lonely and then when he gets home I worry about him infecting me.I see my friends hugging and going out drinking and it’s been hard because I can’t go. I made friends on a shielding Facebook group to try and find people that understood what it’s been like.
But in reality I ended up having to move back in with my parents. Losing my independence really affected me a lot. Even in the house our social distancing had to be really strict. I ate separately and spent most of my time in my room. Over these last few months my friendship bonds that were genuine and quite tight to begin with have just got stronger, and friends that turned out to be only "going out friends" kind of fizzled away.I’m a people person and I like to meet people before getting close to them. I wasn’t the kind of person to jump on Zoom and get to know a stranger.
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