My recovery journey continues amidst Covid 19

I'm gradually easing into blogging again. I'm just going to stick with one day a week for the moment.

Things have calmed down a little in the office and feel a little less overwhelming, but we still have thousands of people stranded abroad who we are trying to bring home. It doesn't help that countries like Singapore, Australia and the UAE are releasing information about restricting transits through their airports and then, retracting that information days later, once they have caused complete and utter chaos and cancelled hundreds of flights unnecessarily. It doesn't seem a very responsible move considering the amount of holidaymakers still trying to get home.

Despite Coronavirus, life for me remains very much intact, albeit with some social distancing tweaks. My 10 week Fibromyalgia pain management program finished last week - more details on this excellent course hosted by the NHS later - and has been super helpful in my understanding of this condition and how I can better manage it. A few of my recovery and health activities have been suspended like swimming, the Recovery College course I was doing and my volunteering driving elderly people to their hospital appointments. Some things like my 1-2-1 yoga sessions are going "virtual" with the help of Zoom, and my appointments with my Dr are now on the telephone rather than in person. I still got to let off steam in the gym with my PT on Friday, have a very relaxing and well needed myofascial back massage in the afternoon, and I still was able to see my counsellor today, but I don't know how long these face-to-face activities will be allowed to last in the present climate. I'm just making the most of them whilst I still can!

On the travel and entertainment front, my first trip of the year to Bucharest at the end of April has been cancelled and I was going to see Dame Judi Dench in conversation at the Bridge Theatre, but two days after booking and that also got postponed.

I am not a fan of change. I am also not a fan of being put in a position of worry about upcoming plans and having to make decisions with such uncertainty pressing down on me. It sparks my anxiety, which is something I didn't suffer with until my partner passed away. That first panic attack is a very scary thing. I've come a long way since then, but I have felt very suppressed these last couple of weeks. I've been doing a lot of deep breathing! I think the change in weather has definitely helped me to get back on track and also restricting social media and watching the news just once a day. I have been trying to feel present and in the moment and being in the sunshine and starting to tidy up the gardens is extremely grounding. I am starting to feel calmer and more accepting that what will be, will be and if my plans all go up in smoke, it's ok. Concentrating on my health is another huge focus that distracts me on a daily basis. I am almost glad to have fibro - and I cannot believe I am saying this!