HOW AUTISTIC NICK COPED WITH GOING INTO A 5 DAY COVID LOCK DOWN
Last Sunday the 31st January at 1pm AWST our premier Mark McGowan along with our health minister took to a pre-assembled lectin and addressing the media told us that we were entering into a 5-day COVID lockdown.
My heart sank, sweat began to form on my forehead, panic started to set in. My phone started lighting up with people ringing me or texting me asking me what was going on.
I wasn’t prepared for this. I didn’t know what to do. Suddenly I felt a panic attack rearing its ugly unwarranted, unwanted head.
I couldn’t breathe. The room I was in felt like it was spinning out of control.
This was not the Sunday afternoon I had in mind.
I needed to take sometime out and calm myself down and then regroup and think about a plan for the week ahead.
I eventually took stock and began planning out my week.
MONDAY
I had a pre booked Zoom meeting in place (which I’d completely forgotten about) I hadn’t slept well the night before and was tempted to cancel the whole thing, but then where would that have left me? I would have been desperately seeking out anything COVID related and I would have ended up in an anxiety frenzy boarding on having an Autistic meltdown, possibly even a shut down. I didn’t relish going through a shut down again, the last one lasted almost 2 weeks. So, I went ahead with the meeting, and I’m glad that I did.
TUESDAY
Began work on my next article for the ABC. I checked my emails and then began the process of constructing the article. I had a great tip from my mentor- she said that I should put all of the answers to my questions into a new word doc, then highlight in yellow (or whatever colour you like) what stands out to me. This process helped to shape and to see who out of the people that I had sent interview questions to would become the lead at the beginning of the story.
WEDNESDAY
Another day another Zoom meeting! The addiction to the Zoom is real people! I digress, I usually don’t enjoy having such a busy week, I get too stressed out too quickly, but given recent developments I’m diving headfirst into the busy zone. The meeting went well, and I came away with a lot of things to work on which took me into the afternoon and late evening.
THURSDAY
A development project that I have been working on finally came to an end over – you’ve guessed it ZOOM! Yep, I am now fully addicted to the Zoom – not sure if that’s a current catchphrase but it’s one I am using, and it’s copyrighted to me! (Probably not though!) After it ended, I reflected on what I had achieved even though it had been a long and at times overwhelming process. But then isn’t a passion project like that? You can’t help but get attached to it, it’s something that you have wanted to happen for a long time and now that I’m aware of what’s involved, I know what to expect the next time around. Immediately afterwards and after persuading my mum to come with me, we both went fully masked to Aldi to do the weekly shop. Not an experience I enjoyed, but I had my mum with me for support. Once inside we just focused on what we had to get on the list and not to deviate and buy things that we didn’t. I just wanted to get in and out without any dramas.
FRIDAY
Today I worked from home, I should have said that I had emailed ahead to let work know what I was doing, I am not aware of what procedures are in place with regards to a COVID safe plan so I didn’t want to go on public transport and be potentially exposed in anyway. I don’t relish the thought of getting infected and having to self-isolate. I got a lot done and now have two articles ready for my editor to look over. By 6pm tonight the lockdown will be over, so I am told.
SATURDAY
I’m enjoying the peace and quiet of relaxing as I am not doing anything today, which totally goes against what I said I was going to do at the beginning of this blog post! I’ve got my box of sensory items nearby; I’m enjoying watching shows on my streaming services. I just feel that I deserve a day off!
SUNDAY
I made it! I’ve done 5 days of lockdown! I’m really proud of myself and thanks to all my mates who were there for me through this, sending me audio messages, texts, and just generally keeping in touch with me and asking how I was going.
CARRY ON THE CONVERSATION
How did you cope in the 5-day WA lockdown?
Let me know in the comments section below
As always, I can also be found on Twitter:@AutisticNickAU and on the Autistic Nick Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/AutisticNickAU/
Thank you for reading and I will see you next time for more thoughts from across the spectrum.
Autistic Nick 