Category: Covid-19

Ask Jigsaw: I recently lost a family member

Posted on by eve

Hi jigsaw, I recently lost a family member over the Christmas. I’ve been struggling in lockdown as I have so much time to sit around idle. The only thing is, I cant seem to accept it. I can’t believe he’s really gone and I feel like at any moment I will see him walk through the door. I didn’t even cry at the funeral. I feel as though I have been on autopilot ever since. Is this normal? Please help

-Ella

Hi Ella,

I’m so sorry to hear that you lost a family member over the Christmas. That must have been so difficult, particularly during COVID with restrictions on funerals. I hear you about struggling with lockdown and having so much more time to think.

Ask Jigsaw: Suffering from PTSD since getting Covid

Posted on by eve

I have been suffering from PTSD since getting Covid and having to stay in the hospital. Almost every night I have the horrific nightmares. I am on medication and sleeping tablets because without them I just lie awake. When I sit down to lectures the dreams keep flashing across my mind while I try to focus, or the memories of being hooked up to machines while all these doctors came and went.

When I came home from isolation after the hospital, everyone treated me like a plagued dog. It was March when I got sick, so in fairness people were scared. People wouldn’t come near me even though I wasn’t sick anymore, so I burrowed myself away from them and everyone else.

I haven’t felt clean since coming back from the hospital. I feel like everything I touch has been contaminated by me. I don’t want to touch people

My psychiatrist is the only person that stands in my corner and I love her to bits, but I’m 270km away from her while attending college. I’m about to sit some exams and my head is completely fogged by either wretched memories of nightmares that mix with real memories, paralysing fear strong enough to make me vomit and shake. While I sit at my chair and hyperventilate, smashing my palm into the corner of my desk so that my mind will stop flashing these images, I’m trying to force-feed myself a lecture I’ve watched 5 times but nothing will go in. I’m alone, swimming in assignments due and covered in bruises from trying to beat myself into submission.

-plague

Hi there,

Thank you for being so open and honest in your email and for reaching out for support. It is not always easy and takes real courage and strength.

It sounds like you are dealing with a lot right now. It is not your fault that you got Covid. The fact that you had Covid does not change the fact that you deserve respect, compassion and kindness, just like everyone else.

Fionnuala’s story: Living with someone who is high risk

Posted on by eve

Fionnuala (23), a Jigsaw volunteer from Kerry, lives with a parent who is it high risk in relation to Coronavirus due to an underlying health condition. Here, Fionnuala shares her story. 

I feel anxious about bringing Coronavirus home, it’s a big thing as I have a family member who is high-risk. With the figures going up and down, it’s an unknown, and I don’t like unknowns. I find myself watching the news and the numbers quite closely. It feels like continuous months of checking. In Kerry, they went really down recently, we had zero for a lot of days. Whereas yesterday it went up to 19, so I’m back to being completely restricted again.

Ask Jigsaw: Self-harming in second lockdown

Posted on by eve

Hi, I’ve just started first year in college and I’m trying to study from home. I can’t see my friends or boyfriend anymore and I haven’t been able to make real friends yet in college due to being at home.

Despite this I thought that I was coping okay with the situation of another lockdown, but I have recently started self-harming again and I can’t really understand why, it just feels like something I need to do.

I don’t have a great track record of always understanding or even realising what I’m actually feeling. So I was wondering if you could help me please. I know that thing will end eventually and there will be a light at the end of the tunnel but knowing and really believing are different things. 

-Niamh  

Hi Niamh,  

It is a difficult situation when, to protect our physical health, we can’t access some of things that help our mental health.  

Fed up with Covid

Posted on by eve

Let’s face it, it’s been a long, tough year. We are going the distance in the fight against Coronavirus, but understandably fatigue is setting in.

The public health announcements about how to stop the spread of the virus are clear, but the impact on our lives is significant. We are hearing from many young people about the countless disappointments and uncertainties they currently face. For many sleep continues to be affected, and motivation and drive is falling.

Continuing to live with Covid

Posted on by eve

Meghan, 20, a Jigsaw volunteer from Cork gives her story: The past few months have been uncertain for myself, and I’m sure many others, with many new changes in every aspect of our lives.

Uncertainty of when I’ll be able to see my friends, uncertainty around college and when we’ll be going back on campus, work and being able to feel comfortable and safe in crowded areas.

Ask Jigsaw: Anxious and nervous at school

Posted on by eve

I want to know why i can’t bring myself to want to go to school. i am a very social person at times and i don’t have any problems besides the few subjects but everyone has that problem. i feel very unmotivated, uncomfortable, anxious and extremely nervous at school. i was just brought home from school due to the fact i got sick because of the nervousness and anxiety. I want to be able to enjoy school but i don’t know how

-emily k

Hi emily k,

You are not on your own with this. We have heard from many young people who have started to experience anxiety as they start back to things like school and socialising. It’s great that you want to get back to enjoying school, and are looking for ways to do that.

Ask Jigsaw: Where to start when unemployed

Posted on by eve

I have been unemployed due to COVID since March and have no idea where to start over again as I have no college degree but beforehand had a really amazing job in the business industry. I don’t think I will ever get one like it again. Im stuck in bed all day not knowing where to go or what to do.

-neswilla 

Hi neswilla,

I’m sorry to hear that you’ve lost your job due to Covid. There are lots of young people in a similar position at the moment, so your question will help others too.

Ask Jigsaw: Stress of college from home

Posted on by eve

Hi Jigsaw, 

I have just found out that all of my college lectures will be online. As a result, I will not be moving out. I’m very stressed and upset about this. I feel living with my family has resulted in the deterioration of my mental health. I can’t talk to my parents about it, as they are the source of this stress. Also I will very rarely see my friends. Any recommendations on managing this?

-Disa22 

Hi Disa22,  

College life will be very different this year. We’ve heard from many young people who are feeling disappointment, stress, and anger because they are missing out on experiences that everyone else took for granted.