themanchestereveningnews--2020-05-03--The unexpected benefits of lockdown life for a woman with OCD

Mental health charities in Greater Manchester have reported unprecedented numbers of calls from people in need of help , since the country went into lockdown over six weeks ago .
Anxiety around health , finances and isolation can all have an impact .
But everyone is different .
And some people are finding that the slowing down in the pace of life is bringing unexpected relief .
Among them is a woman with obsessive compulsive disorder who the M.E.N .
spoke to .
Before lockdown , it could take Kim up to an hour to gather the courage to leave @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 33-year-old from Rochdale was diagnosed with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder ( OCD ) , depression , and anxiety , five years ago .
Leaving the house for her job at a call centre in Manchester , meant a painful ritual of checking plug sockets , and locking doors - several times over .
Some days , Kim could stand at her front door for over half an hour to make sure it was locked .
Her obsessive thoughts sent her into a spiral of crippling depression and anxiety , meaning some days , she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at all .
But since the start of lockdown , and working from home - Kim has seen a surprising improvement in her mental health .
She says it 's the best she has felt in over five years .
It is important to remember that the coronavirus pandemic has caused a deterioration in some people 's mental health .
Many people have experienced grief , anxiety , isolation and loneliness .
But for someone like Kim , whose life has been tormented by intrusive thoughts for half a decade - lockdown has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` I have OCD , depression and anxiety , so naturally I thought that lockdown would cause me to feel more anxious , '' Kim said .
`` Instead I feel better and it 's actually quite nice - I am enjoying lockdown so far . ''
Kim was diagnosed with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder five years ago , when she realised her constant obsessive thoughts were unhealthy .
`` It got the point where I would struggle to even my house , and it was really bad for a long time , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ depressed and anxious because I did n't know what it was .
`` In the past , I would have to psych myself up just to get on the tram .
`` I live in Rochdale and work in Manchester and if the tram was really busy I got so anxious - I had to be in a good place mentally to be able to get on .
`` When I left the house , I had to do several rounds of checking of plug sockets , door locks , that kind of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an hour at my front door to make sure it was locked even though I knew I had just locked it and could see I had missed two trams for work . ''
Kim started working from home around a week before the UK government announced strict restrictions on people 's movement .
After a couple of days , Kim noticed she was sleeping through the night - something she had n't been able to do for years .
`` It has blown my mind that lockdown has made me less anxious , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is still there and will always be there but the depression is a lot better and the anxiety has disappeared .
`` I still get a bit anxious if I have to go out to the supermarket but other than that I am feeling okay .
`` It may be because I do n't have a choice about going out , '' Kim added .
`` If the choice is taken away from you and you are told you have to stay at home and work from home , then I do n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ insecurities . ''
Kim says that lockdown has meant her employers are considering allowing people to work from home more often in the future .
`` For me , this feels really positive , '' Kim said .
`` I am happy to work from home as much as possible if it makes me feel better .
`` I feel guilty saying it but it feels nice - this is the best I have felt in a very long time .
`` I am getting back to the person I was before all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a consultant psychologist and co-founder of My Online Therapy , a website which provides on-the-spot access to first class psychologists .
She explains that it is perfectly natural for people with mental health conditions to react in different ways during times of crisis .
`` How people are reacting is heavily dependent on multiple factors , such as : individual personality traits , life circumstances and also the coping strategies a person uses to regulate their mood , '' Dr Touroni said .
`` People who are naturally extroverted and feed off a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this time especially challenging .
`` There will be all kinds of ways they use to regulate their mood that fill them with energy and positivity which they no longer have access to .
`` On the other hand , those who are more introverted might be feeling a sense of relief with this moment providing respite from the stresses and anxieties of day-to-day life .
`` I have a number of clients who normally live a very pressurised life with long hours and lots of travelling .
`` Some of them have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ brought them , allowing for more time spent with their family etc .
`` And then there are those who are finding the restrictions incredibly difficult but are also finding a new sense of gratitude and appreciation for the life they had .
`` Lockdown is impacting us all in different ways . ''
Meanwhile , Kim says she is chatting to her friends and family over the phone more than she ever used to .
`` In the past I would always be too stuck inside my own head to chat to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I am speaking to my grandparents as they are isolating and in a way it 's nice for me to worry about them rather than them worry about me for once .
`` My best advice for people with OCD is finding a routine .
`` It can be really easy in lockdown to fall out of a routine and go to sleep really late but once I found my routine I felt so much better .
`` Whatever you are feeling now , this will pass . ''

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Mental health charities in Greater Manchester have reported unprecedented numbers of calls from people in need of help, since the country went into lockdown over six weeks ago.
Anxiety around health, finances and isolation can all have an impact.
But everyone is different.
And some people are finding that the slowing down in the pace of life is bringing unexpected relief.
Among them is a woman with obsessive compulsive disorder who the M.E.N. spoke to.
Before lockdown, it could take Kim up to an hour to gather the courage to leave her house in the morning.
The 33-year-old from Rochdale was diagnosed with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), depression, and anxiety, five years ago.
Leaving the house for her job at a call centre in Manchester, meant a painful ritual of checking plug sockets, and locking doors - several times over.
Some days, Kim could stand at her front door for over half an hour to make sure it was locked.
Her obsessive thoughts sent her into a spiral of crippling depression and anxiety, meaning some days, she didn't want to leave the house at all.
But since the start of lockdown, and working from home - Kim has seen a surprising improvement in her mental health.
She says it's the best she has felt in over five years.
It is important to remember that the coronavirus pandemic has caused a deterioration in some people's mental health.
Many people have experienced grief, anxiety, isolation and loneliness.
(Image: PA)
But for someone like Kim, whose life has been tormented by intrusive thoughts for half a decade - lockdown has come as a source of relief.
"I have OCD, depression and anxiety, so naturally I thought that lockdown would cause me to feel more anxious," Kim said.
"Instead I feel better and it's actually quite nice - I am enjoying lockdown so far."
Kim was diagnosed with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder five years ago, when she realised her constant obsessive thoughts were unhealthy.
"It got the point where I would struggle to even my house, and it was really bad for a long time," Kim said.
"It made me depressed and anxious because I didn't know what it was.
"In the past, I would have to psych myself up just to get on the tram.
"I live in Rochdale and work in Manchester and if the tram was really busy I got so anxious - I had to be in a good place mentally to be able to get on.
"When I left the house, I had to do several rounds of checking of plug sockets, door locks, that kind of thing.
"I could spend half an hour at my front door to make sure it was locked even though I knew I had just locked it and could see I had missed two trams for work."
(Image: Dominic Lipinski/PA Wire)
Kim started working from home around a week before the UK government announced strict restrictions on people's movement.
After a couple of days, Kim noticed she was sleeping through the night - something she hadn't been able to do for years.
"It has blown my mind that lockdown has made me less anxious," Kim said.
"My OCD is still there and will always be there but the depression is a lot better and the anxiety has disappeared.
"I still get a bit anxious if I have to go out to the supermarket but other than that I am feeling okay.
"I feel like a new person."
Helplines and websites Samaritans (116 123) samaritans.org operates a 24-hour service available every day of the year. If you prefer to write down how you’re feeling, or if you’re worried about being overheard on the phone, you can email Samaritans at jo@samaritans.org , write to Freepost RSRB-KKBY-CYJK, PO Box 9090, STIRLING, FK8 2SA and visit www.samaritans.org/branches to find your nearest branch. For support for people feeling suicidal, if you are concerned about someone or if you are bereaved by suicide see http://shiningalightonsuicide.org.uk CALM (0800 58 58 58) thecalmzone.net has a helpline is for men who are down or have hit a wall for any reason, who need to talk or find information and support. They're open 5pm to midnight, 365 days a year. Greater Manchester Bereavement Service Greater Manchester Bereavement Service can help to find support for anyone in Greater Manchester that has been bereaved or affected by a death. No one needs to feel alone as they deal with their grief. www.greater-manchester-bereavement-service.org.uk Childline (0800 1111 ) runs a helpline for children and young people in the UK. Calls are free and the number won’t show up on your phone bill. PAPYRUS (0800 068 41 41) is a voluntary organisation supporting teenagers and young adults who are feeling suicidal. Beat Eating Disorders: Beat provides helplines for adults and young people offering support and information about eating disorders. These helplines are free to call from all phones. Adult Helpline: 0808 801 0677, Studentline: 0808 801 0811, Youthline: 0808 801 0711. www.beateatingdisorders.org.uk Anorexia & Bulimia Care: ABC provide on-going care, emotional support and practical guidance for anyone affected by eating disorders, those struggling personally and parents, families and friends. Helpline: 03000 11 12 13. www.anorexiabulimiacare.org.uk/ Students Against Depression is a website for students who are depressed, have a low mood or are having suicidal thoughts. Bullying UK is a website for both children and adults affected by bullying studentsagainstdepression.org For information and links to charities and organisations that can help with substance abuse, visit https://www.supportline.org.uk/problems/drugs/
"It may be because I don't have a choice about going out," Kim added.
"If the choice is taken away from you and you are told you have to stay at home and work from home, then I don't have to worry about the normal everyday insecurities."
Kim says that lockdown has meant her employers are considering allowing people to work from home more often in the future.
"For me, this feels really positive," Kim said.
"I am happy to work from home as much as possible if it makes me feel better.
"I feel guilty saying it but it feels nice - this is the best I have felt in a very long time.
"I am getting back to the person I was before all this."
(Image: ABNM Photography)
Dr Elena Touroni is a consultant psychologist and co-founder of My Online Therapy, a website which provides on-the-spot access to first class psychologists.
She explains that it is perfectly natural for people with mental health conditions to react in different ways during times of crisis.
"How people are reacting is heavily dependent on multiple factors, such as: individual personality traits, life circumstances and also the coping strategies a person uses to regulate their mood," Dr Touroni said.
"People who are naturally extroverted and feed off a lot of connection are likely to find this time especially challenging.
"There will be all kinds of ways they use to regulate their mood that fill them with energy and positivity which they no longer have access to.
Covaid-19 - helping those who need it most in Greater Manchester The coronavirus outbreak has left many people across Greater Manchester struggling for access to food, basics and other support. Many of them are self-isolating, often in fragile health and alone. Public services have been working hard to find and help them, but we know they are over-stretched and working round the clock. So the Manchester Evening News and the Greater Manchester Mayor's Charity have launched Covaid-19 - a fundraiser aimed at supporting those who most need help, from elderly people with no support network to homeless families living in hotels. The money will be distributed via the mayor of Greater Manchester's charity. You can donate by visiting our JustGiving page here.
"On the other hand, those who are more introverted might be feeling a sense of relief with this moment providing respite from the stresses and anxieties of day-to-day life.
"I have a number of clients who normally live a very pressurised life with long hours and lots of travelling.
"Some of them have enjoyed the sense of stillness lockdown has brought them, allowing for more time spent with their family etc.
"And then there are those who are finding the restrictions incredibly difficult but are also finding a new sense of gratitude and appreciation for the life they had.
"Lockdown is impacting us all in different ways."
Meanwhile, Kim says she is chatting to her friends and family over the phone more than she ever used to.
"In the past I would always be too stuck inside my own head to chat to them," she said.
"I am speaking to my grandparents as they are isolating and in a way it's nice for me to worry about them rather than them worry about me for once.
"My best advice for people with OCD is finding a routine.
"It can be really easy in lockdown to fall out of a routine and go to sleep really late but once I found my routine I felt so much better.
"Whatever you are feeling now, this will pass."


themanchestereveningnews--2020-05-03--How to create a striking feature wall on a budget with wallpaper samples

If you find that you 're making your way through Netflix 's vast library far too quickly under lockdown - and want to be more productive - then you could turn your hand to some clever DIY .
When it comes to home rennovations you can be as creative as you 'd like .
One crafty woman has shown how you can create a striking feature wall on the cheap .
Ellie Sheales , 25 , from Caithness , Scotland , upcycled a batch of wallpaper samples to make a unique patchwork wall - and you could easily do the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the rules about essential travel - and use materials you already have at home .
Keen baker and countryside ranger Ellie told money-saving community , LatestDeals.co.uk : “ Lockdown has got me itching to crack on with all the projects I ’ ve been longing to do , but hadn ’ t had the time .
`` My latest project was a room that previously was just a ‘ dump ' of boxes , clothes and neglected guitars .
I wanted a funky and usable space to chill out and play music @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bohemian style , I love to use all the colours all the time !
`` I have previously done walls with book pages or sheet music , and love the speed at which you can fill a space , without the faff of rolling out full lengths of wallpaper .
`` A few months ago , a friend was having a clear out and gifted me a huge book of wallpaper samples , as she knew I was a crafty type who could probably make use of them .
I fell in love @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decided that I ’ d love to have as many as possible on display.
” Ellie put the batch to good use and transformed one of the rooms in her home , making sure each of the samples complemented one another when mixed and matched together .
`` I decided to go for a tile style with the paper cut into squares , ” Ellie explained .
`` I measured and cut each square by hand , to make sure they would match up properly - this was quite time consuming , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in front of the TV .
`` The wall was in pretty bad shape , so I had to fill holes with Polyfilla and then sand it .
I painted it with Dulux base coat , which is great at filling in hairline cracks .
I then painted it in white .
`` Once the wall was dry , I started with my ‘ tiles ' .
I used a spray adhesive , but you could also use wallpaper paste .
`` I started in the middle and lined up each square with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some of the squares to fit against the skirting board and the sockets etc .
I did this by first sticking the square and then trimming the excess using a sharp knife and a steel rule for a straight edge.
” Ellie is delighted with how the transformation has turned out , and says you can do the same with a variety of materials , even if you don ’ t have a generous friend with plenty of wallpaper samples .
In total , the project cost around £50 including the two tins @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I absolutely loved doing this project , and it kept me occupied for a few days during the lockdown , ” she added .
`` I absolutely love how it looks , and I love spending time in there now !
`` You could easily create a similar effect using wrapping papers , patterned paper or even pictures from magazines .
Many online wallpaper stores also offer samples through the post - some free , some a couple of pounds each . ''
Get breaking news first on the free Manchester Evening News @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Apple or Android device .
You can also get a round-up of the biggest stories sent direct to your inbox every day with the MEN email newsletter - subscribe here .
And you can follow us on Facebook here .

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Subscribe to our daily What's On newsletter to keep up with what's happening around Greater Manchester
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Subscribe to our daily What's On newsletter to keep up with what's happening around Greater Manchester
If you find that you're making your way through Netflix's vast library far too quickly under lockdown - and want to be more productive - then you could turn your hand to some clever DIY.
When it comes to home rennovations you can be as creative as you'd like. One crafty woman has shown how you can create a striking feature wall on the cheap.
Ellie Sheales, 25, from Caithness, Scotland, upcycled a batch of wallpaper samples to make a unique patchwork wall - and you could easily do the same.
Just make sure you stick to the rules about essential travel - and use materials you already have at home.
Keen baker and countryside ranger Ellie told money-saving community, LatestDeals.co.uk : “Lockdown has got me itching to crack on with all the projects I’ve been longing to do, but hadn’t had the time.
(Image: Ellie Sheales)
"My latest project was a room that previously was just a ‘dump' of boxes, clothes and neglected guitars. I wanted a funky and usable space to chill out and play music. I have quite an eclectic and bohemian style, I love to use all the colours all the time!
"I have previously done walls with book pages or sheet music, and love the speed at which you can fill a space, without the faff of rolling out full lengths of wallpaper.
"A few months ago, a friend was having a clear out and gifted me a huge book of wallpaper samples, as she knew I was a crafty type who could probably make use of them. I fell in love with the bright and colourful patterns and decided that I’d love to have as many as possible on display.”
Ellie put the batch to good use and transformed one of the rooms in her home, making sure each of the samples complemented one another when mixed and matched together.
(Image: Ellie Sheales)
"I decided to go for a tile style with the paper cut into squares,” Ellie explained.
"I measured and cut each square by hand, to make sure they would match up properly - this was quite time consuming, but I did it over a few evenings in front of the TV.
(Image: Ellie Sheales)
"The wall was in pretty bad shape, so I had to fill holes with Polyfilla and then sand it. I painted it with Dulux base coat, which is great at filling in hairline cracks. I then painted it in white.
"Once the wall was dry, I started with my ‘tiles'. I used a spray adhesive, but you could also use wallpaper paste.
"I started in the middle and lined up each square with the next. I had to trim some of the squares to fit against the skirting board and the sockets etc. I did this by first sticking the square and then trimming the excess using a sharp knife and a steel rule for a straight edge.”
(Image: Ellie Sheales)
Ellie is delighted with how the transformation has turned out, and says you can do the same with a variety of materials, even if you don’t have a generous friend with plenty of wallpaper samples.
In total, the project cost around £50 including the two tins of paint and the adhesive.
"I absolutely loved doing this project, and it kept me occupied for a few days during the lockdown,” she added. "I absolutely love how it looks, and I love spending time in there now!
"You could easily create a similar effect using wrapping papers, patterned paper or even pictures from magazines. Many online wallpaper stores also offer samples through the post - some free, some a couple of pounds each."
Get breaking news first on the free Manchester Evening News app - download it here for your Apple or Android device. You can also get a round-up of the biggest stories sent direct to your inbox every day with the MEN email newsletter - subscribe here. And you can follow us on Facebook here.