Hello everyone,
I would like to share my story.
I was at the half-point mark of my PhD in chemistry and at the time practicing for a half-marathon while trying to maintain enough muscle for my long-term goal of participating in a body-building competition some day. I had just been lifting 80 kg 3X12 times and ran 14 km on the weekend in good time and 2 weeks later I cannot get up from bed to get a shower. And mental tasks are even worse up to the point that I got dizzy from reading only a few sentences. And all this is here to stay....
I took a huge part of my mental health and feeling of self-worth/self confidence came from sport and a bit from telling myself that I am halfway intelligent person for being able to do a PhD. Needless to say, that now depression is creeping in hard. And being abroad from family and boyfriend doesn't help either.
However, I do try to be positive and it seems like I am immensely lucky because after only 5 months I am able to go to work for 2 h twice a week. I am not able to work on difficult tasks atm but seeing people at work is nice. Everyone seems very supportive, even though most people don't properly understand my condition. I am immensely grateful for my friends, colleagues, bf and family.
I also started playing the ukulele (after 30 years of being the least musical person in every room I have been), which helps me a lot because I can see progress, I can do it while lying and I don't even need to read or concentrate much.
Have you guys also found new long-covid compatible hobbies that you enjoy and probably wouldn't have started otherwise?
Stay positive everyone! Best wishes!