The emotional toll is incalculable. One.Surgery recognises and applauds those people throughout the world facing these difficulties, and would like to support everyone through this difficult time. Sometimes all that is required is a way to talk, reach out, be heard and listened to. Below, we have created a support page, where anyone in the world can write out their feelings, anonymously (or not), to share with the community. We have also included a private option, should you just want to reach out privately to us for a listening ear. Our team will promise to read and hear all comments, to know we are here with you during these difficult times.
The form below simply allows you to speak and reach out in any way you want, knowing that we, the One.Surgery team, are with you always.
Firstly, you must decide if you wish to stay anonymous, identifiable or contactable. If you choose to be contactable, One.Surgery may reach out to you publicly (if you choose a public diary post) or privately, just to offer our support during this time.
After choosing to fill (or not fill) your contact details, you will be asked to either write or record a post. Recording an audio post is relatively simple, simply upload a .wav or .mp3 file, either on your desktop, laptop or indeed recorded straight from your phone. Your audio file will be available to playback, embedded within the diary.
If you are a logged in user, your posts will automatically be published, and you will have the opportunity to edit / delete / review all of your posts.
If you are not logged in, the One.Surgery team will need to approve your post before it is published, and you will not have the ability to edit / delete your post through your own means. However, you can contact us at admin@one.surgery should you need to make a change.
One.Surgery is also seeking to possibly publish some diary extracts in its magazine, Voices of One. Surgery. However, we will only do this if you have given us permission via the submission form.
- Crisis Resources
- WHO: Mental health and psychosocial considerations during the COVID-19 outbreak
- Senior Guide to Mental Health During Coronavirus (COVID-19) – Tips for how seniors can stay healthy and connected during the COVID-19 pandemic
- Managing your mental health as a key worker during the coronavirus outbreak.
- Hope For Wellness
- Coronanxiety support and resources
- NHS Depression Support Groups
- Emergency Responders: Tips for taking care of yourself
- Every Mind Matters – NHS
- Mind Charity – For Better Mental Health
- Mental Health – UK Charity
- The Samaritans
One.Surgery is also seeking to possibly publish some diary extracts in its free magazine, Voices of One. Surgery. However, we will only do this if you have given us permission via the submission form.
The One.Surgery Covid-19 diaries will always be free to access. One.Surgery will not distribute your personal data for any reason.
One.Surgery reserves the right to delete / modify any posts deemed offensive or abusing our terms and conditions. There is no appeals process. One.Surgery reserves the right to withdraw this diary service at any time.
By using the Covid-19 diaries, you agree to our full terms and conditions. Our full website privacy policy and terms and conditions can be found here.
Public Covid Diary Entries (18 entries)
#23. May 9, 2020 at 8:46 pm: Anonymous, Student – Las Palmas ![]() I’m tired My mom is going through chemotherapy. I’m terrified for her. I’m scared she’ll get sick in the hospital. I’m scared my entire family is going to die since we are all immunocompromised. I want things to go back to normal.
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#22. May 9, 2020 at 8:42 pm: Anonymous, Hydrologist – ![]() Nothing changed Since the pandemic and subsequent lockdowns, my life remains the same. For work (which is deemed essential so I’m still doing it) I drive out to remote areas hike several miles to check on monitoring stations and wells. My wife always worked from home. We have for a while used delivery services for groceries and food, so we rarely ventured out of the house except for work. On a good week I’ll have personal interactions with 5 other people beside my wife, but there are many weeks when that number will be closer to zero. | |||
#21. May 9, 2020 at 8:04 pm: Anonymous, Hospital staff – Nashville ![]() A day on covid floor I work in a hospital and I regularly visit the covid floors. I see so many people struggling to live. The intubated patients aren’t so bad, though you can hear them gargle every once in a while even with suction it’s the conscious patients I pity you can hear the coughing from the nurses station even with all the doors closed. One coughed so hard he actually tore holes in his lungs, its hard to not cry thinking about these people they haven’t seen their families in weeks. Alone and scared drowned or suffocated by their own bodies. Its horrific to see people as young as 30 struggling to breathe.
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#20. May 9, 2020 at 7:46 pm: Kara, SBO – Cleveland ![]() My Family’s Experience In Late January my husband (35) left for work in Santa Cruz California. The kids and I stayed behind because of school. I was going to fly out and see him a couple of weeks later until I started hearing about COVID-19. In mid February he called me to let me know he was quite sick with the flu. My uncle (57) who was hosting him was also quite ill. Both rarely get sick. The worst of it lasted a few days and started to get better. Probably the flu. Here in Ohio one of my nieces became very sick when I went to help get her on the bus. She had a sore throat and fever and generally felt unwell. Her 3 sisters followed soon after. The oldest (10) went to the doctor and had a negative flu and strep test. She had some minor breathing discomfort but just stayed home and rested for about 9 days. A few days after her doctors apt their 3 cats all had to be vetted. They had pneumonia! My brother who lives with me (33) was sent home from work coughing so much and generally unwell. He went to stat care when he started coughing small amounts of blood and getting dizzy. He wasn’t tested but given antibiotics and told it was probably bronchitis. He is still mildly coughing to this day. Next up my daughter, (14) starts to get a sore throat and developed a fever. Her eyes were red and sore. We went to stat care and they tested for flu and strep. Negative. She was sent home and told it was some other virus and to get plenty of liquids. The next day I was not feeling too well. My chest felt heavy but I did not cough much. My throat hurt and I had a headache. My temperature was elevated but not high. 99.8 degrees. That same night my daughter broke out into a rash that appeared to be hives and her lips were swelling. I took her to the ER. They did an X-ray and it showed she had atypical pneumonia. She was prescribed a zpak and prednisone and we were sent home. She developed more stomach issues and pain. She said her chest felt weird and painful. We figured it was the steroids and waited to see if it stopped after she was done. It did 2 days after her last dose.
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#19. May 9, 2020 at 7:43 pm: Anonymous, Security officer – Warwickshire ![]() Frustrated. I work within a small team, at a well known retail park.
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#18. May 7, 2020 at 7:36 am: Anonymous, Specialist Community Public Health Nurse Health Visitors – ![]() I am a nurse I gave myself some time for reflection today and decided to write some thoughts down. I hope it’s ok to share them here. Here I am working alone My children are desperate for social interaction My mum is alone and i hear in her voice I speak to parents in who’s voices I hear I am a NHS nurse in our 200th year I am a Health Visitor striving to give families support I’m a mother, a wife, a daughter I am a NHS nurse and I’ll give all I’ve got Keep going everyone, we can get through this x | |||
#17. May 5, 2020 at 5:39 am: Saqib Noor – ![]() ![]() The curve is flattening but what about the aftermath It’s really heartening to see the numbers slowly fall throughout the world. I used to check in on the world graphs and charts a few times a day but over the last week I have stopped paying as much attention. The figures certainly are declining, which means I think we are getting through the worst of it. But like a tornado that riots through a town, I wonder what destruction remains at the end? What pieces will be left to pick up and what can never be rebuilt? I miss football far more than I thought I would… | |||
#16. May 1, 2020 at 9:40 pm: Maryam Ali Khan, Other – ![]() ![]() I stare at the screen. The numbers keep rising. But I feel numb.
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#15. May 1, 2020 at 5:50 pm: Anonymous, RMN – ![]() Redeployment Fatigue On a Thursday at 8pm the clapping carries on. I have to admit I struggle to feel inspired, or emotional, or anything other than numb to it now. I’ve been redeployed to work on a ward, in a hospital, that I’d never have chosen to, and for an indefinite period of time. I left my last job on a psychiatric ward as I was just so burned out from it all, and I don’t think I had time to get past that before this all started. As much as I want to do my bit to help, this isn’t an act of charity, it’s just my life, and every aspect of it has been changed beyond my control. At first, I’ll admit, I felt angry at the lack of regard for my own needs – despite objectively knowing that I was the ideal candidate due to lack of other commitments. Now I feel anxious but resigned, as I see I’ve been rostered in for shifts every weekend for the foreseeable future. Living alone, the Saturday night group Zoom chats were the last meaningful remnant of my old social life, and they too have now been taken away. I’m so guilty and conscious that these are ‘first world problems’ I’d never repeat it to my colleagues working so hard on the ward. However, as much as we care and do the very best we can, the truth is that none of us are really motivated to be there each long, draining and quite frankly, often boring shift by our burning desire to help others. While we’re treating Covid positive patients, I’m not there saving their lives, comforting their families, watching them leave grateful for my help. The patients want me there as much as I want to be there. We aren’t putting our lives on the line in some heroic act of bravery – I’m sure it’d feel better if we’d chosen to. We’re going to work every day because what’s the other option? I think if offered furlough on 80% wages I’d jump at the chance. But really, if I refuse to go to work, what will happen to me? Will I lose my job, my professional registration, any future prospects? Would life be worth living then? Sometimes I think ending it might be the only way out. We’ve been offered psychological support in abundance, however, being an RMN I’m now realising how very little it means. If they really want to help, I think, they’ll take my place on the ward and I can sit listening to people like me moan from the comfort of my sofa. Every offer of support, every “check-in” from managers feels like empty words – almost aggressive; they’ll listen, but the bottom line is that their job is just priming me to do what I’m told. I’m sorry that this sounds so self-absorbed and self-pitying, and I promise that in practice or any other professional capacity I am the picture of optimism. But I thought I’d use the anonymous platform share the darker, hidden, selfish feelings I’m sure I’m not the only healthcare practitioner going into work with day after day. I’m putting my life on the line not because I’m some angel, but because I have no other choice.
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#14. May 1, 2020 at 5:49 pm: Ankit Raj, Surgical trainee – New Delhi ![]() ![]() Weird normal What has the world come to? It’s quite unimaginable how “normal” the life was just until a few weeks back. But now we don’t even know what is a “normal”? Is it being locked up in a house for weeks on end? Or commuting every day on an empty road? Are we even sure that we will be back to The “normal” like it was before? |
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