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I HAVE hummed and hawed about what to write for this week. Shall I write something about being happy and being all positive and getting up and getting on with your routines and life as if everything is normal? Or should I write about how grim and miserable this situation is and how frustrating it is that we are living through such an unprecedented time?

Should I write about how touched and full of gratitude I feel witnessing some of the kind acts being displayed by our incredible Glasgow community? Or shall I share how angry and ashamed I feel when seeing the selfishness and reckless behaviours that some people are showing towards others by stockpiling or ignoring rules on social distancing?

Glasgow Times:

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The reason I could not decide what to write about is because every day I am experiencing a wave of emotions with fluctuating states of anxiety. Yes I am a doctor and I too have worries about what is happening but these are interspersed with flurries of optimism and hope.

I have been a doctor for 14 years and never have I experienced anything like what we are going through as a collective right now. In fact, never did I ever think we could go through something like this either, I mean a global pandemic?!

Coronavirus has affected thousands across the globe but a few weeks ago I wrote about how fortunate we were here in Glasgow that we had not been hit.

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I look back and wonder was I being naïve or was this a protective reaction because not only has it hit us, it is going to get much worse over the weeks to come.

I do not want to be accused of scaremongering nor do I want to sit here and write a dark piece to upset anyone. I am simply writing this as a human being who not only wears a medical hat, but is the wife of a frontline doctor who she is living apart from at the moment due to coronavirus, is the mother of a little boy she is trying to keep well, is the daughter of vulnerable parents she is dying to go see and is the proud new aunt to a new niece that she will not be able to hold for a long time.

I am also days away from delivering my second baby and I am so anxious about doing this on my own as my husband is a high risk for contracting COVID-19 due to his job as a doctor and we simply don’t want to take that risk.

This is not a “poor me” scenario, this reflects the story of pretty much every person in our country right now. We are being segregated from our loved ones not through choice but through absolute need in order to come out of this with as many of us well and alive as possible.

Having our freedom of movement taken away is perhaps the most debilitating thing that can happen to any individual. I have many patients who, again through no fault of their own, have been housebound for years through illness but I also reflect on those who have mental health problems and conditions such as agoraphobia and feel a deep sense of connection of just how hard enforced life indoors must have been for them.

Whilst most of our Glasgow community are abiding by the rules set out by the government to protect us, there remains a significant number of people who are just not taking this situation seriously and are not following the advice of staying home and socially distancing from others. This is the group, so oblivious now, but who will be responsible for the spread and subsequent illness and deaths of those who wanted to and could have lived.

This is fact. The vast majority of young, fit and healthy people will suffer mild to moderate symptoms but a large proportion of people, who are currently deemed to be in the high risk, vulnerable category will develop serious complications and premature death.

It is for the safety of this population that we are urging everyone to stay home and only leave the house if it is absolutely essential. Everyone wants to see their loved ones and hang out. Everyone is feeling frustrated and cooped up. Every one of us is feeling worried but none of that is more important than the responsibility every one of us has to help save a life.

So as the world slows down and it becomes quieter outside, know and trust that this is short term. This difficult phase will pass. Try to find some calmness within this madness. Be grateful that most of you have access to technology so you can still remain connected to others.

Key workers out there are risking their lives and are putting the lives of their families at risk for you.

They are making sacrifices to help their community and all you are being asked to do is sit at home. Surely this is not a big ask.

Please keep your distance and spread the message to everyone you know to do the same. This virus does not discriminate, everyone and anyone can get it so become the change maker and help stop its spread.