Lockdown saw Elaine’s job and her wellbeing disappear
.. now she’s back on form thanks to charity help
Not only did lockdown rob career woman Elaine Duffy of the job she loved, it also created the perfect storm for her secondary progressive multiple sclerosis to take hold and compromise her confidence, her mobility – and her sense of wellbeing.
But with assistance from a charity, whose wellbeing hub she describes as “a godsend,” she has been able to access physical activities and emotional support that have helped her to halt the alarming decline in her health that came with lockdown – and the abrupt ending of her career.
IT support worker Elaine was diagnosed with MS on Christmas Eve 2010.
After she was made redundant in June last year, Elaine decided to take early retirement at the age of 55.
“When I was made redundant during lockdown, I realised I needed to focus on my health,” she explained.
“I was a union rep as well as my job role and, working from home, I could be sitting down at my computer at 8am and not finishing until the same time that evening or later.
“I think it’s very much a case of use it or lose it. Prior to lockdown, I’d stayed busy and active. But the pandemic took away some of those things and it created a bit of a perfect storm. Since I was told I have secondary progressive MS, I can see a big decline in where I am compared to even four years ago.
“So, when I finished up at work, I thought I really needed to do something. I was struggling to walk any distance at that point and I actually bought a treadmill because my confidence to go out had completely gone.
“My MS means that when my body has had enough, it just shuts down and I didn’t want that to happen when I was out. So, the treadmill meant I could keep moving without going out the house.”
Elaine was able to halt the downward spiral in her health and wellbeing with support from MS Society Scotland’s Wellbeing Hub, which is designed to enable people living with MS, their families and friends to access physical and emotional group activities.
The service also provides counselling and physiotherapy, as well as a way to stay connected at a time when many people have been isolated.
More than 15,000 people live with MS in Scotland – one of the highest rates in the world – and the range of services has already helped hundreds of people like Elaine nationwide.
“Physio through MS Society Scotland’s Wellbeing Hub has helped my confidence massively. It’s going to be long, slow progress but things are definitely moving in the right direction,” said Elaine, of Rutherglen.
“Since then I’ve started meditation, functional strength, ballet and pilates. It’s been absolutely fantastic. For my circumstances, from June until now it’s been amazing – a real godsend.
“Things like ballet I would never have considered before. I think I would have been too embarrassed – but it’s been great.
“Not having to physically go to a class was initially really helpful but I think, when I can, I’ll look to go to one in person.
“It’s helped my mobility and wellbeing. Obviously I can’t go to the gym or swim like I would have, so having these sessions has been really helpful.
“Counselling is something I wouldn’t have thought about before, but I found it really helped me.
“I was overwhelmed when I was made redundant having worked for so long.
“I have really supportive friends and family – but it’s a different experience with an impartial person.
“It’s not about them finding answers for you, but getting a steer to reach your own conclusions.
“It’s not something I would have sought out, but it’s definitely been really beneficial.”
MS Society Scotland’s Wellbeing Hub has received funding of £68,123 from the Scottish Government’s Neurological Framework Fund and classes, calls and consultations will continue to be available into the summer.
A suite of free online and telephone sessions are available for people living with MS to access, including one-to-one counselling and activities like yoga, mindfulness and tai chi. The services aim to ensure people’s physical and mental health is maintained as the effects of the pandemic continue to be felt.
Morna Simpkins, director of MS Scotland, said: “Elaine’s experiences highlight just how valuable the Wellbeing Hub has been for so many people.
“Access to sessions can make a very real difference to people’s physical and mental health and we’re pleased to be supporting people through what has been a very difficult period.
“If you’d like to find out more about what’s on offer and how the Wellbeing Hub can support you, our team would love to hear from you.”
The hub aims to improve emotional and physical wellbeing by a variety of means.
To find out more and to talk to someone about how to access the services that make up the wellbeing hub, email WellbeingScotland@mssociety. org.uk or call 0131 335 4050
It’s very much a case of use it or lose it