Anonymous, 20 – West Haven CT

What is my new reality now with COVID-19? Prior to the outbreak I had intermittent generalized anxiety, now I endure it constantly, it is my baseline now. As the feelings of anxiety, confusion, and stress about the virus suffocate me daily, I still have other battles to face.

I cannot believe how my life has changed since this pandemic has struck us.

Towards the end of March, the United States faced a hard hit due to the virus. The Emergency departments were changing their prevention protocols almost every day.

I have a large family including younger siblings. I have taken extreme measures to make sure I do not bring the virus home to them or any other members of my family, however, this was not enough. My mother had given me an ultimatum to choose from: either I quit my job and stay quarantined at home or continue to work and find somewhere else to live. I am an Emergency Department Medical Scribe at Bridgeport Hospital and since I love my job and want to help physicians along with other healthcare workers as much as I could during this pandemic, I decided to continue to work. 

I was faced with no place to stay for 2 weeks until I shared my situation with one of my professors at my university whom set me up with a hotel suite, courtesy of SCSU. I have been staying at this suite and have been working on site at the ED. Since there was not enough PPE gear enough for everyone, Yale New Haven Health decided to suspend any non-essential personal effective immediately, this includes scribes.

ScribeAmerica offered the opportunity for scribes to work from home for anyone interested. So of course, I offered my services because of my love for the job. Although I am working remotely, my hours for the month of May have been cut in a little over half. This affects me tremendously because I have bills to pay such as my car insurance, car payment, phone bill, etc. I do not qualify for unemployment nor the 2020 stimulus check so I am worried if suspension of scribes will be in the distant future.

I have called my credit card companies, car payment company, and car insurance company to tell them that I am facing a financial hardship and they have provided waived late fees and extensions.

I am frightened about where to go after May 15, when I must check out of the suite I am currently in. This stress weakens my stomach and I can feel my mental health deteriorating day by day. Everyone tells “take it day by day” but this advice does not calm nor soothe me as I must think ahead.

I do not see COVID-19 leaving anytime soon and for that I am enduring feelings of hopelessness. I am grateful I still have my job and a temporary place to eat and sleep. I have been social distancing and going outside on nice days for jogs and walks just to get out of my own head, but this is my new reality, and this is how im facing it, alone.

Anonymous, 20 – West Haven CT

What is my new reality now with COVID-19? Prior to the outbreak I had intermittent generalized anxiety, now I endure it constantly, it is my baseline now. As the feelings of anxiety, confusion, and stress about the virus suffocate me daily, I still have other battles to face.

I cannot believe how my life has changed since this pandemic has struck us.

Towards the end of March, the United States faced a hard hit due to the virus. The Emergency departments were changing their prevention protocols almost every day.

I have a large family including younger siblings. I have taken extreme measures to make sure I do not bring the virus home to them or any other members of my family, however, this was not enough. My mother had given me an ultimatum to choose from: either I quit my job and stay quarantined at home or continue to work and find somewhere else to live. I am an Emergency Department Medical Scribe at Bridgeport Hospital and since I love my job and want to help physicians along with other healthcare workers as much as I could during this pandemic, I decided to continue to work.

I was faced with no place to stay for 2 weeks until I shared my situation with one of my professors at my university whom set me up with a hotel suite, courtesy of SCSU. I have been staying at this suite and have been working on site at the ED. Since there was not enough PPE gear enough for everyone, Yale New Haven Health decided to suspend any non-essential personal effective immediately, this includes scribes.

ScribeAmerica offered the opportunity for scribes to work from home for anyone interested. So of course, I offered my services because of my love for the job. Although I am working remotely, my hours for the month of May have been cut in a little over half. This affects me tremendously because I have bills to pay such as my car insurance, car payment, phone bill, etc. I do not qualify for unemployment nor the 2020 stimulus check so I am worried if suspension of scribes will be in the distant future.

I have called my credit card companies, car payment company, and car insurance company to tell them that I am facing a financial hardship and they have provided waived late fees and extensions.

I am frightened about where to go after May 15, when I must check out of the suite I am currently in. This stress weakens my stomach and I can feel my mental health deteriorating day by day. Everyone tells “take it day by day” but this advice does not calm nor soothe me as I must think ahead.

I do not see COVID-19 leaving anytime soon and for that I am enduring feelings of hopelessness. I am grateful I still have my job and a temporary place to eat and sleep. I have been social distancing and going outside on nice days for jogs and walks just to get out of my own head, but this is my new reality, and this is how im facing it, alone.