Ria, 24 – Waterbury, CT

I am a 24 year-old mother, PCA, girlfriend, friend, daughter, and sister and Corona has flipped my life upside down. 

Before Corona I was getting help with my mental health, I was working, and was able to go on dates or hang out with friends. My son was able to go to school; I was content with life, and when it happened everything changed. 

My son was no longer able to attend school, his life was no longer the same. He asks about friends and teachers, and I feel like he suddenly went into a depression; his behavior did a tremendous shift. 

I then lost my job. I went from being able to support my family to having to figure things out which then affected my mental health. I suffer with Bipolar 2; I’ve felt trapped in the house – no more social outings, over-the-phone therapist sessions, and when it was time to see a psychiatrist, it had to be put on hold. My boyfriend was in the process of getting a job at the DMV when it closed down; he needed a new ID and couldn’t get it. 

It’s like our life suddenly was put on pause. I feel like I’m living in a movie, but I truly believe this is our new norm; family that lives far away we can no longer visit. My mother and grandmother I can no longer go see because they are both sickly, so videochat calls are our new visits. 

My new normal is being my son’s mother and full-time teacher, trying to take care of my mental health virtually through phone conversations, taking breathers sitting on the porch, bubble baths sometimes, and meditation. Being unemployed at a time like this isn’t fun; we are literally trying to survive the best we can. 

This has literally changed everyone’s lives especially our little ones. I pray we see this come to an end soon. 

This is my new reality  

Ria, 24 – Waterbury, CT

I am a 24 year-old mother, PCA, girlfriend, friend, daughter, and sister and Corona has flipped my life upside down. 

Before Corona I was getting help with my mental health, I was working, and was able to go on dates or hang out with friends. My son was able to go to school; I was content with life, and when it happened everything changed. 

My son was no longer able to attend school, his life was no longer the same. He asks about friends and teachers, and I feel like he suddenly went into a depression; his behavior did a tremendous shift. 

I then lost my job. I went from being able to support my family to having to figure things out which then affected my mental health. I suffer with Bipolar 2; I’ve felt trapped in the house – no more social outings, over-the-phone therapist sessions, and when it was time to see a psychiatrist, it had to be put on hold. My boyfriend was in the process of getting a job at the DMV when it closed down; he needed a new ID and couldn’t get it. 

It’s like our life suddenly was put on pause. I feel like I’m living in a movie, but I truly believe this is our new norm; family that lives far away we can no longer visit. My mother and grandmother I can no longer go see because they are both sickly, so videochat calls are our new visits. 

My new normal is being my son’s mother and full-time teacher, trying to take care of my mental health virtually through phone conversations, taking breathers sitting on the porch, bubble baths sometimes, and meditation. Being unemployed at a time like this isn’t fun; we are literally trying to survive the best we can. 

This has literally changed everyone’s lives especially our little ones. I pray we see this come to an end soon. 

This is my new reality