CogniMag

CogniMag First edition

3rd quarter (July –September 2020)

Inside:

Coping with the impacts of covid – 19!

Real people, real stories!

Learn about anxiety!!!

Founder’s Letter

It

Sharon Mohlala

is with great pleasure that I introduce to you my first quarterly CogniCare Magazine (in this third quarter). The thought came to me when I was trying to figure out how I could engage more with people, apart from the basic social media platforms. I wanted to create a tangible knowledge sharing tool, and that is how CogniMag came about. I hope that you (the reader) will engage more and grow to love this magazine and look forward to each quarter’s edition!

On a more relatable note, July is here and it brings the coldest part of winter for us, we find so much comfort in eating and seeking as much warmth as we can. In addition to this, we find ourselves pulling out all our woollen clothing and sweaters that have been boxed up over the past few seasons. Nonetheless, some people still look forward to this season, while others dread it. It is a season of planting, winter is hard, winter is and feels long, but if you plant in the winter, you will reap when it passes! So take winter gracefully. If you believe in Jesus like me, plant in faith both spiritually and physically.

With the current state of affairs, that being the Corona Virus pandemic, so many people actually have the chance to literally sit back, reflect and plant where they want to. A lot has changed, literally all over the world, we have all moved away from ‘normal’ to completely ‘new’.

My main concern really has been the mental state of many, especially those who had previously been diagnosed with mental difficulties. My heart goes out to them! In fact, they are one of the strongest people! Not forgetting those who lost their lives, jobs and companies during this pandemic, may we keep them in our prayers?

Mental health is such an important aspect of our lives. I also think that it is highly underrated. For a fully functioning person, one must be aware of their holistic health. Not only that, but fully accountable, and hence self-care is of paramount importance. I see mental health as the core of the ‘being’, if that area of your life is not in order then you it generally affects every other area. It is for this reason that I encourage that you remain accountable for your mental health. Take some time for self-care, make it a monthly habit. Spoil yourself by rewarding yourself, take some time to reflect on the entire month, take some to mediate too. Mediation is an entire topic on its own and I love to encourage it because it helps you connect with your unconscious and really just become more present in your life.

I am really hoping to speak as loud as I can about mental health,

and raise as much awareness as possible. One of the ways I am currently focusing on, is raising awareness against Gender Based Violence which is a real phenomenon in South Africa at the moment. Gender based violence is a mental issue both on the side of the perpetrator and the victim. The issue is discussed in more detail in this magazine.

Here are some thoughts to ponder upon, how has the pandemic affected your life? How are you handling it emotionally, physically, environmentally and mentally?

Do you have someone you trust whom you can speak with?Is there a mental health topic you would like us to cover? Send an email to: info@cognicare.co.za you can also reach out on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter @cognicare.

Until next Quarter guys!!!

Sending you the warmest regards! Sharon Mohlala

Content

What is happening in our world?

Features Professional corner Real stories, Real people Experience sharing

WHAT IS HAPPENING IN OUR WORLD? The corona virus pandemic and your mental health

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Is it just not amazing how something so small can have such a huge impact? I am speaking about this tiny virus, and how it just blew up the entire world.

A simple analogy I like to use for this virus, is the tongue! Have you realised how small the tongue is and how much damage it can Have you realised how small the tongue is do? Literally, if you think about it, and how much damage it can do? no one saw the virus come upn us, just like the tongue, no one sees when it is about to betray you! Nonetheless, the virus has affected so many of us in so many ways, lives have changed, jobs have been lost, and companies have closed down or are on the verge. A lot of restructuring has taken place in people’s lives and businesses.

The concern then, is how this pandemic has affected your mental and whether it is still affecting your mental health. In this issue, I want to strictly focus on how you can personally deal with the mental side of things from the perspective of a holistic counsellor.

The following steps need not occur chronologically but can vary. However, I first want to discuss some of the phases you should have already experienced since the initial experience of the corona virus without going in-depth and take it from there. (Side note, what to expect is not limited to the initial experience of COVID-19, it can even be experienced now)

What to expect during lockdown

These stages, I would say are derivatives of the stages of grief. I believe that are relevant to the corona virus because in a sense, you are grieving you’re so called ‘normal life’, and now you have to do a lot of restructuring in your life. Again, they need not be experienced chronologically. A full article can be found on my friend’s website: Unarine Ramaru www.unarine.co.za 1. Optimism 2. Depression 3. Determination 4. Satisfaction vs Frustration 5. Anger 6. Resolution

How to cope with the impacts of COVID – 19 in your life

1. Focus on your emotional health Do not allow yourself to be so lost in the corona virus and what it could possibly do to you. Be aware of the impacts, but do not let them take over your general well-being. Being aware of your emotions will help you take control of your situations and protect yourself from getting lost in depression and other anxiety disorders.

2. Do not spend too much time listening to, reading or watching the news It is good to watch and listen to the news because they keep us updated. It is indeed important for us to know what is going on, the problem however, is when we start to allow the news to instil fear in us. Too much of anything can be bad for you. In essence, it is how you manage your ‘news diet’ that matters.

3. Take some time to meditate Mediation is so important! It helps you be in the present moment. It is through mediation that people become aware of their emotions, and everything else in their unconscious mind. There is so much going on in the unconscious that we are not really aware of because we are so busy with so many things. Meditation helps us pack the shelves of our minds neatly. Meditation can be different for many of us. Sometimes it might mean listening to a guided meditation session, listening to an audio bible, being still before god or even just sitting in complete silence and focusing on your breath and the sounds and movements in your body and things around you.

4. Connect w ith people Please don’t lock yourself up? Please don’t cut yourself off from people you love and who love you? I mean that, it is important to have your alone time and sit and reflect, but it is also important to be around people. All you need to is find a balance between the two. Sometimes you might need to speak with someone you trust when dealing with difficult situations that come in sudden shock.

If you have no one to speak with and are dealing with the negative impact of COVID -19 in your life, feel free to contact us by emailing info@cognicare.co.za or calling/whatsapp 0603667954!

Let us normalise speaking about mental health!

Featured article By Aurora Mokoena

It

is high time love, kindness and understanding of oneself became normalised. We are so apologetic and fearful of fully and truly loving ourselves in fear of being called vain and narcissistic. Perhaps it is high time we go back and look at the true definition of those words we fear so much and realise, that not falling under those descriptive words does not necessarily mean that we should deprive ourselves of care, resulting in self-neglect. I always say a love for others that demands that one ceases to care for themselves is not admirable, as for me it translates to self-hate.

Humans look so much up to those that are selfless and they become something many of us aspire to live up to. We fail to realise, in the actualisation of that dream that selflessness does not translate to giving of oneself to the point enslaving oneself to those that they care for. I believe if it gets to that point, resentment towards loved ones and oneself for letting one get to that point is the end result.

Yes, putting another person’s needs before your needs is the definition of selflessness, but it does NOT mean not caring about one’s needs either. Your needs have to be a priority for you too. Please say it with me: it is right that I love myself. It is tantamount that I take care of myself. It is pivotal that I be a great friend to me. Michelle Obama once said, “At the heart of this dilemma is the way we view mental health in this country. Whether an illness affects your heart, your leg, or your brain, it is still an illness, there should be no distinction.” As much as she was addressing the people of America, her statement rings true everywhere. Illness is still illness, wherever on the body it might be. Mental health is just as important as physical health. Prejudice against mental health or speaking about it must come to an end.

Of course this will not happen immediately or overnight but those few of us that are knowledgeable, those of us that have gone through it or have watched someone suffer and fight through it should start talking about it more. We should start working on this chain that has held and still holds us prisoners so that our children’s children, if not ours, can be free from his at least. It is a strong belief of mine that many a time, we have lost people to mental disease not because they could not be treated or were failing to fight through it but rather because the environment, the society made it impossible for healing to take place because the process had to happen in hiding, alone and with shame.

The

late South African Hip-hop artist, HHP, was very vocal about his fight with depression because he wanted to get us as a society to stop pretending that mental health issues do not exist. When he sadly passed on after committing suicide, his family tried to shift the conversation and continue what he had always done-talk about the “invisible illness”; that we avoid like a plague. We need to stop running. The words of James Baldwin come to mind when he said; not everything faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced. The conversation around mental health must start now and it has to be conducted with severe seriousness. An article on Cipla Pharmaceuticals South African website, speculated on the reaction and behaviour of the public at large and the media on the passing of HHP. It was titled: “Somebody’s pain is not your headline-stop making a fetish of depression.” The article was a rightly angry reprimand of the media and society because instead of addressing what has stolen the lives of so many people and caused insurmountable pain to individuals as well as families, it was only a trending topic, a way to sell publications and the primary message of depression and its effects lost in all the hashtags and jokes.

The piece resonated with me as it was objective and aimed to inform while begging that individuals and society look deep within themselves and reflect on why we choose to ignore what we shouldn’t and how our behaviour is perpetuating the growth of mental illness not being attended to as it should. Mental health is not a rich, white folk issue alone.

It affects us all. We need to stop saying that as blacks, as Africans, as Asians mental health has never been an issue that needed to be addressed because that is a lie- our ancestors did not talk much about mental diseases and grouped any abnormal behaviour of individuals as a result of witchery, madness or just lack of

mental development; our ancestors did not pass down much information about diseases like depression because they did not call it that, they probably called it by another term but most importantly; our ancestors did not leave much information about mental health because they dealt with mental issues differently and the society of back then, was a million times different from the society of today. Mental instability exists and the lack of treatment of such a disease has resulted in a highly dysfunctional society lost in trying to fit the status quo and pretending that certain things do not exist when they do.

The

shame attached to mental health not only hinders the healing of mental diseases but also leads to people not seeking treatment for it even when aware that they need medical help. The misuse of words like “depressed”, “psycho”, “bipolar”, “schizophrenia”, and “psychopath”, to name a few is another factor that adds to the misunderstanding of mental issues. Once terms addressing or naming threats, diseases and / or grave matters are made light of, issues that should not be ignored end up being ignored. Just imagine if the words ‘cancer’ and ‘AIDS’ became clichés that were not taken seriously, the loss of lives would be a hundred times more than they currently are.

Dear society, let us find the old us who was empathetic of those in suffering. Try to understand the pain of others. Make it your goal to find ways that help those in pain or, at the very least, help create an environment that promotes healing. We often talk of taking back our power as Africans, self-care and practicing Ubuntu are two of the greatest weapons we can use to achieve that goal. Dear media, as we strive to have our work in the hands of as many people as possible while feeding ourselves and our loved ones, let us make it our motive that our words are building, full of wisdom and will leave the readers better for reading our work. Mental illnesses might be invisible, but they are in existence. For them to stop being as deadly as they are now, let us unite and help eradicate the prejudices and stigma surrounding them and those suffering from them.

An African proverb says, “If you want to go quickly, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” Let us learn from our elders and pay heed to their advice. We have individually tried to heal and learn, individually, we might have made some progress but a lot of issues were left unaddressed and some buried resulting in an imbalanced society with far too many secrets we are now suffocating under.

This is our problem, all of us, so let us all heal, together. That way, our children and their children’s children will live in a society less filled with pain, fear and shame.

NO TO GENDER BASED VOILENCE CAMPAIGN

G

ender based violence (GBV) is such a buzzing issue in South Africa at the moment.

It is not a new issue and that is what saddens the most. The fact that South Africans continue to hear case after case of GBV attacks especially against women is a serious issue and one not to be overlooked. It is for this reason that CogniCare is running a campaign to raise awareness against GBV! The campaign is currently running on all our social media platforms and we are hoping to speak so loud! Because we need to unite against those who continue to be perpetrators.

Besides the awareness against GBV, we are also aware that GBV is a mental issue for both the perpetrator and the victim. For this reason we encourage both parties to speak up and seek help!

Reach us on info@cognicare.co.za the perpetrators will most likely be referred to a psychologist depending on the intensity of their case!

Unspoken Traumas!

When men target boys for GBV, male on male violence, do we still consider it as GBV? Yes of course! Indeed we do. How certain are we that GBV towards men statistics aren’t higher than those of females, simply because men are afraid to speak up? Malcolm Smith (a born again Christian), shares his story of being a victim of sexual assault as a young boy. He also takes through his journey of how he found healing through Christ and the will to forgive his perpetrator.

Malcolm’s Story I was either six or seven at the time when it happened, I was sexually abused on multiple occasions. I remember feeling a lot of confusion at the time. I was filled with so much fear and I was emotionally confused that my parents didn’t make much of it. I’m not at a place of conflict at all now but back then, I definitely didn’t know what to make of it. I also believe it had a lot to do with my own sexual immorality growing up, it impacted my life negatively, Also when you’re so young, you don’t really know what to make of these things when they happen to you and you don’t question the acts not until there’s aggression in the mix. Eventually I said no and the person (my perpetrator) locked me in my grans flat.

But also glad that men are included in this even though statistically they are affected less, I think the figures would be different if men would just be open to speaking about these matters, without having to fear what people are going to say about them. It’s good if people are challenged, when they hear things like this it allows one to evaluate themselves and opens up room for forgiveness.

There’s some details that I don’t fully remember and I think that’s because I’ve to an extent blocked them out. When I was about eighteen, the person came forward and apologized to me for what had happened, they’re now a born again believer and there’s complete forgiveness for the individual. I truly think that’s where the beauty is, that there “I truly think that’s where the beauty is, can be forgiveness and that there can be forgiveness someone doesn’t need to live with a clenched fist/ with bitterness or unforgiveness. I also believe that, compassion needs to go both ways to those that commit the acts and those that are affected by them, because we need to understand what leads to the sin in the first place or that there are in fact routes and things that happened to that individual that caused them to behave in such a way.

But nevertheless I do think men need to speak up and obviously it’s a thing of “sacrificing” their masculinity or manliness that prevents them from opening up. Having God in the picture makes a difference. God makes it easier to be open about these things.

It’s controversial as well because a lot of people want to be one sided about this and don’t want to ask the questions why did the perpetrator commit the acts, did they have something happen to them? So that’s more of me seeing it from a biblical stance, there’s always a route cause to a sin.

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The following people have taken the time to support the campaign!

A big thank you to: Mologadi Mphatsoe, Mologadi Mohlala, Bethany May-Taylor, Daphney Livhalani, Tshegofatso Mohlala, Thuto Mosito, Shama Mohlala, Christy du Plessis, Mirjam Miau (My friend from Germany supporting all the way from there), Megan Gibbs, Nooran Bana, Ragosebo Mohlala, Sinenhlanhla Sithole, Khuthadzo Mulovhedzi, Georgina Mohlala (my mother), Tshenolo Mothlaba, Nobuhle Bhengu, Realeboga Masubelele, Olebogeng Mohlala, Camelle Zenani Michaels, Phaki Mahapa, Thato Masubelele.

THE PROFESSIONAL CORNER I want to use this ‘corner’ to discuss serious mental topics that people sometimes take lightly. This is a platform for discussing real issues and how to deal with them. In this issue I want to discuss anxiety. I chose anxiety simply due to the fact that a large number of people are dealing with anxiety and may also be falling into depression due to the current state of affairs. However, I urge you not to self-diagnose based on the discussions below, if you see some of the symptoms below contact a professional immediately!

What is anxiety ?

Anxiety

is an umbrella term for so many mental disorders and should not be used loosely. I suppose that is one of the reasons I want to discuss it, just to iron things out. I will not discuss all of the symptoms because there are so many anxiety disorders, and that could be a discussion for another day.

Anxiety is a mood state where you are so focused on the future. But your focus is strongly accompanied by negative affect! Below are some anxiety disorders that you may encounter:

Obsess Compulsi Disorder

Generalise Anxiety Disorder

Panic disorders include; panic disorder with and without agoraphobia (extreme fear). Phobias include; social phobia, agoraphobia and special phobias (such as claustrophobia, or any other unique phobia).

Obsessive compulsive disorders on the other hand are just that and can be quite complex. Lastly, stress disorders include; Posttraumatic Stress Disorders and Acute stress disorder. For more information on these anxiety disorders do contact us at info@cognicare. co.za

How do I deal with anxiety?

Depending on the intensity of your anxiety, you could see a counsellor for support or a psychologist for specialised treatment. However, if it is not too intense, you may develop your own coping mechanisms. The important thing is to focus on the impact that the anxiety has on your daily life.

Panic Disorder

Anxiety Phobia

Stress Disorder

Source: Alban Burke (2012)

REAL STORIES

Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is defined by excessive worry, restlessness, irritability, and muscle tension. However, these symptoms must be present for more days than not at least 6 months. You do not need to have all the symptoms present to be diagnosed with GAD, but at least three of them. For people with GAD, it might be very difficult to control Some people in this section prefer to be featured as worry. Thus it can be quite difficult for the individual. anonymous. Those who are not anonymous A mental health specialist can help with this. indicated that they were happy with their identity being revealed.

REAL PEOPLE

CHILDHOOD TRAUMAS My name is Ragosebo Mohlala and I want to share my story as part of my healing journey.

I am currently 27 years old. When I was 5 years old I was taken from my grandmother’s house to go and live with my uncle in a different province. All this happened for me to go and get a better edu-

cation while my mom furthered her studies. When I arrived, my uncle’s wife ironed out some house rules for me. She told me every day after school I would have to wash the dishes, clean the toilets, basins and clean up in the house. We had helpers in the house but those were

my duties.

I remember quite clearly, that for my 6th birthday, my mom called and told me that she would send me something. She told me that my uncle’s wife would collect it at the post office and deliver it to me. My gift was a white dress with red roses, she also got me a toy w h i c h was packaged with the dress.

My uncle’s wife opened my gift for me and gave me my dress and birthday card.

She took away my toy and told me that toys are for kids and that I was a big girl who did not need toys. That literally broke my heart, because the toy was something my mom got me.

Especially also because I only got to see my mom once every six months.

My uncle’s wife did not live with us fulltime, because she was also studying at the time. So she would come home at the end of every month.

One night, I was running water in the bathtub so I could have a bath, the she called me over to her room. She told me to first take off my clothes before coming to her bedroom.

So I did as she told me.

When I got to her room butt naked, she took out a stick and hit me so hard with that stick, she hit my head, she hit my butt, and she hit my whole body until that stick broke. She took out another stick and continued to hit me. When she was done she told me to go and take my bath.

When I got into the tub my skin felt so much pain due to the hitting. The hidings became a ‘thing’ every time she came home. So I just knew that when she comes home, I had to get naked and get hidings with a stick for no apparent reason.

This one time I had a school camp, but she was back at school. So my uncle paid for the camp and said I could go. So the night before the camp, she called and asked to speak with me over the phone, then she told me that I was not allowed to go on the school trip.

I told her that my uncle had already paid for the camp, but she told me that she did not care and that I had to tell my teachers that I would not go. My teachers were so confused when I told them because my uncle had already signed and paid

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I was so sad when I saw all the kids prepare to leave for the camp. When my uncle came back home he found me crying and he asked why I was crying and asked why I was crying. I told him why I was crying and he told me to pack my stuff because I would be going to the camp and he had even gotten me new clothes on the day. I went to the camp and came back on

me to go and take a bath and I was bleeding. She warned me not to tell anyone because if I did, she would repeat it again.

The following day was a Monday and it was photo day at school. When my teacher asked what had happened, I told her that I fell and injured my lip.

That same week my mom came over and asked me what had happened and I had to lie to her too.

B a s i ca l l y But this time she hit me on my face with her hand, my uncle’s back and front flips, then she took out one of her taught me how to sticks to hit me some more, while she was hitting lie about me with the stick my uncle entered the room” t h i n g s happenSunday. When I got back, ing to me. I never ever she got home 10minutes exposed her. On a cerafter me, she asked me tain day I was sent to go why I had gone on the and buy bread, so I got camp because she told on bike and went to buy me not to go. I told her bread. When I got back, my uncle told me to go, my uncle’s wife asked then she just said “okay, why I had gone to the go and take of all your other side of town, I told clothes and come to my her that I didn’t go to the room”. other side of town. All she said was “okay, go and This time around she did take off your clothes” and not use her sticks, instead I just knew! But this time she used her leather belt she hit me on my face she hit me so hard all over with her hand, back and my body including my front flips, then she took face using the metal side out one of her sticks to hit of the belt, she hit me so me some more, while she hard I could not even cry. was hitting me with the The metal part of her belt stick my uncle entered cut through my top lip. I the room, he had just think when she saw that arrived from work. My she got scared and then uncle asked her what she stopped and told she was doing and she

replied “this child is so naughty”. So my uncle took the stick and broke it into pieces and told her not to do that, and he told me to go to my room and get dressed. While I was dressing up I just heard them shouting in their room. That same night, I went to the kitchen to make myself supper. She found me in there and told me that I was not allowed to make myself food. My uncle had gone back to work because he is a doctor. So she go takeaways and ate them with everyone but me. I slept hungry and only ate the next day during lunch at school. That is my story in a nutshell.

This has affected me so negatively! I don’t trust easily, I only trust God. I have seen myself treat my son the way that my uncle’s wife treated me because I hadn’t dealt with my childhood traumas. The impact is so huge and I feel like my life has not changed much, I keep ending up in the same situations to this day. My uncle’s would even tell me that I was not allowed to watch TV with them, and that I was to always be in my room.

I am just trusting God for breakthrough.

MY PARENTS’ DIVORCE WRECKED ME! Soooo _ it all started late 2012, early 2013, my parents were going through their divorce and stuff so it sort of affected me so badly.

Emotionally especially, because we’ll I’ve always been “daddy’s girl”. Be-

cause of the divorce I wouldn’t be able to be around him as much as I always was because he was already with someone _ fast forward, I started feeling like my mom didn’t actually want me because “I loved my dad”

more than her, it was always Papa this and that, so I always got this bad vibe at home so thought maybe if I died, it will just make life easier for everyone!

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Sooo _ I started cutting myself every time my mom or anyone from my mom’s family made bad

on me, he held my hand so tight and tried kissing me still remember it like it happened yesterday! I ran out cryand just I’m actually glad he didn’t actually rape me” ing p r et e n d e d like nothing remarks about/to me! happened! (I’m actually Felt like no one loved glad he didn’t actually me and no one wanted rape me) _ I wanted to me actually. Fast for- tell my dad , my mom or ward to this other day I even my uncle , but felt was going to camp , my like no one would believe uncles friend… well he me , well because he was was actually a friend to a family guy !so I started the whole family , stayed cutting myself AGAIN befront opposite us , this cause I actually felt better man started giving me , actually, I wanted to die weird , uncomfortable !! looks and stuff but didn’t take it too serious un- No one knows about til the day of camp , he this! This is I still prefer called me to the house to share as anonymous. , told his kids to go out- So I went for Psychology side coz he “wanted to sessions again because give me something” ,this some teacher of mine guy tried making a move saw my scars and called

my mom to take me in for a session since I can’t talk to anyone! Right I still get triggered and am considering going back to continue with my sessions.

However, I have been journaling and that has helped me so much, I don’t cut myself anymore.

Experience sharing The idea behind ‘experience sharing’, is to create a platform for people to share stories of their daily experiences. Perhaps someone could relate and find solace in the fact that they are not alone in certain daily struggles.

MY LIFE DURING THE COVID -19 PANDEMIC

- Avril Mosito

Who is Avril during the Covid-19 pandemic?

The Covid-19 pandemic has fundamentally changed my life and the lives of so many other people and the way society functions.

It is without a doubt that, trying to maintain a normal routine is different and difficult. It is even more challenging for me because I’m basically home all the time (I am not unemployed by the way), my sleeping patterns have changed, and I sometimes even get tired of being tired. Everything is just different, don’t get me wrong, I love being home. I see it as a “home vacation”.

Perhaps one that might be a little overdue.

However, I do wish sometimes that the conditions under which I was staying home were different. I say this with thoughts tracing back to where life was smooth and easy. This season just made me miss being young, socializing, working, traveling and exploring. The truth is that, I miss the “normal life” I had before these drastic and dramatic changes. A paradox of this moment, is that covid-19 has given us a chance of being home and relaxing like we’ve always wanted to, but at the same time, we are just tired of relaxing and we want to be active. With the current conditions, which are: No work, no school, and no events everything is just difficult mentally and physically. I even imagine sometimes, that once the pandemic is over, I might just struggle to interact with people the way I used to.

The hardship of social distancing, communicating effectively (with masks) and hand-sanitizing, wherever I go, is a new reality that I have to live with. This also obviously has affected everyone else in the world.

On the bright side isolation/lockdown may have been horrible at first. However, it somehow turned out have some positive aspects. Personally, because of this time, I have been able to have some self-introspection, spend some time together with family and on a needs basis checked on relatives. I also get to check on my friends either through FaceTime, WhatsApp call or Telephone. I also engage in some entertainment for myself, through collaborative online apps and sites for gaming, shopping, TikTok, Netflix. For my personal health, I exercise at home by using mini gym equipment for exercising and I have also been exploring with food in the kitchen.

Although the Virus has affected my life physically, socially and emotionally and disrupting loads of other things, it may provide some comfort to know that thousands of other people are going through the same thing. Living throughout this pandemic in isolation, is slowly becoming ‘the new normal’. A new normal that no one ever anticipated to live through. Depending on how we take and see it; we could come out of this feeling more connected to each other and ourselves more than we ever have! History is also being made and we are living to tell this tale to the future generations.

LIFE DURING COVID- 19 FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF A 15 YEAR OLD – Realeboga Masubelele As a high scholar during this lockdown season, I have gotten to invest in some alone time and focus on my thoughts. I have always tried to invest in some alone time, even before the lockdown but it is a whole lot different now, compared to then because there are no distractions. The only distraction I would say, is social media. Before the lockdown, I had so many voices in my life. Those were voices particularly coming from my friends and teachers and as a result interfered with my own voice and thoughts.

I found the lockdown really beneficial for me, also mostly because I was able to reflect on my spirituality.

I learned that I was a lukewarm Christian, and since the lockdown, I have been on a journey with Jesus, growing every day. My eyes have also opened up in terms of knowing who my real friends are and who I had to cut off.

At the moment, another part of my energy is spent on catching up with my school work and gathering all my notes for the next term. I have also been focusing a lot on taking care of my mental health, and not always victimising myself when I feel ill- treated by the people around me. I try to understand the situation from their perspective. I have been seeking peace more than ever and working on not being quick to get angry. When I feel stressed out I pray and when I do get angry, I exercise and focus my energy on something positive! In a nutshell, this season has really helped me reflect and find myself!

Thank You A big thank you to everyone who featured in this first edition! All your efforts are appreciated along with your willing hearts. God bless you all!

Contact:

Tel: 0603667954 e-mail: info@cognicare.co.za Social media handle: @cognicare (FB, IG and twitter) www.cognicare.co.za

Digital artwork by @rejuvenation_design.studiios