037: Weightlifting continues to save me

"This one is a little more Lifting oriented. I started weightlifting and it unintentionally saved me from a bad place. I was about 12/13 years old when the major covid lockdown happened. No school, no socialising and a complete change is normal life style. This took a massive toll on my mental health.

At the time I was undiagnosed autistic so that sudden change and lack of structure with society changing without my control left me spiralling. None of my friends of peers seemed to understand why this time was soo hard for me. I should have been happy to not need to go into school but I was miserable the entire time.

I stated weightlifting in 2022 when coming out of the pandemic era and back to reality. The structure training gave me and a new found love for sport I never had in school saved me from those dark times stuck at home. I found my village through weightlifting and I am forever grateful to have been exposed to this sport. Weightlifting continues to save me now everyday and lifts me up at the times I need it most."

-Anonymous