I don’t know about y’all, but I don’t think we’ve gotten enough credit for making it through this horribly exhausting year of COVID-19. I know that people complain about the mask-wearing and physical health issues, but what about the pandemic’s impact on our mental health? We have spent so much of this year confined to our rooms with almost no one to talk to. That is just not healthy! Humans need social interaction. Even if you’re an introvert and enjoy your time alone (which is completely valid and very healthy), you aren’t meant to live in isolation. So, I think it’s important to take some time and reflect on the year we’ve had and how it has impacted our mental health, and what we can do now to heal. Now, get comfy, get some snacks, and reflect with me.
Let’s talk about quarantine. Think about your initial feelings when you found out about the lockdown. I know that for me, I felt scared, scared of being alone. Now, think about what you did to take care of yourself the day that you knew you would have to spend the majority of this year alone. I’m guessing that you didn’t do much. Well, now is the time to do what you should’ve done then. Let’s take some deep breaths and think about how strong we were as we delved into a year of isolation. Let’s think about how brave we were for getting through, what hopefully was, the hardest part. Let’s thank our bodies and our minds for making that survival possible. I don’t think we truly understand the toll that this kind of news takes on our minds, which so eagerly yearn for human connection.
Now, let’s shift our thinking to quarantine itself. What a time, huh? I, personally, spent a lot of it at home with my family. However, I had just moved from Scottsdale, Arizona to Washington D.C., and I knew absolutely no one. I remember spending those first few months sleeping through the days and wishing away the hours, waiting for the end of this hell on earth. Reflecting back, I remember how horrible my body and mind felt, and how little I did to keep them active and healthy. If you resonate with this, just know that your reaction was not your fault. Our minds and bodies are not equipped for that kind of living, and there was no way for you to truly prepare yourself for those long months. However, now that you have had the time to hopefully recollect yourself, let’s take another moment to close our eyes, breathe, and congratulate ourselves on not giving up, even though our entire environment was practically begging us to. I am proud of you, and you should be proud of yourself.
Lastly, I would like to reflect on how the presence of a pandemic impacted our minds. First, the fact that the symptoms of COVID-19 are literally symptoms of absolutely everything felt like a slap to the face. I’m not sure if you all had similar experiences, but every time I cough or have a headache (both of which happen all the time, whether it be allergies or stress), my mind would go straight to COVID. This is horrible for anxiety. I spent so many of my days anxious to see my COVID test results or scared that I got it on the subway. You basically live your life in fear that you’re going to get infected. This pandemic has added an entirely new layer of paranoia, which dominates the brain at every waking moment. And even if you’re young and would most likely be fine if you got it, you’re constantly worrying about spreading it to people whose health would be at risk if infected. It’s a never-ending cycle that destroys mental health. So, let’s take a moment to remind ourselves that we are okay, we are alive, and we are healthy. And if there is someone out there reading this who is COVID positive, just know that we are here for you and you are going to be okay.
Finally, let’s take a moment to acknowledge the many deaths that have occurred due to this horrible virus. If you have any loved ones who are currently sick or who have passed, I am so sorry, and you are incredibly strong for having gone through that. Hopefully, this article has helped you reflect and realize that the power you hold can withstand everything. Have a wonderful week!