A global, widespread pandemic not only changed the lives of those who lost loved ones or tested positive for COVID, but heightened the effects of an already widespread, pre-COVID pandemic - mental health, depression, and anxiety.
With so many changes, in such a short period of time, the last two years have taken its toll on many. Job losses, social isolation, uncertainty, grief affected the livelihood of everybody and worsened symptoms for those already facing pre-pandemic challenges. There's no doubt that the pandemic has had a negative effect on mental health.
94% of Canadians who previously reported having depression, anxiety or a mood disorder reported being negatively over the last two years.
Due to ongoing changes, working from home, exhaustion, isolation and job loss the rippling implications of the pandemic have had a global effect across the entire population. The way our lives have been forced to change over the last two years have had a lasting effect on our well-being and our lives, for both good and bad.
How Has the Pandemic Affected Mental Health?
The Effects of Uncertainty
Not knowing what the future holds can be unnerverving for anyone. Under the pressure of significant health risks and lockdowns, the pandemic put a lot of lives on hold.
We didn’t really have the space to plan our own lives in circumstances of turmoil so we had to stop, sit and wait. On a global scale we all felt the effects of not knowing what was going to happen next and expecting the worst.
Not knowing what to expect can lead us to draw our own conclusions, and in a global state of panic and fear, many of the conclusions drawn were based in more of a negative headspace.
Socially Re-Adapting
Social isolation isn’t always a bad thing. As social creatures, sometimes it’s healthy to need some time alone. This helps us unwind, relax, meditate and recharge our batteries for our next outing.
However, social isolation for a longer period of time can have an effect on our mental health. Social isolation has been linked to increased feelings of loneliness, depression, and increased substance abuse.
Once we adjust to the feeling of isolating from friends and family, getting back into social situations can be scary. Having to re-learn how to socialize and question what makes others feel comfortable, re-setting social boundaries for yourself based on your own comfort levels were all things we had to do globally during and after the pandemic. We also had to be understanding and compassionate towards others who didn’t share the same opinion as us. Not everyone dealt with the pandemic in the same way, so that affected our personal relationships.
Accepting a New Normal
The world has changed as we know it. After a global pandemic of this scale, it is inevitable that things won’t be the same, and people feel that globally.
The economic and social changes that we faced as a result of and during COVID will leave their mark on history, and people have seen and understood these affects first hand. Whether it was losses of jobs, closures of businesses, losses of relationships or simply having to wait at the passport office for 6 hours, the effects of economical and social changes have been felt on a global scale.
People know that moving forward, things will be different. This might mean, more people working from home, longer lines at the airport, the introduction of new, digital identities, whatever it is, we’ve already felt a huge global shift over the last two years that will carry on to the future.
Dealing in a Healthy Way
So how do we deal with this communal feeling of grief? Whether it’s anger, sadness or fear, we’ve all felt the impacts the pandemic has had on us mentally.
Acceptance is the first step. When we think the worst, or can’t control our negative racing thoughts and images, we need to balance those images. Remind yourself that your thoughts aren’t always true and focusing on the negative, or magnifying our thoughts is not helpful for our mental health.
Having various techniques that can help you in moments of panic and uncertainty can help to bring you back to the present moment and counter negative thoughts. Practicing gratitude, learning how to ground ourselves, staying present, and journaling, are all methods to help us counter negative thinking.
Let go of what you can’t control. You can’t control the decisions of your friends and family but you can control the things you can do to keep yourself safe. You are able to set healthy boundaries for yourself and are entitled to practice those.
The pandemic was such a chaotic and uncertain time for many. Now more than ever, we have to understand that everyone has had to deal with different circumstances.
Some people discovered a new path, many lost jobs, some lost relationships, some made banana bread and took up yoga.
Having compassion during these times for the experience of others. We all feel grief, fear and anxiety in different ways and if someone is being off with you, remember that it may be their fear speaking – it’s not always reflective of who they are.
Remember that life goes on. It has to. These feelings are temporary, and although it may seem like the pandemic has had a huge effect on us, we will move on. History tells us that we are resilient. It’s time to take what we’ve learned, about health, about others, and about ourselves, and incorporate that into our future. Move forward with everything you’ve learned. Take precautions but don’t let fear and uncertainty prevent you from living your life.
Final Thoughts
If you’re feeling the effects of the pandemic in an unhealthy way, consider talking to a trained professional. Having someone else to help you talk through your emotions can help you sort out what you are feeling. A trained counselor can also give you tools to help you sort through anxiety, guilt, and fear.
If you are feeling the added stress of pandemic fatigue, job losses, or having a hard time adjusting to your new lifestyle, book a session with one of our counselors.
We can show you ways to build resilience through change and understand your emotions about the ever changing atmosphere.