The pandemic and its associated consequences have been responsible for a skyrocketing of mental health issues. One such study cited a quadrupling of self-reported anxiety/depression symptoms during the pandemic compared with numbers from the prior year over a similar period. The mental health effects of the pandemic have been most strongly felt by young women, those with young children, and those with a pre-existing psychiatric condition, although seemingly no demographic category has been entirely spared.
If the pandemic had been a short-term issue, readjustment likely would have occurred with minimal incident. Initial lockdown estimates from March and April 2020, ranging from a few weeks to a few months at most, seem almost absurd in retrospect. If those initial estimates had held, it is likely that mask-wearing and social distancing would have been viewed as an annoyance at worst.
The initial predictions of lockdown time frames turned out to be very wrong. During that time, both in the US and abroad, human beings rapidly became very practiced in social distancing, mask-wearing, and minimizing social interactions with individuals outside of their immediate home. Research on habits shows that they can become solidified in roughly two months. Regular reinforcement of those habits, coupled with emotional activation (i.e., fear/anxiety), can powerfully embed these behaviors into our everyday lives.
With that said, many people are welcoming the recent relaxing of restrictions, which Governor Cuomo has termed a “milestone.” Images of maskless patrons in bars, restaurants, and other venues celebrating the change show the emotional release of those individuals following an extended period of restriction. Although some discrepancies may exist, these individuals primarily seem to be expressing their joy and relief of navigating a very trying time in their lives via celebrations with others. Elimination of these new COVID-era habits should prove relatively easy for this group as they progress through 2021 and beyond (perhaps too easily).
In contrast, many do not feel the excitement of the recently liberated individuals described above. It appears that adjustment to the reopening process generates distress for some 50% of those surveyed by the American Psychological Association, as reported by the NY Times. Many of those groups which did well (relatively speaking) during the lockdown now appear to be suffering from distress associated with reopening; the socially anxious, introverts, the bullied, and the obsessive-compulsive, to name a few. Elimination of practices that reduced acute stressors and were deemed protective may not come so simply for these individuals.
Two vastly different experiences to the same reopening world are described above. Although both understandable from a particular point of view, these reactions come along with their specific risks. Those rushing to reopen in an irresponsible fashion open themselves, their loved ones, and the unvaccinated to the risks of the disease itself. Meanwhile, the overly tentative, no longer listening to the science, further reinforce their habits, avoid sensible increases in relative risk, and risk unnecessarily perpetuating the associated health consequences of the pandemic.
So, what to do?
As it turns out, the solution for both groups has been around for thousands of years: “Ignorant people see life as either existence or non-existence, but wise men see it beyond both existence and non-existence to something that transcends them both; this is an observation of the Middle Way.” – Seneca the Younger. Problem solved!
Problem solved?
Although this can be a profound and powerful statement, it also has the potential to be somewhat confounding from a pragmatic perspective. If someone you know finds this to be the case, I would strongly encourage seeking therapy to help resolve these issues and craft a plan. This is what most therapists live for!
And of course, if either the pandemic itself or the reopening world is causing significant psychological distress, contacting a mental health professional or organization is of paramount importance.
Dr. Nathan McClelland is a clinical psychologist who specializes in providing individually tailored, evidence-based psychotherapy with a focus on increasing self-understanding – the way one makes sense of their own history, thoughts, feelings, and behaviors – and the examination of how and why individuals often engage in distressing or ineffective behaviors. Dr. McClelland assists patients in improving their awareness of these patterns, and in the process make changes to allow for a richer and more meaningful life.
