Although COVID-19 is starting to loosen up, it’s hard to forget the fear and anxiety that it caused so many people during its existence. However, with restrictions easing and vaccinations being rolled out, the world is slowly transitioning toward a new normal.
Fear and anxiety about COVID-19 was the practical response. This is because when it first broke out, it was a deadly virus that caused people to suffer immense pain with the potential of death.
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As we move toward a new normal, we must recognize that we were once victims of a pandemic, the first of the century.
Acknowledging the severity of COVID-19
To move on from the fear and anxiety of COVID-19, it’s essential to acknowledge that first of all, it did happen, and second of all, it was severe. There were many effects that the pandemic brought; here are the most important ones to remember.
Life and death
Although not everyone has a direct relative or friend that passed away due to COVID-19, there were multiple stories wherein people legitimately passed away or underwent severe pain.
When the pandemic first came out, doctors were still struggling to find a way to be able to treat what was still an unknown virus to them. As scientists worked toward developing a vaccine, the virus also kept mutating, making it harder to fight.
Financial
To top everything off, COVID-19 caused lockdowns that induced different kinds of pain worldwide. First, there were financial woes from people who had lost their jobs, businesses, and means to provide for their families.
When lockdowns first started happening, people thought that they would last for just an extremely brief period. However, this was not the case; lockdowns happened repetitively, causing financial pain to many people.
Although stimulus packages were given, some would argue that these were not enough to help them recoup what they lost during the pandemic.
Psychological
Aside from the financial and physical pain, there was also psychological pain that the pandemic lockdowns caused. Some people had to be separated from one another due to work or just living in different locations.
Socialization was also very difficult during this period since people were not allowed to communicate as they did before. Therefore, the loneliness factor has definitely affected a lot of people; to this day, some have changed.
What to do next
The next step to dealing with fear and anxiety regarding COVID-19 is to look around and see what changes are happening in the present. Although not yet a distant past, the surge of the pandemic has already passed, and things are starting to open up again.
While not everyone has recovered yet, many people are fighting and even booming in the new economy. Moreover, the pandemic has even accelerated the use of specific technologies.
Before the pandemic, meetings had to be done in person, but now, arrangements can be made online, making things a bit more efficient for some people.
Look to the future
Finally, the last thing to do when dealing with fear and anxiety regarding the pandemic is to look to the future and see how things could improve for you. Unfortunately, the world is constantly changing, and there is nothing you can do about it, but luckily, there is still something you can do for yourself.
According to Marcus Aurelius, one of the most extraordinary Roman emperors to ever live: “You have power over your mind — not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.”
While the pandemic has shifted the goalposts, there is still hope for the future.
