Coping with the pandemic

How to cope with the fear and uncertainty brought by the COVID-19 pandemic?

2020 has been a historical year, one that we would all rather have preferred to avoid. Our preference notwithstanding, the year raged ahead bulldozing through our hopes and aspirations leaving behind a gaping hole in our collective memories.

My last concrete memory is from February when family and I were making vacation plans for the rest of the year. I am of course not suggesting that I was left with amnesia since February. But, I find myself consciously recalling very few moments from the rest of the year. Perhaps it's best to forget in some cases.

The pandemic has touched all our lives in some way, shape or form. From limiting our social interactions, to adapting to working from home scenarios while supporting children taking online classes. This year has pushed a lot of us to our limits. And though we can see some light at the end of the tunnel with the approval of multiple vaccines, we are still a long way from resuming our normal lives.

Coping with Social Isolation

Check in with loved ones by texting. Even a "Hey! How've you been?" can make someone feel less alone.

During difficult times, our first instinct is to reach out to our loved ones. Unfortunately the pandemic has halted most types of social gatherings. We are having to choose between keeping our friends and family safe by not meeting in person and our inherent nature to want to meet our loved ones in times of a crisis. This virus is a nasty little terror, that has been preying on our loved ones by exploiting our human instinct of reaching out to others.

While it is important to maintain social distancing guidelines until we can put the pandemic behind us, we can still reach out to our family and friends safely. Technology has made video calls and group calls easily accessible for most. Schedule some time on weekends or holidays to meet with your friends and family via video calls. Check in with loved ones by texting. Even a "Hey! How've you been?" can make someone feel less alone. The key to coping with the social isolation is to reach out in safe and creative ways to connect.

And even though it may feel like you're lonely and isolated, it's important to remember that in our collective struggle against this pandemic, we are all in very similar boats. If you feel lonely and sad, remember that there are at least a hundred other people in the world feeling that exact same feeling at that exact same time. So, you're not really alone after all. And maybe it's time to pick up your phone and send a text.

Facing Job Uncertainty

This is a difficult time, and we will struggle for a bit. We just have to hold on and keep going and believe in ourselves.

The COVID-19 pandemic has thrown into sharp focus the economic disparities that exist in our world. While many have been social distancing by isolating themselves and working from home, there are plenty still who have been pushed into an uncertain future as remote working didn't stay an option. An unstable economy brings fresh fears every day of losing jobs and livelihoods in the middle of a pandemic which has already been wreaking havoc everywhere.

While everyone has different situations and each battle is unique, the struggle we face is real for each of us. Whether it's keeping your job in an unstable economy or keeping your health insurance amidst a pandemic, balancing work and family during a stressful year or trying to keep struggling businesses afloat, our battles are real and our exhaustion is also real.

While there is no one solution to every problem, we can start by taking a few deep breaths and telling ourselves that even though everything sucks, and our shoulders feel heavy with the weight we have to bear, we will be okay. Even if we are not okay right now in this very instance, we can take a few deep breaths and tell ourselves that soon, we will be okay. This is a difficult time, and we will struggle for a bit. But, the world will keep spinning, and the economy will get better. We just have to hold on and keep going and believe in ourselves. And in the meantime, if possible maybe we can keep our minds distracted by learning a new skill that we can add to our résumés.

Dealing with Health and Infection Related Fears

It is important to recognize the fear as a good thing. It is what keeps us safe and careful. But, it is also important to not drown in this fear and make it bigger than it actually is.

The ever constant fear that most of us have experienced during this pandemic is us or our loved ones being infected and hospitalized with COVID-19. When the disease was still relatively new earlier this year, there was mixed information about the severity and rate of infections. Since then, we have had advances in medical knowledge about the disease and its treatment in leaps and bounds.

While most health organizations now have clear guidelines on how to practice social distancing and stay safe, the fear of the unknown still lurks at the back of our minds. It is important to recognize the fear as a good thing. It is what keeps us safe and careful. But, it is also important to not drown in this fear and make it bigger than it actually is. We are now at a point where knowledge about treating the infection has gotten a lot better and fatalities have become lower relative to infections.

While we are nowhere out of the weeds yet, we should focus on what we can do to prevent infections instead of being engulfed in fear. Practicing masking and following social distancing guidelines have made a huge impact in reducing transmission of the virus. Washing your hands frequently with soap and water, and wiping high touch surfaces (like door handles, TV remotes, etc.) with soapy water or alcohol based wipes are some good hygiene practices as well. Focusing on actions that you can do will help curb the fear of the unknown that the pandemic has brought into our lives and bring back somewhat, a sense of control.

Surviving a Pandemic

If we are the ones who have survived this pandemic, we owe it to the millions who didn't make it, to defeat the memory of fear of the pandemic by living our lives to the fullest.

Interestingly there has been a lot of varied responses to the pandemic, which is not surprising considering that every person is unique in their own way, and different people respond differently to the same scenario.

We have seen people wearing masks and people refusing to wear masks, those practicing social distancing and those refusing to practice social distancing. While some jobs make it difficult to practice social distancing, it is our duty as citizens of the world to stand with our fellow citizens and prevent, or at the very least, slow down the pandemonium that has been created by this virus.

We should think of the person that we love most (we all have at least one person who matches the description), and then ask ourselves, "What would I be willing to do to keep him/her/them safe?" Would I be willing to wear a mask? How about staying somewhat socially isolated till this nightmare is over? Cancelling an anniversary plan? Or a birthday? Whatever our beliefs, would we be willing to risk the life of someone we love?

Even though we may still be months away from going back to whatever "normal" will mean post-pandemic, we are seeing some light at the end of the tunnel now. I will choose to be optimistic during this time and make a list of all the things I would want to do once this is behind us. Seeing friends and family. Finding a job. Traveling. Eating out. Shopping in a mall. Going to a movie. Whatever you have missed out on this year, make a resolution to make up for it in the coming years. The only way to survive this horror is to focus on the possibilities of our future. If we are the ones who have survived this pandemic, we owe it to the millions who didn't make it, to defeat the memory of fear of the pandemic by living our lives to the fullest.

As always, take a few moments to wrap yourself in a warm blanket of good feelings. Because you deserve it!