How the pandemic has impacted human existence

During the past year, the pandemic has polarized the entire human existence, our lives gravitating around it. Quarantine, isolation, living without stepping out of a house and social distancing found their way in almost every corner of the world. Thus, physical socialization has degenerated, technology has taken over all humanity, and the psychological impact was and it still is a major one.

Now, we’re all wondering how the pandemic affected us. We’re visibly changed, even though we sometimes deny it. Social distancing and the measures imposed limited the interaction between people, made empathy disappear little by little. Not only did the pandemic limit interaction, but it limited our freedom of expression, as well. We can’t meet the people we care about anymore and it is harder and harder to hope that we’ll go back to a normal life, while the number of cases is constantly increasing. A lot of people assert that the internet compensated for socializing during quarantine, but for normal mental health, the internet can’t be enough: hugs can’t be virtual, and we all know how much a hug means to a teen.

During the century of speed, it’s pretty difficult to reach harmony with yourself: we’re always in a hurry, or at school, or doing other activities, preparations, and charity events. The pandemic limited all these, and we were left locked in our houses. Only us with ourselves. And, for many young people, certain unavoidable factors have emerged: anxiety, depression, stress. People have started to become maladapted to their way of living and to spend hours and hours in front of a laptop, watching series or reading the alarming news. Looking at the situation from a different perspective, the people diagnosed with this virus are unsure of their health, and they wake up every morning with the fear of complicating respiratory problems or infecting loved ones. Unsure and scared of what could happen, they are uncertain about their survival and recovery, feeling helpless. Therefore, a fear develops that can cause panic attacks. In this context, a stress epidemic has installed, which didn’t only affect the infected ones, but also those who have to stay in their own home, being obligated to adapt to a new lifestyle, which is based on technology. The pandemic has modeled more than a year from our lives, putting them on hold. Many important events have been postponed or cancelled: from graduation and exams to weddings or trips we have been dreaming of for years, everything has been changed according to the new circumstances.

We all know that we have to get through this period, but how is it possible? From our information, we need to learn to be more and more positive, to rest more, to avoid screens and to interact with our friends, respecting the security measures. Also, the pandemic is an occasion to change our lifestyle: we can learn how to eat healthier, to do sport. YES! In our home, in the medium where we feel good; we can become better versions of ourselves! We can discover new passions, read more, or perform in a chosen field.

In order to limit the feelings of stress and anxiety, we should try to have a routine similar to the one before the pandemic, keeping the daily activities, such as making our bed or changing our clothes daily. Implementing a healthy diet and reducing caffeine could also be helpful, and if you are going through a difficult period, don’t hesitate to get in touch with a psychologist.

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editorial: Andra Duțu,

Maria Delia

graphic design: Ioana Butaru

translation: Andra Duțu,

Maria Delia

DP (desktop publishing): Ioana Butaru