The Coronavirus Pandemic - One Year In

The Coronavirus pandemic has brought a sense of isolation to many.

Most of the world has been living with the Coronavirus pandemic for over a year now. For those of us who have been fortunate enough not to have gotten sick or to have gotten sick and survived, we’ve experienced partial or total shutdowns, social distancing, fear of getting sick, etc. We have been worried about our families’ health, about our children missing school or the normal social interaction that school provides. Many of us have been stressed by having our children and/or spouses at home most of the time while we try to maintain a career, run a household, and provide meals. And many have lost their jobs or suffered economic hardship. To say that it has been a difficult time for many is a major understatement.

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In addition to all the stress and difficulty that the pandemic has brought for many of us, we also are unable to draw upon the usual fun activities that can serve as “distractions” that help us cope with stress, such as dining out, traveling, spending time with friends and family, going to the movies, shopping, participating in certain sports – whatever those things might be that give us added pleasure in our lives, distract us – even if only temporarily – from our problems or bring us joy.
 
Loneliness and isolation are being reported by many, and it is taking a toll that can rival a physical illness.  In order to cope, some people might turn to other ways to “escape,” such as abuse of alcohol and drugs.  To top it off, physical activity has been curtailed for many.

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