It’s been a year since we’ve been living under such heavy stress. This stress, also a threat to our sanity and way of life, is single handedly contributed by the effects of this accelerated virus documented under the name of COVID-19. But let’s be clear, the question of the effects of this virus isn’t the same conversation as whether the virus is “real” or a conspiracy. For regardless of what it is, why it is, or who made it what it is, there are life threatening effects because of this questionable flu variant. There’s no denying that people are dying and that our way of life has been dramatically shifted, and these aspects alone are enough to make it all worrisome.

It’s scary imagining and reflecting on what life was just a year ago. It’s not scary because life was bad a year ago, it’s scary because of how fast this flu has become a dominant influence on how we live. About a year ago, early 2020, we were made aware of COVID-19 and it’s possible repercussions if it were to become a widespread virus. Of course these were all worst case scenario possibilities, nothing that we actually thought would happen. But even if we did believe there was a possibility, that wasn’t a possibility we chose to entertain. For who would want to imagine a life completely opposite of the life that were enjoying. We lived freely, expressively and intimately amongst each other. We enjoyed the flexibility of being able to travel both domestically and internationally. We openly ignored the idea of ‘space’, for a proper hello or goodbye was always complimented by a hug, shaking of hands, or 1,2, or 3 kisses. We enjoyed a life that presented us with endless possibilities of exercising both the mind and the body through recreational, competitive and professional activities. WE WERE LIVING!

Some may argue and say that although COVID-19 has impacted our social lives, social media was already on the verge of doing so. While I do understand that argument, I strongly believe that there’s a significant impact when a person is left with no choice. Although social media has indeed been affecting our social lives, it is so because these are choices that we as people have made (though conscious or unconscious). But COVID-19 has placed us in a situation that we have no control of, we have no say, we have no freedom nor any flexibility, and that’s where the frustrations begins.

Fast forward to a year later, here we are still living under threat. A threat to our lives, both physical and mental. Again, whether you believe in COVID-19 or not, there’s no denying that people are dying, people are suffering, and our way of life has been affected. But what’s really worrisome to me is that many of us focus on the tragedy of the now, and neglect those of tomorrow. There have been countless souls that lost their lives (physical) due to COVID-19 up until now. The tragedy of death has directed our focus solely on the physical and distracted us from also seeing the urgency of all the victims who have and are losing their lives through the mental aspect. For death isn’t the only way we as humans can lose our lives.

It confuses me to realize, that we live in a world that acknowledges the effects of caging away animals for any extended period, but does not acknowledge the effects on us as people. Yes, it is necessary for protocols to be in place, but how are we really saving people if we are only saving the physical and neglecting the mental?
Children are suffering, teens are suffering, parents, adults, professionals, we all are in our way. It’s tough to see that kids aren’t able to free themselves up to the world, engage and explore. Worrisome to know that teenagers, especially those going through puberty, aren’t able to find means of constructive outputs nor are they able to socialize or create experiences and bonds. Frustrating to accept that adults aren’t able to enjoy the pleasures of a relief or an output that allows them destress from a confined work day. Heartbreaking to know that people living abroad aren’t able to meet new people, aren’t able to socialize, are all alone with no answers, only more questions.

Families aren’t able to live traditionally, children aren’t able to touch their parents or grandparents, birthdays and holidays become lonely gatherings. Depression, frustration, loneliness, stress… tragedies such as funerals or emergencies are experienced through a text or over a camera. This is no regular life, this is far from a life…

We are living in a world that we do not recognize. But if we do not look out for each other, if we do not create measures or a support system that focuses on the mental well-being of our people, even if we get back the world we once knew, how many people will we not be able to recognize?

Call a friend, call your family, check in on them, make sure they are okay. Reach out to someone if you need someone to speak to. Stop telling yourself that you’re okay when you’re not. None of us are, and the only way that we can survive this is together!!!