We’re now going into the third year of this pandemic. Looking back, it has been a non-stop rollercoaster. Not only is the pandemic, of course, a long-term, dire issue in and of itself, but COVID-19 brought upon more problematic events including a rise in hate crimes, controversial social/political movements, and other serious disputes.

Overall, with the way things have been, there’s a good chance people are coping with anxiety as well as depression because they’re anticipating that this pandemic and its negative implications will continue after 2022.

If this applies to you, here are some tips on how to cope:

Reflect on Yourself and How You’ve Handled Things since March 2020

If you find yourself feeling particularly depressed, here is a suggestion: Create a list of every specific thing you’ve accomplished/dealt with since everyone started isolating back in 2020. Some examples may include graduating, finishing a personal project, learning a new skill, or even helping out around your household more.

Ponder this thought: You’ve endured these tumultuous times thus far, with COVID-19 essentially creating new normalities. From not seeing people we love for extended periods of time to putting on masks before we enter a public space and sanitizing our hands non-stop, it can definitely seem disheartening. Even if adapting to certain changes has been difficult, you got through them and are still trudging onward. There is strength in that, and you should applaud yourself for doing so.

Focus On Taking One Day at a Time

Another way to cope is continuing to concentrate on taking one day at a time. This could help mitigate the depressing prospect of the pandemic lasting beyond 2022. Consider this fact: 2023 isn’t for another nine months. In the meantime, rather than thinking of a possibility happening that far into the future, focus on what’s currently important. Why not divert your attention to the things needed to be done tomorrow? Or even today?

Reach Out to a Trusted Person if You’re Feeling Overwhelmed

While what’s stated above may prove to be effective, you can still feel overwhelmed and have the need to speak with someone. Bottling your negative emotions inside obviously isn’t healthy, therefore, sharing how you’re feeling with a person you trust when feeling this way is crucial. It can be anyone – a family member, friend, etc. who you know will listen to you. If need be, you could also speak with a professional. A great source would be My SSP, which is an app that provides 24/7 counselling services for university students.

COVID-19 has made things very challenging. Living in this new normal for the foreseeable future seems bleak, but we have to learn how to take each challenge as they come. If things seem overwhelming, talk to someone when you need to get things off your chest.

Looking at this situation long-term, the best way to move forward with the possibility of the pandemic’s timeline extending beyond 2022 is focusing on everyday life, knowing that we’ve gotten through many of the pandemic’s hurdles and have the capability of continuing to do so.

References

My SSP. “My SSP – Homepage.” My SSP – Home Page