Many thought after getting their first COVID-19 vaccine doses that this was the beginning of the end, that soon the pandemic would be over and the world could go back to normal.
But as the months have passed, and that elusive sense of normalcy continues to feel just slightly out of grasp, it's difficult to picture a world without COVID-19.
It's likely "normal" will now include the virus, adding to the mental health struggles already exacerbated by the pandemic.
"People are feeling isolated, exhausted, angry, disappointed, and nobody is really at their best right now," said Dr. Kenneth Carter, Professor of Psychology at Oxford College of Emory University on Tuesday's "Ask an Expert" with KCBS Radio's Holly Quan and Dan Mitchinson.
Not only are people feeling frustrated about life not going back to the way things were, but they're also feeling "compassion fatigue," said Carter. People have lost loved ones, jobs, "every activity is harder," he said. It's getting harder to muster up compassion for others when everyone is struggling.
"I think combining that lack of compassion with ourselves and other people, and just the daily stress of what we’re all going through just really wears on us," said Carter.
Physically, this stress is spiking people's cortisol levels, a chemical in the body that incites reactions in people to either "fight, flee, or freeze," he said.
Being in this constant state of alertness can manifest in people attacking others, or even themselves, sometimes unintentionally.
It's even harder when the changes, the threats, are invisible. Adding to that physical isolation brought on by the pandemic, people can't see if others have the virus, have been vaccinated, "so we're not sure if we're just doing this ourselves or if we're in this all together," said Carter.
A lot of people are angry, he said, "because things aren't the way we want them to be."
This anger compounds when it feels like others aren't following the same rules, the same societal expectations, which could be a factor in the uptick in fights breaking out on airplanes, and other such reports. This can make people uncomfortable going out, and can then perpetuate this cycle. "Stress brings stress," said Carter.
In order to help mitigate some of these stressors and alleviate the pressure, people can work to better understand where people are coming from, what they are experiencing, and what you yourself are experiencing. "Someone may be acting out not because they’re a bad person, but because they’re under a lot of stress that you’re under as well," he said.
Secondly, it helps to set boundaries. Limiting the intake of negative news, the practice of "doom scrolling," is likely to help with some of that stress. And also, people can work to be clear about what their limits are in terms of compassion, with friends and family.
Another helpful solution would be to practice more self-care. "All the things that we know we need to do that we put aside when we’re really stressed out," he said. Engaging in laughter, getting more sleep, doing more physical activity are some suggestions Carter noted.
The holidays are approaching, and it's important to keep these solutions in mind during this season, he said.
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