In 2020 the spreading of Covid-19 has unexpectedly upset everyone’s lives. Over the last two years, this severe virus has become a serious threat, not only to the maintenance of our health but also to our psychological stability and social relationships.
At the beginning of the pandemic, everyone was taken aback: politicians, doctors, and the whole population of the world. The decision of many governments of imposing a general lockdown was crucial but necessary for the safety of society. For this reason, a considerable number of people all over the world had to “start over” their lives. They got accustomed to spending the whole day at home and they needed to revolutionize their daily routine. This new reality made a considerable impact on our dynamic and interconnected society. What we used to consider “normal”, like hugging a friend or getting around the crowded streets of a metropolitan city, suddenly became a memory of the past. People did not have anymore the opportunity to meet their friends, colleagues, classmates: they started to spend time alone or with the members of their family. The so-called “social distancing” has considerably influenced in different ways both the psychology of single individuals and their relationships.
Firstly, many people may have changed in different ways. In accordance with some surveys, some of them have experienced personal growth. As a matter of fact, they have exploited this period, in which they were forced to stay alone, by trying to improve their self-esteem. As a consequence, they turned this unwanted experience into a great source: they started appreciating themselves more or found a way to make their insecurities a strength. On the other hand, according to many psychologists, for weak people, isolation has resulted in a rise in depression, anxiety and breakdowns, especially for youngsters. A considerable amount of people did not manage to bear this situation and this has deeply affected their mental health. For instance, according to several scientists, during 2020 in Italy people affected by food disorders have seriously increased in number, especially among young people. Therefore, this unconventional experience became a nightmare for them and may have caused many permanent changes in their behaviour and social relations. These two realities are two sides of the same coin: they make us aware of the fact that the lockdown was an opportunity for many people, but a dreadful phase for the weakest.
Secondly, our relationship underwent a tough moment during the lockdown. In that period everyone has undoubtedly realized the indisputable need for human connections: who would ever think that such a normal aspect of our life could be denied and revolutionize our lives as a result? The only way of keeping in touch with friends was by sending them a message or making phone calls and video calls. In this respect, technologies were a precious resource for all of us: electronic devices were our unique window to the world, the only means to keep up with the latest news and hear from other people. Nevertheless, everybody knows that human relations cannot just rely on social networks. As a consequence, the impossibility of meeting someone in presence may have weakened some interpersonal connections. However, social distancing may, as well, have strengthened some bones. In a period marked by uncertainties about the present and the future, for human beings, the family became a valuable treasure to rely on. In a historical context during which “stay home, stay safe” was the most recurrent sentence, the home was perceived as the cosiest place in the world. As a matter of fact, a considerable quantity of people may have noticed only during the lockdown the undoubtful importance of the members of their family. They were our North Star in a shady dark and cloudy sky. Many people believe that during this tough moment for the entire society, we have discovered and experienced the real significance of being part of a family. This means standing up for each other, giving encouragement and advice so as to overcome fears and insecurities. Not only children and youngsters but also adults and elderlies could rely one on another while getting through a stressful period. In addition to that, spending entire days with your parents, siblings or children could have been a worthwhile experience in order to share ideas among different generations and widen everyone’s horizons.
To conclude, I would like to share my own experience. The diffusion of pandemic two years ago led the whole world to a situation of emergency which took everyone by surprise. In the beginning, I felt lost and almost unaware of what was happening in the world surrounding me: a terrible fear upset me. It was like running away from an invisible enemy: I struggled to understand what exactly everyone was scared of. Probably, this happened because it seemed like an awkward dream to me. My whole routine was put upside down and I necessarily needed to deal with a totally new situation. Although the first days I felt uneasy, with the passing of time I managed to get accustomed to the current situation. I believe that being a strong-willed person really helped me to try to focus on the ways I could make that experience more pleasant, and also educational. I noticed that only the lack of something makes us realize its value. This period, for me, resulted in having a more positive outlook on life. It taught me not to take anything for granted: now I try to benefit from any situation, enjoy every moment and try to be more easy-going and optimistic. I learnt that it is important to savour every experience as we have no certainties about the future. In my opinion, the secret of happiness is optimism: we only live once and there is not enough time to be knocked out by fears and regrets.
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