We Need a ‘Relationship Reclamation’ After the COVID-19 Pandemic

I am a future-minded and big picture person. As the world finds its way through a global catastrophe, I can’t help but think about what comes after. This is in no way to dismiss the struggles that people are currently going through with the coronavirus (COVID-19) —  the new viral strain in the coronavirus family that affects the lungs and respiratory system — as I have so much empathy for those who are closely affected.

Perhaps this is just my coping mechanism – to look forward. Even though my mom has been telling me for weeks to focus on each day at a time, I simply cannot. Yes, there are a lot of worries and fears about the lasting consequences of a pandemic, which I will also explore, but there is also hope to be found. A light at the end of the tunnel, if you will. 

As I face this dialectic between dread and hope, confusion mostly takes over. Let’s take a look at the two sides of this coin.

Since we are still in the middle of this, and my country has not yet hit its peak of cases, I am self-isolating in my apartment. My everyday freedoms have been taken away, and I am feeling trapped. In terms of the big picture, I have friends and family who are on the front lines every day in health care facilities. I cannot forget that thousands of people have died from this virus. Families thereafter are unable to even grieve per their wishes or traditions.

The grim reality of this situation hits hard. The future negative consequences of this pandemic are also unknown. Will there be a rise in mental health challenges? Will children have adapted survival behaviors and struggle to go back to “normal?” Will the long-term financial impacts devastate the economy? There is a lot of uncertainty.

I, for one, am hopeful that things won’t go back to how they were before this hit. There is so much room for compassion for each other, and maybe, just maybe, we can learn some positive lessons from this time. 

Therefore, I am calling for a “relationship reclamation” once we are back in safe territory. Social or physical distancing is extremely difficult, especially in times of trouble. Now that we know how trying it is to not be able to socialize in-person with one another, maybe it’s time to change our old patterns of interaction.

Go for that after-work drink with your colleagues. Learn the name of your barista (they likely already know yours). Take a long weekend off to go on a road trip with your friends. Find out the likes and dislikes of an acquaintance. Get ready and go on that Tinder date!

Perhaps it’s already happening to you. I have been communicating with my friends and family more than ever, albeit over virtual means. Sometimes we talk about our feelings and other times we send each other funny GIFs.

There are so many possibilities to improve our relationships with one another. Caring is part of human nature, and maybe this forced isolation is just what we needed to realize how important it is to all of us.

I am choosing to see the silver lining in terms of the potential ahead for expressing feelings and building new friendships.

There will undoubtedly still be arduous times ahead, but just for a minute, consider what a new “normal” full of kindness and care would mean to you. Why not start today?

Struggling with anxiety due to COVID-19? Check out the following articles from our community:

• What You Should Know About Social Distancing During COVID-19
• 6 Tips If You’re Anxious About Being Unable to Go to Therapy Because of COVID-19
• What to Do If the Coronavirus Health Guidelines Are Triggering Your Anxiety or OCD
• Feeling Calm in the Midst of the Coronavirus Pandemic Might Be a Trauma Response
• How Can You Tell the Difference Between Anxiety and COVID-19 Symptoms?
• 8 Soaps You Can Use to Help Prevent the Spread of Illness