Our Larger Impact

Coming Together During a Time of Social Distancing

BY KENDRA SOMMERS

We can impact the outcomes if we all continue to work together in solidarity with each other.

The world is unpredictable. The world is uncertain. And the world, now more than ever, seems to hold an unforeseeable future that feels impossible to comprehend at times.

While we can often feel helpless and disheartened by the constant stream of adverse news, it is important to remember that we can impact the outcomes if we all continue to work together in solidarity with each other.

As the world closes and lockdowns are implemented, mass social isolation ultimately is going to impact individuals in ways humanity has not previously experienced. According to Psychiatric Times, “Social isolation [was implemented], first as part of preventive health care advice, and then, as a critical component of shelter in place or total lockdown decrees.”

As social creatures, our lack of physical interaction, exacerbated by the anxiety of the world, “[social isolation] can operate as a triggering . . . agent of loneliness, more so if the latter is already an established personality trait,” or coupled with preexisting mental health illnesses.

The future appears grim, especially when mandatory social distancing is being practiced worldwide. And the impacts are nondiscriminatory, each group of people fighting different battles: “non-essential” workers losing their jobs, elderly folks in retirement and medical homes forced into confinement, the class of 2020 losing the last part of their senior year and graduation, all schools and universities shutdowns, fear for those that lack health insurance and more. The impact of forced social isolation is being referred to as, “a social recession to match any economic downturn also caused by the growing pandemic and it can have profound physical and psychological effects.”

This information is not meant to cause or increase anxieties, but rather shed light on the real impacts this global pandemic will have on countries around the world. With this awareness, we can actively work together to combat furthering negative consequences.

Dr. John Harles, professor of politics, said, “One thing that we could do, and I hope this happens on the other side of this, is [to] begin to think carefully about how to diminish the kind of anxiety that strikes people when they have these episodes . . . [of] extraordinary situations.”

Even the rationale behind social distancing is in part due to the impact we as individuals can have on an entire nation. A diagram from The Washington Post demonstrates how “extensive distancing” can lead to not only isolating those that are infected by COVID-19, but also decreasing the uptake of those that continue retracting the virus. The pink area in the figure is considered the “confirmed cases” and the orange area is those that remain “virus free.”

To read the article and view the simulations yourself, visit https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2020/world/corona-simulator/.

If all individuals remain vigilant during this time, the outbreak can remain more contained and be more effectively assisted. Alternatively, if social distancing is not maintained, there is no telling how much harder and longer it will take to stay in control of this pandemic. The direction of our country’s fate lies within the consolidated efforts of the 327 million individuals in the United States.

It can be hard to remember our larger impact when social isolation perpetuates feelings of loneliness, on top of the already overwhelming sense of anxiety surrounding the situation. With all the consequences that technology brings, it may also be humanity’s only avenue to remain sane during these times.

Technology has truly changed the way the world operates, communicates and conducts daily affairs. And humanity relies even more heavily on technology as it remains our main form of communication, as well as the businesses conducting work from home and schools continuing class online. It is important that we utilize this tool to remain connected to one another, supporting one another, and maintain relationships.

In an interview with The Guardian, Julianne Holt-Lunstad, professor of psychology and neuroscience at Brigham University said, “One of the reasons people can suffer in social isolation is because personal relationships can help us cope with stress.”

Preserving these relationships have psychological benefits and can help humanize these peculiar times.

With all the consequences that technology brings, it may also be humanity's only avenue to remain sane during these times.

Dr. Harles continued by addressing what he hopes humanity, and namely the United States, learns from this crisis. He understands that comprehensive universal healthcare may not necessarily eliminate directly the spread of a virus like COVID-19, “but what it would do [is alleviate some of the frightening aspects of it; the anxiety of not knowing what the future is going to hold,” especially when 49% of Americans receive their health insurance from their employers. What is to be done when exponential amounts of workers are forced into unemployment due to “uncontrollable,” or at the very least, unexpected circumstances?

“At one level, we’re all subject to this terrible thing,” Dr Harles continues, “But at another level, people like me . . . are far less victimized by this, than people of modest means . . . for me the fundamental thing is it is a time when we really have to express a sense of social solidarity with one another and we have to make the connection between that and reorganizing our public policies to reflect that sort of solidarity as opposed to this ‘everyone for themselves' [mentality].”

The best possible outcomes will be achieved by remembering the power of our communities and our actions. Encourage your sphere of influence to maintain social distancing, continue practicing healthy practices and remain engaged in personal relationships. Most of all, we must ensure that we learn and grow. Whether that’s through public discourse, holding leaders accountable for decisions, voting or community organizing, the future is ours so as long as we learn from our experiences and confront the realities and vulnerabilities exposed.