Coronavirus Turned Our World Upside Down

Coronavirus and Mental Health

It was March, 2020 when the world was turned upside down. Coming to a screeching halt were: schools, restaurants, hair salons, churches, retail businesses. Many other businesses and scheduled events too numerous to name were also canceled. Why? The Government called it “Social Distancing” in order to prevent the spread of the Coronavirus that was claiming thousands upon thousands of deaths around the world. Never in my lifetime have I seen the world come to a standstill as it did during this time with the exception of the health care providers who were working around the clock trying to save lives.

I was one of the blessed ones. First of all, I did not catch the virus, nor did any of my relatives. That alone merits a heartfelt praise to our Lord.

In addition, I was already retired, so I did not have to adjust my work schedule, and my income kept being deposited in the bank.

Third, I was already a stay-at-home type of person who could always find something productive to do at home.

So, you might say that on a personal level, I was not affected by the pandemic to the point that I couldn’t make adjustments and allowances for it as need be.

But, then one day the big L hit me—loneliness snuck up on me.

Let me clarify that by saying I have never been a lonely person. I kind of like being by myself. I never have had to have someone with me all the time, nor have I faced boredom. I am thankful that I can say that I am basically a contented person. However, I do like to engage in activities with family and friends, and all of a sudden, all that was taken from me, and for the first time in my life, I felt lonely.

Why is this happening to me? Where has my feeling of contentment gone?

And then a scripture began to dawn on me that I have read many times over the years that gave me insight as to why I was having this lonely feeling. “As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend” (Proverbs 27:17 NLT).

Oh, my goodness! I couldn’t see my grandchildren, have lunch with friends, attend Bible study group meetings where we would meet and encourage one another two and three times a week. And, of course, and assembling together at church had gone by the wayside.

It became clear to me that Social Distancing had robbed me of the most important things God had created all of us for---Relationship.

And so by telephone, emails, Facebook, and hand-written cards, I began to reconnect, not only with my friends, but also with those people I had put on hold for when I had more time. Iron began sharpening iron once again.

I also started back walking in the early morning hours-something that I had taken a sabbatical from too long ago to mention. My fellow walkers from days gone by shouted at me from six feet away, “Hey, Martha, where have you been; we missed you. You can get back in the swing of things!” Iron sharpening iron.

I planned menus and ordered groceries online to make special dishes that I had not taken the time to make in the past. When I went to pick the groceries up, with our mask snuggly in place and standing six feet apart, the delivery person and I chatted and cheered one another on during this trying season. Iron sharpening iron.

Needless to say, my mental health began to take a turn. Just like a tree whose limbs cannot be unbent, no amount of Social Distancing can change the way we are bent, and that is fellowshipping and having a relationship with one another. Where there is a will, there is a way.

Reflection

Briefly describe the changes that you had to make as a result of the Coronavirus.
How did this affect you mental, emotional, or physical health?
What are doing currently doing to improve your health from the effects of the Coronavirus.