Mental Health in 2021
I saw a post about touch the other day, and it was essentially discussing how the lack of touch affects our mental health. This is a topic I have thought a lot about and have seen the ripple effects of in my own life. I had been been mulling this idea over in my head and decided that I’m going to share them on this little corner of the internet.
Has your physical space changed?
I have had so many family members, friends, coworkers, and church members that have found themselves spending an increased amount of time at home. If you weren’t working from your living room prior to COVID, you probably are now. Granted, there are a number of people who still have to be on the frontlines, in the medical field and in every day fields like the grocery store. But overall people are spending a significant amount of time looking at the same four walls. Now some of us may have some more room to wander in this 24/7 social distancing, but my husband and I have found ourselves in an apartment with only so many square feet to explore. We went from long walks around the office and hour strolls in the mall to suddenly being confined to these small spaces for hours on end. It is a “cold turkey” sudden adjustment from complete socialization to complete isolation. It is an adjustment many of us have never really experienced, at least to this extent, prior to this year.
What are you taking in?
So we have found ourselves in these small spaces. Where we are surrounded by the same decor, the same sounds, same smells (maybe your dogs odor that you just can’t seem to get rid of), and same sights. I mean, you can only stare at your crooked clock on the wall for so long. And as we are in these small spaces, we are not having the intake of information that we had previously experienced. From those conversations about the weather with your cashier, to “Did you hear about the stock market?” from that one neighbor as you take out your trash. When we are confined to these small spaces, the reality is that there is no information source in the form of humanity to be found. Therefore, most of us have turned to our phone, laptop, or TV to give us the latest happenings.
I don’t think I really need to go into detail of why this is problematic and how it has negatively affected our culture, as I think we can all agree on one thing: that our nation is pretty divided and very turmoiled. But beyond just politics, the problems that already existed with things like social media information intake have just been increased.
We all know that “comparison is the thief of joy”, and these Instagram and Facebook are just the highlight reels. They provide an unrealistic portrayal of peoples lives, showing only how happy and awesome people’s lives are. And I think we all know that, to an extent. That most of the information and content we see online isn’t really real. But I think something we took for granted was that in the middle of the swarm of all these perfect pictures… we had interactions with very obviously imperfect people. When we went to Kroger to get our groceries, we could see other people with kids crying, we could see other parents with teenagers absent and on their phones, and we could find a source of comfort in someone else buying way too much Annie’s mac and cheese as well. I believe that these seemingly meaningless moments actually grounded us. Brought us back to reality, and to the fact that humanity isn’t perfect. Not everyone has their crap together, and you are not alone in your sadness and failure. It balanced out our information intake. We aren’t just taking in what we see online, content that is designed and displayed with an agenda. Instead, we are taking information from the world around us. What we see happening in reality. Not just in a picture.
So my question here is: what are you taking in? Who is your information and truth coming from? For most of us, the screen has seemed to be the only way to find out about the world. So we open social media and flip on the news. But I just want us to be aware of what exactly we are taking in. Is it real?
What social interactions do you have?
Going along with information consumption, one of the biggest changes I have found even in my personal life is the lack of physical social interaction. No, I’m actually not talking about how many hugs or physical handshakes you have had. I’m just talking about the sheer number of people you said “hi” to in person this past year. If you are like me, I’m guessing it is significantly less than ever before in your life. If you would have asked me if going to the store is important prior to Covid I would have shrugged it off. But I realize now that there may be something to that small talk in the checkout line.
When we have those seemingly annoying small conversations with strangers, I believe we are actually being deeply impacted. There is something to looking another human in the eye and acknowledging their presence. I believe that deep down, there is something subconsciously occurring in those moments that reminds us that the world doesn’t revolve around us. That humanity is more than just our individual existence. We subconsciously realize that there are humans with different ideas, different beliefs, and different styles. They aren’t enemies or just pictures on a screen. Instead they are a kind person in the spot next to you that let you know you dropped your keys. They are the person in the chip isle that let you know that white cheddar is the superior Cheez-it flavor. They make you feel a little more human when they too are driving with their car only half cleaned off of snow.
I think there is something so holy in those moments. That in these seemingly tedious interactions, we are reminded that somewhere deep down we are part of something bigger.
So, Kaitlin, what is your point?
In this season, it can be very lonely and heavy. I know for me, I have had moments where I have struggled to understand why I am feeling the way that I am feeling. My hope with this little article is to help prompt your thinking.
Have you experienced change? Change in a space? Change in your patterns? It is okay to recognize that those spatial changes have an impact. Your surroundings can affect your mental health.
What information are you taking in? Over the past year an a half, has your information intake changed? No, not just have you switched which TV network you watch. Big picture. If you think about your day, what stimuli’s are you encountering.
Finally, who are you seeing? Not just encountering, but who have you taken time to see value in. To talk with. Who are you caring for? If the answer is just “yourself”, let me take a wild guess and say you aren’t doing well. The reality is that we are created to care and ultimately be connected to others. The world is about more than just our lives and our perfect social media post. Who are you caring for? Who is your mind constantly concerned with?
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
-Philippians 2:3-4
In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.
- Acts 20:35
I know that there are seasons through Covid where I have not been very mentally healthy. I hope that when we ask ourselves these questions we can get to a place that is more like what God created us to be.
I hope that in these upcoming weeks, and throughout 2021, you can choose to take in healthy information. To gain a healthy perspective of the world. To care for your fellow man.
And through this all, I am praying that when you make these shifts you will experience life change. That you will find yourself in a healthier headspace. And maybe you will find yourself smiling a little more in 2021.
