This is the influence of the coronavirus on our psyche

It is not a vacation and yet many people think: it's nice weather, come on, let's drive to the beach.

Sounds like a great idea, but it's not that innocent. It goes against all current measures. We must, according to the RIVM, stay home as much as possible if we can. You read everywhere, on every site: by hanging out at home on the couch and watching Netflix, you can save lives right now. Simple, right? Lounging on the couch and scrolling on your phone until you can't see straight: finally, it's allowed. But why don't we do that? Is it unwillingness, ignorance, or indifference?

According to psychology, it actually has to do with time. People are creatures of habit. Before we learn new habits, like doing a lot indoors, a lot of time passes. We need to get used to doing more at home: working, exercising, chatting with friends and colleagues via Zoom. We can't go out, and because we're not used to that, it feels very uncomfortable. We feel trapped, imprisoned. Therefore, we think: phew, just a little walk in the woods, that should be fine, right? Then we go back inside obediently. And that's how everyone thinks, and that's how long lines form in the woods, on the beach, under blooming cherry blossom trees. According to behavior experts, we also suffer from ‘a low risk perception‘. In other words: we all think it won't happen to us and that if we get the coronavirus, we won't get that sick. That's why we do more than we actually should, even when we know very well that we shouldn't.

This is because the whole staying at home has quite an impact on our psyche, on how we feel. Depression and feelings of loneliness are more lurking than ever. Because that isolation affects your mental health more than you think. In my opinion, as a psychologist, it mainly lies in the fact that you also have nothing to look forward to. No fun vacation, no weekend away with friends, no drinks on the terrace next weekend. Nothing. Zero. Home. This is it. And it will last for a while. It's not surprising that 65 percent of people currently experience stress and anxiety due to the coronavirus crisis. And half of the people say they feel gloomy because of the coronavirus era we live in.

Everyone deals with it differently. One friend constantly checks the news and sends me every update about daycare centers that will remain closed for a while. Another friend ignores it all and just starts renovating her house. Another one exhausts herself exercising at home, works diligently and stubbornly, watches TV non-stop, and becomes screaming mad among screaming children. Everyone experiences the crisis in their own way. That's nice because what we are experiencing as people right now is unprecedented.

This is not comparable to anything else we have ever experienced in our lives. It is something for which you are not prepared as a human being. This is really what being more alone is about. But... We all have it. We are all staring at the washing machine until it's done, washing the fence while it's already quite white, rearranging the wardrobe by color once again. You are not the only one who is disappointed by all the canceled plans or the only one who longs for a hug from a best friend, a father, a grandmother.. We are together, even though we are so alone.

Don't forget that. I miss you all.

Fashion girl walking down the street in a red blazer.