People from every walk of life have been massively impacted by COVID-19. The news cycle is packed with stories of people working hard to cope with the “new normal” or working from home, schooling at home, social distancing, and self-isolation. While everyone is managing the stresses that come with uncertainty and change differently, we recently received some wonderful feedback from a teenager, Brianna McLean, Dr. McLean‘s granddaughter, about how the coronavirus pandemic has affected her.
We were inspired by her focus on the opportunities this unusual time has afforded her in self-isolation and the positivity with which she views her situation. We hope that this will help you see our current collective situation through a different lens.
“As I am sure you have already heard countless times: these are difficult days. Social isolation, distance from peers, and quarantine has become the norm and it’s a tough reality to grasp. As we all know, differences between generations are prominent in almost every aspect of life; whether it be technologically, socially, or cognitively.
I am 14-years-old and struggling to deal with this current pandemic, and I am here to shed some light on what my situation is like as a teen and some ways I am overcoming this challenge.
Even though I define myself as an introvert and would often rather spend my time alone in my room with my nose in a book or on my phone, it has become oddly apparent to me that I am more social than I deemed myself to be. Being forced to stay away from my friends and others my age is really putting a strain on my well-being; and being told to keep my distance only triggers my rebellious feelings to want to do the opposite.
If you are anything like me, you are feeling alone and quite possibly scared – the media screaming new statistics at you every second doesn’t help either – there are numerous ways to connect to other lonely, scared people: email, iMessage, Snapchat, Instagram, calls, and Facetime, just to name a few examples.
It is in your best interest to keep contact with others and ask your friends how they’re doing and check up on people. Picking up new hobbies and rediscovering lost ones is also a fantastic way of filling the time; I’ve continued my writing, rediscovered my love of poetry, and took up gardening. There is something for everyone and I understand the feeling of no motivation and just wanting to sleep the day away – and catching up on sleep is also a perk of quarantine – but getting out of bed and doing something enjoyable is guaranteed to lift your spirits. Take a look at the silver lining of this crisis: you have the time to do something you’ve been putting off, you can be as creative as you want, and you have time to work on yourself.
As difficult as this is, we all have a social responsibility and we all need to do our part, whether we like it or not. Not that I need to remind you for the millionth time, but wash your hands, stay at home, and stay six feet apart. Life as a teenager in a global pandemic is a scary thought, and an even more horrifying reality, but by working together and staying apart we can get life back to ‘normal’.”
If you are a teen (or know a teen) who is feeling lonely, isolated, or anxious please reach out to someone close to you or access one of the many community resources available. It’s “normal” to feel a little abnormal at this time, but support is available, especially if it’s getting to be too much to manage.
People who can help include your parents, teachers, and mental health professionals. At McLean Psychology, we have experienced clinicians to support children and youth experiencing a wide range of difficulties. For personalized intervention and support, reach out to one of our associates here for an online appointment.
There are also many helpful websites with pages dedicated to assisting youth at this difficult time, including https://www.anxietycanada.com/ and https://wesforyouthonline.ca/. You can also call the kids helpline at 1-800-668-6868 or go to their website for face-to-face calls, texts or online chats at https://kidshelpphone.ca/.
