Five years ago, in March 2020, the whole of the UK was plunged into lockdown just days after the World Health Organisation declared the outbreak of Covid-19 a global pandemic.
As the virus spread, schools, restaurants and shops closed down while everyone was urged to halt non-essential contact and travel to combat the deadly virus.
Fast forward five years and the scars of Covid-19 are still present. Experts point out that the pandemic has indelibly impacted people's lives, shaping thoughts and emotions.The BBC's poignant documentary, Love and Loss: The Pandemic 5 Years On, which aired yesterday, delved into the deep emotional impact the pandemic had on families torn apart by loss.
Here, we delve into some of the ways our minds might have been irrevocably altered.... Emotional numbness Among the lasting effects, certified psychologist Emily Johnson notes that the pandemic "has left behind a legacy of persistent issues" people are wrestling with.These include the coping strategies adopted when dealing with varied emotional experiences. "One of the subtle psychological damages of Covid-19 is emotional numbness as a coping mechanism for overwhelming anxiety," says Emily, from Chosgo Hearing Aids (chosgohearing.com). "The effects of COVID-19 were so devastating that the majority resorted to going numb to adapt to the increased emotional response required to deal with the news.