Yes, we’re still in a pandemic
That palpable nervousness you feel is your body’s way of reacting to the stress of being on the edge for so long
Pandemic burnout is a term that is being thrown into conversations more and more often these days — but what is it exactly? Experts seem to agree that this term refers to the prolonged stress and anxiety brought about by the global health crisis. Think about it — how long have you been feeling drained and restless? Have you also been waking up tired despite a full eight hours of sleep? Me, too. This reaction seems to be part and parcel of the terrible year that is 2020.
“This has so not been the year of realizing things,” my best friend jokingly told me, half-quoting reality TV star Kylie Jenner. This year has certainly not been kind to anyone’s mental health. The fact of the matter is that people were not built to function on survival mode for such prolonged periods of time. That palpable nervousness you feel is your body’s way of reacting to the stress of being on the edge for so long. For many, the level of unease increases on a daily basis — it doesn’t help that the foreseeable future feels like one big question mark at the moment. What’s going to happen a week from now? How about in a month? In a year? Is there some sort of feasible game plan, at the very least?
The government’s answer to these questions have been much debated and talked about. What is its game plan? Nonexistent. As such, the new normal in the Philippines continues to be unchecked. One can call it a futile waiting game.
The coronavirus cases in our country are still increasing exponentially. In fact, our little archipelago has made it to the list of the top 20 countries in the world with the most coronavirus cases. To think we’ve had the longest lockdown period in the world!
Now one has to wonder, do we really need a leader who so deeply believes in strongman politics in charge? What change, other than an increase in human rights violations, has happened since 2016? I’d like to know! From the way I see it, EDSA traffic was only addressed by a worldwide pandemic that has left many, many, many Filipinos vulnerable and unemployed.
So, pandemic burnout. It’s now a universal term that I’m sure many can relate to — there’s no denying the reality that 2020 sucks. This start to the new decade is definitely not what anyone had in mind. The same can be said of the political climate in the country today — I was already expecting bad but, wow, these men in power have truly outdone themselves! Look, I get it, it’s harder and harder to love Manila these days, but this is exactly what our nation needs. Don’t turn your back on the country now, register to vote
instead.