Has The Pandemic Ever Affected Your Mood?
By M Cheung
@Beestring (14593)
Hong Kong
October 10, 2022 4:59am CST
Had a telephone chat with my cousin. He is a psychiatrist. He told me during these two years, the cases of mood disorders have increased. Due to the pandemic, many people have suffered anxiety, depression, sadness, sleep problems and perceived social isolation. I'm feeling okay, just a bit nervous going outside when the pandemic peaked earlier this year. Now, with most countries around the world lifting the restrictions, I feel frustrated that the Hong Kong government is still enforcing unreasonable controls.
Has the pandemic ever affected your mood?
19 people like this
21 responses
@DaddyEvil (137277)
• United States
10 Oct 22
The Hong Kong government is right to keep enforcing the controls. The US is still having Covid hotspots and hospitalizations but people just don't care anymore. It's crazy!
5 people like this
@Beestring (14593)
• Hong Kong
10 Oct 22
I understand some sort of controls are necessary. But they require everyone to download an app and scan the QR code to enter malls, supermarkets, eateries, even barber shops. Some elderly people are not used to using smartphones. They cannot go anywhere.
2 people like this
@DaddyEvil (137277)
• United States
10 Oct 22
@Beestring The apps are for tracking people. If an outbreak happens in those places, they know the people who need to be monitored.
2 people like this
@Beestring (14593)
• Hong Kong
10 Oct 22
@DaddyEvil Yes, I understand. Do you use such kind of apps in your place?
2 people like this
@RebeccasFarm (90063)
• Arvada, Colorado
10 Oct 22
Yes especially recently as I am really wondering will it every stop. It is horrible for it to be still affecting others in my family too.
2 people like this
@RebeccasFarm (90063)
• Arvada, Colorado
10 Oct 22
@Beestring Well I am waiting to hear of both nephews. One has it for sure. Thank you for asking.
1 person likes this
@Beestring (14593)
• Hong Kong
10 Oct 22
I think the virus will be around. Are your family members okay?
1 person likes this
@Beestring (14593)
• Hong Kong
10 Oct 22
@RebeccasFarm Sorry to hear about this. Hope the symptoms are mild and he recovers soon.
1 person likes this
@mythociate (21432)
• Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
10 Oct 22
My Traumatic Brain-Injury has 'always' (since 1995) made me "socially distant"---although I've mostly 'adjusted' to it, I guess it's affected my life so much that people feel like they have to 'deal with the TBI' if they interact with me socially.
So it's not much different from the 'new normal,' except for a couple things. Since the pandemic began, I've been grocery-shopping (something I used to do twice a week) only one time. That, and I wash my hands 'the full 20 seconds' once a day (in addition to the 'quick rinse-&-dry' I've always done).
1 person likes this
@mythociate (21432)
• Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
10 Oct 22
@Beestring I was actually a little 'angry' when I heard media-people calling our current situation "the new normal"; I was under the impression that we were 'on a brief break from "normal"'---that we'd eventually go back to 'life the way it was before lockdowns-etc.' But--tho a lot of America (and the world, I hear) has gone back to 'a BIT of industry & social life etc.'--there's STILL an aire of caution that I don't think will ever go away!
1 person likes this
@Beestring (14593)
• Hong Kong
10 Oct 22
@mythociate Because we cannot deny the fact that the virus is still around us.
1 person likes this
@Beestring (14593)
• Hong Kong
10 Oct 22
Yes, the pandemic has changed our way of living.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (471766)
• Switzerland
10 Oct 22
@Beestring As soon we have stopped all controls the number of cases has doubled.
1 person likes this
@Beestring (14593)
• Hong Kong
10 Oct 22
The problem is despite all the controls, the cases just go up and down.
1 person likes this
@sathviksouvik (19541)
•
11 Oct 22
yes I used to hate staying at home and take online class
1 person likes this
@sathviksouvik (19541)
•
11 Oct 22
@Beestring yes Cheung and I hated wearing masks. These days I hardly wear them
1 person likes this
@Beestring (14593)
• Hong Kong
11 Oct 22
@sathviksouvik Here, it's mandatory we wear mask. Regardless, I wear mask because we still have lots of cases. How's the situation in your place?
1 person likes this
@arunima25 (87817)
• Bangalore, India
10 Oct 22
I felt all those emotions during the lockdown. It was actually the uncertainty that triggered all those emotions. And also staying home arrested is not something that would go well for long with human beings that are social animal.
My daughter and I got Covid despite all precautions and that was a tough period.
1 person likes this
@arunima25 (87817)
• Bangalore, India
11 Oct 22
@Beestring Covid is no where to go and so with the other new viruses. The world has to learn to live with it.
China has gone for a mass testing and lockdown in certain areas as the cases are rising again there. It's far from getting over.
1 person likes this
@Beestring (14593)
• Hong Kong
11 Oct 22
@arunima25 Yes, Covid will be around. We have to live with it.
1 person likes this
@Beestring (14593)
• Hong Kong
10 Oct 22
You're right. It's the uncertainty. And we never know if it will ever end.
1 person likes this
@sublime03 (2339)
• Philippines
11 Oct 22
The pandemic has affected my mood a few times already. Mostly because I still see reports that people still get covid out of nowhere. Everybody is careful even when the restrictions are lessened but it still worries me more for my kids. I just feel sad that we all have to question if people have covid whenever you meet family members and you cannot quite enjoy your time when you are not at your own place.
1 person likes this
@allknowing (137061)
• India
11 Oct 22
My lifestyle did not affect me that much but following the protocol was not easy.
1 person likes this
@allknowing (137061)
• India
11 Oct 22
@Beestring It is the protocol that kept us all away but the virtual world made up for that to some extent
@Beestring (14593)
• Hong Kong
11 Oct 22
My lifestyle has somehow been affected. Haven't met with friends and family members for some time.
1 person likes this
@cacay1 (83529)
• Cagayan De Oro, Philippines
10 Oct 22
Yes it affects my work my social life my personal life, my mood. Sometimes I spend some hours sleep.
I missed my old life, no fear for a virus. It's never in my mind to encounter online classes, it's so frustrating virus that doesn't like to leave humans.
1 person likes this
@Beestring (14593)
• Hong Kong
10 Oct 22
Yes, it's understandable that our mood will sometimes be affected.
1 person likes this
@aninditasen (16442)
• Raurkela, India
10 Oct 22
The pandemic is still taking lives. So I still use the mask and many in our city. I do go out but not often. Those who go out regularly definitely will definitely suffer mentally.
1 person likes this
@aninditasen (16442)
• Raurkela, India
11 Oct 22
@Beestring Here it's not mandatory anymore but some wear and some don't.
1 person likes this
@Beestring (14593)
• Hong Kong
10 Oct 22
Wearing mask is mandatory here. Regardless, I'll wear a mask when I go out to protect myself. I don't go out often as well.
1 person likes this
@everwonderwhy (7370)
•
15 Oct 22
Actually, no. The past 2 1/2 years of lockdowns has changed my perspective in life-- for the better. My faith and trust in God has strenghtened me much closer to Him.
Hubby and I have been able to work and improve our health and resilience--naturally, our garden, our
family relationships and finances. 
.
.1 person likes this
@oahuwriter (26777)
• United States
11 Oct 22
Heavens yes. Like you, nervous going out, so double mask & shield worn. Sad to see sooo many deaths reported because of pandemic! Since worldwide, restrictions lifted, maybe soon, China too will lift pandemic restrictions?
1 person likes this
@Beestring (14593)
• Hong Kong
11 Oct 22
Not sure about China. I live in Hong Kong. Here, some restrictions have been lifted. But there's still a lot of controls.
1 person likes this
@porwest (92047)
• United States
11 Oct 22
@Beestring It was ridiculous. I still don't know what everyone did with all that toilet paper. lol
1 person likes this
@Beestring (14593)
• Hong Kong
12 Oct 22
@porwest Yeah, when there was a rumor that all paper manufacturers just produced masks, there was panic buying of toilet paper, facial tissues. That's crazy.
1 person likes this
@Beestring (14593)
• Hong Kong
10 Oct 22
Agree. I still remember the days when we have to line up for hours to get a box of masks and panic buying of toilet paper.
1 person likes this
@CarolDM (203422)
• Nashville, Tennessee
12 Oct 22
@Beestring I can only imagine. This is a very sad situation to be tracked.
1 person likes this
@Beestring (14593)
• Hong Kong
11 Oct 22
Yes, what upset me is they require people to download an app which check our whereabout. And those without smartphone just cannot go anywhere. This has affected the elderly a lot.
1 person likes this
@Letranknight2015 (51993)
• Philippines
10 Oct 22
I've become more afraid of going to the hospitals. Not ot mention our family doctor has retired, don't know whom we should trust. Some other people out there don't wear mask anymore, they frighten me now.
1 person likes this
@Beestring (14593)
• Hong Kong
10 Oct 22
Yes, I try to avoid going to hospitals and other crowded places.
@Beestring (14593)
• Hong Kong
11 Oct 22
Me too. I met with friends and family members less often.
1 person likes this
@everwonderwhy (7370)
•
11 Oct 22
Heavily mandated lockdowns cause those things to the human psyche-- fear and irrational submission. Sad and unnatural.
1 person likes this
@Beestring (14593)
• Hong Kong
11 Oct 22
Yes, I can understand that. I seldom upload photos. Cannot give you any advice on this. May be you can PM Admin for advice.
