Six Years On: Why Many Feel Life Hasn't Returned to Normal After COVID-19

Six years after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, many individuals continue to feel that life hasn't reverted to its pre-2020 state. Experts explain this prolonged sense of disruption as stemming from both visible and invisible losses experienced during the pandemic. Hundreds of thousands of deaths in the first year alone left many grieving without traditional funerals or farewells, leading to unresolved and complicated grief, notes psychology professor Ruth Ellingsen from the University of Oregon.

Psychotherapist Paule-Veronique Gnapi emphasizes that beyond the loss of lives, people mourn the loss of security, employment, community, and important life events. The pandemic has created a collective trauma driven by simultaneous fear of illness, economic uncertainty, and prolonged social isolation. Trauma therapist Rebecca Moravec from Denver observes that many still live with lingering uncertainty due to the pandemic's lack of a clear ending.

Daily life alterations have also contributed to this feeling of abnormality. Remote work and online services have made staying at home easier but reduced social interactions, making pre-pandemic times feel more stable and simpler despite their own challenges. Experts suggest that recovery relies on rebuilding social connections, engaging in meaningful activities, and allowing time to heal from this collective trauma.

This understanding provides valuable insight into the ongoing psychological impact of the pandemic, underscoring that the effects of COVID-19 on mental health are deep and enduring.