The Coronavirus has dealt a terrible and scarily impactful blow to humanity and society. What was once considered normal is now mostly considered taboo. Granted, currently, with the vaccine making its way worldwide and reaching more and more people, life has slowly regenerated to what it once was. However, the virus remains and the regulations and safeguards installed initially should still be heeded today. Although one is still capable of catching the disease even with the vaccine, that is still not a sound enough reason to not take it. Any help to the immune system is good help.
For me, all of the mental problems I tried to deny having reached an apex recently. I have been hyper-paranoid throughout the whole pandemic, to the point where I annoyed my family. Being an introvert has been a blessing and a curse. For a while, I enjoyed being inside all the time, but eventually my thoughts and anxiety got to me. I am certain this does not just apply to me: being trapped inside with a deadly virus just around the corner is extremely anxiety-inducing and would incite paranoia in just about anyone.
With the restrictions slowly being lifted, I am still filled with nervousness and believe people will become complacent without getting vaccinated. It will become a non-stop anxiety fest that lingers over society. Not to mention, I am an introvert trapped inside with extroverts who step in and out almost every day, vaccinated or not. It scares me and probably many others when my mother or other family members leave the confines of home stepping into the path of exposure.
This virus is still very much alive and although we can enjoy a slight sigh of relief, no one should stop taking the necessary precautions for living in society today. Wear your mask, get vaccinated, and practice social distancing from people you don’t know or who you know aren’t vaccinated. I want as many of us to fight this virus and the effect it has had on our health, physical, and mental.
D’Avian Johnson is a Senior and English Major at Medgar Evers College, CUNY who loves reading and writing fantasy.