As many Americans face some major decisions about their Holidays, one thing that we can all agree on is that we’re tired. We’re tired of the numbers of COVID-19 cases going up even though we’re doing the right thing. Or, at least, we each think we are.
Some people are so tired of being cautious that they’ve decided to relax. Others have just naturally relaxed without giving it much thought, simply because they haven’t gotten the virus yet. Either way, they’ve gone backward and are taking more significant risks more frequently. It seems that even those who were most vigilant, like America’s seniors, have begun to relax.
This rejection of unending restrictions in previously vigilant people was such a common occurrence as we prepared for Thanksgiving that a term was coined to describe the phenomenon: Pandemic Fatigue.
As the number of new cases grows, even the U.S. Surgeon General is blaming Pandemic Fatigue for our continued failure to contain this virus. On the first impression, it sounds like a psychiatric diagnosis. But this is no medical condition. Pandemic Fatigue may just be an easy way to describe an otherwise longwinded but relatable occurrence.
Let’s be careful, though.
Labeling an adverse emotional response in a way that virtually promotes and normalizes it can give a sense of comfort to those who are first hearing this description and no longer feel alone. They may even feel that it is okay or justified to have “Pandemic Fatigue” since it is a newly accepted social norm.
Keep in mind that there may be no time to relax and enjoy what we’ve been missing out on if we’re hospitalized or, worse yet, one of our loved ones is.
Let’s stay the course.
Marcel Gemme has dedicated his life to helping others find help. He focuses his attention on assisting individuals in finding long-term Senior Care. He does this through his journalism, community outreach, and his website, ECDOL.org. Excellent Care, Decency, and Optimal Living are what he aims to bring to individuals looking for care options for themselves or their aging loved ones.
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