Dreams that are more vivid, more frequent and more striking… Lockdown seems to trouble our nights as well as our days, and there’s reason to believe that’s not just a figment of our imagination.
The divide transcends partisan bickering. Some people really do recoil at the imposition of strict rules, while others become anxious when rules aren’t followed.
Surely, it can’t be fun to watch others play games you can play yourself? The hundreds of hours people spend on live-streaming platform Twitch would suggest otherwise.
COVID-19 patients are spending weeks in intensive care units, isolated and alone, knowing they have a disease that doctors don’t fully understand. It’s a recipe for post-traumatic stress disorder.
Stéphane Vial, Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM)
The relevance of digital technologies in maintaining mental health has never been greater. However, many have not been scientifically proven and their effectiveness is unknown.
Human psychology has evolved to avoid situations that could lead to infection. Behavioral choices now could have long-term effects on how people interact with others and the world.
Is it safe to nip out for milk? Should I download the COVIDSafe app? Is it OK to wear my pyjamas in a Zoom meeting? All these extra decisions are taking their toll.
People hate boredom. Some would rather get a painful shock than sit in a room with nothing to do for 15 minutes. But boredom spurs us on to create and can help focus our attention.
Together the social and emotional ‘jobs’ of adolescence – developing intimate friendships and achieving autonomy – make teens uniquely resistant to calls for social distancing.
Understanding isolation’s effects on regular people, rather than those certified to have ‘the right stuff,’ will help prepare us for the future, whether another pandemic or interplanetary space travel.
Whether we miss them, feel guilty about not having appreciated them more or struggle to forgive them, remembering our parents can hurt. Here’s how to move on.
Gathering supplies and indulging in sweet baked treats can make us feel better temporarily. Why do we seek out certain foods in times of stress and should we give in to cravings?