Why do many people want to 'tear up' 3 years of the pandemic?

The Covid-19 lockdown period created a psychological phenomenon called "pandemic skip", causing many people's mental age and social experience to develop about three years later than their actual age.

More than two years of the Covid-19 outbreak have had a negative impact on the mental health of people around the world , leaving many problems to this day. Research shows that many children are still having difficulty going to school, and young people believe that they are maturing slower than their age. This phenomenon is called the "pandemic skip" by experts, meaning that mental age develops about two to three years later than actual age due to the lockdown during the pandemic.

On her personal page, Casey Corradin, host of the show Between Us Girlies , explained the phrase. "No matter what age you are, your soul stops the year before the pandemic, because you wasted three years," Corradin said.

Pandemic skip has become a popular phrase, with 11 million views on TikTok. Many users shared that the prolonged social distancing order has hindered their growth.

"I'm 26, but I still feel like I'm 23. I feel like I'm not ready to be an adult, mentally," one fan shared under Corradin's clip.

Nova Cobban, a psychologist in the UK, describes the pandemic skip as a feeling of missing out on important milestones and opportunities for growth, as the world has been virtually "frozen" for three years.

At the university, many teachers say students are not ready to return to school. They have missed out on so many experiences that make time feel like it has passed. Many feel life has stagnated, instead of moving forward, days passing by without inspiration or renewal. This changes their perception of time.

"As a result, their life experience and spiritual development are slower than their actual age," Cobban said.

Illustration of a man celebrating his birthday. Photo: Freepik — Illustration of a man celebrating his birthday. Photo: *Freepik*

Anxiety and uncertainty make many people want to go back in time to 2018 and live on current experiences.

According to Dr. Cobban, when the natural human desire to stay young at heart is met with the psychological upheaval of a global crisis, people feel immobilized. This hinders their inner growth, making them yearn to be young again.

A 2022 report published in PLOS One found a “bending of personality trajectories, especially in young adults, following the pandemic lockdown.” The scientists said that positive traits associated with psychological maturity, such as conscientiousness and agreeableness, had declined in young adults. Meanwhile, mental disorders such as anxiety and fear had increased since 2020.

Cobban says the feeling of psychologically slowing down after the pandemic is common. Life has been “on hold” for two years, and the world has experienced the need to adjust and reorganize. As such, peers often experience the same psychological phenomenon.

“Then no one is left behind. Connect with others who have shared experiences to create a sense of community, foster resilience, and develop appropriate coping strategies,” she said.

Thuc Linh (According to NY Post )

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