7 Psychological Explanations for Why COVID-19 Has Been So Hard on Us

1. COVID Has Stripped Away Our Security Blankets

In many ways, COVID-19 has ripped our security blankets right out from underneath us. Almost without warning, our familiar routines were replaced with stay-at-home orders, our jobs were furloughed or eliminated, and our health and well-being became susceptible to serious illness. 

Psychologically, when we feel vulnerable, our minds tend to fuel our insecurities by circling “what ifs” over and over like a broken record. We get fixated on what might happen and fret over things we have no control over.

According to this post, “Insecurity even causes a unique form of amnesia: when we’re stuck in the throes of insecurity, it’s hard to remember ever feeling confident. Our memory becomes selective, and any sense of ourselves as strong, self-assured, or capable disappears faster than freshly baked cookies.”

If COVID-19 has caused you to feel psychologically insecure, consider both the Biblical and practical things you can do to regain assurance that it’s going to be okay.

Biblically Speaking:
Through Bible passages such as Philippians 4:19, 2 Corinthians 9:8, and Matthew 6:31-32, you can find assurance of God’s loving provision. You’ll see that it is God who supplies all of your needs. And by fixing your mind on the things of God—regularly and intentionally—you’ll be able to change the cycle of “what ifs” to “what is.”

Practically Speaking:
Talking about your insecurities with a trusted friend or mentor can help you see things in a new light. Find someone who will listen and pray with you. Sometimes, by admitting your worries aloud, you will discover a renewed sense of clarity and peace.

And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19

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2. COVID Has Caused Extreme Loneliness

For those who felt isolated before COVID-19, the pandemic has only added to feelings of loneliness and seclusion. As friends and family members have been separated for long periods of time, some have even felt abandoned and forgotten.

Psychologically, loneliness brings on beliefs that aren’t true. Our minds exaggerate the situation and cause us to feel even more destitute than we really are. Thoughts such as, “No one cares about me,” and” The world is better off without me,” can be outright destructive, causing people to sink into a state of despair. That’s why it’s super important to face this psychological hardship head-on.

If loneliness has been an issue for you during COVID-19, please consider these Biblical encouragements and practical solutions:

Biblically Speaking:
In Isaiah 41:10, the Lord spoke directly to Israel with the comforting words, “Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” What a beautiful verse to cling to in times of loneliness and isolation! Just as He cares for Israel, God cares for each of us. We are His people. He comforts us in our loneliness and gives us strength to keep going.

Practically Speaking:
Reach out and let people know how you are feeling. I know it’s difficult to be vulnerable, but try to step out of the cloud of isolation and find those who are willing to come alongside you. Sometimes, by taking the first step to connect, you’ll find that others have been feeling the same way.

Consider doing something nice for a neighbor, such as pulling weeds or offering to walk their dog. By turning your loneliness into intentional acts of service, you’ll feel a lot less disconnected, and even bless someone in the process.

A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling. God sets the lonely in families, he leads out the prisoners with singing. Psalm 68:5-6

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3. COVID Has Stolen Our Motivation

Now that many stay-at-home orders have been lifted, people are struggling to find their new normal. Much of our motivation has been diminished, causing us to fall into a place of complacency.

Here are some examples of how COVID-19 has stolen our motivation:

• We struggle to get out of bed in the morning.
• We aren’t eating right or exercising.
• We aren’t excited to get back to work.
• We aren’t in a hurry to spend time with loved ones.

Psychologically, when the mind lacks motivation, it could be that it’s protecting itself from future unknowns. By shutting down, it removes the vulnerability of what “might happen again.” But it is possible to regain the motivation to live with energy and vitality.

Biblically Speaking:
There’s a verse in 1 Corinthians 15:58 that says, “Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” This motivating passage reminds us that no matter what the world throws at us, the work of the Lord never stops. We can always be an active part in continuing in God’s divine purpose.

If you aren’t sure what your God-given purpose is, check out this article How to Use Your God-Given Gifts.

Practically Speaking:
Finding your new normal is an important step in regaining motivation. Things probably don’t look like they did before, but that doesn’t have to stop you from moving forward in a renewed sense of purpose.

Make a list of things that are most important to you, such as Bible study, exercise, and community service. Then, create a new plan for how you will implement those things.

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4. COVID Has Fueled Fear and Anxiety

Perhaps more than anything, COVID-19 has brought on a strong sense of fear and anxiety. Without partiality, it has reached far and wide to touch even the most calm-hearted people.

In this post, the author states, “For many people, the uncertainty surrounding coronavirus is the hardest thing to handle. We don’t know how exactly we’ll be impacted or how bad things might get. And that makes it all too easy to catastrophize and spiral out into overwhelming dread and panic.”

Psychologically, fear is fueled by all the unknowns. Anxiety is a physiological reaction to what our mind perceives as threats or vulnerabilites. Fortunately, we don’t have to get stuck in our fear and anxiety.

Biblically Speaking:
In John 14:27, Jesus said, “Peace is what I leave with you; it is my own peace that I give you. I do not give it as the world does. Do not be worried and upset; do not be afraid.”

Relying on God’s supernatural peace is the quickest way out of anxiety. Peace is one of the fruits of the Spirit, and is something Jesus promised to leave to His followers. As believers in Christ, we have the Holy Spirit living in us, which means His peace lives in us as well. We can ask for God’s peace over every situation, and trust that He will give it.

Practically Speaking:
One of the most practical things we can do to reduce anxiety is to turn off the news headlines. Instead, we can focus on healthy behaviors such as exercise, time in the sun, and a nutritious diet. By doing these things daily, our minds and bodies will have the ingredients needed to filter out anxiousness and usher in a sense of calm.

“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” Philippians 4:8

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5. COVID Has Stirred Up Past Issues

As we’ve had more time to think about the past, present, and future, many of our thoughts have turned to past failures. For some of us, this has caused a lot of unrest, even tempting us to fall into bad habits.

Psychologically, holding on to past shame or regret, prevents us from moving forward successfully. And often, we self-sabotage ourselves without even realizing it. If COVID-19 has stirred up some unwanted past issues, resist the temptation to ignore them. Instead, seek wise counsel from God and take extra measures to leave those negative thoughts behind—once and for all.

Biblically Speaking:
1 John 1:9 makes it clear that “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” This means that all of our past failures are forgiven, when we’ve confessed them to the Lord.

We don’t need to give those issues one more thought! Because the enemy wants nothing more than to steal, kill, and destroy, we must be diligent about rebuking him in the name of Jesus. Every single time a past regret comes to mind, we can hold up our hand and say, “Not today, Satan.”

Then, we can turn our thoughts to the redemptive work of the Savior and rest in His forgiveness.

Practically Speaking:
If you’ve fallen into old habits during quarantine, take action by removing the temptations, changing up your schedule, and moving forward with renewed purpose.

As this article reminds, “Be kind to yourself. Many are struggling to navigate a completely new situation with unique stressors.” Let go of past shame and regret and give yourself some grace!

“As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.” Psalm 103:12

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6. COVID Has Disturbed Our Best-Laid Plans

With so many of our plans having been uprooted over the last several weeks, many of us are still struggling to wrap our minds around the change of events. We are not only dealing with anger and sadness, but a sense of loss and disappointment as well.

Psychologically, disappointment can leave us depressed or despondent. According to this article, “If you are wired to expect the best, and then you are let down and don’t get it, disappointment and letdown can actually trigger a physiological response in the brain if you have a tendency toward depression anyway.”

However, there are both Biblical and practical ways to deal with disappointment in healthy, productive ways.

Biblically Speaking:
The familiar words from Psalm 23 are the perfect words to help us through seasons of disappointment. It says, “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake.”

Through every high and low, God is there. His comforts are ever-present, leading us to green pastures and quiet waters. No matter how many of our best-laid plans were altered, we can count on God to provide something even better down the road.

Practically Speaking:
If you’re finding yourself disappointed during COVID-19, try to view things through a new perspective. Take a blank sheet of paper and a few colored pencils, and map out some new, exciting plans for the future. By allowing yourself to dream again, you’ll squelch feelings of disappointment in no time!

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7. COVID Has Clouded the Future

Of all the ways COVID-19 has been hard on us, it’s cast a dark cloud on our future. After all, there are still so many unknowns!

Psychologically, uncertainty can wreak havoc on our minds. When we lose the predictability of our routines, it’s in our nature to get caught in a pattern of unhealthy dooms-day type thinking.

One important thing to keep in mind, is that this is not our final destination. Life on earth is only a temporary season leading to eternity with Christ.

Here are a couple of Biblical and practical ways to look forward instead of backward during COVID-19.

Biblically speaking:
Philippians 1:6 reminds us, “He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Our present circumstances will not prevent God’s will from being accomplished. And He works through each of us to accomplish that purpose!

According to this article, How to Live Your Life with Heaven in Mind, “The Bible compares life to a vapor that is here today and gone tomorrow. Having this fixed in our mind points us to a reality that goes far beyond the years we may have on this earth.”

Practically speaking:
This is a great time to revamp your goals. Write out a five-year plan, a three-year plan, and a one-year plan. When you see your future goals on paper, you’ll feel much better about the days ahead and begin to see the rays of sunlight peeking through the clouds.

Ultimately, COVID-19 has been hard on all of us, however, God is not unaware of our situation. In fact, He is with is through this season and will be with us through the next. No matter what unexpected thunderstorms pop up, He will continue to be our shelter, peace, and provision.

Jennifer Waddle considers herself a Kansas girl, married to a Colorado hunk, with a heart to encourage women everywhere. She is the author of several books, including Prayer WORRIER: Turning Every Worry into Powerful Prayer, and is a regular contributor for LifeWay, Crosswalk, Abide, and Christians Care International. Jennifer’s online ministry is EncouragementMama.com where you can find her books and sign up for her weekly post, Discouragement Doesn’t Win. She resides with her family near the foothills of the Rocky Mountains—her favorite place on earth.

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