“Unprecedented,” “Scary,” “Overwhelming,” “Surreal,” “Uncertain,” and “Stressful.” These are the words used most commonly by my clients to describe the impact of Coronavirus. It’s hard to believe that just a few years ago, we were stockpiling toilet paper, attending birthday parties over Zoom, and learning to smile with our eyes, with our smiles hidden behind a mask. The pandemic flipped life on its head in ways we’re still trying to navigate. For many of us, it wasn’t just a physical health crisis—it was a mental one, too.
And while the world has mostly “opened back up,” the mental health impact of COVID didn’t just fade away when the lockdowns lifted. In fact, a lot of the stress, worry, grief, and emotional habits we picked up are still with us today, quietly shaping how we live, work, connect, and cope.
So let’s take a moment to look back, not to dwell, but to reflect on what we went through and the lessons we can carry with us. Because, even though life “looks” more normal now, mental health is just as important as ever.
The Emotional Whiplash We All Felt
Remember that initial feeling of fear and uncertainty when everything shut down suddenly? Nobody really knew how long it would last or how bad it would get. For a while, life was just one big question mark. That emotional whiplash wasn’t just stressful—it was traumatic.
Even those who thought they were handling it “fine” were often running on adrenaline and constantly adjusting to a moving target. Between the headlines, health concerns, job instability, school closures, and constant decision fatigue, we were all just trying to keep it together. It’s no surprise that symptoms of anxiety and depression surged during that time.
Who It Hit Hardest
Everyone was affected, but some groups really bore the brunt of the emotional fallout.
- Young adults and teens had their milestones and social lives disrupted in huge ways. High schoolers missed graduations and dances. College students were sent home mid-semester. Social connection—a core need during that stage of life—was replaced with isolation and uncertainty.
- Women, especially moms, were overwhelmed by the mental load of juggling remote work, virtual school, housework, and caregiving. For many, the pandemic amplified existing inequalities at home and at work.
- Essential workers carried enormous burdens. They kept the world running, but often at great personal risk, and sometimes with very little support.
- People with existing mental health conditions and chronic illnesses found their symptoms intensifying and resources becoming harder to access.
- Rural communities were hit with a double whammy—fewer healthcare resources and increased social isolation.
We were all in the same storm, but we weren’t all in the same boat.
The Hidden Costs of “Just Pushing Through”
In the early stages, a lot of people went into survival mode, pushing through the uncertainty and hoping life would snap back to normal. But when a crisis lasts for years, pushing through starts to take a toll.
Chronic stress has a way of creeping in under the radar. It wears down our ability to cope, even when we don’t realize it’s happening. People reported having trouble sleeping, feeling emotionally numb, snapping more easily, or losing motivation—common symptoms of burnout, depression, and anxiety.
And then there were the things we didn’t talk about as much—grieving lost time, missed memories, strained relationships, or changes in identity. For many, the pandemic became a season of forced reflection: Who am I without my job? What really matters to me? Why do I feel so disconnected from myself?
These aren’t easy questions. But they’re important ones—and they deserve attention even now.
The Rise in Substance Use and Suicide
While everyone was trying to stay physically healthy, emotional health quietly deteriorated for many. One of the hardest things to look back on is how substance use escalated. Unfortunately, often in silence.
Alcohol sales soared. Overdose deaths hit record highs. And the weight of isolation, sadness, and loss proved too heavy for most people. Suicide rates began rising again in 2021, particularly among teens and people of color.
These numbers aren’t said to scare you, but they represent lives cut short, families left lost and unprepared, and pain that often still lingers today. They remind us that mental health needs to be taken seriously, not just in a crisis, but always.
What Telehealth Taught Us
One small silver lining during the pandemic? The rapid growth of telehealth. When it became unsafe (or just too overwhelming) to go to an in-person appointment, many therapists and doctors started offering virtual visits.
For folks in rural areas or those who couldn’t travel due to transportation challenges, or anyone who just felt more comfortable talking from their couch, this shift made a world of difference.
Even now, teletherapy continues to be a game-changer. It showed us that mental health care doesn’t always have to happen in a waiting room. It can happen from a bedroom, a parked car, or a quiet corner of the house. And that kind of flexibility is something we should keep embracing.
The Mental and Physical Health Toolbox We Built (and Still Need)
While the pandemic forced a lot of stress on us, it also helped many people start paying attention to their mental health, sometimes for the first time. We built coping skills, tried new habits, and learned how to tune into what we needed. But even with Covid gone, we still can and need to use these tools learned.
Establish a routine – When everything was unpredictable, routines gave us a sense of control. And they still do.
Make space for rest – Burnout was real, and still is, especially for those who still had to work and make up for the people gone when they came down with COVID-19, and you were short-staffed in a matter of minutes. Rest isn’t laziness—it’s necessary.
Stay connected – Whether it’s FaceTime, texting, writing a letter, or a coffee date, meaningful connection matters.
Limit news consumption – Doomscrolling doesn’t help. Choose when and how you consume information and put down the electronics. Use this time to try a new hobby or do something you’ve always wanted. Or even better, try something you never thought you’d do!
Prioritize movement – Even just a walk around the block or stretching in your kitchen can reset your brain.
Breathe – This one sounds like a load of crap, but is one of the most effective methods. Deep breathing can help slow and reset your nervous system, giving your body a moment to relax. Trying box breathing is great and fairly easy, as it can be done almost anywhere, especially when you’re at home.
Speak kindly to yourself – Beating yourself up never helps. Compassion does. If you wouldn’t say it to your best friend, don’t say it to yourself.
Skip the Alcohol – Drinking alcohol heightens your emotions and also clouds them. And if depression or anxiety of everything around you is a struggle, alcohol or any drug will only make it harder to separate what you really feel and how you can handle it, and not just blur it out.
Exercise Regularly – This can be as simple as taking a walk every day, preferably at the beginning or end of the day, especially if you’ve had a hard day. But if you find time to release those toxins and allow your mind and body to take a breather and reset, this can be great for so many reasons.
Read a book or write – This allows your mind to focus on what’s in front of it and sometimes we need those mental breaks, but writing can be a great tool to really hone in on what your feeling and what is happening, and how we can overcome them based on the real problems and not the ones our mind makes up when it goes down a rabbit hole.
The Power of Naming What You’re Feeling
During COVID, there were days when people didn’t even know how to describe what they were feeling. It wasn’t quite fear. It wasn’t just sadness. It was… something else.
Psychologists have since named it: ambiguous grief, collective trauma, languishing. And just having words for what we’re feeling can help us better process and move through it.
So if you ever find yourself feeling “off” or disconnected, take a moment to pause and name it. Is it loneliness? Overwhelm? Frustration? Disappointment? Once you name it, it becomes easier to work with.
It’s Okay If You’re Still Not “Over It”
A lot has changed since 2020, but there’s no universal timeline for healing. If you’re still grieving what was lost, still feeling off balance, or still carrying tension in your body, you’re not doing anything wrong.
We all process things differently. And healing isn’t linear. There might be days when you feel like your old self, and others when the weight of it all hits you like a wave. That’s okay.
There’s no medal for pretending you’re fine. But there is strength in being honest with yourself—and reaching out for help when you need it.
What We Wish More People Knew
- Therapy isn’t just for “crisis mode.” You don’t have to hit rock bottom to benefit from talking to someone. Therapy can be a space for growth, processing, goal setting, or just having someone listen.
- Mental health care is healthcare. Period.
- You’re allowed to ask for help even if other people “have it worse.” Pain isn’t a competition. If you’re hurting, you’re deserving of care.
- We’re all carrying more than we realize. So be gentle with yourself and with others.
How We’re Showing Up Today
At Evolve Counseling Services Fort Collins, we’re still taking everything we learned during the pandemic and applying it today. That means:
- Offering both in-person and virtual therapy options.
- Meeting you where you are, emotionally and logistically.
- Helping people process not just what happened in 2020, but everything that’s happened since.
- Creating a space where you don’t have to pretend you’re okay if you’re not.
We’ve seen firsthand how much resilience people have, and how powerful it is when they get the support they need to heal and grow.
Let’s Not Forget What We Overcame
It would be easy to leave the pandemic in the past and never speak of it again. But maybe the more helpful thing is to remember, not to dwell on the hardship, but to carry forward the clarity it gave us.
Clarity that life is fragile. That mental health matters. That we’re wired for connection. That it’s okay to ask for help.
So even now—especially now—don’t forget the tools you built. Don’t forget the importance of checking in with yourself. Don’t forget that it’s not weak to struggle—it’s human.
And most of all, don’t forget: you’re not alone.
Can Evolve Counseling Help You?
Absolutely, we can with specialists like Lindsey Phillips, LPC, and Ben Smith, LPC, who are pros at using CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) to overcome anxiety and depression. You have a team that is capable and excited to help you overcome anything. Best of all, just like we said before, telehealth is a game-changer, and they have been offering it for years.
We’re here. Whether you’re dealing with lingering stress from the pandemic, recent life changes, or just feeling overwhelmed, we’re here to help you.