At the start of 2020 as Covid spread and countries began to go into lockdown, the usual freedoms afforded to us all were stripped away. Almost every aspect of life was upended, especially for those coming of age. Many of Gen Z ascended into adulthood without being able to check off any of the normal activities on their bucket lists. The first legal nights out at clubs, first holidays with best mates, working first jobs and the typical uni experience were all stripped away in a disarming way.
Research in CGK's Covid-19 Generational National Research Study in 2020 confirmed that Gen Z were hardest hit by the pandemic in some areas, reporting much higher rates of anxiety, decreased work hours, unemployment, and the need for financial help.
And the affects of the Covid crisis continue to be felt heavily by those born before 2012. A study by Eurofind showed that the adverse affects on the younger generation had led to increased potential of depression with 64% of young Europeans after the pandemic, up from 15% before the covid crisis. While at the close of last year it was found that Gen Z were the loneliest generation with a study by Eden Project Communities showing that 19% of 16-24 year olds, “often” or “always” feel lonely, which is three times more people than the 65-74 age group.
Get in the zone.
With Gen Z having been forced to spend what are usually such formative years for socialising and education at home with family or in a small household of other students, it's no wonder it led to anxiety and loneliness persisting after the fact. Aya Guammazis among those who felt lost at this time.
Aya had planned to attend Leiden University to take Japan Studies during the pandemic, but after a bout of six months in hospital she recalls the disappointment of having to attend lectures via Zoom. “It was disheartening to realise that my ‘university experience’ - campus life, lecture halls, an exchange program to Japan, and interactions with fellow students - would be put on hold indefinitely. ”
This had a detrimental affect on Aya's ability to socialise once the pandemic was over. “Months of limited social interaction took a toll on my confidence, leading to social anxiety. The fear of judgment and the lingering sense of isolation made face-to-face interactions seem overwhelming,” she says. With the levels of anxiety she experienced becoming overwhelming compared to life before 2020, she says “simple tasks, such as striking up conversations or participating in group activities, became anxiety-inducing hurdles in a way that I had never experienced before.”
It can feel like something of a betrayal to tell the people who love you that you’re lonely.
Aya thinks that having to interact online rather than in person during this pivotal time heightened how self-conscious she feels, and made her prefer to avoid socialising all together. “I found myself withdrawing from social situations, preferring the safety of solitude rather than risking potential judgment or embarrassment.”
Using a mix of mindful techniques as well as seeking support from friends and family have helped Aya to begin to overcome her anxiety, much of which was learnt when she joined the Yung Mash Collective, which is a free peer-to-peer, global mentoring and empowering community for young adults.
“Life started moving so I had to do it too,” Aya says, and adds that “by focusing on the present and cultivating self-awareness, I was better equipped to manage stress, regulate my emotions, and approach challenges with a clear mind.”
Katherine Alexander a Neurocoach from Yung Mash explains how anxiety affects the brain and why mindfulness can help: “Anxiety is simply an uncertainty about what may or may not happen in the future, in other words too much time spent in your Default Mode Network, aka the Imagination Centre of the brain. It’s the largest part of our brain and we rely on it to create solutions to problems and come up with various scenarios of what our future may look like. Yet, as with everything in life, balance is key. An overactive imagination is responsible for the majority of emotional problems, and mindfulness is a great tool to slow it down.”
If you or someone you know has experienced loneliness or social anxiety as a result of pandemic, members of the YungMash Collective, founded by Masha Shishkina, have shared their tips and small steps that might help alleviate some of the daily struggles.
“Taking a moment each day to reflect on things I am grateful for allowed me to shift my perspective and focus on the positive aspects of life,” says Aya.
Neurocoach Marilyn adds that by doing this before you go to bed you will “give your brain a shot of dopamine that will help you to sleep better. ”
“When stressed, breathe in something that makes you happy - it could be a slice of cake or the smell of the sea breeze, just close your eyes and take a slow deep breath, breathing in all the sensations associated with what makes you happy. Just as slow, breathe out the thing that upsets or worries you. Try it three to four times and you’ll find your anxiety will ease,” suggest Masha.
“One of the most effective and easiest ways of keeping ourselves in balance is setting up a mindfulness bell on your phone to ring two times an hour and when you hear the bell do one to two super slow yawns and a super slow stretch, focusing on your deep inner value,” says Katherine Alexander. “Now watch your mind wander for a few seconds. This process rebalances your brain!” She adds.
“Divide the tasks ahead into small chunks. Celebrate your success, no matter how big or small,” recommends neurocoach Lisanne. “Honour the process of moving in the right direction,” she adds.
“Acceptance of worry or problems is the first step to building a new healthier paradigm. From here we can start to recognise what is real and what is in our imagination”, says Gabriele Rodter, a neurocoach at the Collective.
