By Karina Mirenda '23
As states relax coronavirus safety restrictions, many teenagers are still reeling from the lonely months of social isolation.
“I feel like I just got the hang of quarantine, and now I have to readjust my whole way of life again,” says Alanna Jackson, 16, a student at LaGuardia High School.
While teens deepened their connections to their families during the pandemic, many say they now feel unequipped to manage larger social circles. Teens suddenly reported feeling anxious and uncomfortable in public, especially in crowded situations, such as on the subway, psychologist Richard Weissbourd told the Harvard Gazette. Simply talking to strangers is also proving to be a challenge, say teens, who feel they must relearn the social graces they lost during the past year.
“It feels exhausting now to interact with other people,” says Jonah Zhao, a Junior at Brooklyn Technical High School.
Psychologists have found that loneliness increases anxiety about social situations, a downward spiral. Those that are isolated from others lack encouragement and are more likely to adopt negative thoughts; in this fragile state, it can be all too easy to fall into the pattern of unhealthy habits.
More than 60 percent of teens and young adults reported increased rates of loneliness, according to a study released last October from Making Caring Common, a project of the Harvard Graduate School of Education.
By taking steps to alleviate their loneliness, teens can also reduce their social anxiety, psychologists say. Therefore, teens may be able to lessen social anxiety by practicing mindfulness, keeping a gratitude journal, volunteering, or corresponding with a pen pal. Students should remember to be kind to themselves during this transitional period.
The best way to overcome the problem, though, is repeated exposure to social situations, psychologists say.
“I think we’ll just have to continue to put ourselves out there, even though it’s difficult,” Jackson says. “For me, I try to relax and take deep breaths whenever I feel myself getting anxious”.
Teens can also help by encouraging their peers and offering support to anyone who seems lonely.
“Solidarity is important,” Zhao said. “We as teens need to know that we are not alone, not overlooked”.
Sources:
Editors: Natalia Cseh '23, Ms. Brilliant
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