Reflections on lockdown: Five years on, what we learned and what we carry forward

On March 11th 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) a global pandemic. Here in the United Kingdom, this was followed by a stay-at-home order with immediate effect by the Prime Minister on March 23rd. Panic, concern, confusion, paranoia, denial, disbelief, and even anger followed as we found ourselves in unchartered waters as the invisible airborne disease spread. At the time, we panic bought supplies, called loved ones, and thought it would be cleared up within a few weeks.

What happened next, though, no one could imagine or prepare for. The Covid-19 pandemic and corresponding lockdowns changed life as we know it, and yet five years on it feels like a distant memory or dream.

This March marks the five-year anniversary of the pandemic and the world changing- we wanted to take some time to reflect on our personal experiences and where we were when the world seemed to stop.

The first wave

Dr. Kassandra Burd recalled the following as she heard news of the developing situation:

‘In early 2020, news about COVID-19 began circulating, but like many others, I didn’t take it too seriously at first. Living in Canada at the time, I couldn’t imagine that a virus from across the world would make its way into my daily reality. But by March 2020, things began escalating, though lockdowns hadn’t yet been enforced. I was travelling in Ireland with a friend, blissfully unaware of just how quickly the world was changing. Halfway through our trip, news broke that the city we were in was going into lockdown. I remember sitting in a taxi, the driver turning up the radio as reports warned that entire countries were shutting their borders. The tone was apocalyptic, filled with uncertainty and fear. That was the moment it became real for me. My friend and I quickly made arrangements to leave, uncertain of what awaited us back home.’

Dr. Amirah Khan remembered where she was as well as she heard the news:

‘At the start of 2020, I was in my second semester of my second year of the Doctorate in Counselling Psychology- a Scottish student studying at an English university. My routine involved travelling back and forth every week, staying overnight in hotels, and returning home for the rest of the week. It was a hectic lifestyle, but one that felt manageable at the time. 

I vividly remember one afternoon in March, as I was in my hotel room, receiving an email from the university that they were closing due to COVID-19. Just hours before, I had been in a seminar where my tutor had mentioned that it was unlikely the university would close. It felt surreal – like the world had just shifted in an instant. It was a sudden, clear sign that the pandemic was real and serious.’ 

Over time, we came to realise that the situation we were collectively enduring was here to stay and that despite everything happening, life would need to continue as much as possible. We began to accept a new normal and attempted to find new ways of working and getting through the days…

New worries in a growing situation

‘As lockdown started, I had been 6 months into a new job. I was scheduled to have my probationary review as we packed our offices. I remember frantically attempted build our last-minute laptop purchases and installed the needed software and programs for staff who weren’t as tech savvy I was. A strange job for a Psychologist, but a clear marker of the all-hands-on-deck mentality that we needed at the time.

Days into lockdown, a new word began going around that struck immediate fear- furlough. I began quiet days working from home, but also taking note of everything I accomplished during the day just in case the situation was to worsen and management was forced to make difficult decisions and I needed to demonstrate how I had been spending my time. Fortunately for my team and I at the time, redundancies were not seriously considered like they had been in other industries, but this remained a constant fear in the back of my mind until I realized just how important mental health support had been need during such a trying time for so many people.’ (Dr. Adam Lorenzen)

A new normal?

‘In September 2020, I started my doctorate—a dream I had worked toward for years. But instead of walking into lecture halls and meeting new classmates face-to-face, I found myself sitting at home, logging into virtual classes, which was very difficult. Connecting with classmates felt unnatural, and staying focused in online lectures was a constant struggle. Half of my memories from my doctorate take place behind a screen. It wasn’t the experience I had imagined.’ (Dr. Kassandra Burd)

Unexpected challenges of work from home

‘All my sessions with clients were online and over the phone. This brought with it many challenging moments as I witnessed clients attempt to navigate privacy and confidentiality within the confines of their shared homes, and many comical moments where I also had difficulty navigating this whilst living with my parents.

Despite these challenges, remote therapy proved to be a lifeline. It allowed clients to access support from the comfort of their homes, increasing accessibility for those who faced barriers to attending in person. I learned how valuable it was to create a sense of safety and connection through a screen, and some clients felt more comfortable opening up from their own space.’ (Nisma Asif)

Psychology at the time

The face of Psychology changed during this time and many people developed a range of difficulties that we might not have been initially prepared for. Break-ups, separations, and divorces became prominent and people developed panic disorders and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) symptoms fearing contamination. People experienced existential angst wondering what it’s all about and we feared for our children’s (and our own) social development as we found ourselves bound to increased screen time.

As Psychologists, we also suffered and experienced hardship during the pandemic and corresponding lockdowns. We were able to resonate with the panic, frustration, and concern felt by others, but also experienced our own hardships which prompted a peculiar ethical problem- how do we keep it together and try to lead and work with people while we are suffering similar hardships?

‘My family experienced the loss of my great aunt, whom we considered our second grandmother, who passed away with Covid in her care home. Unfortunately, due to the restrictions, we never got to say goodbye and provide the comfort of knowing that her family was with her in her final moments. I could therefore relate to clients' experiences of frustration, loss, anger and grief. Despite the profound experiences shared by clients, there was also a great sense of adaptability whilst adjusting to new ways of living.’ (Nisma Asif)

How we spent out time

The slowness of life during lockdown prompted us to use our imaginations and spend our time creatively. Many of us embraced the slowness of life to reconnect with others and enjoy the small things in life- some of those lessons we even took with us post-lockdown:

‘Although there were many difficulties facing us during lockdown, I notice I have learnt about the benefits of slowing down. During lock down I was able to pick up hobbies that I hadn’t enjoyed in a long time. For example, being able to paint and spend more time cooking. I have maintained these hobbies post lock down, although this can be challenging at times when life is busy. The lack of plans and things to do during lockdown allowed me to focus on the benefits of these hobbies which provided me with relaxation and enjoyment.’ (Dr. Stephanie Holmes)

Over time, the world began to open up again. Vaccines became available and the threat of the disease softened. This wasn’t without different stops and restarts to lockdowns and the how we became instantly accustomed to change again and again. While many of us developed new problems in the various lockdowns, we also gained a greater adaptability and resilience to cope with uncertainty and change. Some of us are still coping with hardships endured during these challenging few years, and yet we still move forward.

For many of us, the Pandemic and lockdown feels like a distant memory- I often ask myself ‘did that really happen?’. It’s strange to find relics of lockdown scattered throughout society- a sun-bleached and worn down sign that reminds us to ‘keep distance’ reminds that it wasn’t a dream.

As the world re-opened, we saw mixed opinions about the return of face-to-face psychological counselling. Some people remained reluctant at first while others found great comfort in working from home- attending psychology sessions being one component of this. Others rushed at the opportunity and were

To mark this strange anniversary, we wanted to reflect and remember. We wanted to go back in time and ask ‘what did we learn?’ from this strange moment in history.

It goes without saying that COVID-19 has left a lasting impact. It has changed how we work, how we interact, and how we value our time with others. For me, the biggest lesson has been to never take human connection for granted. If there’s one thing the pandemic has made clear, it’s that, no matter what, we really do need each other. (Kassandra Burd)

If you are still struggling with the longer-term impact of lockdown or trying to find value and meaning in life, get in touch with our team to discuss how we can support.