Have you also started to change when the pandemic began? Do you also sometimes look at your previous self and ask where it went wrong? Well, if your answer to these were yes, then you came across the right article. When the global pandemic starts to strike on us, we have no choice but to put restrictions to protect ourselves. Countries began to make their move by closing borders and implementing temporary community quarantines. By this, it means that we would not be able to continue doing our mundane chores the way we used to do them daily. Offices started to shift to a work-from-home setting while students began trying a new learning medium online. Was it exhausting? Partly. Day-by-day, we try to find joy while adjusting to the new normal. However, did you find anything strange when we started to adapt to these changes? As we sit all day and face our screens, we try our best to get in touch with reality. However, it is also noticeably visible how we slowly became impatient over petty things at work, irritated with the simple noise of our family members, and zoned out for about how many times a day in all our conference calls. Then, later on realizing, that no, this is not my best self. So, where did it go wrong? Why do I feel like this? From here, you begin to question yourself if this is still normal or if everyone else feels the same way as you do. First, adjusting to new circumstances would naturally make you feel uncomfortable. According to the theory of cognitive adaptation, this feeling is normal since you suddenly feel that everything became out of control. Therefore, your feeling of being different from your previous self is just a sign that you are still in the process of adjustment. So nothing went wrong from your end. It is okay to feel what you are feeling. What we have at the moment is an unexpected adverse event that brought emotional unpreparedness for all. Another factor that may explain what you are feeling right now is loneliness. Although you may say that you are currently with your family and not residing alone, it does not necessarily mean that you cannot be lonely anymore. Remember, being lonely does not equate to being alone and vice versa. You can be alone but feel happy, so you can also feel lonely while being with others. As we isolate ourselves to stay safe, we also cut our connections for physical interactions. Therefore, feelings of boredom cannot be avoided. From this, the sense of loneliness may surface. If this happens, you might see yourself getting angry and frustrated most of the time. Why? Because according to the study of Banarjee & Rai (2020), these behaviors are linked with loneliness. In a nutshell, the feeling of walking on thin ice during this pandemic is not something that you need to worry so much about. It is part of the adjustment process of that unfamiliar feeling that we felt upon transitioning to a major change. In fact, most of you even made an effort to eradicate this feeling. Again, according to the theory of cognitive adaptation, the solution that people tend to do when facing this type of situation is to make an effort to let themselves out of it. Do you remember how people started to find themselves different hobbies at the beginning of the pandemic? They tried to ease themselves by finding comfort in what they wanted to do. Understanding one’s self is not a race. So do not be pressured if you see other people adjusting well to the current situation. If you are still in the process of adjustment, acknowledge it, then help yourself surpass it. Dr. Robert Leahy, a psychologist, gave some tips that might help you with this. First, if you feel as if there is too much on your plate, give yourself a break. Learn to accept that it will never be the same as it is. Do not put too much meaning on things, and think that they are just minor inconveniences. Next, try to be more accommodating and polite. Even if you are stressed out, do not forget to think about others' feelings too. Your simple compliment might come a long way. Finally, view your life as a narrative. This is your own story, and you are currently in the chapter where you are facing a crisis. Outline your own story and remember that you can outweigh whatever is happening because you are the one writing it. In short, you are choosing your own ending. Love yourself and validate your own feelings to carry on. However, in the event that your feelings already burden you in a consistent manner, which already impairs your daily work, this is the time where you need to step up and ask for help. If it is something that you cannot overcome by yourself, never be afraid to seek assistance. Together, let us stay healthy in mind and body! References: Allison, C. (2020, June 24). How to Adjust to the ‘New Normal.’ NewYork-Presbyterian. https://healthmatters.nyp.org/how-to-adjust-to-the-new-normal/ Arzt, M. N. S. (2021, July 24). Bored and Lonely – Reasons Why and What to Do About It. SocialPro.https://socialpronow.com/blog/bored-lonely/#:%7E:text=You%20need%20to%20understand%20the,t%20feel%20connected%20to%20them. Banerjee, D., & Rai, M. (2020). Social isolation in Covid-19: The impact of loneliness. International Journal of Social Psychiatry, 66(6), 525–527. https://doi.org/10.1177/0020764020922269 Büssing, A., Rodrigues Recchia, D., Hein, R., & Dienberg, T. (2020). Perceived changes of specific attitudes, perceptions and behaviors during the Corona pandemic and their relation to wellbeing. Health and Quality of Life Outcomes, 18(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12955-020-01623-6 Czajkowska, Z. (2017). Theory of Cognitive Adaptation. Encyclopedia of Personality and Individual Differences, 1–3. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-28099-8_1019-1 Grant, A. (2021, July 29). Feeling Blah During the Pandemic? It’s Called Languishing. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/19/well/mind/covid-mental-health-languishing.html

In a day full of worries because of being in a pandemic, Almost everyone is stressed in life, even in academics. No proper hours of sleep, tons of coffee, and unhealthy lifestyle, Is your mental health more essential, or are those folders full of files? It has been said that the mental health in our country is worsening, Some people are so afraid to tell it or even attend counseling. Many experienced the pressure of being functional in this phase, It even gets hard because of restrictions and having limited ways. Some lost their jobs, while some people don’t know if they can study, Some lose themselves; they can’t find interest even in their own hobby. Worries plus stress plus anxiety and a lot more negative thoughts, What else is worse, silent battles every day being fought. Everyone should know that mental health is important than ‘that file’, And remember that it is not a crime to rest for a while. Another person was made to remind you that you are not alone, Again, you are not alone. You are not on your own References: Omengan, O., Journalism, P. C. for I. (2021, May 22). Filipinos face the mental toll of the COVID-19 pandemic. Rappler. https://www.rappler.com/nation/photo-essay-filipinos-mental-toll-pressure-fatigue-covid-19-pandemic.

Competitive sports provide a wide range of benefits to athletes. It improves your health, teaches you the value of teamwork and sportsmanship, and boosts your self-esteem and overall physical appearance. However, some sports emphasize shape and weight requirements that may put athletes at high risk of eating disorders. Some of the sports include: Bodybuilding Wrestling Gymnastics Figure skating Diving According to the National Eating Disorder Association (NEDA), female athletes are more likely to have eating disorders than male athletes. However, some male athletes also suffer from eating disorders. Additionally, athletes are at more risk of developing eating disorders than the general population. Currently, Anorexia nervosa and Bulimia nervosa are the two known common types of eating disorders. First, athletes with Anorexia tend to reduce their food intake due to the fear of gaining weight, which causes them to have low body weight. On the other hand, athletes with Bulimia have repeated episodes of binging a large amount of food, feelings of extreme guilt after eating, then followed by episodes of purging. All of these can vary in different forms. These eating disorders are difficult to detect among athletes because they show normal body appearance. Their eating behaviors are often not monitored by their coaches, nutritionist, or dieticians. Therefore, coaches and parents must regularly observe the athletes for possible signs. This include: Focus too much on body weight, shape, and appearance Exercising or training excessively Irregular menstruation for females Decrease performance Restrict/over intake of food Eating disorders are usually preventable and treatable but can become fatal when not treated. As the doctor says, prevention is so much better than cure. Thus, here are the possible ways we can do to help athletes: Promote positive body image Promote healthy dieting Support co-athletes towards a healthy body Avoid monitoring body weight. If needed, weigh athletes privately. Avoid talking about boy size, shape, and appearance publicly. Emphasize performance Reference: Turning Point of Tampa. (2020). Eating Disorders in Sports. https://www.tpoftampa.com/eating-disorders-and-sports/ National Eating Disorders Association. (2018). Eating Disorders & Athletes. https://www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/eating-disorders-athletes Bowers, E.S. (2014). Why Athletes Develop Eating Disorders. https://www.everydayhealth.com/news/eating-disorders-athletes/ Stanford Children's Health. (n.d.). Eating Disorders and Young Athletes https://www.stanfordchildrens.org/en/topic/default?id=eating-disorders-and-young-athletes-160-28

Filipinos are fun and happy people who always keep a smiling face in all their victories and defeats. We are known for our resiliency that despite the circumstances and challenges, we see a positive attitude as if it was an inherent trait that all Filipinos must own. Now that people are adjusting to their new normal as a result of the year-long pandemic, optimism is growing as new hurdles are overcome each day by a diverse group of people with unique experiences to tell. While it is admirable to fall and rise with a smile, we must consider how this attitude can become a maladaptive practice of avoiding genuine human feelings. Having a positive outlook and bright attitude in life is a good practice because an individual’s perspective shifts to the good or beneficial outcome in any situation. It teaches one to appreciate the good things and to look for silver linings in bad times. Positive thinking has been found to offer a number of health advantages. Positive thinking, according to research, helps people deal with stress better and build effective coping mechanisms. People also live longer and are less likely to suffer from depression. There is a rise in physical well-being and a decrease in the chance of dying from the cardiac disease (Cherry, 2019). People are becoming sick, losing jobs, and feeling separated from the rest of the world, therefore it's more important than ever to seek positivity. Several articles have been published on the internet to offer tips, routines, and practices for keeping optimistic during the pandemic. On the surface, maintaining a happy attitude is a good shield to protect yourself from what is going on outside your home. However, we must keep in mind that the shield's effectiveness diminishes over time, especially while fighting large and frightening opponents. We aren't always able to hide. You'll have to draw the sword and confront the opponent one day—how that's we learn and progress. This also applies to the issues we're dealing with. As humans, we are doomed to experience difficulties after problems; it is now up to us to figure out how to deal with them. We slip into the deep trap known as "Toxic Positivity" if we consistently follow the "positive vibes exclusively" approach. You may have come across the term toxic positivity at some point in your life because it exists and is used by individuals without them even realizing it. Toxic positivity is characterized by a strong desire for people to think positively. It is the assumption that only positive thinking can solve problems, thus people are forced to shun negative thinking as if it were an illness. It necessitates a high level of positivism despite the person's difficult and terrible circumstances (Villines, 2021). The toxic optimism culture is dangerous since it silences one's feelings. It denies a person the right to be human, to feel free to express uncomfortable and negative emotions. Phrases like "look on the bright side," "everything occurs for a reason," and "happiness is a choice" are used to silence individuals and dismiss their misery (Cherry, 2021). Many people who are the breadwinners of the family were laid off during the pandemic. Should they just keep an optimistic attitude? There would be no food on the table if they did. Many people today are susceptible to poisonous positivity. Social media posts discussed how to take advantage of the situation, such as the quarantine, online learning, and social isolation. People offered “positive vibes” as a form of comfort to others who had experienced all types of losses and sadness (Wirth, 2020). As humans, we can’t control how we feel. We are not a lightbulb; we can’t switch on and off our feelings. We should always be reminded of this certain phrase we often hear— “It’s okay not to be okay”. To address our emotions properly, we must first acknowledge them by trying not to avoid or ignore them. Also, don’t bottle up your feelings. Don’t wait for your feelings to explode when you can gently let them out one by one. It is essential to express your needs to find balance in your emotions. Furthermore, practice unconditional self-love. When you give yourself some love, you are not too hard on yourself. You allow yourself to experience emotions without having to question or judge what you feel. This will help you separate your negative emotions from your self-worth. Lastly, allow yourself to feel different kinds of emotions at once. Remember that emotions don’t have to be logical to make sense to you. You are allowed to be happy and be sad at the same time. Gratitude and pain could coexist so be honest with your emotions (Su, 2020). When we allow ourselves to feel emotions, we are pulled into the present moment. Right now, we are experiencing a crisis. By feeling our emotions and acknowledging our fear and anxiety toward the virus, we are motivated to practice social distancing and wear our masks (Scully, 2020). To be human means to be authentic, genuine, and be connected in our emotions, and sometimes they’re not beautiful. Sometimes it is painfully beautiful or painfully ugly but feel it anyway. Sometimes, there is no bright side, yet. Not everything has a reason, they just happen as they need to. Happiness is sometimes a privilege not everyone can have immediately. Feel it anyway. Often, there is comfort in staying in uncomfortable places. References: Cherry, L. (2019). What Is Behind the Psychology of Positive Thinking? Verywell Mind. https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-positive-thinking-2794772 Cherry, K. (2021). Why Toxic Positivity Can Be So Harmful. Verywell Mind. https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-toxic-positivity-5093958 Scully, S. M. (2020). ‘Toxic Positivity’ Is Real — and It’s a Big Problem During the Pandemic. Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/health/mental-health/toxic-positivity-during-the-pandemic Su, E. (2020). 4 Ways to Avoid Toxic Positivity. Talkspace. https://www.talkspace.com/blog/toxic-positivity-avoiding-what-is/?__cf_chl_captcha_tk__=pmd_854fabf1c2cf9db974ccef97f652899b00e35770-1626806080-0-gqNtZGzNAuKjcnBszQii Villines, Z. (2021). What to know about toxic positivity. Medical News Today. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/toxic-positivity Wirth, J. (2020). Opinion | COVID-19 brings risk of toxic positivity. The Daily Orange. http://dailyorange.com/2020/11/covid-19-brings-risk-toxic-positivity/

Violence within homes has always been an alarming phenomenon in our society. The Domestic Violence Statistics (2021) report that 1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men in the United States have experienced Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) during their lifetime, ‘violence’ here referring to physical, psychological, and/or sexual forms[1]. It was also found that 30 to 60% of IPV offenders abused children in their households. 20% of recorded IPV cases were witnessed by children. The numbers have only worsened since the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent local lockdowns. Growth in the number of calls to domestic violence helplines has been observed in China and Spain, with almost a 20% noted increase for the latter during the first couple of weeks into lockdown (Taub, 2020)[2]. Why Aggress? A study conducted by Shoss, Jundt, Kobler, and Reynolds (2015) found that employees partook in counterproductive work behaviors (CWB) — such as theft, production manipulation, and abuse — at work, as a coping strategy[3]. In an effort to seek out compensatory control, employee CWB increased as the employee’s perceived control over their workplace situations decreased. Though this paper primarily tackled the human condition within the confines of employment, there is something to be gleaned from this in understanding social interactions within the COVID-19 context. It is important to note, at this point, that many other causes and risk factors beyond aggression are involved when we tackle something as complex as domestic and intimate partner violence. In fact, the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (n.d.) have identified four broad risk categories involved with IPV, these being individual, relationship, community, and societal factors[4]. Household violence demands more attention and understanding than a simple attribution to aggression. However, for the sake of brevity, published research and studies regarding aggression and how it may relate to the ongoing pandemic will be the topic of focus for this piece. Aggression and Stringency Killgore, Cloonan, Taylor, Anlap, and Dailey (2021) linked increased general aggression with experiences of lockdowns. Respondents who were on lockdown reported feeling and exhibiting higher levels of physical aggression, verbal aggression, anger, and hostility compared to those who experienced less or no restrictions[5]. This is supported by Abreu et al. (2021), who found that household aggression and depression increased following stricter preventive countermeasures in Germany[6]. Gender differences were noted between the severity of aggressive and depressive tendencies as seen in men and women, and mostly only manifested during periods of higher stringency: during the hard lockdown, symptoms of depression were more prevalent and increased more exponentially in women than in men, while aggressive behaviors in men were more commonly or more intensely observed than in women. Surprisingly, the opposite regarding gender differences and depression was found for couples with children — while depression still increased with stringency, gender differences became less pronounced. This implied that men who lived with children took on levels of depression that were similar to the pattern observed in women. Aggression and Fear Another study by Ye et al. (2021) proposed that fear contributed to pandemic-related feelings of aggression, as mediated by moral disengagement[7]. As people become more afraid of COVID-19 implications, moral disengagement is activated in order to protect and defend them against emotional threats. This may then lead, not to the aggressive behaviors per se, but to the leniency of the individual toward their own aggressive behaviors. Due to moral disengagement, an individual might allow harmful behaviors they would have otherwise been able to restrain or stop by themselves. Interestingly, following the hypothesis that aggression was being utilized as a maladaptive coping strategy, family cohesion was thought to be a protective factor against aggression, as it provided a healthier and more supportive method of stress management. What Can We Do? They say prevention is better than cure, and the same applies here. Having identified various risk factors involved with household and partner violence, certain measures may be taken to assess what applies to us, and to guard against those risks that are within our level of control. On the opposite end, we may promote and encourage what protective factors against violence we have in life, such as better education regarding relationships, family cohesion, social support, etc. In addition, as no one is really born already an abuser, we must learn to cultivate in ourselves a sense of or mechanism for awareness regarding our actions and to actively choose healthy alternatives to whatever potentially destructive or maladaptive behaviors we have. The same measures can be applied to others, as well, for one, by prioritizing education on violence and recreational/positive programs for both adults and the youth. Of course, prevention can only help so much if abuse is already a very present reality in our world. In that case, there are still steps an individual may take to help against it, the most vital, perhaps, being the normalization of speaking out about abuse experiences, and reinforcing the importance of it. This may help strengthen victims to be more open about their experiences, to finally get the psychological, medical, and legal help they deserve. Other actions that may be considered include the establishment of a neighborhood watch or check-in system among friends, as it may be a good way to let others know you are concerned about them and are willing to provide support should someone be in need of it. Conversely, one must also understand that there are people out there who are willing to help them, however, isolating or hopeless their situations might be. In the case of evidential abuse, it would be prudent to collect proof as needed, to ensure a better legal outcome should it come to that. Perhaps the strongest help that may be given to anyone in such a situation, however, lies in the hands of the professionals. As normal individuals, the best we can do for this cause is to encourage the presence and participation of these professionals in the lives of potential and actual victims, and vice versa. This can be done by urging government officials to improve existing services and by seeking out new solutions to possible problems and pitfalls potential and actual victims of violence face. For one, we may demand greater education among police and emergency respondents regarding how to best handle situations of domestic violence, or lobby for more accessible health and support resources, such as therapy services or temporary housing. References Domestic Violence Statistics. (2021, June 15). The Hotline. https://www.thehotline.org/stakeholders/domestic-violence-statistics/ Taub, A. (2020, April 14). How Domestic Abuse Has Risen Worldwide Since Coronavirus. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/06/world/coronavirus-domestic-violence.html Shoss, M. K., Jundt, D. K., Kobler, A., & Reynolds, C. (2015). Doing Bad to Feel Better? An Investigation of Within- and Between-Person Perceptions of Counterproductive Work Behavior as a Coping Tactic. Journal of Business Ethics, 137(3), 571–587. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-015-2573-9 Risk and Protective Factors|Intimate Partner Violence|Violence Prevention|Injury Center|CDC. (n.d.). Centers of Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved August 17, 2021, from https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/intimatepartnerviolence/riskprotectivefactors.html Killgore, W. D., Cloonan, S. A., Taylor, E. C., Anlap, I., & Dailey, N. S. (2021). Increasing aggression during the COVID-19 lockdowns. Journal of Affective Disorders Reports, 5, 100163. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadr.2021.100163 Abreu, L., Koebach, A., Díaz, O., Carleial, S., Hoeffler, A., Stojetz, W., Freudenreich, H., Justino, P., & Brück, T. (2021). Life With Corona: Increased Gender Differences in Aggression and Depression Symptoms Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic Burden in Germany. Frontiers in Psychology, 12. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.689396 Ye, B., Zeng, Y., Im, H., Liu, M., Wang, X., & Yang, Q. (2021). The Relationship Between Fear of COVID-19 and Online Aggressive Behavior: A Moderated Mediation Model. Frontiers in Psychology, 12. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.589615

It’s nowhere bizarre to consider that wherever organisms are, diseases invariably will follow. Defined by Merriam Webster[1] as “a condition of the living animal or plant body [...] that impairs normal functioning”, diseases are an almost expected, natural facet of existence. You can most definitely say they’ve been here on Earth for as long as life has. Diseases can be classified into two general categories: non-infectious and infectious. Non-infectious diseases would most typically be associated with genetic disorders and dysfunctions, and at times may be attributed to social determinants like one’s lifestyle and environment. Infectious diseases[2], however, would involve concepts like bacterias, parasites, and — the one that’s taken our entire world by storm — viruses. Then and Now The earliest recorded incidence of a pandemic was in 430 B.C. in Athens, during the Peloponnesian War[3]. The plague, which featured symptoms including but not limited to diarrhea, high fever, bradycardia, and hemorrhaging, lasted some five years, killing a quarter of the city’s population in total[4]. Early into the outbreak, many Athenians actually pointed the cause of their condition to the water in their wells, which they hypothesized were poisoned by the Spartans they were then warring against. It was only until the physicians, who were constantly exposed to and treating the ailing masses, started displaying symptoms as well, that they considered contagion as a more likely suspect. It might be a comfort to most of us, in 2021, to know that we’ve advanced significantly since then, both in terms of medicine and technology. We are fully capable of engineering our own vaccines, have a better understanding of how pathogens are transmitted, are better equipped at devising preventive techniques against infection, and generally benefit from the instantaneous updating and informing that social media and digital interactions can afford us. However, these advantages may often come with their fair share of entailments. On Mental Health Mental health consequences is one such entailment. In a study conducted by Abbas, Wang, Su, and Ziapour (2021)[5], it was found that people mainly used social media during the COVID-19 pandemic to seek out informational and emotional support. However, in a counterproductive twist, another research found that 64% of participants reported feeling generally distressed by the content they saw on social media regarding COVID-19 (Ahmad & Murad, 2020)[6]. This distress manifested either psychologically, physically or both. Ranked as the most upsetting type of content was fake news about COVID-19 (26.6%). This is a finding that becomes especially interesting when paired with a study conducted by Kouzy et al. (2020)[7], which found that as of February 27, 2021, 24.8% of all posts pertaining to COVID-19 on the social media platform Twitter included misinformation, and 17.4% included unverified information. The problem with fake news is much larger than you might think. It has actually become so prevalent and far-reaching that many people have started referring to the phenomenon as an infodemic. A portmanteau of ‘information and ‘epidemic’, it has been defined by the World Health Organization (2020) as excessive information propagated in both digital and physical environments which feature false or misleading information[8]. The COVID-19 Infodemic While the slight deterioration of mental health is an almost expected outcome at this time due to the inherent negative value of experiencing a worldwide health crisis, there is still so much that infodemics can affect in regards to it. For one, media that was merely biased and misleading led to more pronounced psychological distress; potential human and economical consequences such as investing heavily in fake health products were also more likely to happen (Su et al., 2021)[9]. Meanwhile, media coverage that was more severely false and dishonest cultivated undesirable attitudes and mindsets in people, such as that of public distrust. This is a problem by itself; however, the difficulty of this increases tenfold when taking into consideration the mechanism by which anxiety is buffered during the COVID-19 lockdown. According to Marzouki, Aldossari, and Veltri (2021)[10], people tend to gravitate toward a consensus about a negative event when exposed to the said event — in our case, the pandemic. From this consensus, we draw certain expectations about the event, which may lead to feelings of distress. A shared cognitive appraisal of the situation then follows, as evidenced by the presence of coping mechanisms, which help to alleviate distress felt by the group. This, like any other mechanism of behavior, seems normal enough until one considers how it might play out in a company of misinformed individuals. As false information is integrated early on into their shared appraisal of COVID-19, we are left with an affiliation of people that are, though socially supported and less psychologically distressed, reinforcing to each other all the wrong ideas regarding the ongoing crisis. This is worsened by the possibility that unsuspecting or uninformed individuals outside this group might be lured into their conceptions, as people often lend credibility to any ideal with significant enough backing. What Can We Do? Given the information we’ve discussed so far, the main contribution we can make as active social media agents is to do our part to stop the COVID-19 infodemic. Small, additional actions we can adopt that would greatly help in this goal would be to ensure we’re getting our information from verified sources. Moreover, as some 12.6% of content shared by verified sources on social media were still found to be misinformation (Kouzy et al., 2020), it might also be beneficial that we cross-check information from other legitimate references and share on our own platforms only what has been proven and evidenced to be fact. By doing so, we propagate in social media only what needs to be said — nothing more and nothing false that could potentially exacerbate the mental health struggles people would naturally be going through right now. In the role of receiver, it might also do some good to take breaks from social media every once in a while. Again, while the technology is useful enough in updating us about how the virus, the pandemic, and the world is currently faring, it’s only so helpful up to a certain point. Excessive exposure to social media has been linked to poorer mental health, with negative affect identified as the mediating factor (Zhao & Zhou, 2020)[11]. Additionally, information overload was found to be a predictor of reduced wellbeing during isolation (Fan & Smith, 2021)[12]. A Final Word Looking for support during the pandemic, either emotional or informational, is standard behavior where any interaction is concerned — not just in social media. After all, the entire experience might be upsetting enough that we as a collective feel encouraged to take matters into our own hands and do the small things we can to improve our standard of living. However, it’s important to realize that our words hold a weight we might not even immediately recognize. In fact, everything we put out there for people to see — our beliefs, our feelings, our considered truths — will affect how the rest of the world will decide to continue on from this point. Your voice has great power, and as we’re constantly reminded, it comes with great responsibility. References Merriam-Webster. (n.d.). Disease. In Merriam-Webster.com dictionary. Retrieved August 16, 2021, from https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/disease Infectious diseases - Symptoms and causes. (2021, April 7). Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/infectious-diseases/symptoms-causes/syc-20351173 Horgan, J. (2021, August 15). The Plague at Athens, 430–427 BCE. World History Encyclopedia. https://www.worldhistory.org/article/939/the-plague-at-athens-430-427-bce/ Littman, R. J. (2009). The Plague of Athens: Epidemiology and Paleopathology. Mount Sinai Journal of Medicine: A Journal of Translational and Personalized Medicine, 76(5), 456–467. https://doi.org/10.1002/msj.20137 Abbas, J., Wang, D., Su, Z., & Ziapour, A. (2021). The Role of Social Media in the Advent of COVID-19 Pandemic: Crisis Management, Mental Health Challenges and Implications. Risk Management and Healthcare Policy, Volume 14, 1917–1932. https://doi.org/10.2147/rmhp.s284313 Ahmad, A. R., & Murad, H. R. (2020). The Impact of Social Media on Panic During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Iraqi Kurdistan: Online Questionnaire Study. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 22(5), e19556. https://doi.org/10.2196/19556 Kouzy, R., Abi Jaoude, J., Kraitem, A., El Alam, M. B., Karam, B., Adib, E., Zarka, J., Traboulsi, C., Akl, E. W., & Baddour, K. (2020). Coronavirus Goes Viral: Quantifying the COVID-19 Misinformation Epidemic on Twitter. Cureus, 12(3), e7255. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.7255 Infodemic. (2020, December 22). World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/health-topics/infodemic#tab=tab_1 Su, Z., McDonnell, D., Wen, J., Kozak, M., Abbas, J., ŠEgalo, S., Li, X., Ahmad, J., Cheshmehzangi, A., Cai, Y., Yang, L., & Xiang, Y. T. (2021). Mental health consequences of COVID-19 media coverage: the need for effective crisis communication practices. Globalization and Health, 17(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12992-020-00654-4 Marzouki, Y., Aldossari, F. S., & Veltri, G. A. (2021). Understanding the buffering effect of social media use on anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown. Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, 8(1). https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-021-00724-x Zhao, N., & Zhou, G. (2020). Social Media Use and Mental Health during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Moderator Role of Disaster Stressor and Mediator Role of Negative Affect. Applied psychology. Health and well-being, 12(4), 1019–1038. https://doi.org/10.1111/aphw.12226 Fan, J., & Smith, A. P. (2021). Information Overload, Wellbeing and COVID-19: A Survey in China. Behavioral Sciences, 11(5), 62. https://doi.org/10.3390/bs11050062

All of us have vulnerability no matter how hard we try to avoid it. We are born vulnerable, and we remain so throughout our childhood. Our attachment to vulnerability is something we hold dear as children but abandon as adults. We naturally want to be in control of ourselves once we've grown out of the childhood stage, and we become conditioned to hide our feelings from time to time. We learn to suppress our emotions because when we become vulnerable, a part of our self-control begins to vanish, and this is something that most of us are afraid of. We are concerned that expressing certain feelings may lead to judgment and the assumption that we are unable to control our emotions. As a result, we try to keep our grief, anxiety, frustration, and other negative emotions hidden (Raypole, 2020). “Vulnerability is not winning or losing; it’s having the courage to show up and be seen when we have no control over the outcome. Vulnerability is not weakness; it’s our greatest measure of courage,” Brené Brown, a research professor, and author, supports this in her book Rising Strong. But little did we know that being vulnerable may be one of life's greatest triumphs. Consider it a jumbled crossword puzzle on the floor. Some may argue that the puzzle is unfinished because the pieces are littered across the floor. However, by putting them together, you can complete the picture. This should be the central theme of our lives. Instead of disowning our broken bits and refusing to try to put them back together, we should own them and work to put them back together. Our brain's principal purpose is to keep us safe. Our mind hates vulnerability because of the possibility of being hurt. (Fahkry, 2018). Ripping down all the emotional barriers you've built up over the years, and being open about yourself, your strengths and weaknesses are terrifying. Nevertheless, it is preferable to have loved and lost than to have never loved at all. Therefore, being vulnerable is the bravest and compassionate thing we can do in life. It reintroduces love, hope, and faith into your life, as well as to other people. (Schawbel, 2013). Moreover, each of us has different pain thresholds. If left unchecked, it will become inflamed and take control of our intrapersonal and interpersonal relationships. Therefore, if we want to live a good life, we must accept our vulnerability. Even the smallest act of lowering our guard is a commitment to our growth. Life may be quite overwhelming at times, and we may feel as if we can't take it anymore, but remember that it's okay not to be okay. We're all human, and we're supposed to feel things. You are never wrong to express your feelings, and ever let anyone make you feel weak and worthless for being vulnerable because no one can judge your feelings but you. References: Fahkry, T. (2018). How To Embrace Vulnerability As Your Greatest Strength. Medium. Retrieved from https://medium.com/the-mission/how-to-embrace-vulnerability-as-your-greatest-strength-d2ac2b 80ba52 Napior, T. (2020). Here is Why It’s Okay to Cry. Medium. Retrieved from https://medium.com/mystic-minds/here-is-why-its-okay-to-cry-556ad32f3ee0 Raypole, C. (2020). It’s Tempting to Mask Your Emotions, but It Won’t Do You (Or Anyone Else) Any Favors. Healthline. Retrieved from https://www.healthline.com/health/mental-health/hiding-feelings#why-its-done. Schawbel, D. (2013). Brene Brown: How Vulnerability Can Make Our Lives Better. Forbes. Retrieved from https://www.forbes.com/sites/danschawbel/2013/04/21/brene-brown-how-vulnerability-can-mak e-our-lives-better/?sh=66e3c53936c7

The coronavirus outbreak has significantly affected all people around the world. Thousands of individuals have lost their jobs as businesses have been forced to reduce their workforce and some temporarily or permanently closed their operations. Generally, economic growth declined dramatically. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the outbreak of COVID-19 can be stressful for vulnerable populations such as older adults, children, healthcare workers, front liners, and those with existing mental health issues. Unfortunately, we have all been affected physically, mentally, and financially. And all of these are just the consequences of the pandemic. How will we recover from these challenges, losses, and with this pandemic in general? Being resilient is one way to move forward and get through this pandemic. As defined in the context of psychology, resilience is the person’s ability to adapt well in the face of adversity, challenges, threats, or significant sources of stress. Becoming resilient in this time of pandemic provides a clear and positive outlook in times of adverse situations, helps you grow and overcome these difficulties, gives you the emotional strength to deal with the problems, adapt to the situation, and finally move forward. There are four ways to build resilience: . Positive Mindset - the way you think plays a huge role in how you feel and deal with your challenges in life. Training your mind to turn negative thoughts into positive ones will help you interpret the situation realistically and respond effectively. Support System - Sharing your difficulties with someone you trust and someone who understands you is a reminder that you are not alone. Talking with them can also help you view a different perspective that will enable you to manage your difficulties better. The support system can be your friends, families, co-workers, or anyone with the same battles as you have. Coping strategies - try to explore different coping strategies that best suit the situation you are going through because different coping strategies work differently for every individual. These coping skills can help you manage your emotions, feelings, and the situation in general. Solution planning - Create a list of realistic solutions to your problems. The list will help you weigh your options in terms of effectiveness and utilize your strengths and all your resources. Creating a list of solutions to every problem is one step in moving forward towards growth. Building resilience requires great time, effort, and dedication. It is not inborn nor inherent, but it can constantly be developed, enhanced, and improved through our experiences and the environment. References: Cherry, K. (2021). How Resilience Helps When Coping With Challenges. Verywell Mind. https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-resilience-2795059 Hurley, K. (2020). What Is Resilience? Your Guide to Facing Life’s Challenges, Adversities, and Crises. Everyday Health. https://www.everydayhealth.com/wellness/resilience/ World Health Organization. (2020). Impact of COVID-19 on people's livelihoods, their health, and our food systems. https://www.who.int/news/item/13-10-2020-impact-of-covid-19-on-people%27s-livelihoods-their-health-and-our-food-systems American Psychological Association. (2012). Building your resilience. https://www.apa.org/topics/resilience

Everyone needs love and everyone deserves it, too. This primordial thirst of people to give out and to receive the mentioned social concept makes it easy to dip themselves in the stream of uncertainties and unsteady waters. With this said, not every trial to show affection ends in a good way; some even lead to demise even before existing. However, a failure of the little spark’s glow is not always due to the notion of “falling out of love.” Sometimes, humans just extinguish the flame and disappear without a trace just like a phantom - the phenomenon of ghosting. Ghosting is when someone forms a connection and then decides to just put an end to the string of love (Fader, 2020). This occurrence begins with passion then leads to communication - this is where ghosting usually happens. Derived from the word itself, this unfortunate affair turns one side of the party into the persona of a ghost. Disappearing without a trace. Without any warning. Ghosting is actually an extremely cruel thing to do (Coffee, 2018). This is due to the fact that it is done by only one side of the line, however, the consequences are carried by the other innocent side. Ghosting usually generates a road of suffering from the person who experienced it. Myriads of negative questions will prey on the mind of the ghosted one. Due to this phenomenon, victims start to envision the worst possible scenarios, resulting in them often blaming themselves (Fader, 2020). So much for the pain of this no-closure breakup system, why do people ghost? Grounding from numerous new studies regarding this subject, ghosters tend to possess what we call the “avoidant attachment style,” and this indicates that instead of talking things out or expressing sincere emotions, people who have this attachment style choose to just go and walk away (Gholipour, 2019). This explains why ghosters just vanish into thin air without even saying farewells. For people who ghost, leaving and running away is the best thing to do if they are unsure of their potential partner. Yes, finding love and giving love is and will always be an enormous part of humans but it should always be noted that the road to a perfect romance is nonexistent. There will always be bumps along the way. Humans are different in every sense of the word and due to this, humans will always have to seek that one person who’s going to make every pain worth it. Even if you have encountered some ghosters, don’t lose hope! Someone out there will eventually be your one in a million! References: Coffee, E. (2018). The Ghosting Phenomenon. Indiana University Southeast. Retrieved from https://iushorizon.com/22002/features/the-ghosting-phenomenon/ Fader, S. (2020). Ghosting: The New Dating Phenomenon. Retrieved from https://www.betterhelp.com/advice/dating/ghosting-the-new-dating-phenomenon/ Gholipour, B. (2019). Why Do People Ghost? Retrieved from https://www.livescience.com/64661-why-people-ghost.html Granger, B. (n.d.). Ghosting: The Spooky Social Phenomenon That’s Haunting the Digital World. Retrieved from https://www.getsupporti.com/post/ghosting McQuillan, S. (n.d.). Ghosting: What It Is, Why It Hurts, and What You Can Do About It. Retrieved from https://www.psycom.net/what-is-ghosting Mikhail, A. (2021). Ghosting: Is the phenomenon of shutting people out acceptable? Retrieved from https://www.thejakartapost.com/life/2021/03/24/ghosting-is-the-phenomenon-of-shutting-people-out-acceptable.html

It was a normal day. I was sitting with my friends in our usual lunch spot, waiting for our next class when the announcement came. The mayor has declared a one-week suspension of classes due to the rise of COVID-19 cases. There were only 20 cases in the country that day, but I haven’t been with my friends since. The one-week suspension was extended and at a certain point, I realized it would last a while. I made a to-do list of everything I want to accomplish during the quarantine: books I want to read, series I want to watch, things I want to learn. A year and a few months later, only one item on my list is crossed out. Now we’re working, taking classes, and meeting with people via zoom at our own homes. We don’t spend time commuting anymore nor do we have to rush our food during lunch break. Groceries and other essential items may be delivered directly to your home. The pandemic has given us plenty of time and it’s normal for us to think of how we could be productive during this season. But why have I only crossed out one item from my list? It turns out that being productive amid the pandemic is not as easy as it sounds. We do have a lot of time but there are other factors that contribute to our productivity. If you’re feeling less productive these days, here’s what you should know. Mental Health Plays a Huge Role in Your Productivity The isolation and constant threat of the COVID-19 have led to the increase and prevalence of mental health issues. Mental health problems may also affect the energy, concentration, and performance levels of an individual. It affects the way you feel that even mild anxiety or depression can impact your productivity. Racing thoughts are common with people living with anxiety which leads to less time actually doing things since time was spent on your thoughts (Barbash, 2019). Depression, on the other hand, has been associated with impaired productivity as well as reduced work functioning (CDC, 2019). Don’t Feel Guilty, It’s Called Collective Pain You may be living in the comfort of your home with all the resources you need to work or take classes and you may be well-fed or financially stable and yet, still be not okay. Aside from the individual pain that we go through due to the pandemic such as missing our families and friends, losing jobs, or struggling to make ends meet, we may also experience collective pain (Laporte, 2017). The ongoing crisis, the deaths, the struggles of those who lost their jobs, the call for help of those who couldn’t pay for their hospital bills, etc., contribute to the collective pain that you experience. You might feel guilty for going through mental health struggles knowing that these things are happening to other people, but the thing is, someone is always going to have a worse situation than you have and it’s human to be affected by them. You Don’t Have To Be Productive When You’re Living Through a Pandemic Living through a pandemic means having a constant threat to your health, dealing with social isolation, systemic inequalities, and having financial or work uncertainties. Therefore, you cannot expect yourself to function at your peak. Setting an unrealistic expectation of being 100% productive would cause overwhelming pressure, stress, and frustration. Living through a pandemic is enough for itself, there is no need to add the stress of being extra productive. As the social psychologist, Devon Price said in his book Laziness Does Not Exist, “There is no morally corrupt, slothful force inside us, driving us to be unproductive for no reason. It’s not evil to have limitations and to need breaks”. Coping With Less Productivity As you become aware of your mental health, it’s important to cope with lower productivity. Allow yourself to ease your workload and slow down. If your coping mechanisms are socializing, going to the gym, or eating at your favorite restaurant, try to find new coping mechanisms. While it is good to be informed about current events, consider taking a break from the news and social media, especially if it gives rise to your anxiety (Fuller, 2019). The next time that you find yourself being less productive than you think you should be, remember that taking care of yourself is still your top priority, and know that you are not going through this alone. References: Barbash, E. (2019). Worrying: A Waste of Time and Energy. Retrieved from https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/trauma-and-hope/201901/worrying-waste-time-and-energy Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2019). Mental Health in the Workplace. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/workplacehealthpromotion/tools-resources/workplace-health/mental-health/index.html Laporte, D. (2017). Are You Feeling Collective Pain? Here’s How to Manage that. Retrieved from https://collectivehub.com/2017/05/are-you-feeling-the-collective-pain-heres-how-to-manage-that/ Fuller, K. (2019). Social Media Breaks and Why They Are Necessary. Retrieved from https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/happiness-is-state-mind/201907/social-media-breaks-and-why-they-are-necessary

Who hasn't been hurt by the acts or words of other people? Perhaps family often chastised you as a child, a coworker ruined a project, or your lover had an affair. Perhaps you've been through a terrible situation, such as being physically or emotionally assaulted by a close relative. These kinds of wounds can leave people with long-term feelings of anger and bitterness, as well as a desire for revenge. When we get hurt, we may either hold on to our resentment, bitterness, and ideas of vengeance - or we can learn to forgive and move forward. What will you choose? It's harder than it sounds to forgive someone, especially when the pain they caused us still haunts us at night. As a result, our sense of self-worth decreases. Our ambitions and hopes have been crushed, and we have lost something quite valuable to us. We would like to be compensated for our damages (Hoy, 2021). Having these kinds of thoughts and feelings is normal, and letting go of your pain is also not an easy process. It takes time to forgive, but as you strive toward it, you will discover that it is well worth your time, instead of holding grudges. To forgive is to set the prisoner free and to discover that the prisoner was you (Farrelly, n.d.). Never let resentment imprison you for the rest of your life. It will ruin you and your other relationships. Learn to forgive and it will take away the power that the other person still has in your life. Consider how forgiveness may improve your life by providing you with serenity, happiness, and emotional and spiritual healing. Forgiveness is more about our own hearts than it is about the other person. (Good Therapy, 2019). Forgiveness has a great impact on both our physical and emotional health. According to Weir (2017), forgiveness is linked with positive mental health outcomes such as reduced anxiety, sadness, and severe psychiatric illnesses, as well as fewer physical health symptoms and lower death rates. Therefore, forgiveness is a necessary aspect of psychological healing. None of us are perfect, at the end of the day. We all have a tendency to hurt one another as humans. Nobody's life has ever been perfect, and no one has ever needed forgiveness for whatever they said or did. References: Farrelly, M. (n.d.). L. To Forgive Is To Set A Prisoner Free And Discover That The Prisoner Was You. Qouteikon. Retrieved from https://www.quoteikon.com/to-forgive-is-to-set-a-prisoner-free-and-discover-that-the-prisoner-w as-you.html. Good Therapy. (2019). Forgiveness. Retrieved from https://www.goodtherapy.org/learn-about-therapy/issues/forgiveness. Hoy, L. (2021). Why It's So Hard To Forgive. Issue I Face. Retrieved from https://issuesiface.com/magazine/why-is-it-so-hard-to-forgive. Weir, K. (2017). Forgiveness can improve mental and physical health. American Psychological Association. https://www.apa.org/monitor/2017/01/ce-corner

We all had our fair share of good days. May it be from your youth, your first paycheck, your first recital, the time when you won that singing contest, or when you got engaged! Looking back at it now, it is satisfying how we felt genuinely happy during that time. Without reservations, we did what we wanted and achieved our goals. We did something because we knew that we could. We joined several contests because we thought that we had a chance. We knew beforehand that we have skills for what we have signed up for. It is as if we have all the energy to win over something that we really wanted. In return, we have felt genuinely deserving for whatever we have achieved. However, all of these were before. Those were the good days—the days where we still thought that we were enough. The situation has already changed. At that moment, you suddenly started to feel that you were not as good as you thought you were. So you asked yourself, am I just a fraud? What is the correct answer for this? To answer this question, let us see this scenario first. When you were little, you used to ace your tests. When you were still in elementary, you were an active student and even managed to graduate high school with honors. When you were about to choose a university for college, one of the big four universities informed you that you were eligible to apply. What a tremendous feeling of joy! However, as you start your semester, you suddenly reach a slump in your academic career. You felt exhausted from the amount of work you need to do and did not excel the way you expected. You existed at school and suddenly felt lost, going with the flow, although you are not entirely following the lessons. Then suddenly, a thought from the back of your mind came out. I am not as intelligent as I thought I was. Yet what am I supposed to do? Everyone else from my childhood thinks that I am a diligent and smart person. You came home and still show the people around you that you are the person they perceive you to be. Even if, in reality, you now think that everything you have achieved is just a product of your luck or maybe because you were in a less competitive school before than now. Given this scenario, would you think you can be considered fraud if you were the one at that person's place? Well, the answer is no. There is a term that may explain what you are feeling and why you think about yourself like that. It is called imposter syndrome. In a study by Brevata et al. (2019), they have defined people with this as "high-achieving individuals who, despite their objective successes, fail to internalize their accomplishments and have persistent self-doubt and fear of being exposed as a fraud or impostor." In short, they fail to see how competent they are and how it complements their performance. So in return, they will tend to think that whatever they achieve in life is mainly created by external factors rather than themselves. Additionally, they would also doubt themselves countless times after surpassing a major challenge. For example, when an employee achieves the highest record of making a quota, he/she will tend to think that it is just because he/she worked in highly populated areas to reach more people rather than thinking that it is because of his/her perseverance. As a result, people who experience this will continue to work harder as the thought of people knowing that they are not enough keeps on haunting them. Therefore, as they keep on striving, they cannot notice that they are just continuously being achievers while doubting themselves. As people who experienced this focus on thinking that they might be revealed as frauds, Brevata et al. (2019) found out that this makes them more prone to mental health issues. They might feel anxious around people as they keep on thinking about it. This was also supported by Susan Alberts, a psychologist, as she explains that this sometimes becomes a cycle to the point where it brings adverse effects to one's life. Although imposter syndrome is not yet considered an official psychiatric disorder in DSM-5, people who have experienced this, especially those that affect them enormously, could still seek the help of professionals for a more precise explanation of what they are truly feeling. Since most impostor syndrome cases frequently lead to burnout, here are some tips from the study of Tiefenthaler (2018) on how we can conquer it! First, know what your doubts are within yourself. Being short on one aspect does not mean that you cannot keep up at all. Identify where you are most afraid of and sincerely think about how you can make the situation better. Next, set aside your credibility as of the moment. Since they are the ones who are preventing you from stepping your feet forward, do not look back on it first and focus more on the issue that you want to resolve. Then finally, do not make yourself suffer alone. Share these thoughts with your colleagues, friends, or loved ones. Sometimes, hearing someone say that they understand you or feel the same way as you also give you comfort to carry on. Together, let us fight our self-doubts! References: Bravata, D. M., Watts, S. A., Keefer, A. L., Madhusudhan, D. K., Taylor, K. T., Clark, D. M., Nelson, R. S., Cokley, K. O., & Hagg, H. K. (2019). Prevalence, Predictors, and Treatment of Impostor Syndrome: a Systematic Review. Journal of General Internal Medicine, 35(4), 1252–1275. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-019-05364-1 Feenstra, S., Begeny, C. T., Ryan, M. K., Rink, F. A., Stoker, J. I., & Jordan, J. (2020). Contextualizing the Impostor “Syndrome.” Frontiers in Psychology, 11. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.575024 healthessentials. (2021). A Psychologist Explains How to Deal With Imposter Syndrome. Cleveland Clinic. https://health.clevelandclinic.org/a-psychologist-explains-how-to-deal-with-imposter-syndrome/ Tiefenthaler, (2018) "Conquering Imposter Syndrome," University of Montana Journal of Early Childhood Scholarship and Innovative Practice: Vol. 2 : Iss. 1 , Article 4. https://scholarworks.umt.edu/ecsip/vol2/iss1/4 What is Imposter Syndrome? (2021). Verywell Mind. https://www.verywellmind.com/imposter-syndrome-and-social-anxiety-disorder-4156469