By Mohammed Hassan, Content Team academic

The COVID-19 pandemic reshaped the world in ways few could have imagined. Fear of infection, prolonged isolation and financial instability took a heavy toll, both physically and mentally. Even as the world got back to something close to normal, the psychological aftermath continues to be felt.

The article explores how a pandemic can continue to affect people mentally, fuelling anxiety levels long after the viral threat of COVID-19 has subsided. It also discusses how resilience can be learned through effective strategies.

During the early periods of COVID-19, the highly infectious nature of the virus, combined with the intense media coverage, led to heightened stress levels never witnessed before (Very Well Mind, 2023).

Many people had started to grow a fear of catching the virus, which magnified their sense of worry. These behaviours worsened health anxiety and, in many cases, began to interfere with their daily lives.

For example, a healthy individual – with no history of significant medical conditions – would begin to feel intense fear, as soon as they entered a public space. This would be caused by a fear of catching COVID-19. This could result in obsessive sanitising, leading to extreme worry about contamination.

Over time, this behaviour could disrupt their ability to work or maintain relationships – symptoms that are consistent with Covid Anxiety Syndrome (World Health Organisation, 2022)

Another factor linked to anxiety in the context of a pandemic is isolation. The enforcement of lockdowns and social distancing measures, deemed necessary for public safety, stripped individuals of their freedom and pushed them into enforced solitude for extended periods. Humans are social creatures. We thrive on communication, and isolation often results in widespread disconnection.

A key example was the thousands of elderly people in care homes, not allowed to have their loved ones visit. This led to extreme anxiety and emotional distress (World Health Organisation, 2022). Loneliness was significantly higher during lockdown periods than at any other period in modern history, making individuals more vulnerable to depressive symptoms.

A third concern during COVID-19 was economic insecurity, which led to financial anxiety. A pandemic can plunge millions into unplanned, drastic financial distress due to business closures and redundancies. This all leads to deep psychological distress, even among those with no previous history of anxiety disorders (World Health Organisation, 2022).

Students faced educational challenges and disruption, as online learning replaced in-person lectures and learning. This would thereby, cause a student to feel distanced and confused as they would not understand a topic and could not get the help as one would being in a school environment, where a teacher is present to help and explain.

Disruption in education can lead to an unpredictable job market, where expectations of skills are not met (Help Guide, 2024).

The psychological effects of the COVID-19 pandemic continue to be felt today. The imposition of lockdowns and restrictions, however necessary, have been widely criticised for the unintended mental health consequences. Hypervigilance developed during this period led to chronic anxiety disorders which, in some individuals, developed into Obsessive Compulsive Disorders (OCD). The persistent fear of contamination caused people to clean and recheck their environment excessively, drastically affecting their quality of life (Very Well Mind, 2023).

The isolation felt through lack of social contact made people more anxious and deeply eroded social skills. This led to a fear of retuning to offices, classrooms, and public events, triggering feelings of self-consciousness and anxiety. Young people were severely affected, facing disruption in education and isolation from peers, which elevated stress levels and contributed to depression (Help Guide, 2024).

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) was shown to be high amongst healthcare workers, as they faced daily, unprecedented levels of illness, and death among patients. Staff became more prone to being triggered by these experiences and having intrusive, unwanted thoughts (NHS, 2025).

COVID-19 created a sense of prolonged uncertainty, which the human brain found difficult to tolerate. As the virus became widespread, there was a corresponding erosion of our emotional resilience. Additionally, the endless broadcasting of media often fuelled fear and confusion, leading individuals to overthink and develop exaggerated fears of going outside or catching the illness themselves (World Health Organisations, 2022).

Pandemics are devastating and have a well-documented history of exacerbating mental health problems and aggravating anxiety symptoms. therefore, it is essential to equip individuals with tools to manage and their lower stress levels.

First, it would be important to validate and acknowledge feelings of anxiety as a normal response to such an unprecedented situation. Dismissing these feelings can cause them to resurface later, and in more destructive forms (Help Guide,2024).

Second, those who struggle to reintegrate into public life due to fear, it is recommended that they start gradually by engaging in activities within their comfort zone. This can help rebuild tolerance and confidence, allowing individuals to reconnect with the world at their own pace (Very Well Mind, 2023)

Third, limiting exposure to news and social media is crucial, as consuming negative information can heighten anxiety. With the right boundaries in place, it protects your emotional wellbeing and promotes a sense of calm and balance (Help Guide, 2024).

The COVID-19 pandemic left a profound impact that will continue to be felt for years to come. Recognising the emotional impact of the pandemic is a crucial step towards healing both the inner and outer self.

Mental health challenges cannot be ignored. The virus itself may now be under control, but the psychological scars it left requires ongoing attention, support and, where needed, intervention to prevent long term consequences (World Health Organisation 2022).