If we had been told then, it would have seemed outrageous. That is, the time will come when we will not just forget their heavy side. quarantinebut we would have already remembered them.

And while studies that have focused on her psychological imprint pandemic, have long shown how hard it was for many people, both psychologically and in other matters, such as domestic violence, many began to admit that they were nostalgic for that period.

Although at that time it was considered the most terrible, most difficult, cruel and unfair thing that has ever happened to us.

Why shouldn’t anyone skip quarantine?

Recently, this topic has often been raised in public online discussion communities. And what do users say to the question: “Do you miss quarantine and if so, why?” In one of the long posts on Reddit, some users (from all over the world) responded as follows:

• “I loved that I was able to spend a whole year with my dog ​​before she died. Quality time that if we weren’t in lockdown, I wouldn’t have.”
• “Back in the office this week, I hate it.”
• “Museums have made digital tours available, zoos have made digital tours, and artists have put on live performances. I zoomed in with my family. We all watched Netflix movies together and played video games together even though we live in different cities. Right now they are just too busy with their work. I also learned to cook. They brought my things from the supermarket to my house. I decorated my room, something I kept putting off. I started doing yoga. I walked my dog ​​all the time. Everything was very quiet. I had the feeling that the whole planet came together for a common goal.”

The above perceptions were also reflected in The Face magazine’s spring 2022 survey. In a sample of 300 young people, 67% of respondents said that two years after the hard lockdown, they miss that period when everyone: “we could focus on what we really like to do.”

In the same survey, many also answered that they understood something about their lives and about themselves. Others reported that their mental health improved because they were finally able to exercise at home. Some said they made new good friends that they met on walks or on social media.

Convenient remote work, a sense of security and “freezing” time

The truth is that quarantine has left a different impression from country to country, and this is largely, according to experts, due to the customs and habits of people in each place. In Greece, where the weather is one of the country’s greatest assets and acts as an anxiolytic, the lockdown has caused a lot of discomfort for most citizens. Who can forget that Easter when the Athenians remained in the capital and were forced to celebrate alone on their balconies?

For now. In sunny Greece, there are also people who miss quarantine. Here are some of the responses we received when we asked the question “Do you remember self-isolating, and if so, why?”.

• “Yes, because when I needed to take a taxi, the distance was short and it cost a little. Because we used to work from home (I don’t miss it at all, just a little, but sometimes I admit it). ‘Cause almost none of us got stuck coronavirus. Of course, I was worried about the viability of our business, but I knew that what we were doing in quarantine was collective. With more security and more mass understanding, we could all more easily express our thoughts about our work, quarantine, etc.” (Crisella, disabled, 40, co-creator of a startup)
• “I only remember her distant work. The scope of work was the same, but I didn’t have commuting. I would like at least 1-2 times a week to be able to continue this.” (Joanna, private worker, 55)
• “I miss the days when we were divided between coronavirus skeptics and science lovers. Everything was easier back then.” (Kostas, works in an IT company, 38 years old.)
• “As a doctor, I moved freely. Especially during the first quarantine, the streets were empty, I parked everywhere, even in Omonia, even the subway was empty.” (Konstantinos, doctor, OKANA employee, 60 years old)
• “During the quarantine, I acquired healthy habits. I started playing chess with a friend online and now we continue it in person. Besides, we all walked. And now I go, but much less. I missed it. In addition, I can no longer do anything that disturbs my peace of mind. I’ve learned to put limits on it.” (Angelica, works in a public relations company, 35 years old.)
• “The part where we were stuck on a Greek island, in my hometown, with my wife, was the perfect romantic getaway. I will also remember the “coronavirus world” in the Middle East. For 1.5 years has not “opened his nose.” (Achilles, a Greek living and working in Israel.)

How is nostalgia explained psychologically?

Commenting on this seemingly paradoxical nostalgia, Fr. Leonidas MantonakisFirst of all, the psychiatrist at the 1st University Clinic of the Eginite Hospital emphasizes that the negative psychological impact that quarantine has made on many people should not be underestimated, especially now, when these people need support to overcome the problems they have acquired. period of time.

As he explains: “People who suffer from phobias and those who have dealt with various neuroses and disorders, their condition worsened. In addition, many with anxiety and panic disorders have relapsed. Others who were susceptible developed symptoms for the first time. The harsh images that MME then bombarded us with, such as the coffin procession in Italy or reports of frequent hand disinfection, made many people suffering from depression or obsessive-compulsive disorder feel hard.”

It notes here that according to a study published in the Lancet, cases of major depression and anxiety disorder increased during the pandemic by 28% and 26%, respectively. Despite this, Mr. Mantonakis notes that there is an explanation for the fact that many today are thinking about quarantine.

The key reason is working remotely, a situation that for most was practical, but at the same time created a sense of security in an exceptional space that gives us this feeling – at home.

“Basically, since we had no other choice, we had no regrets, no rethinking,” notes Mr. Mantonakis, and continues: “It’s all easier on the psyche if you have a good foundation. And at the same time, there was this collective fantasy that we were all doing something together for the common good. That is why we have also seen empathy and solidarity cultivated, as with people who work in delivery companies, for example, and during this period they were constantly at our door.”

In its turn, Panayota TumbaClinical Psychologist and Scientific Director of the Cyclades Mobile Mental Health Unit Climaka, speaks of a “comforting” time freeze during a period of restrictive measures that almost eliminated our busy daily lives for a while.

While citizens happily waited for the lifting of measures to live freely again, the new reality in a short period of time turned out to be more complex than the one we left before the pandemic, she said. As he explains: “First there was a war in Ukraine, and then inflation. The pandemic has given way to a difficult winter as many citizens struggle to meet their basic needs. This causes many to recall the previous situation. What then seemed “unfair” has now taken on a new, harsher look.

Ms. Tumba also notes that if during quarantine we had something to look forward to (their end), now we don’t know what to expect for tomorrow – “the new period is full of uncertainty and it seems to many that there is no prospect.” “.

Nevertheless, Mr. Mantonakis is optimistic. As he says: “Those who did not face psychological problems retained the good of this experience and many even benefited – learned something about themselves, adopted good habits. Humans are a reactive and highly adaptive species. We go where circumstances and time lead us. Let’s also think about the people who live in countries like China, where lockdowns are ruthless and continue to provoke backlash to this day.”