COVID-19

The Countdown We’ve Been Waiting For…

stop watch with the words Count Down

Almost 4 years ago, we were delivered with the news about COVID-19. Most of us if not all of us can remember where we were on March 13, 2020. We can vividly recall what we felt when we were told that we were put into the lock down and quarantine stage.

While the news affected everyone differently, one group that the news of the pandemic took a toll on was the graduating class of 2020. Effects from COVID-19 included not having senior night for those in spring sports to not getting ready for senior prom. The biggest effect and game changer for the class of 2020 would be not getting together one last time for graduation. No chance to hear graduation speeches or hearing “On a count of three move your tassel.”

Not only did COVID-19 physically affect us, but it also affected us mentally. As a 2020 graduate, I was in a constant state of worry. I was worried about how my senior year was going to end. I had to take it day by day and week by week to know if I was going to maybe have a chance to go back into my high school before graduation and if I was going to get to have a graduation ceremony. There were times when I would break down while doing homework in my room because all I wanted was to be back in school. We all worked hard to get to this point in our life and before we knew it, it was getting taken away from us.

After what would have been graduation, we started to go our own way. Some went to college while others went to the workforce. Here we are almost four years later after getting the news that the world was shutting down, myself and others from the 2020 graduating class who are finishing college will be finally getting the graduation we deserve. Getting to wear a cap and gown to a ceremony full of friends and family is something that we’ve been waiting for, and we will finally get to do it.

Picture of fence with saying "2020 We Love Our Seniors!"
Picture credit: Emma Stephens

Sources:

Lee, J., Solomon, M., Stead, T. et al. Impact of COVID-19 on the mental health of US college students. BMC Psychol 9, 95 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-021-00598-3

Mental Health During the COVID-19 Pandemic. March 20, 2023. National Institute of Health.

Written by: Emma Stephens, Ohio State University Student Intern, Ohio State University 

Reviewed by: Susan Zies, Extension Educator, Family & Consumer Sciences, Ohio State University Extension, Wood County, zies.1@osu.edu

 

Brushing Off Your Social Skills After Isolation

In a poll conducted by Forbes Health in 2022, 59% of respondents felt that since the pandemic it has become harder for them to form new adult relationships. Pandemic aside, there are many other life events, such as moving or changing employment, which can leave your social circle slim. If you are feeling the same, there are a few ways that you can work on meeting new people and reestablish existing relationships.

Why can’t we just stay home forever? We are social creatures, and socializing does not just improve our mood, but also our health. The Mayo Clinic shares that having positive friendships can:

  • Help combat feelings of loneliness and depression, which can cause isolation
  • Increase happy feelings and decrease stress
  • Good relationships can be a support system for negative times
  • Can encourage you to make better lifestyle choices
  • Give you a sense of belonging or purpose
  • Can help to lower blood pressure and body mass index.

University of Maryland professor, Marisa Franco, gave an interview in 2022 on why as adults we struggle making new friends.  She states that the organic nature in which we gained friends as a child changes with age. With busier schedules and more strict boundaries, making new friends must be intentional. She reports that we tend to be too hard on ourselves as we age, and it is easier for us to feel unliked by new people despite evidence of the contrary. This is when loneliness can become a self-fulfilling prophecy.

You might be wondering where or how to start meeting all these awesome potential friends? Psychiatrist Roxanna Namavar shares some tips to keep in mind:

  • Approach new people and activities with positivity, focusing on what feels good.
  • Create your circle of friends around the parts of your life you enjoy.
  • Take some time to research groups that may interest you. This might require you to update your social media skills to groups and community activities you may not have been aware of.
  • Ask questions about your new friend. This will help build a relationship better than just talking about yourself.
  • Is there a casual acquaintance you can get to know better?
  • Do not be afraid to say ‘yes,’ initiate activities, or be vulnerable.

Additionally, older adults may have added anxiety about returning to social gatherings. AARP shares that some people may feel more confident about spending time with others who may be vaccinated. But having those conversations with friends and family may lead to more stress. It is okay to tell other’s that you are not ready to join large gatherings yet. Coming up with alternative activities that would make you more comfortable will help others to know that you still value time with them. Likewise, be patient with others who are not comfortable with your own invitations to gather.

As stated earlier, positive friendships are the key. When working on friendships aim for quality over quantity. Keeping friendships takes time and effort, but they are worth it.

Candy to track COVID-19 symptoms?

A little over a year into the COVID-19 pandemic and we are all probably familiar with the symptoms of this disease. According to the CDC, fever, cough, body chills, muscle soreness are some of the symptoms of COVID-19. Many of these symptoms are the same as the common cold or seasonal flu, expect for one… the loss of taste and smell.

About 86% of people who test positive for COVID-19 report losing their ability to taste or smell. Scientists are looked for an inexpensive and consumer-friendly way to track our sensitivity to taste and smell to measure COVID in the community.

Researchers at Ohio State University have found a potential solution- candy! In a new study, researchers plan to distribute candy that is the same size and color but is actually eight different flavors. Each day the participants will smell and then eat one piece of candy. Participants will track the smell, taste, and flavor strength of the candy in an app. If there is a difference in the participants report, the app will ask them to quarantine and to schedule a COVID test. The hypothesis is that the candy could be used as a useful tool to capture the loss of sense of smell or taste.  

A sense of smell is often overshadowed by other senses, we do not even have great words to describe different smells! Unless you have experienced a sudden loss of smell yourself, you may not even have realized how much it colors the world around us.  Those who have been diagnosed with COVID-19 later express a newfound appreciation for a sense of smell.

Before going to work my partner and I must track symptoms like temperature and sense of smell to report it to our employers. In addition to taking our temperatures, we have also started smelling things with a distinct scent, like coffee or kimchi to test our sense of smell. Have you started checking your sense of smell? Would you be willing to add “eat a piece of hard candy” to your to-do list if it could predict early signs of COVID infection?

Written by: Courtney Woelfl, Family and Consumer Sciences Extension Educator, Cuyahoga County, woelfl.1@osu.edu

Reviewed by: Dr. Roseanne Scammahorn, Family and Consumer Sciences Extension Educator, Darke County, Scammahorn.5@osu.edu