Why do so many people want to "tear up the draft" of the three years of the pandemic?

The Covid-19 lockdown created a psychological phenomenon called the "pandemic skip," causing many people's emotional age and social experience to develop about three years slower than their actual age.

Over two years since the Covid-19 outbreak, the mental health of people worldwide has been negatively impacted, leaving many problems that persist to this day. Research indicates that many children are still struggling with schooling, and young people feel they are maturing more slowly than their age suggests. This phenomenon is referred to by experts as the "pandemic skip," meaning that mental development lags behind one's actual age by about two to three years due to lockdowns during the pandemic.

On her personal page, Casey Corradin, host of the show Between Us Girlies, explained the phrase. "No matter your age, your mind is still stuck in the year before the pandemic, because you wasted three years," Corradin said.

Pandemic skip became a trending phrase, garnering 11 million views on TikTok. Many users shared how the prolonged social distancing measures were hindering their growth.

"I'm 26, but I still feel like I'm 23. I feel like I'm not ready to be an adult, mentally," a fan shared under Corradin's video.

Nova Cobban, a psychologist in the UK, describes the pandemic skip as the feeling of having missed important milestones and opportunities for growth, because the whole world was practically "frozen" for three years.

At university, many teachers say students are not yet ready to return to school. They have missed out on too many experiences, which are what make time seem to pass. Many find life stagnant, not moving forward, with days passing without inspiration or innovation. This has altered their perception of time.

"The consequence is that their life experiences and emotional development are slower than their actual age," Cobban said.

The image illustrates a man celebrating his birthday. Photo: Freepik — The image illustrates a man celebrating his birthday. Photo: *Freepik*

Anxiety and uncertainty lead many to wish they could turn back time to 2018 and live in the present.

According to Dr. Cobban, when the natural human desire to remain youthful in spirit encounters the psychological upheaval of a global crisis, people feel paralyzed. This hinders inner growth, leaving them yearning to be young again.

A 2022 report published in PLOS One points to a phenomenon of "character trajectory bending, particularly in young people following pandemic lockdowns." Scientists say that positive traits associated with psychological maturation, such as conscientiousness and agreeableness, have decreased in young people. Meanwhile, neurological disorders such as anxiety and fear have increased since 2020.

Cobban noted that the feeling of slower psychological development after the pandemic is quite common. Life was "on hold" for two years, and the whole world went through the need to adjust and rearrange their lives. As such, peers often experienced similar psychological phenomena.

"Then no one will be left behind. Let's connect with others who share similar experiences to foster a sense of community, promote resilience, and develop appropriate response strategies," she said.

Thuc Linh (According to NY Post )

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