Pandemic Reflections

A reflection on the pandemic’s impact in Singapore

By Julian A. Chua

When Covid-19 first came onto the scene back in early 2020, most of us would have thought that it was just another isolated virus outbreak in China. Little did we know that it would become a global pandemic that impacted countries and economies around the world, drastically changing the way we all lived, worked and played.

Social distancing, mask mandates, lockdowns, and travel restrictions, among other government measures, made life difficult for everyone but were necessary to mitigate the spread of the virus. Adding to the anguish of a move away from normalcy in society, many people lost loved ones due to the virus, enduring prolonged restrictions and measures as new Covid-19 variants emerged overtime. The chaos, uncertainty and unpredictability of it all was simply overwhelming for many of us.

A new chapter awaits

Although the fight against this pandemic is not over, we can now see the light at the end of the tunnel. As more people get vaccinated, borders open up, and restrictions are lifted, people start to adjust their life to a new norm, slowly but surely.

AAS spoke to a few health experts based in Singapore, to get their opinions on the past, present and future of a post-pandemic era domestically.

Daniela Schreier, Clinical Psychologist, S.M.A.R.T. Living LLC

To your understanding, what kind of impact did the pandemic have on people living in Singapore?

Covid-19 had a substantial health and psychological impact on people living here; a disruption of life, daily structure and habits contribute to increased stress, anxiety, and depression. But the Singapore government and its people handled the pandemic well with its resilient attitude, adaptive qualities and collaborative strategies.

What tips can you provide to expats living in Singapore who may feel isolated and fearful?

Do realize that feelings of isolation and anxiety are to be expected and are normal in current unforeseen times. Acknowledge that engaging in or drowning in negative thoughts and feelings does not yield solutions.

Give yourself a maximum of 25 minutes of “active worrying time” a day and then gently snap yourself out of prolonged negative thoughts; it’s like restarting your computer.

Remain connected with friends and family and coworkers whether by phone, online, and in person at socially distanced meetings, as much as possible.

Turn towards the light. What is still working and what is positive for you? Use gratitude and a gratitude journal. Write positive things down.

How and when do you think normalcy will resume in Singapore's society over the next six to 12 months?

Covid-19, with its various mutations, is here to stay. It has become a part of our reality and we will adapt to it over time, just as we learned to adapt to other viral diseases, such as the common flu. Singapore will slowly open up to allow more social gatherings and business activities as the vaccination rate climbs and case numbers go down.

Singaporeans will slowly return to some of their old habits and structure, but be aware the country may open up and halt again. It’s potentially a two-steps-forward-and-one-step-back approach determined by Covid developments. Hence be prepared.

Soak Mun Lee, Clinical Psychologist, The Center for Psychology

To your understanding, what kind of impact did the pandemic have on people living in Singapore?

The pandemic has impacted us on multiple levels. Some of these measures also pose threats to our means of livelihood. Prior to the pandemic, people living in a fast-paced city like Singapore have already been exposed to chronic stressors (such as traffic, noise, hot weather, work pressure). The global pandemic, piled on top of existing chronic stressors, coupled with the drop in coping mechanisms, could serve as a tipping point for many people during this period.

What tips can you provide to expats living in Singapore who may feel isolated and fearful?

Develop self-awareness

Look out for negative and persistent physical, behavioral, or emotional changes within ourselves so that we can act on them. For example, persistent body tension, increased irritability, emotional numbness or outbursts may indicate signs of being overwhelmed.

Self-management strategies

Learning to adjust our expectations of ourselves and others can be helpful. There may be a need to change our plans or goals given that everyone is affected by the pandemic. In the meantime, we could find ways to calm our body and mind through physical or other experiential activities that help us express emotions or foster a sense of wellness (e.g., gym, yoga, meditation, art or music).

Re-assess and rejuvenate

Some of us may experience a change in perspective with a significant event such as the pandemic. While distressing for some, it can be meaningful for others. Such moments provide us with an opportunity to review and re-assess our values and priorities in life – be it continuing the positive journey we are already on or shifting our focus to things that matter to us.

How and when do you think normalcy will resume in Singapore's society over the next six to 12 months?

From a psychological perspective, I think that it is helpful for us as individuals to retain hope while focusing on our progress one step at a time. We need to recognize and acknowledge that the level of uncertainty and threat of the virus has lessened between early 2020 and now.

Again, bringing our focus back to what is within our immediate sphere of control, and taking responsibility for our own well-being, will serve us well as we play our part in riding through the pandemic-endemic wave.

Dr. Amy Reale, Principal Psychologist, United Psychological & Educational Group

To your understanding, what kind of impact did the pandemic have on people living in Singapore?

The pandemic has naturally heightened our sense of fear and anxiety. The grief in people’s lives is also pervasive. In addition to the obvious losses, we have also lost our sense of connection to others and feelings of normalcy and stability in life. The chronic stress and prolonged fear can cause irritability, fatigue, obsessionality, hypervigilance, physical pain, and suspiciousness, to name a few.

On the positive side, this experience perhaps gave people a chance to reflect and re-evaluate their priorities, values and relationships; appreciate and focus more on their health; and change how they spend their time.

What tips can you provide to expats living in Singapore who may feel isolated and fearful?

Try to accept and allow yourself to feel any emotions that come to you. Be careful to not tell yourself that you “should” or “should not” be feeling a certain way.

Go easy on yourself. If you don’t know what is specifically upsetting you, it can help to write or draw a visual of all the things in your life that are creating stress.

Once you know what is driving your feelings, you’ll be able to better identify what’s important to you and you can then make concrete decisions about how to make things better in your life.

For some, this may mean changing their daily schedule. For others, it might mean looking for a new job. If there are some things out of your control, then it is helpful to try to focus on where you can make changes and to try to also notice the silver linings. Seek professional help if you need it.

How and when do you think normalcy will resume in Singapore's society over the next six to 12 months?

I can’t predict how long it will take to resume life without restrictions here in Singapore, but I do think that we will be uncovering and recovering from the emotional effects of Covid-19 for many years to come. We may get to do the same things we once used to do, but as people, we will be different.

Dr. Hong-hui Lin, Principal Clinical Psychologist, The Psychology Atelier

To your understanding, what kind of impact did the pandemic have on people living in Singapore?

The pandemic certainly has challenged and impacted our sense of physical and emotional safety in unprecedented ways. With social distancing in Singapore, we have found ourselves less able to turn to our support network for comfort. Such disconnection from our social others becomes an added whammy that could heighten our sense of loneliness, depressed mood, and helplessness, when we already have to deal with a series of prolonged or uncertain stressors from COVID-19.

What tips can you provide to expats living in Singapore who may feel isolated and fearful?

One practical way is to list down the things or emotions that are stressing us now. Then, we can look at this list and assign them to a pie chart to see visually which ones contribute to the highest percentage of our distress/stress. This picture will inform our unmet needs.

How and when do you think normalcy will resume in Singapore's society over the next six to 12 months?

I would like to highlight that many individuals in Singapore have shown great resilience and adaptability to the pandemic since our first Circuit Breaker. For example, people have used this opportunity to start new hobbies or found innovative ways to maintain connection with their loved ones (e.g., people unfamiliar with technology started using social media and video calls). Some even took this as a period for selfreflection and took courageous steps and risks like leaving their existing jobs or to start a new venture.

Julian Abraham Chua is a serial entrepreneur and freelance writer who is passionate about crafting content around lifestyle, business, technology, fitness & wellness, self-improvement and sports, among other subject matters. He combines his business experience and love for writing to provide readers with insights and balanced perspectives across a range of topics.