JOMO: The ‘Joy of Missing Out’

Eunice Kilonzo: This article by Lisa Bonos puts to words the feeling of social awkwardness I was trying to wrap my head around. In particular, an expert’s quote stood out for me—a psychologist who said: ‘Social interaction is a million things knitted into one. It’s turning thoughts into speech, making eye contact, entering and exiting a conversation.’”

EK: “This article by Arlin Cuncic offers valuable tips to cope as we return to more socialisation, especially the encouragement that ‘just because things are hard right now doesn’t mean that they will feel this way forever.’”

EK: “This journal article by three African authors offers a scientific view of how the implementation of COVID-19 containment measures curbed the spread of the pandemic. However, the efforts inadvertently led to indirect consequences, such as heightened feelings of uncertainty, unrest, loneliness, job losses, grief, no social interactions, gender-based violence, substance abuse and post-traumatic distress resulting from physical isolation from friends, family and community networks. My takeaway was that the emerging mental health issues resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic may evolve into long-lasting health problems that we cannot afford to ignore. As such, it is imperative to integrate mental health interventions into public health plans and emergency responses.”

EK: “This article unpacks how the pandemic made us asocial, at least in physical terms and why we may have to ‘re-learn how to sit in a room with another human.’ In addition, it provides valuable links to additional articles that expound on the topic, such as some areas around social awkwardness I did not know about, such as people having nightmares about social distancing!”

EK: “Kate Murphy provides excellent background and context of what happens during extended periods in isolation and likens social skills to muscles that atrophy from lack of use. Her article reports isolation, such as occasioned due to the pandemic, causes people to be more ‘socially anxious, impulsive, awkward and intolerant when they return to normal life,’ but it’s not a pathology or mental disorder.”

EK: “I like Ashley Welch’s solutions-based tips and advice on when to seek help when social anxiety worsens.”

EK: “This video episode of Africa Health Check shows how the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting economic recession negatively affected people’s mental health. This further creates new barriers for people who already have mental illness, particularly with widespread social isolation resulting from necessary safety measures and the risk of job/income losses that increased people’s anxiety and depression.”

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