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Some changes seen in 2020 are here to stay in 2021 during pandemic

Posted at 10:35 PM, Jan 01, 2021
and last updated 2021-01-04 12:49:17-05

LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — 2020 has been compared to a dumpster fire. A year we'd all like to forget. 13 Action News anchor Tricia Kean looks back on 2020 and the "new normal" in a COVID-19 world.

"Humans depend on rationality," says Psychiatrist, Dr. Lisa Durette.

FEAR OF THE UNKNOWN

It's fair to say the year 2020 has been anything but rational. Durette points out, that's the reason most of us are struggling.

"It's that fear of the unknown," says Durette.

No one knows when the coronavirus pandemic will end. All we know is, it can't end soon enough.

STRESSFUL EVENTS

Meanwhile, everyday conversations now involve topics we never imagined: wearing masks and other PPE, practicing social distancing and toilet paper shortages!

"If you think about the most stressful events in human life, they all surround change. This is a change. There's no way to escape it," says Durette.

One of the biggest changes is moving our lives into a virtual world. Millions of Americans are now working from home, interacting with each other through a screen on Zoom and Google Meet. Even our kids are learning online.

THINGS WERE TOUGHER

The situation isn't ideal, but Dr. Durette says it's important to have perspective. 100-years ago, things were tougher on those suffering through the Spanish flu pandemic.

"We didn't have the internet. People didn't have TV. Everybody didn't even have a telephone," says Durette.

OPENING THE DOORS

These are tools that allow us to stay connected, while society tells us to stay away. Plus, there's another silver lining with the use of technology this year.

"We have had an unprecedented opening of the doors to mental health access to care for nearly everyone; telemedicine, telehealth, teletherapy has exploded," says Durette.

So many people are feeling overwhelmed in 2020. But as a result, the year is helping break the stigma of mental health.

NOBODY'S ALONE

In the end, Dr. Durette says it's important to recognize life will go on, the pandemic won't. While it may not end as the ball drops on New Year's Eve, at least we can look back knowing we did it together.

"Nobody's experiencing 2020 alone. We're all together in this. So as a society, we can lean on one another to rebuild that resiliency and move forward in a positive fashion," says Durette.

As we say good riddance to the double 2-0, here's hoping we'll look back on it one day as the year we all learned to adapt.