The Need for Normalcy

For the past several weeks, most Americans have been sitting at home, social distancing from both family and friends. But with summer drawing near, many of us are simply tired and that need for normalcy or longing for life as it was once was, is overwhelmingly real. “From birth, we as human beings need that touch, that interaction with others. Social interaction is vital to who we are as a society and the fact that it was taken away so abruptly is jarring for most of us,” says Dr. Pavan Prasad, founder of Chicago’s Clarity Clinic. That need is ever so visible as dozens of states across the U.S. have started to open and thousands are flocking to both beaches and restaurants despite the potential threat. Even so, thousands more remain at home, leery of returning to what once was considered normal.

“America is very polarized right now. There are multiple conspiracy theories floating around whether it be via YouTube, Facebook, or Twitter. Some believe COVID-19 is simply a hoax, others believe their freedoms are being ripped from their hands before their very eyes. Then the other half are turning to science and history and view this threat as very real,” says Dr. Prasad. “Sometimes in time of great stress, we search for simple answers or fixes to overly complex problems. It allows us to feel that we are in control when we are clearly not. Seeing this pandemic as simply an act of God or nature may not give us the clear-cut definitive answer we are searching for, it doesn’t solve the problem right now and that is what many are searching for, a way to move on,” adds Prasad.