A St. Louis psychology professor on the importance of social connectedness during the time of COVID-19

According to Dr. Terri Weaver, just because the novel coronavirus has caused us to physically distance, that doesn’t mean we have to—or should—social distance.

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So much about COVID-19 and how and why it affects the body is unknown, but what’s also not totally understood is the psychological impact the pandemic will have on frontline workers, patients, and others. One thing that’s not helping: doomscrolling.

What’s important to keep in mind is that just because COVID-19 has caused us to physically distance, that doesn’t mean we have to—or should—social distance. According to Dr. Terri Weaver, a psychology professor at Saint Louis University, we should still focus on social connectedness and, when checking in on friends and loved ones, assume we’re all experiencing something: “Rather than just saying, ‘Oh, how are you?’ it’s more about inquiring, ‘What has been tough for you this week? What’s been tough for you today?’”

Weaver begins her team meetings by asking what students are finding new or challenging this week. “That’s just an automatic open door,” she says. “It could be anything from ‘My cat won’t let me keep my door closed when I’m on a Zoom call’ to a student of mine who just lost her mom.”

In regard to seeking outside help, Weaver says it’s important to remember that you don’t have to wait until you’re feeling overwhelmed to reach out. If your thoughts of COVID-19 are interfering with your work, family life, or sleep, it might be time—but help doesn’t have to be long-term.

“It can be brief, a one- or two-time contact,” Weaver says. “Sometimes even just getting that barometer, talking to somebody, getting some feedback on your stressors can be really empowering.”

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