Even the most rock solid families are showing the signs of strain from a prolonged series of restrictions due to Covid-19. Many schools are closed, many parents are out of work and on top of it all is the fear that they or somebody they know could get terribly sick.
In fact, some people are even showing signs of PTSD from Covid-19. Even in some families where the extra time spent together strengthened their family bonds, the pressures from the uncertain economic future is still taking its toll.
Divorces are on the rise and the phrase “family law attorney near me” has become a popular search on Google right now.
In this article, we will take a look at the side of Covid-19 that is not being talked about so much right now. It’s effect on family life.
Fractures are more evident
Every marriage has its ups and downs. Usually, there is enough breathing room to work out any of the kinks. You both have your work to keep you busy and a social life and support network to carry you through the tough times.
In a lockdown scenario, you are both working from home or this is no work anymore at all. And with social distancing, many friends and family are keeping to themselves so the support system you relied on is no longer available.
Hobbies are not available and going out for a night with the boys or girls is out of the question. Which means that your hard times are unavoidable and you may lack the tools to get through it.
This is one of the reasons that divorces are happening at a growing rate as the weaknesses of some relationships became more evident.
Drinking and drug abuse
As pressures mount from a lack or work and the futility of finding another job in the midst of an economic collapse, people tend to turn to alcohol or drugs to turn off the pain.
Alcoholism particularly rises during recessions and this one in particular was worse than typical. Adding in the pandemic and the fears of infection along with the lockdown meant that people who were already susceptible to drinking to excess were turning to the bottle in greater numbers.
This affects the entire family as it can cause enormous strains on relationships. And when everybody is home all the time, it is hard to find a place to get away from it.
Lack of direction
Without the structure of school, children find themselves adrift. If family members are working or working from home then they are not able to help them do their studies during the day. Not only is the level of education lacking, but this also causes a lot of stress for children.
Children need and thrive with structure, routine and knowing what to expect in the future. When schools are closed, none of this is available. They have little structure and the uncertainty of the future can cause a lot of anxiety and other mental issues.
WRITTEN BY
Brand Voices