Emerging Anxiety As COVID Restrictions Subside
In many areas of the country, COVID-19 restrictions are beginning to ease as we return back to "normal."
But after more than a year in isolation, what exactly is considered normal? The world came to a sudden halt as the pandemic hit early last year and the calls for a "new normal" began to emerge. A normal that relied on distance and masks to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.
While it's been a challenging adjustment, many of us have been able to adapt relatively quickly. However, just as fast as we were told to isolate, it also feels as if the world suddenly hit the fast-forward button now that restrictions are being lifted.
More and more people are getting vaccinated. Face coverings are being removed. And the focus has shifted into dropping restrictions and focusing on "getting back to normal." Whatever that even means.
This so-called normal is actually quite scary. There's still a lot of uncertainty surrounding COVID and returning to what society used to be can cause a lot of unease and anxiety.
The pandemic forced tons of people to reevaluate life. With the constant hustle of life, we never really had the time to just sit with ourselves and actually think. We just tolerated whatever life threw at us— the good, the bad, and all the in-between. Questions that we dismissed or hidden away in the back of our minds could finally be answered.
What kind of life am I living? What kind of life do I want to live? Who am I really deep down?
I'll be honest, I put up with a lot of bullshit because that's how I thought things worked. Every time I tried to push or stand up for myself and my beliefs it was like I was yelling into the void. Whether it was calm, angry, rational, or emotional, not many actually cared to truly listen.
Of course I miss my friends and the deeper connections. But being forced to stay home helped me realize that I have a lot more value than I realized.
Isolation has helped improve my mental health in many ways. I'm more independent, I understand my own worth, and I tackled a lot of goals that I've desperately been wanting to achieve. This past year has even helped start a healing process towards a lot of the trauma I’ve been carrying.
However, isolation has also caused me to become even more weary and anxious around others. I've always had social anxiety and a general distrust in strangers. The extra distance and less crowded areas have made it easier for me to go outside alone, but now with the country reopening, I've noticed more and more frustrations and anxieties popping up whenever I have to do simple errands.
I want to go outside and enjoy different activities, but a lot of the time I start to notice the building anxiety within my stomach. Irrational worries that were never there before pop up in my head no matter how hard I try to ignore them.
Is it weird that I'm still wearing a mask indoors while a few people aren't?
Why are they standing so close to me?
Did this person even hear me?
Can I just use self-checkout without being redirected?
It's just frustrating. Frustrating to deal with new anxieties and frustrating to understand what is considered to be socially acceptable. Navigating another shift just as we were all adjusting into a new routine is annoying. I don’t want to return to what was considered normal, nor do I want to live a life of restrictions and overly cautious behaviors.
If you’re having difficulty coping, you are not alone. It’s okay to have questions and doubts. It’s okay to feel a mix of emotions as you find what works for you and what doesn’t. I’m not an expert, but as someone who also struggles with anxiety, I’ve discovered a few helpful strategies in order to cope with these new anxieties.
Understand Your Mental Health Baseline
Being thrust into a lifestyle where you’re stuck at home most days changes how you cope with stressors. The things that did not cause you stress before the pandemic might be hard to deal with and vice versa. It’s important to know what is causing stress, anxiety, or any other negative emotions and deal with them appropriately.
Find the right coping mechanisms
Coping mechanisms vary from person to person. How do you alleviate anxiety especially ones surrounding the reopening?
If you begin to notice an increase in discomfort or frustrations while outside of home, remember that it is okay to pause. Maybe it is as simple as leaving the area or taking a few extra minutes to sit alone in your car.
Talk to someone about the situation and how it is making you feel, no matter how silly it may seem. Your feelings are valid.
For specific coping mechanisms I’ve written another blog post on How I Manage Anxiety.
Set Boundaries
Know your boundaries and move at your own pace. Boundaries can be physical or emotional and can vary between different environments and relationships.
Specifically, understanding your physical boundaries during a time of unease can help alleviate any confusion connected to your emotions. If you find comfort in continuing some form of social distancing, that is okay. Let others know what you are and are not willing to participate in.
Maybe grabbing coffee with a friend or two is a comfortable activity for you, while going to an amusement park is not. It’s okay to decline invitations and make alternative suggestions.
Open the conversation about mental health
Communication is key. Conversations about mental health can be difficult, but in order to process what has happened during the pandemic, we all need to have an outlet to discuss our feelings. Whether that is with close friends, a partner, or a therapist. There are people who care and want to help.
If you feel like you can’t express your anxieties to anyone in your personal life, there are several resources online. There are options to reach out via phone call, email or even texting. You are not alone.
#EndTheStigma: Help destigmatize and bring awareness to difficult mental health topics. These pins open up the conversation when discussing mental health! 10% of all proceeds are donated to NAMI: National Alliance on Mental Illness.
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The Difference Between Laziness, Lack of Motivation, and Depression