It’s been almost a year since the first Stay-at-Home Orders were implemented in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. We’ve seen safety guidelines and restrictions loosen and tighten back up again. Some schools have been able to open, while others have remained closed. Still, others have opened only to be closed down again. The same is to be said for many businesses. Regardless of one’s stance on the situation, this pandemic has no doubt changed the way we go about our everyday lives.
There are promising notes of our society returning back to “normal” functioning soon, but how? Even those who had never experienced anxiety before the pandemic are now experiencing feelings of uneasiness about returning back to being in public regularly. The thought of transitioning back into society after a year of social isolation might cause your anxiety to flare up, but there are simple ways to ease these feelings.
“What-ifs” feed anxiety and cause inflated feelings of worry. You might be asking yourself: What if I never feel comfortable being in crowds again? Will I ever feel safe in a normal office setting again? What exactly will the “new normal” look like? When you feel these thoughts start, stopping the spiral is important. Memorizing **grounding exercises that work the best for you can be extremely beneficial. Take a moment to accept you do not know the answers, but also recognize that the worst case scenario will likely never happen.
The feelings of unrest stem from uncertainty. Since the beginning of the pandemic, you have most likely been trying to get your bearings and reach for control of anything you can. Now, you may be facing newfound uncertainty with this transitional period. The most important thing to keep in mind is: control what you can. Though our world may be opening back up, take as many precautions as you feel comfortable with. If it’s still too overwhelming to enter stores, opt for curbside pick-up when possible. Carry hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes to ease stress as you work your way back into society.
Let go of what you can’t control. It may be tempting to search for new information on the internet, but this can easily cause a downward spiral of anxious thoughts. Seeing others in public not following guidelines could stir up stress for you. Just remember that your actions are your responsibility; the actions of strangers are not. Trying to control external things will do nothing except give you unnecessary feelings of unrest.
It is important to maintain self-care in these times. Through the pandemic and strict lockdowns, social media was constantly reminding everyone to have a self-care routine. You may have abandoned these practices over time, but remember that having a routine can be extremely helpful in this transitional period. Encourage yourself to have as much structure as you can to reduce anxiety and bring familiarity.
Practice self-love and be kind to yourself. Remind yourself constantly that you are not alone. Everyone is navigating this new transitional phase the best they can. There is no right or wrong way to cope with the last year. You are doing what you can and there is no need to be hard on yourself if you are not as ‘ready’ for this new phase as you’d like to be. You’ll get there. One step at a time.
**Grounding exercises are meant to bring you back to the present moment when your anxiety causes you to spiral. Name 5 things you can see, 4 things you can hear, and 3 things you can smell. Hold a piece of ice and focus on how it feels. Plant your feet firmly on the floor and notice the sensation of being connected to the floor. There are plenty of methods, and different strategies work for different people. The goal is to keep your mind and body connected and working together.