Anxiety In The Post-COVID World
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, millions of people struggled with deep-seated anxiety about the future. You may have worried about your career, your housing situation, the health of your family and friends, your career prospects, or how to differentiate between sound advice and misinformation. As we finally recover from the pandemic, your loved ones might be excited and eager to get back to normal. But what if you’re still living with a lingering sense of anxiety, even as the world opens up and people embrace the opportunities that are available to them once again?
This anxiety can persist in a post-COVID world. The memories of the past two years don’t just fade away overnight. Here’s why you might still be feeling anxious, and how you can handle these emotions in a healthy way.
Before you dive in, remember that our professionals are always here to help
Why Has the Pandemic Led to Anxiety?
The pandemic disrupted our everyday routines in unforeseen ways that few people could have hoped to prepare for. You or your children might have had to shift from attending school in-person to logging on for remote classes. Perhaps you were laid off, furloughed, or had your hours cut. You may have had to seriously cut back on your spending to deal with the economic uncertainty. And if you or a loved one became sick, you might have dealt with severe physical symptoms – or ended up grieving a loss. With these circumstances to contend with, it’s no wonder that anxiety was such a widespread experience during the pandemic.
Understand These Feelings Are Normal
Right now, you might feel embarrassed about your anxiety, especially if your friends and family seem to have put the tumultuous times of the pandemic behind them. But it takes time to process everything that happened and to find your secure footing again. For some people, this simply takes longer than others – and that’s okay. Your personal experiences during the pandemic may have differed from your friends, which can affect your anxiety levels.
Readjusting Slowly
You do not have to dive back into your normal routines right away. Instead, you can take it slow and gauge your comfort levels with different activities. Try spending time outdoors, reaching out to friends to hang out one-on-one, or continuing to take precautions like masking or testing before going to social events.
Evaluate Where Your Attention Goes
During the pandemic, you may have checked the news frequently to make sure that you were always clued in on local public health regulations and recommendations. But sometimes, checking the headlines can turn into doom-scrolling. Before you know it, you’ve spent hours reading about worst-case scenarios. If this is a habit you’ve developed, it’s time to assess your screen time and media sources. Choose a couple of trustworthy news sources to check on a few times per week, and fill the rest of your free time with healthier activities.
Talk to a Therapist
Do you feel like your loved ones simply don’t understand your anxiety? Have you made a few attempts to return to your normal routines, only to feel your anxiety skyrocket? If these scenarios sound familiar, it might be time to look into therapy. You don’t have to see a therapist in person, either – you can attend sessions online if that would make you feel more comfortable. A therapist can teach you valuable coping skills to manage your anxiety and help you start looking forward to your next chapter in life.
Are you struggling with anxiety even as we move through the pandemic recovery period? Working with a therapist can help. Reach out to us today to discuss your options for scheduling your first session.
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