Social Anxiety After Covid

In the past six months, the world has slowly begun to re-open. While vaccination rates are increasing, the uncertainty of the delta variant has many people concerned. We may not be in a time where we can truly say we are in life after the pandemic— but we are getting there.  Still, many people are struggling to adapt to even more changes.

When the world shut down in 2020, we found ourselves self-isolating and at home. While these adjustments were difficult, most of us felt secure in knowing that we were keeping ourselves and our families safe. Now, businesses and schools are open and workers are returning to some offices. This is certainly a good thing, but there is still a lot of fear.

It is no surprise that a lot of people are experiencing social anxiety as life resumes. If you are one of these people, please know that you are not alone. I know how hard this transition may be, so here are some useful tips to cope with your social anxiety after the pandemic.

Take Things At Your Own Pace

There is unwarranted pressure on people to just return to normal as if the pandemic never happened. There isn't a person on this earth who doesn't wish the pandemic never happened or that it was long behind us. What a lot of people fail to realize is this was truly a life-changing 16 months we have gone through.

In a blink of an eye, the blue and white-collar industries were completely transformed. We were told to social distance, mask up, and protect others, and most gladly did. Our children switched to virtual learning. And then there was the virus itself. Unfortunately, many lives were lost or forever changed because of contracting the virus, and now with a new strain, it feels as if we are going through everything again.

If you are struggling to return to normal, know that you can take this at your own pace. Do what makes you feel most comfortable and right for you and your family. Returning to normal is not a race and you should never force yourself to do something because it is expected. If you are still uncertain about stepping foot into a grocery store for long periods of time, there is nothing wrong with doing pickup or delivery. Another fear many adults have is returning to an office setting. You may not be able to, but you could always ask your boss if you could work from home for maybe 3 days and come into the office for 2. This way, you can ease yourself back into an office setting at the pace you feel most comfortable with.

Don't Be Afraid To Communicate Your Fears

With restrictions mostly lifted, many people have returned to hosting events and gatherings. If you get invited to a social gathering, don't be afraid to ask the host questions. You can ask questions such as, "Will we be in a small, enclosed space? How many people will be there? Do you know if people in attendance are vaccinated?" Asking questions ahead of time over things that make you nervous to attend can help you make an informed decision on participating. Even if masks aren't required at the event, you have every right to still wear one if it makes you feel more comfortable about attending.

Reach Out For Help

Experiencing social anxiety is nothing new for society. There are many people out there who have had to deal with social anxiety long before the pandemic ever hit. But, social anxiety may be foreign territory for you. Coping with it, on our own, is sometimes extremely challenging. After the pandemic, riots, and political tensions from the past year and a half, most people are struggling with their emotions and thoughts in general.

One good thing that came from the pandemic was teletherapy. If you need help navigating through yet another round of changes to your life, don't be afraid to reach out to a licensed psychotherapist. Most therapists, my office included, is offering teletherapy through these challenging times.

I can help you learn the coping skills and techniques that can help you ease the social anxiety you are feeling in your post-pandemic life. Please reach out to my office through my contact form to begin the process of easing your social anxiety.