What is Reopening Anxiety?
Reopening anxiety. It’s a thing. The clouds continue to lift, the vaccinations are rolling out, restrictions are easing and we’re moving slowly back to seeing friends, doing sports, socialising and returning to work. Like any transition, this can be a bumpy ride and if you are struggling along the way, you’re not alone. According to Anxiety UK, over a third of people are feeling uneasy about the lift of restrictions.
This year all of our lives have changed dramatically, the many lifestyle shifts and changes brought emotional energy and the heavy weight of uncertainty. Many have lost jobs, relationships, housing, loved ones and missed out on major milestones like weddings, birthdays and meeting new babies. 2020 saw an increased rate of depression, domestic violence, abuse and addiction. And then there are the COVID scars that this global pandemic left us with, the grief we are carrying after losing loved ones or simply missing our family who came home to spend lockdown with us. The financial burden that so many of us are carrying, the disruption to our children’s lives and the fatigue of the ongoing uncertainty that continues over a year on. And now, we’re seeing light at the end of the tunnel, so we should be happy right? Well, not exactly …
Reopening anxiety can manifest differently in different people, but it can look like:
· Stress and worry about the uncertainty of what is next, if there will be another lockdown, if we will be safe post COVID or feeling responsible for other people’s health.
· Fears about how to adapt to new changes like wearing masks in the workplace, how to socialise again or being exposed to a situation where you don’t feel safe.
· Reluctance to engage in pre-pandemic activities that you previously enjoyed because you’ve found more security or comfort in your locked-down life.
· Fatigue after a long year of adapting, pivoting and following changeable rules and restrictions.
The truth is the world has changed and will never be like it was before and that is a lot to take in - it is easy to feel over-whelmed or even isolated in our apprehension for this new normal. And with coronavirus still out there, it is ok to be cautious. And it is most definitely ok to take our time finding our way back and reconnecting with life with kindness and compassion and without the extra self- judgement.
If this sounds familiar, here are some tips on navigating through this difficult time:
Focus on what you control
Pay attention to your thoughts and feelings with love and compassion. Practise meditation, even taking 1 minute a day and building it up is helpful for living in the present. Develop healthy affirmations and find the pockets of joy in your day.
Acknowledge your feelings
Identifying how you feel and justifying the emotions will help you accept how you are feeling and validate those emotions with ease.
Be honest about your fears
Speak to trusted loved ones about how you are feeling or journal your thoughts daily.
Set Your Boundaries
Prioritise your own needs and what you want into your life. Allow yourself to be firm, direct and consistent and trust your gut. If boundaries are new to you, start small and build it up – this may look like not answering a call or email and responding when you are ready.
Take It Slow
Build up your comfort in this transition by taking baby steps back in. Go and meet one friend instead of a group or go to a restaurant at a quieter time than normal. Small activities for as long as it takes can build up to the bigger ones.
Do It Your Way
There are some things that a lot of us will continue to bring forward after lockdown and there is no reason why you cannot get your food shopping delivered or continue to have virtual meetings where appropriate. Accept your own needs and work with them.
Remember Your Strength and move forward with compassion!
Go at your own pace, you have survived everything up until now and you deserve to navigate this process in the best way that suits you.
Check in with the positive tools you learnt during the pandemic and keep them with you. And remember, you are not alone - change is possible. Get in touch to know more.