Anxious About Reopening? 7 Links For Making Sense of the New “Normal”

As I write this post, we live in a very strange time. After fifteen months of a nightmarish pandemic, many parts of the world–including here in the United States– are getting back to “normal.” We’ve eagerly anticipated this moment. Yet, for many, it’s not been as easy as we’d hoped. In both my personal and professional life, I’ve heard a lot of people share how anxious they are about the reopening.

It’s hard to grasp everything going on in this moment. There’s like a million things happening! I’ve been doing a lot of reading to help myself make sense of it all. Here are some stories I’ve found to be helpful.

It’s Not Just You– The Last Fifteen Months Changed Us

• Psychiatric Times: “Post-COVID Stress Disorder: Another Emerging Consequence of the Global Pandemic”

There’s little debate: we as a species have suffered collective trauma over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic. That’s not to say everybody’s been “traumatized.” That said, our brain is wired to survive above all else. Triggers and fears about the virus– like someone coughing or standing too close maskless– were seared into our brain. That affects our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors.

• The Guardian: “I have ‘pandemic brain’. Will I ever be able to concentrate again?”

If you’re feeling anxious about the reopening, you’re not alone. The Guardian points out the many ways our brains changed during the pandemic. Yes, many people made a point of using lockdowns and canceled gatherings to build up new skills. You might’ve seen people on social media gushing about learning a new language or losing weight. However, many people have been dealing with foggy focus and generally less patience.

• Mind and Prose: Feeling Overwhelmed? “Look Out for These 11 Physical Effects of Stress”

This pandemic affected more than our mental state. We know that serious stress also knocks down our physical health as well. These symptoms tend to be a little more invisible and understated. However, if you’ve not been feeling your best self, it’s possible stress is to blame.

Okay, So You’re Anxious about the Reopening and Moving Forward

• CNBC: “WHO urges fully vaccinated people to continue to wear masks as delta Covid variant spreads”

Public health messaging has gotten really confusing with groups saying so many conflicting messages. On the one hand, it makes sense that each geographic area will face its own unique level of risk. On the other, these organizations often gave mixed messaging throughout the pandemic. In the United States, trust in public health has plummeted.

At the end of the day, you should still mind your safety. If you’re vaccinated and live in areas with really low transmission rates, you face a smaller chance of infection. However, COVID still poses a threat. The delta variant has proven more contagious, even affecting vaccinated people slightly more often.

• My Wellbeing: “How to Deal with Reopening Anxiety as COVID-19 Restrictions End”

Throughout the pandemic, avoidance often was the best answer when presented with any virus-related threat. See a big group of unmasked people marching toward you? Retreat!

It is also true that the math around these risk assessments has changed. If you’ve determined that you’re entering into a safe situation, you may still feel uncomfortable. Those pandemic-related triggers can stick around. Anxiety and avoidance tie closely together. They’re best friends and roommates. In this post, Caitlin Harper talks about challenging these thoughts, feelings, and behaviors head-on.

• Very Well Mind: “Those Who Thrived During the Pandemic Might Feel Anxiety About Reopening”

For some people, quarantine wasn’t all bad. Everything shut down gave people the chance to reflect. To check in with what mattered to them. Anecdotally, many of my therapy clients achieved incredible successes since COVID rocked our worlds. I’m talking about big deals like new careers, marriages, and sobriety. Some feel guilty about that. Others talk about the fear of life reverting once the world emerges from the pandemic. Spoilers: the positive changes you made during the last year are yours! Appreciate and take care of them as you move onto the next phase of your life.

• KQED: “6 Tips From a Therapist For Coping with Reopening Anxiety”

Finally, Nastia Voynovskaya put together suggestions therapists have been making for people feeling anxious about reopening. I really like this list, and it mirrors a lot of what I’ve been telling my own clients. Take things one step at a time. Be kind to yourself and others. And appreciate everything you and your fellow humans have survived.

Do you have any articles you’ve found to be helpful around reopening anxiety? Please share them! We live in a chaotic time that will be written about for decades to come. Please stay safe and take care of yourself.