The other night, I gathered with some friends – some of whom I hadn’t seen in more than a year – for a birthday celebration. It felt so good to all be together. Although most of us have had one or both doses of the vaccine, I must admit that at first I was very nervous to be in a group larger than a few people. I think the anticipatory anxiety had as much to do with socializing as it did with safety concerns. Had I lost the ability to navigate a room? The ability to feel comfortable interacting with others and not feel self-conscious? I don’t think so. I have heard others, including friends and patients alike, express similar concerns.
During the past year, many of us “cocooned” in our homes or other destinations where we felt safe and protected. Some of us created “safety pods'' where we could socialize and interact with other like-minded individuals. Our professional lives were also greatly hampered while we worked from home or other remote locations. There were no in-person office mates to mingle and have casual conversations with nor supervisors to have face to face meetings. We adapted a new way to communicate with others via Zoom, FaceTime, and phone calls. Human interaction was put on hold for much longer than we could have anticipated.
Now more than a year later, we are trying to figure out how to go back to the office, attend sporting events and concerts, celebrate milestone events with friends and family and myriad other social gatherings. Logistics are one thing, emotional and psychological feelings about how we do this so we feel safe and comfortable is another.
Here are some steps to help you mentally prepare to re-enter “Post-Covid” society:
Acknowledge & Normalize
Let’s acknowledge and normalize that it is okay to feel uncomfortable, stressed, anxious and/or fearful about this transition. Similar to when we were first acclimating to the Covid landscape, this is a new transition and there are unknowns. During transitions, we can feel more vulnerable, potentially heightening emotions and feelings.
Identify What’s Worrying You
When we feel overwhelmed, we may become flooded with feelings that make it difficult to take action steps that will help us feel better. If possible, write a list or take mental notes of what exactly is making you feel anxious or stressed. Is it thoughts about returning to the office and working in person with others when you have been used to working alone and being in control of your schedule? Do you have safety concerns about being around others who do not wear masks?
Utilize Coping Skills
We all have “tool” kits – strategies and skills – we employ when we are in difficult and uncomfortable situations. Ideally, we hope that this tool kit will be adaptive to the situation and help us feel better; however, at times, our coping mechanisms can be maladaptive and not serve us well. During the past year, we have had to dig deep as we experienced an unprecedented loss of life and of what felt comfortable and familiar to us – our schedules, our routines, our predictability and more. As we transition to the next stage, let’s use those tool kits and perhaps add new skills and new ways to think about this transition. If you see yourself thinking in a very black and white fashion or jumping to conclusions about what your life will look like in a few months, slow down. Using reframes – thinking about situations differently – can be helpful.
Mindfulness-Based Activities
Yoga, meditation, meditative walks and deep breathing can help us slow down and stay focused on the present task at hand. Once a day, take a few minutes for yourself to pause.
Communication & Interactions with Friends May Look Different - Be Patient
Everyone has had their own relationship to Covid and the quarantine. Some lost family members and close friends. Others may have lost their job or have been living alone for the past year. Millions of Americans had Covid – some worse than others – and may still be managing physical, psychological, emotional and neurological symptoms.
It is important to keep this in mind when interacting with your friends and partaking in social settings as we re-acclimate. When possible, try to have open and candid conversations with friends whom you feel comfortable with. Be an active listener, try to be mindful of judging your friend, and be patient.
Let’s try to validate and support each other as we navigate this transition for which there is no road map. As we have learned, resilience, hope and courage go a long way and remember you are not alone.