Preparing for What's to Come Post-Pandemic

Mixed feelings? You are not alone.

As vaccines are distributed, and restrictions begin to lift, it is natural for minds to wonder what life will be like post-pandemic. According to recent research, as a result of COVID-19, Americans are reporting staggering levels of stress, which could very well be the culprit for a correlated rise in alcohol consumption. Not to mention the education crisis, as 1 in 7 children has missed more than three semesters of in-person learning.

We can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel as we look forward to leaving these harrowing statistics and COVID-19 behind us. Let’s talk about some nuggets of the “new normal” and why our excitement might be mixed with anxiety.

The Roaring 20’s - again?

Recreational activities, the economy, and social events are predicted to surge, according to experts. Based on the post-WWI and influenza pandemic period famously known as the Roaring ’20s, historians and sociologists expect a similar outcome post-COVID. “We could see a dramatic rise in leisure activities and collective gatherings post-pandemic, including live music concerts and sports events,” says Historian Christopher McKnight Nichols in an interview.

Everything Delivered: from Groceries to Therapy

Delivery services have become the norm with social distance mandates. This norm will likely stick around, even as restrictions lift. And now, mental health services are also being delivered. Highly qualified mental health professionals offer the same therapy online that you would experience in person. You can even find a therapist that uses an Evidence-Based approach over confidential video call platforms (Therapy Lab).

Heading Back to Work - Or Staying at Home

This year, many Americans have lost their jobs during the pandemic. And parents have dropped out of the workforce to meet increased demands at home. Some were fortunate to have the opportunity to work from home, albeit still experiencing the growing pains of work-life balance.  As we look to the future, some of us may be celebrating the chance to return to in-person work with kids back in school and job opportunities opening up. Meanwhile, others may be happy to hold on to the new remote economy.

We have this and so much more to look forward to, so, why does this moment still feel overwhelming?

Shouldn’t we be breathing a collective, worldwide sigh of relief? For a vast majority of people in this time, the transition to post-pandemic life comes with baggage. One moment, there may be a flutter of excitement. The next, there is sobering grief over what we all just experienced. If you are experiencing a range of intense, conflicting emotions, we are here to say:

This is all completely normal and absolutely ok.

Shared Experience, but not Same Experience

“How has the last year been for you?” However well-meaning, this innocent inquiry of pandemic life is a loftier question than it seems at first glance. Amid COVID-19, the rise in unemployment, egregious loss of life, and staggering mental health reports suggest that many individuals experienced significant trauma this past year.

Some who switched to remote work relished the opportunity for extra sleep (and time to make sourdough). In contrast, others struggled to survive financially, juggle childcare demands, or felt the loss of workplace relationships. This post-pandemic shift could lead to conflicting feelings of optimism for the future and grief for the past.

Furthermore, social distancing leads to social isolation. Assimilating back to higher social interaction levels will prove to be a challenge of varying degrees for each individual. Social isolation is both a symptom and a cause of social anxiety. [1]

Social skills are rustier than ever. Crowds are more overwhelming than before.

Given the past year in isolation, we will likely see more people coping with human-interaction-induced stress. With fewer restrictions, you may experience more demands for socializing that are not yet feel comfortable. Cue that early-pandemic nostalgia for when saying “no” was not only socially acceptable but also considerate.

While we are used to a level of anxiety in everyday life, symptoms may subtly progress more than expected. Re-introducing heightened levels of activity and social interaction is sure to stretch our smaller pandemic-conditioned social capacity. It would serve us to keep a watchful eye on anxiety levels. Without realizing it, everyday stress can turn into a treatable anxiety disorder.

Signs you are more Anxious than you Realize

From NIMH

• “No Chill” (feeling antsy or restless)
• Exhausted By Everything (easily fatigued)
• Can’t Hold a Thought (difficulty concentrating)
• Everyone is Annoying (irritable)
• Tight and Knotty (muscle tension)
• Worry Wort (difficulty controlling feelings of worry)
• Insomniac (difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep, unsatisfying sleep)

Needless to say, this upcoming season will be wonderful and challenging all at once. Here are a few takeaways to keep in mind as we transition to our new normal:

How to Prepare for What’s to Come

Know your Limits: and be okay with the fact that capacity is more limited than you remember. Many of us spent the last year doing significantly less, seeing a small number of people. Routines have been simplified. Be strategic in how you work back up to “normal.”

Reestablish/Build Healthy Habits: parents especially have suffered the loss of routine and normalcy amidst the pandemic. Take time to recalibrate your routine to prepare for things like in-person school and the commute to work. Rethink bedtime. Reorganize your purse, backpack, or satchel. Get in the habit of grabbing it on the way out the door again. Write a note or make a mantra (e.g., “keys, phone, wallet, mask”).

Take Care of Yourself: evidence supports the holistic benefits of the simple act of self-care. [2] Rejuvenate, recharge, take “me-time,” and feel the lasting benefits of decreased stress and increased quality of life.

Interested in therapy? Schedule a phone consultation to speak with a Care Coordinator about CBT and get matched with a therapist.

REFERENCES:

1 - Chow P, Fua K, Huang Y, Bonelli W, Xiong H, Barnes L, Teachman B
Using Mobile Sensing to Test Clinical Models of Depression, Social Anxiety, State Affect, and Social Isolation Among College Students
J Med Internet Res 2017;19(3):e62
URL: https://www.jmir.org/2017/3/e62
DOI: 10.2196/jmir.6820

2 - Ayala, E. E., Winseman, J. S., Johnsen, R. D., & Mason, H. (2018). U.S. medical students who engage in self-care report less stress and higher quality of life. BMC medical education, 18(1), 189. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-018-1296-x