Post-Pandemic Anxiety? Here's What You Need To Know
Are you anxious about the shift from the pandemic lifestyle to the pre-pandemic way of life? After more than a year of quarantine, social distancing, and working from home, you may not feel ready to go back out into the world. If you have transition-related anxiety, take a look at what you need to know about your mental health and the treatment options.
Why Do You Feel Anxious Right Now?
You've gotten used to a certain way of life. Not only was the last year different than anything you've experienced in your lifetime, but it may have also resulted in some level of mental trauma. Dramatic day-today changes, suddenly spending more time with a spouse or children, illness, the threat of an illness, and other significant losses may have uprooted your way of life - causing serious stress, depression, and anxiety.
Even though the pandemic isn't over, vaccines have brought many people the anxiety relief they need to venture back to school and work. This means fewer restrictions and more pre-pandemic activities. But it doesn't mean everyone is ready to restart normal life. You may feel uncomfortable around large groups of people or have stress about leaving your house to go to work or social engagements.
You may suffer from post-pandemic fear of infection, fear of contamination, increased health anxiety, or severe social withdrawal. Studies also have found an increased likelihood of developing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other anxiety-related mental health issues as the general population begins to return to normal daily life.
What Should You Do If You're Anxious?
Like many other people, you may feel anxious about the return to your pre-pandemic life. Again, this anxiety could center on leaving your home, social situations, the risk for potential infection, your overall health, or result from over a year of near-constant stress and mental trauma.
Mild anxiety may not linger - and it may not interfere with your daily life. At-home stress reduction techniques (such as meditation or visualization) and small, incremental changes may help you to reduce the anxiety you feel right now. But if your anxiety level is high (or too high for your to comfortably handle on your own), you have lingering trauma, or you can't resume pre-pandemic activities, you may need extra help.
Who Can Help You Overcome Anxiety?
More specifically, which type of mental health professional can help you to work through post-pandemic anxiety and get back to your normal daily life or activities? A licensed counselor, therapist, psychologist, or psychiatrist can provide you with the help necessary to make significant changes and take steps towards your new future.
A mental health professional can assess your anxiety level and help you to identify effective ways to handle the powerful emotions you may still feel. Beyond coping techniques for your post-pandemic life, the therapist can also help you to work through anxiety related to changes and losses you've had or felt over the past year. This is especially helpful for people who may have experienced a personal loss, job loss, or divorce, or have lingering health issues.
The therapist or other mental health professional can also help you to cope with social anxiety and related relationship issues. You may need to learn new ways to create healthy boundaries, increase your comfort level in public settings, or rebuilt intimate relationships.
When Should You Get Professional Mental Health Help?
The sooner you get professional help, the better. You don't have to live with daily anxiety that interferes with your life. If you feel the effects of trauma, social anxiety, or other types of anxiety, now is the time to seek help from a qualified therapist or counselor.
Are you ready to reduce your anxiety and get back to your normal, pre-pandemic life? Contact Heritage Mental Health Clinic for more information.