{"id":32681,"date":"2021-05-27T10:00:16","date_gmt":"2021-05-27T14:00:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=32681"},"modified":"2021-05-25T14:26:12","modified_gmt":"2021-05-25T18:26:12","slug":"life-after-covid-19-reentry-anxiety","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/news\/life-after-covid-19-reentry-anxiety\/","title":{"rendered":"Why you have COVID-19 reentry anxiety and what to do about it"},"content":{"rendered":"

CORONAVIRUS UPDATE: As experts learn more about the novel coronavirus, news and information changes. For the latest on the COVID-19 pandemic, please visit the<\/span><\/i> Centers for Disease Control and Prevention<\/span><\/i><\/a>.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

As Americans are getting vaccinated for COVID-19 by the thousands and infection rates are dropping in most states, things are looking up for the first time in more than a year; some would say that a return to some version of normal actually seems within reach.<\/span><\/p>\n

Despite that good news, some of us are still stuck in pandemic panic mode. Instead of relief, the thought of going back to pre-pandemic work and social norms is causing deep feelings of anxiety.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAdjusting to the huge changes imposed by COVID-19 was hard enough, but many felt like the changes at least [involved] retreating to a \u2018safe place,\u2019\u201d says<\/span> Ellen Astrachan-Fletcher<\/span><\/a>, Ph.D.,<\/span> a regional medical director with Pathlight Mood and Anxiety Center<\/span>.<\/span> \u201cThe task of having to adjust [again] by returning back to a more socially interactive and stimulating life has been even more stressful.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What\u2019s going on? Why are you feeling COVID anxiety when you should be happy, and what can you do about it? Here\u2019s everything you need to know about having anxiety over your post-pandemic life.<\/span><\/p>\n

What is COVID reentry anxiety?<\/span><\/h2>\n

You\u2019re fully vaccinated and so is your BFF, your community has a low rate of viral spread, and your friend invites you to lunch at an outdoor cafe. Rather than feeling excited to see her, you just feel stressed.<\/span><\/p>\n

You run through all the worst-case scenarios in your head; your mind is full of \u201cwhat ifs\u201d and doubt. Worried that you won\u2019t be able to relax and enjoy yourself, you decline your friend\u2019s invitation. The minute you do, you feel instantly better\u2014you\u2019ll just stay safely protected at home, like you have for the past year.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Wait…what\u2019s happening?<\/span><\/p>\n

You are experiencing COVID reentry anxiety, or anxiety about returning to your usual daily activities post-pandemic. Even though you\u2019re<\/span> vaccinated<\/span><\/a> and public health officials say outdoor dining is safe for you, you still can\u2019t shake the feelings of fear and insecurity about being in public with people outside of your household.<\/span>\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n

Why do you have reentry anxiety?<\/span><\/h2>\n

The answer is actually fairly simple, says <\/span>Gail Saltz, MD, an associate professor of psychiatry at the NY Presbyterian Hospital Weill-Cornell School of Medicine and host of the<\/span> \u201cHow Can I Help?”<\/span><\/a> podcast from iHeartRadio. You just went through a year-long psychological exercise that spanned the globe and affected literally <\/span>everyone<\/span><\/i>.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe behavioral changes you saw in people across the world are of a magnitude that you would be hard-pressed to find since World War II,\u201d Dr. Saltz says. \u201cWe had to go to such an extreme to get an entire population to social distance, wear masks, and stay at home for a year.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

How did we accomplish this massive feat? Through fear, in response to a real threat. (It was a necessary evil, in this case, and the course of action recommended by scientists.)<\/span><\/p>\n

According to Dr. Saltz, our collective fear of doing things that could put us at imminent risk of getting sick and dying of COVID-19\u2014or worse, for some people, of infecting or harming our loved ones\u2014caused us to make major changes to our behavior. The length of time these changes lasted combined with the extreme fear factor, so to speak, means it will not be easy now to pivot and start doing those same things we were told were dangerous, says Dr. Saltz.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cFear was the needed public health measure, but from a psychological point of view, this was a form of positive conditioning,\u201d she explains. \u201cIf you did the right things, you reaped the reward of feeling safe\u2014that reinforced the behavior, and now it\u2019s a Pavlovian response that will take some time to undo.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

And, in some cases those fears are based on legitimate concerns that others who are not vaccinated might infect their children, or that the vaccine won\u2019t protect them 100%.<\/span><\/p>\n

How you might experience it<\/span><\/h2>\n

In general,<\/span> anxiety symptoms<\/span><\/a> can look different for different people, but because this is a specific type of anxiety\u2014in response to the same trigger\u2014there are more similarities.<\/span><\/p>\n

Here are some ways you might observe yourself experiencing anxiety surrounding reentry after COVID quarantine:<\/span><\/p>\n