When the coronavirus stay-at-home orders began in March 2020, most people's lives changed in immeasurable ways. At the time, we were bombarded with (admittedly, very helpful) advice on how to cope with anxiety, should we experience it during this time of social distancing and sheltering in place. But with restrictions slowly starting to ease in many parts of the world, there are many people who have seen an increase in anxiety all over again, this time about leaving their homes and reentering society. Posts about people's growing anxiety have been popping up around social media for the past couple of weeks, and it's given rise to the term "reentry anxiety."
What Is Reentry Anxiety?
It is normal to feel like the storm might be subsiding, but the unknown danger remains.
We went into lockdown with the understanding that it was protecting us from harm. If you've been told that it's not safe to be out and about, it's only natural that leaving lockdown would trigger anxiety for some people. Many people have felt that their home has become a "safe bubble" during this time, so it's normal that we might feel exposed when coming out of it.
What Is the Cause of Reentry Anxiety?
Forced change is likely the root cause of reentry anxiety. In this context specifically, we need to be aware of the messages that have been given to us: like 'stay home, stay safe'. It can take time to undo those kinds of messages, so it's understandable that we might feel a sense of worry and anxiety.
People are typically used to routines, roadmaps, and specific timelines, but those simply don't exist during the current COVID-19 pandemic. The uncertainty of the future, unknown fear of the impact of the virus, and a forced change to the 'normal' way of life does cause a great deal of stress. This leads to a feeling of a lack of control, anxiety, and a heightened perception of threat. While staying at home brought a great deal of relief for those who were forced to do multiple anxiety-inducing activities each day, a number of us will now be quite comfortable with the new 'norm' and may now be worrying about what comes next. There is also the additional fear of catching the virus once we come out of lockdown due to exposure.
Who Is Most Likely to Experience Reentry Anxiety?
People who weren't anxious or worried about staying at home in the first place probably won't experience reentry anxiety. Generally, people who have generally found lockdown very difficult didn't necessarily feel like they needed it in order to feel safe to begin with. Whereas, the people who found lockdown comforting are the ones who are now experiencing more anxiety around coming back out. The people who weren't anxious to begin with don't necessarily want a new normal and instead are experiencing a sense of loss (rather than anxiety) of things not going back to the way they were.
How to Cope With Reentry Anxiety
Trying to deal with one worry at a time, and categorizing the things you can and can't control (and focus on the former). One thing you can control is creating a calm environment which might coincidentally help to calm your feelings, too — a comforting blanket, soothing music, or a scented candle might help to make self-nurturing activities a priority.
Establishing a routine (and sticking to it), picking out the positive elements in your daily life to focus your energy toward, and, most importantly, never hesitating to seek professional help if necessary; you are not alone.
Be aware of the statistics and take an approach that is proportionate to how threatening the virus is to you (and your friends and family). Stay connected to your own goals and values in life. How do you want to live your life? Can you see the benefits of life reopening? What do you stand to gain from connecting with your friends and family again?
