We’ve reached the point where the US is relaxing its
COVID-19 precautions. That cases have fallen to the point that this is possible
is incredibly good news, the answer to prayer, and a source of great joy.
However, I am also seeing a spike in anxiety in my outpatient psychiatric practice.
As I recently heard someone say, “it’s like I’ve forgotten how to be human.”
Although the person was joking, there is some truth to the
comment. Many of us have been isolated for the last 15+ months. Social
interactions have been online, or with masked strangers on the occasional
essential trip out of the house. If we interacted with others in person, it was
only with a select few and usually with people we knew very well. Or we were
essential workers living with the stress of the unknown—would we catch the
virus? If so, how severe would our case be? Were we exposing our loved ones and
family due to our work? Many of us have lost loved ones, and the threat of
death was present everywhere. Some people faced their own mortality and the
mortality of those they love for the first time. It has been a very difficult and stressful
time.
Many people live with diagnosable anxiety disorders. These
include:
·
social anxiety: marked fear or anxiety about one
or more social situations in which the individual is exposed to possible
scrutiny by others
·
generalized
anxiety disorder: excessive anxiety and worry, an “apprehensive expectation” about
a number of events or activities
·
panic disorder: an abrupt surge of intense fear
or discomfort that reaches a peak in minutes during which physical and
cognitive symptoms occur
·
agoraphobia: intense fear or anxiety triggered
by the real or anticipated exposure to a wide range of situations
For some people who lived with an anxiety disorder prior to the
pandemic-imposed isolation, returning to “normal” life can be extremely
stressful. Many people who live with these disorders described a feeling of relief
that they did not have to be out in the world during the pandemic, and that
they could interact with others free of some of the stressors that induced
symptoms.
But even if a person does not live with a diagnosable
anxiety disorder, returning to “normal” life can still be hard. Some people
remain fearful of interactions due to safety concerns. Is it okay to interact
with others without a mask? Is that person really vaccinated? What about my
children (or grandchildren) who aren’t eligible for the vaccine? Will it
be safe to return to work in person? For others, it is that we are out of the
habit of interacting with others. We are used to being around our homes, and we
have forgotten how to interact with others in person.
So how do we cope? One way is to take comfort in the fact
that we are not alone if we experience fear and discomfort in social situations.
If you are feeling a little uneasy about being back out in the real world, chances
are that those around you are too. It is a time for us to be especially gentle
and understanding with one another.
Another way to manage is to remember some of the coping
mechanisms that we developed during the pandemic to handle stress. Many people
found solace in new, calming activities: cooking, gardening, playing chess,
virtual yoga and workouts, writing real letters on paper to others, walking/hiking
and more. We can take these activities with us as new ways to cope with our
anxiety and worry as life begins to return to normal.
And we can pray, and take comfort in God’s word as found in
Isaiah 41:10:
Do not fear, for
I am with you,
do not be afraid, for I am your God;
I will strengthen you, I will
help you,
I will uphold you with my victorious
right hand. (NRSV)
However, some people may need professional help. If your anxiety
or worry is causing you significant distress or impairment in social, occupational,
or other important areas of functioning, it is time to reach out. You can start
by talking to your primary care doctor who can assist or refer you to a mental
health professional for therapy or medication if indicated.
This has been a very difficult year filled with loss, fear,
and isolation. As we begin to emerge from the darkness of this time, we can
remember that anxiety is normal given what we have all been through. In fact,
it is very “human.”
This article originally appeared in the weekly newsletter of the Episcopal Diocese of San Diego
