Pandemic Social Anxiety
Who here is experiencing social anxiety at the idea of re-emerging into society? Who here never stopped experiencing social anxiety? (Raises hand—it's what we're talking about most of the time here).
As we start to get vaccinated and think about life after this pandemic, many of us are feeling anxious about returning to the new normal.
According to my data, pre-pandemic, 96% of people reported feeling anxious at least sometimes at work. I know that that number has only risen in the past year. I also know that way too many people are experiencing anxiety at work and don’t feel safe admitting it.
We’ve spent a year inside, behind masks, and afraid of other humans. That’s for those of us who’ve had the privilege to do so. I remember the early days, recoiling after getting too close to someone on the street. As a shy extrovert with social anxiety, it’s my least favorite thing about the pandemic. I can’t wait to not be afraid of people anymore.
This weekend, I decided to practice being around people, like exposure therapy. I walked around my new city and even went to an outdoor Farmers Market. When I got overwhelmed, I breathed through it and returned my attention to something physical to ground me. On my own terms, I practiced being closer to people.
As we start to approach the idea of more safety in our spaces, how can we make those spaces safer for others? This pandemic period has shown us all how unjust most spaces are for essential workers, for BIPOC Americans, and for the most vulnerable among us.
The idea of safety in our spaces is a privilege in itself. We have to see the ways that our spaces have never been safe for Black and brown Americans. The ways our spaces can be so much safer for women. The important thing to remember is that when we make spaces safer for others, we all benefit.
I'm right here with you all feeling very anxious about how life is going to change. I’m also really excited to celebrate with people and get to know people together again. But the social anxiety is real and it always has been and more of us are experiencing it and suffering from it than we realized.
As we re-emerge, can we be extra gentle with each other and ourselves?
This quarantine social anxiety is something specific, but really, too many people were suffering before. See it around you. Take a breath and get into your body. Honor the anxiety that means to protect you. Let’s make eye contact above our masks. Tell someone they are not alone, with your eyes or your words. The future is waiting and it’s so close. We just have to wait a little while longer.