Psychotherapist Claire Goodwin-Fee revealed how social pressure to socialize again after the lockdown restrictions are relaxed could make people feel anxious and overwhelmed.
Goodwin-Fee, who has founded a confidential support service for frontline workers, said that it could take at least a few weeks to months or even years for the full psychological effects of a challenging time such as lockdown to emerge.
People are likely to feel unsure, scared, and confused about going back into their social circles. It would be helpful if people set realistic goals, she told Daily Mail.
A mother from Mumsnet, a British parenting site, shared a story of how she felt nervous about an unexpected visitor waving at her drive. She said that she finds easing the lockdown restrictions stressful.
Claire told FEMAIL that "people may feel unsure, scared, and confused about reintegrating back into their social circles and perhaps the wider communities they live in. Many may have taken this time to reassess their lives and may want to make sweeping changes."
She added that the idea of socializing while remaining socially distant is a struggle for everyone challenging to navigate. More so, the lack of confidence in themselves and social skills may also be considered for many.
How to be Social While Being Socially Distant
The pressure to socialize once restrictions are relaxed has come to unrealistically set expectations that are not healthy for everyone. Whether we may have them for ourselves or others who have them with us could lead to feeling anxious and overwhelmed.
Clair advised to be open with loved ones such as friends, family, and other support networks can be helpful, especially if they discuss emotional well-being in a non-judgmental way.
"Seek emotional support if you believe that you are struggling, there is a lot of professional support out there ready to help," Claire added.
People have been in the same households for months living with high-stress levels and experienced a lot of emotional fatigue. This can often be experienced as needing to sleep more often and feeling overwhelmed.
If needing space, a person should not be afraid to ask for some privacy since it is a fundamental human need, particularly if feelings of being overwhelmed start.
Acknowledging One's Emotions
Claire revealed that it might be helpful to start thinking about integrating oneself back into society as many people must have been grieving for their previous lives after many felt shocked by following the lockdown plus the high levels of anxiety that comes with it.
It can take months or even years for the traumatic event's full psychological impact - pandemic crisis - to emerge. Higher rates of anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder can occur as people struggle to integrate their experiences.
But there will be a 'shared collective experience' of lockdown in which people will share lockdown stories and discuss their experiences about what it's like to live through this time. In that way, it will help elevate some of the long term adverse effects.
