Re-entry anxiety is the term used to describe a specific form of stress associated with fears surrounding returning to your previously established routines. In the current situation, that might be in relation to going back to your workplace or taking the kids to school.
As Education Executive pointed out, however, this is a type of anxiety that existed long before the Covid-19 pandemic - one of the common examples given is people who have been in a car accident being fearful of getting back into a vehicle.
However, there is little doubt that the extended global public health crisis has resulted in more people feeling anxious.
The news provider cited a poll conducted by Ipso MORI, which found that 67 per cent of Brits now feel uncomfortable about the idea of attending a large gathering, while three in five are even concerned about going to bars or restaurants, or using public transport.
If you’re feeling anxious about a return to parts of your previous life, what can you do to manage this anxiety and reduce your stress levels?
The publication recommended taking your return to the ‘new normal’ at your own pace. That might mean that you still work from home and gradually build up your time in the office again, or that you gradually increase the distance you’ll walk from your home each day if this is something you’re struggling with.
Speaking to Forbes recently, Dr Anthony Rao, psychologist and co-author of the book The Power of Agency: The 7 Principles to Conquer Obstacles, Make Effective Decisions and Create a Life on Your Own Terms, described the pandemic as “a global human stress test”.
He noted that it has highlighted “our vulnerabilities, physical as well as emotional”. He also explained that anxiety can take many forms and that you need to consider whether you would benefit from professional help with the condition.
“If it’s interfering with daily work and productivity, straining your relationships, keeping you from reaching your goals, and most important, adversely affecting your mood and level of enjoyment, it’s serious enough to seek help,” Dr Rao asserted.
It’s not only therapy that can be useful in this scenario, Dr Rao added, noting that coaching, mind-body practices and establishing positive social support can also help people cope with the anxiety they’re experiencing.
One option open to you is to explore cognitive behavioural hypnotherapy. This is a technique that can be used to treat anxiety disorders, among other conditions, and it works by creating a highly structured and goal-oriented treatment plan for each person.
It’s a method that incorporates elements of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) with hypnotherapy.
It can be highly effective, with the average person needing between four and six sessions to see results.
Of course, given the current situation with the pandemic and the possibility of further local lockdowns in the UK, you may want to find a hypnotherapist in Wimbledon who offers online, as well as in-person, sessions. If that’s the case, get in touch today to find out how I can help you deal with any anxiety you may be experiencing.
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