After a long, hard winter in lockdown, there鈥檚 a glimmer of hope that we can start to get back to socialising and enjoying some of our most-missed activities as restrictions begin to ease.

But for many people this easing of restrictions may present a new source of anxiety and stress 鈥� however desperate they are to see friends and family again, visit the hairdresser, enjoy a drink in the pub or see their colleagues in the office rather than on a screen.

鈥淛ust as it took us time to adjust to lockdown, we should also expect that it will take time for us to find our way back,鈥� says our member Abby Rawlinson.

鈥淕oing back to old routines will feel unusual and may even make us fearful, anxious, angry or nervous.鈥�

There鈥檚 no right way to respond

鈥淩esponses will vary from person to person, with some people wanting to jump headfirst back into 鈥榥ormal鈥� life, whereas others will be more cautious 鈥� and it鈥檚 important to remember that there is no 鈥榬ight鈥� way to respond.鈥澨�

Your anxious feelings are natural

She adds: 鈥淚t鈥檚 natural that some people may be feeling anxious about whether they will be able to readjust to life back in the outside world. This is a form of 鈥榬e-entry anxiety鈥�, which is a specific form of stress related to the fear of being unable to adapt to previously established routines.鈥�

Take things at your own pace

鈥淚t鈥檚 important to remember that it鈥檚 OK to feel uncertain and nervous 鈥� this is a challenging time for everyone. If you鈥檙e experiencing 鈥榬e-entry anxiety鈥� then remember to take each day at your own pace.

鈥淔or example, if your office reopens, but you鈥檙e still allowed to work from home, build up your attendance in the office slowly and re-establish a routine that feels comfortable for you so that you don鈥檛 become overwhelmed,鈥� she adds.

Coping with sensory overload

Heading out in to the post-lockdown world again will bring a rush of sights, sounds and smells that are very different to the isolation of your own home.

For some people this may lead to sensory overload and a feeling of being overwhelmed by these senses.

Abby says: 鈥淚t鈥檚 only building up tolerance gently that can help us move though these fears.

鈥淚f possible, take things at your own pace 鈥� but try to challenge yourself to try something different every couple of days, and keep note of what you鈥檙e achieving.鈥�

Coping with social anxiety

For many of us for months our only face-to-face conversations have been with members of our own household.

Even people who may normally think of themselves as being extroverts, might notice a bit of social anxiety as they start to reconnect with friends and colleagues in person again.

Abby says: 鈥淚t makes sense that we might feel uneasy with other people after lockdown.

鈥淲e might have to push ourselves to reconnect with people and overcome initial awkwardness.听

鈥淪ocial anxiety tends to turn our attention inwards, which can make the symptoms of anxiety worse.

鈥淪o if you鈥檙e feeling nervous in a social situation, attend closely to what your conversation partner is saying, rather than thinking about what to say next.

鈥淢any people who worry in social situations are fearful that their anxiety is visible and that they will be judged. It鈥檚 important to remember that although anxiety may feel terrible, it usually doesn鈥檛 look as bad as it feels. Even if people can see that you鈥檙e anxious, it doesn鈥檛 mean that they will think badly of you,鈥� adds Abby.

Seek professional support if needed

If your anxiety or stress about the easing of restrictions is affecting your daily life, you may want to speak to a professional counsellor.

They can help you explore your feelings, acknowledge and accept them and support you find way to cope that work for you.

You can find a counsellor or psychotherapist who can help you by using our Therapist Directory.

听