Eased restrictions could spell fresh anxiety for many

Tempering expectations can be crucial, Louise Bradley and Dr. Keith Dobson say.

It’s been more than three months since Canadians were told to go home and stay home.

And those of us who could, did — nervously retreating from public spaces and shutting out the world.

In the weeks of lockdown that followed, there was no shortage of reasons to feel anxious. Physical distancing kept us from our loved ones, our routines, and in some cases, our livelihoods.

But as the country begins to reopen, there is a host of new fears to contend with. For many of us, that means having to face return or re-entry anxiety.

We can expect stress reactions to re-entry to fall into one of two groups. The first relates to continuing concerns about COVID-19. Without a vaccine, these aren’t going away any time soon. As distancing rules are relaxed, people will have to renegotiate social norms, make new assessments of safe activities, and manage fears around possible new waves of infection.

Curbing this kind of anxiety will require us to relearn appropriate risk taking, since our coping mechanism up till now has been a full-on retreat. The most important tool we have is the advice of health authorities, which can give us the confidence to make safer choices. In short, we should still be deploying hand hygiene, social distancing, and non-medical masks when we’re in close quarters.

But anxiety is hardly one size fits all. Those facing personal and economic losses may be battling anxiety on two fronts. Apart from mitigating physical health risks, they may be entering an unstable job market or adjusting to life on a single income. For others, having fewer restrictions may feel like a welcome reprieve, whereas someone with a social anxiety disorder may find their symptoms worsening at the prospect of exposure to more social interaction.

Regardless of the trigger, anxiety can be debilitating if not properly addressed.

Evidence tells us that the single best treatment is gradual exposure, which involves slowly confronting the cause of the fear. Exposure reduces anxiety by forcing us to readjust our risk tolerance, ultimately lowering the perceived threat level over time.

As more restrictions are lifted, it’s important to remember that re-entry will affect everyone differently. This will be especially vital for employers inviting workers back to indoor environments, from restaurants and retail stores to highrise office complexes. Employees may be skittish, and effectively supporting their return to work will be essential for helping businesses thrive again.

The spectrum of personal preferences and circumstances is wide. What is working well for one person may prove detrimental for the next. If employers can practise the same flexibility and understanding they’ve asked of their workers, they have an opportunity to ease anxiety rather than add to it.

Both inside and outside the workplace, tempering our expectations is critical to offsetting re-entry anxiety. From getting ourselves mentally ready for social distancing on a shopping trip to inquiring about what we should expect at our next hair appointment, don’t underestimate the value of being prepared. It’s also important to have frank conversations about boundaries and expectations with family and friends (and to expect some discomfort along the way).

Above all, we must continue to be patient, both with ourselves and each other. If, on occasion, you find that you’re feeling irritable, frustrated, sad, or depressed, remember that it’s perfectly normal and be gentle with yourself. But if these feelings persist for two weeks or more, professional guidance can help.

Our collective progress has allowed us to open our doors once again. But it’s our individual actions that will lead us back out into the world, one careful step at a time.

Louise Bradley is president and CEO of the Mental Health Commission of Canada; Dr. Keith Dobson is a professor of clinical psychology at the University of Calgary and past president of the Canadian Association of Cognitive and Behavioural Therapies.

As the country begins to reopen, there is a host of new fears to contend with.