Things are changing around us yet again in terms of living in a pandemic. San Francisco has dropped most of its mask mandates for now. People are making more plans, attending parties, going back to work in offices, and booking plane tickets. Even if you work in a restaurant or a hospital where you’ve had to go be amongst many people every day (thank you!), you’re facing the new norms of more people with fewer masks. How does it feel?
Mixed Feelings Are Normal
We’re seeing that people feel a huge mixture of different things about this shift. On the one hand, people are excited. It’s hopeful to think that perhaps it’s safer now to get out and about with those we love and even spend time in bigger groups with people we don’t know. On the other hand, it’s also very nerve-wracking, for a lot of different reasons.
You might find yourself triggered, stressed, overwhelmed, uncomfortable, or unsure of how you feel. Here are just some of the reasons why:
- You don’t really know for sure how safe it is and you worry about getting sick.
- You actually don’t want to return to certain pre-pandemic routines – commuting, lunch meetings, running your kids around to a million activities.
- Although there are things you want to do and people you want to see, it feels like A LOT. Everyone’s trying to make plans at the same time. There’s a lot you *might* want to do.
- Getting back in the swing of socializing is hard. Social anxiety creeps up and you’re out of practice.
- You have new priorities. You are still adjusting to this “new normal” and you aren’t sure, yet, what old habits you want to bother bringing back in.
Almost Everyone Experiences This Right Now
We understand. We feel it, too. Some therapists are returning to in-office sessions, while others are still holding off. We here at CMP have scheduled an outdoor spring gathering, our first in-person team meeting since 2020, and while there’s a lot of interest in this idea, there’s some hesitation and lack of certainty about who wants to attend the optional event. WE ARE ALL GOING THROUGH THIS.
Give Yourself The Gift of Choice
It’s okay. It’s okay to be unsure. It’s okay to have mixed feelings about doing more, things opening up, etc. Remember that you have the option to choose. You can choose:
- Choose to say no or not yet.
- Choose to do the things that nourish you and skip the things that don’t.
- Choose to arrive late or leave early when you’re satiated or over-stimulated.
- Choose carefully what you do and don’t want to re-incorporate into your regular routine.
- Choose to spend your lunch hour alone with a book or on a walk.
- Choose to prioritize the things that you’ve missed the most and allow the rest to pass.
Give yourself the gift of choice. Honor what you need right now. We are all going through this, and most people will understand.
Therapy can help support you through all of your changes in life. Reach out to us today for an appointment. Or check out our therapist directory.