Skip to main content

End of the pandemic or may be the start of a more worrying one.........




 

There is no question that COVID-19 has thrown us all into a spiral of uncertainty and fear, removing our core day to day activities, interactions and most importantly relationships. Even the most extrovert of us will admit to changes in our behaviours and notice forms of social anxiety reaching us.

As time has begun to take its toll hitting a 12-month anniversary of our first lockdown experience, many of us will admit to not making that call to a family member, friend, colleague as “I have nothing to talk about” so frequently comes into our heads. Or the fear of only having something ‘negative’ to say, financial worries, health concerns, the list goes on. . .

So, what do we do?

Avoid interaction, become more insular.

Whether you have struggled with social worries in the past or these feelings are a direct impact of the pandemic, worrying excessively and avoiding interactions will at its worst begin to shrink your life.

As we all hope the end is in sight of this latest lockdown, we are all well aware COVID-19 is still a long way from being over and let’s face it, it looks like we are going to have to live with it for some time yet. Let’s not underestimate the effect this pandemic has had on people.

·       Businesses have struggled financially.

·       Successful businesses have been forced to close their doors.

·       Experienced employees have lost their jobs.

·       Scam artists are busy targeting the vulnerable

·       Foodbanks are being stretched through demand.

·       Domestic abuse incidents have increased significantly.

This pandemic has touched everybody if different ways, but none more so than those who have been following government guidelines to the tee, shielding away in their homes, only venturing out for the absolute essential items, if that. With the lack of social interaction, the lack of exposure to the outside world, people are now rightly questioning what happens next?

·       What happens if I go outside?

·       How do I face returning to my workplace?

·       Will I be safe standing in the playground, using public transport, returning to the supermarket?

·       How does interacting with other people look?

·       How can I be sure those I’m in contact with are vaccinated?

Social Anxiety levels have spiked massively since the government’s announcement for the pathway out of lockdown.

 

As we begin to return to our ‘new normal’ lives, it is then we will start to see social worries morph into social anxiety disorder.

What Is Social Anxiety Disorder?

People with Social Anxiety Disorder have an irrational fear of being watched, judged, or of embarrassing or humiliating themselves. The anxiety and discomfort become so extreme that it interferes with daily functioning. While it can be a debilitating disorder, appropriate treatment recovery is possible.

Social Anxiety Disorder is one of the most common mental disorders, with up to 13% of the general population experiencing symptoms at some point in their life.

Social Anxiety is defined as persistent and intense social fears that lead to avoiding situations that spark those fears, it can reduce positive emotions, hinder achievements, fuel loneliness and lead to additional problems like substance abuse and depression.


Symptoms

When experiencing social anxiety we can often recognise that our fear is out of proportion to the actual situation, but are still unable to control our feelings of anxiety. This is typical of the challenges we are facing through the pandemic. Our anxieties may be specific to one type of social experience or situation, or it may occur in all situations. 

Examples of cognitive symptoms:

  • Fearing situations where you don't know other people
  • Worrying that you will be judged by others
  • Fear of becoming embarrassed or being humiliated
  • Thinking that others will notice your anxiety
  • Dreading upcoming events weeks in advance

Examples of physical symptoms:

  • Blushing
  • Profuse sweating
  • Trembling hands
  • Muscle tension
  • Racing heart

Examples of behavioural symptoms:

  • Avoiding social/performance activities
  • Leaving/escaping situations
  • Using safety behaviours

Self-Help Strategies

  • Acknowledge these feelings and reaching out to others
  • Relaxation techniques, such as deep breathing, guided imagery, autogenic training, and progressive muscle relaxation
  • Recognising and monitoring your own negative thoughts and replacing them with more helpful ones
  • Exposing yourself gradually to feared situations
  • Aromatherapy
  • Self help books
  • Joining online forums to connecting with others experiencing similar feelings
  • Healthy self-care such as eating right, exercising, and getting enough sleep

If you're unsure whether you or someone you love is experiencing social anxiety disorder, it's best to make an appointment with a doctor. This will put you on the path toward diagnosis, treatment, and living your life more fully.



Although this may feel like a frightening journey you have embarked upon, learning more about social anxiety disorder and finding treatment can be the first step toward lessening the impact that it has on your life. It's okay to feel afraid to take that first step—take a deep breath and know that you are making the right decision.



Labels:
Location: Great Witley, Worcester WR6 6JB, UK

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Maslow versus 2020/212 - hierarchy of needs

For those of us who have heard of  Maslow’s Hierarchy  of Needs, we will undoubtedly bracket it into a sociology theory irrelevant to our day-to-day lives. The events of 2020/21 have never taken this so much further away from the truth . . .   Maslow first introduced his concept of a hierarchy of needs in 1943 through his “Theory of Human Motivation.” His theory was presented through a pyramid that suggested that people are motivated by fulfilling their basic needs before moving on to their other, more advanced needs. The idea that our higher, more complicated needs like  esteem  &  self-actualisation  can’t be met if our lower needs like  safety  &  physiological needs  haven’t been met. 2020/21 has been wreaking havoc with our lower, most critical needs, destroying so many of our needs to be  safe ; our  jobs , financial security, even our homes. Conditions many of us have taken for granted for much of our lives are now being torn apart. Our futures’ uncertainty holds pressur
1 comment
Read more

Could the push for Diversity end up bad for business?

  I can hear all of the shouts . . . Diversity indeed is a must!   I recognise and wholly accept the critical benefits to business performance a diverse workforce brings.   A diverse workforce offers so much experience, Diversity of thought, problem-solving, ambition and drive. Something that needs applauding and promoting . . . but is the strive to achieve the ultimate diverse workforce resulting in an adverse effect on the business?   In a world filled with Diversity, are we pushing people into corporate silos through individual focus groups, personal agendas and drives – Could the impact result in exclusion?   Quotas . . . really, are we now in a position where an organisation could or are turning the right person away from recruitment, progression and/or promotion opportunities as they do not meet quota requirements?   When I open my front door every morning and step into the world, each person I see, walk past and engage with all have the same rights in life as me. Regardless of t
1 comment
Read more

Young Carers.....we see you

  Guest Author: Ian Hill Facebook Blog Page:  A Dad's View of 15q Idic 15 Today is #YoungCarersActionDay and we give a nod to our amazing kids who go above and beyond each day. A post from my blog to acknowledge them......   The past twelve months or so have been anything but normal, families have been kept apart, routines and everyday activities have gone out of the window and those with a family member who is disabled or requires additional care have seen their support packages and interventions ripped apart. With those changes, the often hidden, but quite remarkable young carers have seen their lives impacted in ways that can be difficult to fathom. Without the ability to leave the home environment to go to school, to mix freely with friends and to de-stress, young carers have seen an increased burden both psychologically and physically through lack of support and through increased caring hours, a recent survey of young carers from the Carers Trust found that 40% of young
Post a Comment
Read more