Let's face it, we've been inside for a while. We've adjusted to a new way of life. We work from home, we live from home, we're home a lot. Home has become our movie theaters, our bars, our favorite five star restaurants, and even at some point bread factories. The pandemic has shown us that we can do a lot at home. Home has become a safe place for many of us. With all this staying home, it's very easy to be less social. Meetups of the past in bookstores or cafes have largely been replaced with the zoom calls and Google meetings. Our social life has become our social media life. Meeting with friends and loved ones behind the screen has been our way of life for a while.
So as things begin to return to normal, it can be scary. We live in a world where we don't really have to pay attention to social cues as much. It was a world of online tests and homework and then you log off. There's a lot naturally to be missed when we are online. We don't really have to care as much about how we look which can be a good thing but I for one am guilty of sweatpants and a fancy shirt. What changes when we go back to normal, I think it's normal to be anxious about that. This is a time when social anxiety will be higher. We got comfortable with a low social battery. We didn't have to consider our place amongst a group of people in an open setting for quite some time. Now the thought of doing that again can definitely feel overwhelming. Anytime were faced with something new or different anxiety is sure to follow. I think it's really normal for us to be a little weary of the changes that are coming. We may even have to relearn social behaviors. The truth of the matter is there is a difference between the occasional going out during the pandemic, sneaking out so to speak for a few breaths of social air, and returning to what we hope is normal life. It's naturally going to be an adjustment and it's okay to be worried about that.
It's okay to not know what to say in group settings or around friends, it's okay to not know what to say when we interact with people who maybe we haven't interacted with in a while. To put it into a metaphor it's almost as if we are all used to the dim light of a candle, and here we are finally opening the door to the outside world. The light is going to be bright, it's going to feel a little overwhelming. We've made friends with the shadows on the wall of the cave, meaning our social life has adapted to survival. We were in this balancing act for years between our need for a social life in staying healthy and safe. There are going to be some rough patches, some awkward moments, probably some feathers getting ruffled. We will most certainly get on each other's nerves as we emerge from this. But that's okay. It's important to remember that these moments happen regardless of what has happened in the world over the past number of years. We've had awkward moments before, we have misspoken, we have played a part in people's reactions and they played a part in ours. Life will go on, it may feel a little different and it may feel a little strange but I think we're all going to be okay. If you or a loved one are struggling with social anxiety as we emerge from the pandemic, our therapists are here to help. We can help guide you through this process and teach new ways to cope. Schedule your session today and begin a journey towards healing.