As much as we've all been missing being social, the idea of being social again has been causing people some anxiety. If this is you, good news, you're not alone! Our lives have slowed down in the pandemic, so the hustle and bustle of a night out on the town or at a large gathering might feel overstimulating now. You, like many, may have developed anxiety or depression during the pandemic. Or you may have started to associate being out with being in danger of being sick and that association may not feel easy for you to break. Or maybe something else?
Whatever it is, the important thing is to not judge it. Were at the tail-end (fingers crossed) of a f***ing pandemic! Of course there's some residual anxiety and discomfort. This is change... maybe a more preferred change than entering quarantine, but still change. And change is uncomfortable. That discomfort can make life feel harder, so it’s worth being gentle with yourself while things are hard.
But being gentle on yourself doesn't mean that you avoid socializing. As we at Colorado Couples and Family Therapy are exploring in our blogs throughout May, we are meant for connection. So, it will be important to not give into fear or discomfort and isolate forever to stay comfortable. As we know, isolation isn't comfy either.
So, we need to blend being gentle with being brave and get back out there. The trick is to figure out what you can do to make it achievable to step back into your social life. Here’s a few ideas:
It can help to take it in baby steps. Maybe before a full night out you meet people for coffee or go to a quieter dinner spot. Start with people you can trust with being vulnerable and sharing that you're a little anxious or uncomfortable.
Remember that the discomfort of going out is worth it to have connection. Maybe you focus on reconnecting with friends and family. Maybe you focus on meeting new friends or a new romantic partner. Maybe you just want to explore or want to challenge your fears. When we act in line with our values and goals, we can keep motivation to push ourselves. Find a goal that is worth the effort it takes to get there.
Cheerlead yourself as you go. Give yourself a pep talk or listen to some music to hype you up or calm you down to get into a good mental zone to go out.
As always, if you need more support, we love to help with these things as well! Please reach out if you need help.