Emerging anxiety

[Sarah]

Is anyone experiencing social emerging anxiety? I have so many people around me who are finding the pressure to be social again a little hard! Maybe we are more introverted than we all thought?

Topic

[VM-Mancha1]

Hi Sarah,

I can relate to that feeling, there are so many people around me who feel the same way. It’s a bit like a muscle that you haven’t used for a long while, and now it complains if you so much as even think of walking outside and meeting people.

I think the most important thing is to understand that how you feel is normal and acceptable, given what we’ve been through. The world has changed and our perfectly healthy response to risk can be a little over-reactive at times like this. Where normally that would be helpful, it can also stop us from doing the things we want to do.

I found this really helpful article on MentalHealth UK about anxiety, it helps to understand what it really is and how it works – and, most importantly, how to tame it, even just a little: https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/sites/default/files/living-with-anxiety-report.pdf

Please come back and let us know how you’re going. And take care of yourself.

[hahanghan]

Sometimes, I feel anxious when it comes to being around strangers at a social event or something like this. So, I need someone I know to stay next to me.

[hahanghan]

Oh, absolutely, you’re not alone in feeling that way! It’s like we’ve all been in our cozy introvert bubbles for a while, and now stepping back into the social scene feels like jumping into the deep end. Have you looked into how to stop intrusive thoughts https://fherehab.com/learning/intrusive-thoughts-management ? Sometimes, those nagging worries about social interactions can really take a toll.
For me, taking things one step at a time and giving myself permission to take breaks from social situations has been a game-changer. Remember, it’s totally cool to have a mix of introvert and extrovert vibes. Just go at your own pace and find what works best for you.

[Author]

Replies