Despite COVID vaccinations happening by the millions, many remain scared and confused about how to expand out of their pandemic isolation. In the early days of the coronavirus pandemic, the restrictive shelter-in-place order traumatized millions of Americans. The isolation was frightening, especially for people who lived alone. We longed for a return to our everyday lives but feared contracting the potentially deadly COVID virus. Feelings of helplessness, anxiety, anger, and boredom gripped the country and the world.
However, the fear of catching COVID resulted in millions of people adjusting to the isolation and for many, a comforting sense of control occurred. The claustrophobic initial shut down transformed our daily lives into an environment that was simple, predictable and manageablable. Many even stopped missing going to concerts, working out at gyms, and in-person shopping and socialization. Replacement activities and attitudes emerged to help cope with the loss of normalcy.
With the explosion of Zoom app use, people became satisfied to socialize, get medical treatment, and continue their education without having to get fully dressed or drive. The elimination of options for activities and the ease at which needs could get met over Zoom became a calming new norm as we waited and hoped for the virus to be contained.
With the enormous success of the Biden Administrations vaccine distribution, millions of people are excited about the cautious but steady return to normal. Many are excited about going back to school, to a movie theater, to a baseball game and most of all reuniting in person with family and friends. However, there is a segment of the population that is not excited or ready to expand out of the comfort of a restrictive existence. These individuals are experiencing a PTSD-type reaction to the COVID pandemic experience.
Those still restricting their behaviors despite the widespread distribution of the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines fall into three categories:
• Those against the premise of vaccinations in general
• Those still irrationally fearful of catching COVID
• Those who are avoiding actual or perceived challenges or decisions awaiting them in their work-life, relationships, or other unresolved emotional or physical issues in their lives.
Professional counseling may be necessary for people experiencing severe anxiety about resuming contact with people and re-engaging in the activities they enjoyed before the pandemic. As the transition back to everyday life continues, Americans must find a balance between practicing COVID responsible behaviors and breaking unhealthy, unnecessary patterns of psychological and physical isolation. Taking small, incremental steps to resume normal life activities will keep anxiety levels low and promote a successful transition into a post-pandemic way of life.
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