The Challenge of Re-Entry

Re-entry is surprising us. It’s breathing much more stress and anxiety than most expected. By “re-entry” I’m referring to entering back into groups and societal function. This can be anywhere from booking your first vaccine to pulling into your work parking lot for the first time in 15 months. 

Now that we are beginning to mentally prepare to step back into the world, whatever that may look like, anxiety has skyrocketed and many are surprised.

I’m hearing things like, “I can finally imagine going back to work, seeing friends, making plans, and yet I don’t feel the automatic joy I thought I would”

This is causing us to question why we aren’t happy.

Don’t worry, you are simply adapting...again. 

This is a normal, expected, and necessary process for the next phase of life. More change.

Let me reassure you - feeling off, worried or stressed, or even having a bit of resistance to going back to how things were - that’s all part of the pathway forward.

So what can you do?

• Notice it. Where do you feel it in your body? Is your stomach tight? When you get a text to go to someone’s house, is your jaw clenched? Just notice it.

• Acknowledge how you are feeling. There is no correct way to feel. If you feel tired, unenthusiastic, or lukewarm, that’s okay. Don’t judge yourself or others. 

• Accept it. Give yourself a wide berth. You have earned the right to take your time being okay with more change. It has been an incredibly difficult and painful season. Take all the time you need. Do what feels right for you, right now.

That’s all you need to do. One day, you will begin to feel lessened worry, a little more joy and that will be okay too. 

We’re all on different timelines to our return to comfort. Knowing and accepting that is half the battle.