Social Anxiety- after covid is over

[Cedar]

I have social anxiety, and I am lucky enough to have a secure job, which I am now doing from home. Aside from all the anxiety around everything that is happening at the moment, I am wondering how I will actually manage when the restrictions end and life in the outside world resumes. In between bouts of anxiety, I have actually been loving just keeping to myself and not having to go out and interact with people. But I'm thinking that if I get used to this, it will be really hard to go back to work, and go back out into the world when all this is over.

Anyone else experience the same thing? What are you doing to maintain the gains you've made with social anxiety and what are you doing to prevent things being too bad on the other side of this?

[jess334]

Hi Cedar,

First, welcome to the forums.

And second, Yes! Absolutely I feel the same. We are working from home at the moment and I love it. I do not miss seeing people at all (except my mum who usually visits every week).

I am also worried that I will have a hard time returning to work. I'd love to work from home full time, but I know that wouldn't be very good for my mental health long term

I like that your post has challenged me to think about what I can do to make the transition back easier.

One thing I am doing is participating in the companies 10,000 step program. Which is a big online social group keeping me connected to my colleagues. And also helping me get exercise.

Is your company doing anything to keep all your employees connected? Maybe you can suggest something?

[OllieB]

Yes, I was talking to my counsellor about This the other day that whist everyone hates isolating I have been loving it I get to work and study from home and complete everything without talking to anyone or being in rooms full of people. I also don't have the guilt of cancelling plans when I don't feel up to them. In Saying that at the moment I am terrified of what is going to happen on the other side of this. At the moment I have been trying to force myself to call friends and family something I don't do normally as I don't like the phone and just keeping up that communication I am also working myself up to add comments on public social media posts something I also don't feel comfortable doing, basically I am trying to keep some socialising goals to push myself to move out of this social anxiety bubble, don't know if this is helpful for you, but at the very least know you are not alone with this worry

[Katyonthehamsterwheel]

Yeah same here. I was attending uni one arvo a week, which was challenging me, and then we went to strictly online. We've been doing classes via zoom and I challenged myself this week to actually turn on my camera AND microphone, which was optional (there's a type chat box option). I felt good that I didn't just take the easy option, which I could have.

Pretty hard at the moment, but put in place whatever you can. What about making a diary of your accomplishments and how good they felt to achieve, to keep your motivation up? Or maybe some future goals?