Anxiety therapy for life after COVID-19

COVID-19 has become a life-altering event. At this point, we can't just "go back to normal." Each of us will be finding out what our new normal is. Whether it's working from home permanently, reconnecting with friends that we lost touch with over the past year, or trying out an entirely new way of life; the only guarantee is that the "after times" will not be exactly the same as the "before times."

All of us will feel some anxiety about returning to our lives after COVID. You may have questions ranging from "should I wear a mask when I have a cold?" to questions about social interactions to grander questions about the meaning of connection. The pandemic is also a collective trauma, and many people may have increased anxiety after experiencing it. You may find yourself worrying about cleanliness or feeling afraid to go out in public, even after the pandemic is over. In many ways, COVID-19 will be a defining moment in our lives. But you don't have to let anxiety make it a bad moment forever.

Can therapy help with COVID-19 anxiety?

Anxiety treatment is designed to help with any kind of anxiety. A trained, compassionate anxiety therapist can help you learn to recognize when you are beginning to feel anxious (many of us don't know when it starts!) and can help you learn to calm your anxiety response. Once you can calm yourself down, it's easier to make decisions about your future and do hard things - like returning to your office after a year at home.

Can therapy help with social anxiety?

After a long period of isolation, it's normal to feel anxious about talking to people again. Working through your anxiety about connecting with others - whether it's social anxiety about what to do or say in a group setting, or deeper anxieties about your self-worth or what others will think of you - will help you to understand your fears and make choices to overcome them. In anxiety therapy, we get to know you at a deep level, which allows us to find solutions that will work for you as an individual. You'll learn to recognize your worth and increase your self-confidence, even if it's been deeply shaken by a year of quarantine.

What if I'm afraid to start therapy?

A lot of people are afraid to start therapy, for a lot of reasons. Maybe you had a bad experience. Maybe you are afraid of what the therapist will think of you. Maybe you have heard that it's painful. Maybe you're concerned about the cost. These worries are pretty common.

Therapy isn't permanent. You can work with a therapist for one week, one month, or even one year and still be able to decide when you want to leave or stop. If you're unsure what therapy will be like, schedule a free 15-minute consultation with the therapist that you are interested in working with. Most of us offer some kind of free introduction. You can ask questions, get to know what your therapist is like, and then decide if you want to schedule an appointment.

If you have more questions about starting anxiety treatment for life after COVID-19 or want to schedule a free, 15-minute consultation with Stacy Andrews, MA, LPCC, NCC at True Grit Performance Counseling, just click the button below!