Leaving the House
We do need to leave the house in certain situations, and we can agree that being overwhelmed by anxiety is not the ideal outcome.
Lockdown and long stretches of time spent at home was, for many, a major change of routine. For many people, returning to normal life also brings with it some challenges – including adjusting to being in crowded places and dealing with fears of infection or contamination.
As humans, we sometimes resist change as much as we can – and can be sensitive to signs of threat or danger. In high-alert times such as these, it is normal to have heightened sensations of fear or anxiety about being around other people or in crowded spaces.
You may feel physical sensations of anxiety such as a tightness in your chest, or have intrusive thoughts about the risk of catching an illness. After all, we have been told to be on high alert – and our bodies and minds are responding to a real threat.
That said, we do need to leave the house in certain situations, and we can agree that being overwhelmed by anxiety is not the ideal outcome in these situations.
Having a plan is a great way to feel more in control, and we can refine and improve it each time we get home
Some helpful strategies for leaving the house include practical steps such as thinking through what you’ll need to protect yourself (e.g. sanitizer, mask) and ways of minimising risk (e.g. walking rather than catching a bus, visiting less crowded areas). Having a plan is a great way to feel more in control, and we can refine and improve it each time we get home.
Secondly, psychological coping strategies can be helpful in these moments as well. This might include doing some relaxation before venturing out – Mind Ease has a Progressive Muscle Relaxation exercise that is useful for creating a sense of calm and focus.
If wearing a mask is anxiety provoking or uncomfortable for you, practicing breathing techniques in your mask before leaving the house can be a useful way of preparing for being in public spaces in a mask.
The technique of acceptance can also be useful – we can acknowledge that being in public places is difficult right now, but that if we need to do this, we might as well do it safely and get through it as well as we possibly can.
We hope that this is helpful for you, and that as you begin to leave the house, you’re able to use some of these strategies to help with any discomfort you might have.
If you’d like reliable relief from anxiety, you can install Mind Ease for free here.
