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It’s Still the World We Knew, But Different
After a year of anxiety and burnout, even anger, many people are struggling with returning to their pre-pandemic lives. Experts say that lingering traumatic effects from the pandemic may alter our collective behavior, despite our eagerness to embrace reopening and return to “normal.”
While outwardly, there are signs that we’re moving forward with life as we knew it – airline bookings are up (along with the increased fares), restaurants are seeing an influx of eager patrons, entertainment venues, cultural institutions and sports stadiums are welcoming back visitors, etc. – there’s still anxiety associated with moving forward. Especially when it involves returning to the office, for the many who have been working at home since the onset of lockdown.
Some experts are now calling this “the fourth wave” of the pandemic, citing that the mental health impacts will be profound and far-reaching.
“They’re all very afraid,” says the clinical director of Friends of Bridge, the Valley Stream-based counseling center. “Afraid to come back for treatment and to return to work. Our clients had to fill out forms to let us know about how they felt about coming back in, and 80 percent of them said they don’t want to be coming in. They’ve become used to the virtual world. You can do it from the comfort of your home; you don’t have to drive here.
“One of the things, though, that I do understand,” she adds, “is a lot of our clients take public transportation and they’re very afraid of it. We’re always told how clean it is but it’s really not.”
Like many counseling agencies, Friends of Bridge is seeing more people reaching out for support. “So many of our clients and who weren’t our clients but are coming in now – we’re getting a lot of referrals right now – have mental health issues. They either lost their job, or being back there and commuting is very stressful.”
“The amount of people who have relapsed, especially with alcohol, is high,” the clinical director says. “Another big stress factor for our clients is that there have been so many shootings in New York City and here on Long Island that have been attributed to the pandemic. It’s a very stressful time, especially for our clients.”
The transition period that individuals and companies are facing as people return to a post-pandemic work environment “is anxiety provoking for a lot of people,” says the executive director of Tempo Group. “We recommend that people move at the pace they’re comfortable with.”
For example, the executive director says that as people go out more, even though there may not be a mask mandate in place, individuals can choose to wear one if it makes them comfortable. “For some, it is still a sense of comfort and normalcy,” she explains.
Redefining the Office Post-Pandemic
All the discussion, within the news media and in the workplace, about leaving home behind getting back out there has dialed up the anxiety for many. For some, a return to the office, leaving zooming behind and business socializing cannot come fast enough. For others, the thought of sharing an office again and all goes along with that, fills them with dread. Plus, now that we’ve become so comfortable with our home “office” routines, many simply don’t want to give that up.
As companies begin to reopen offices, the executive director says, “It is important that they have open dialogues with their employees around safety and protocols.”
Of course, every work settling will be different, but she explains it is important to note that in general, people have gotten used to protocols, such as hand sanitizer and socially distanced spaces. “Being around people will also help with the return to work,” she says.
Re-engaging with the Physical Workspace and Colleagues
“People think that change is so hard, but people are adaptable,” says the administrative director of behavioral health at Mount Sinai South Nassau. “They adapted to working at home and so now the process of adapting back to going to the office is going to happen similarly. People are going to find that it is a familiar, sometimes comforting pattern to get back into. But, I think there’s going to be some anxiety, angst, and a brunch of new rules.”
“There have been a lot of studies of folks after some kind of trauma – and I believe this is a worldwide trauma – and people who recover often find that they re-think what is important to them, she explains. “They have a way to prioritize their health and loved ones differently. Some things that seemed terribly important to this [Covid-19] may not seem so important anymore. And other things like your health and how fragile we are as human beings become apparent. So there is a re-ordering for a lot of people.”
Back to Work, Back on the Road or Rails
Then there is the commuting slog, which prior to the pandemic was already fatiguing and stressful for many – now even more so. “I do not think people will walk onto a crowded subway or LIRR train again without taking pause and thinking ‘Does this feel too much, too close, too fast?’, says the administrative director. “And I think companies are aware of this and are working to create environments and schedules so people can ease back in.”
“Being on a subway train where the door closes and you are literally on top of someone else is probably an experience that none of us are ready for. And I get that, however I also think that we have to have conversations about what the real risk is for us.”
The executive director of Tempo Group adds that this is something her staff has already begun to deal with, providing guidance to their clients. “Whatever mindful technique you used in the past,” she says. “Re-integrate that into your life.”
Clearly, the process of readjustment is a daunting one. The world, for many of us, feels different now. Being fully comfortable is a process that will take time and will involve a re-examining of societal and institutional roles, including a re-evaluation of how workplace functions.
