Things are going back to normal so why do I feel so bad?

Things feel different lately, don’t they? I’ve been out the last few weekends (almost as much as pre-COVID days!) and it felt so normal that it was weird. With vaccinations continuing and restrictions being loosened, it feels like we’re coming to the beginning of the end.

That’s a good thing right? Overall I’d say yes but for me, and a lot of the folks I know and work with, it’s also bringing a unique set of challenges. Mainly anxiety about returning to “normal” life and complete exhaustion during the transition.

Let’s address them one at a time. We’ll start with the anxiety lots of people are feeling. The exact source of the anxiety varies slightly, whether it’s having to make small talk, go out on the weekends, or hang out with your family again. Whatever the exact cause, the anxiety has to do with the transition we’re all in from quarantine into post-COVID life.

Anxiety is completely normal during transitions (as is exhaustion which we’ll discuss more in a sec.) Even when our day-to-day reality is less than stellar, there is comfort in the predictable. Plus with the tumultuousness of the last few years, being at home was probably one of the few consistent things we had. Taking all of that into context and it makes sense that we’d be feeling some anxiety about what’s coming next.

Now let’s look at exhaustion. First, exhaustion after feelings of intense or prolonged anxiety is also completely normal. When you’re anxious, your nervous system is on high alert mode and highly stimulated. But it can’t keep that level of intensity up for too long so you will inevitably swing to the opposite which can feel like exhaustion or depression. This is why for a lot of people anxiety and depression often present together as two sides of the same coin.

Exhaustion is also completely normal when you’re in a transitional period. Your brain likes habitual behaviors and patterns. It likes things predictable so it knows what do without having to use a lot of brainpower. But when we’re transitioning, everything is new, which means your brain has to work harder. Couple this with the normal anxiety, excitement, or frustration that a can come with doing something new and it also makes complete sense that you would be feeling tired right now.

Let’s also just say: WE ALL JUST LIVED THROUGH A GLOBAL PANDEMIC THAT KILLED OVER 3 MILLION PEOPLE WORLDWIDE. So, of course you’re tired and scared, right? In March of last year we weren’t sure if the supply chains could survive or if we’d be fighting for resources and we’ve watched our friends and family get sick and too many of them die.

So, I hope that I have helped make it clear why you might be experiencing anxiety or exhaustion so let’s look at 3 simple things you can start doing today to feel better.

1. Take it easy on yourself. What you’re Feeling is Normal.

Most of us can be really hard on ourselves. We push ourselves to work harder, we guilt ourselves when we rest, and we badger ourselves when we feel bad or down. Culturally, we’re taught that this attitude toward ourselves will push us towards a better version of ourselves, but it often just makes things worse.

I’m here to tell you that nothing can help you succeed more than being kind and compassionate towards yourself. This lays a foundation for mental wellness that will help you in every area of your life. The truth is what you’re experiencing is a normal reaction to abnormal circumstances so give yourself a break.

2. Give yourself what you need without Guilt

I follow a great therapist on Tiktok @domesticblisters who talks a lot about rest and how spending our resting time feeling guilty or beating ourselves, actually means we didn’t rest at all. We only further depleted ourselves with our self-talk. I think this is a really important concept for all of us right now.

Feelings of fatigue are clues that we need to rest and if we’re going to set aside the time to do that, let’s work on not being hard on or guilt ourselves for doing so. That way we can actually rejuvenate and hopefully feel better in the future.

I also think we should all accept that we might possible need more rest now than we used to or than we want to and that’s ok. The pandemic feels like its ending but we’re all still dealing with the fallout and part of that includes the impact on our energy levels and health.

3. Find things to look forward to and be grateful for.

The power of gratitude has been recognize more and more and it can be a very helpful tool for pushing through difficult times. Now is a great time to intentionally foster gratitude and find things to look forward to. Yes going back to “normal” can be scary but what about it is exciting? What parts are you looking forward to?

It can help to identify these things, keep a list, and review them when you find yourself struggling with negative thoughts or feelings. It also helps to train your brain to focus more on the positive which can go a long way to feeling better in the long run.

If you need extra support dealing with your anxiety, please contact us.

How are you coping with post-COVID anxiety & exhaustion? Let us know in the comments below!

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