Stepping Out Into the World Again

Our strength and resilience is challenged.

Before Covid, most of our social anxiety had to do with possible rejection or exclusion. With Covid, we have added an alarming threat. Someone’s breath could kill us and we have no way of knowing who is dangerous and who is safe. Our primitive brain has a negativity bias aimed at keeping our body safe and alive. Someone stands too close to us and we react. Stand back!

How is your nervous system reacting to the pandemic now that we are13 months in? The one year mark was significant as anniversaries often are. The “old normal” is gone. The “new normal” is yet to emerge. Our nervous system hates not being able to predict what will keep us safe, and right now, we just don’t know. We do know grief, loss and an unbelievable amount of change. Our survival responses were kicked into high gear and we are struggling to keep our balance. We’re tired, frustrated, angry, and scared.

Depending on where we live, our circumstances are very different. Some are able to see friends and family in person once again. We’ve become accustomed to wearing masks. I live in Canada where our vaccine roll-out has been slow and for the first time we are experiencing more new Covid cases per capita than the US. Some places in Canada and around the world are experiencing a strong third wave with…