Ahead of the first ‘normal’ summer since 2019, many people are seeking counselling and psychotherapy in Havering, Hornchurch, and the wider Essex area for a very particular problem: anxiety around navigating the post-COVID landscape. For many, it is a truly daunting notion - the idea of having to be extremely social after a prolonged period of isolation.

We have adjusted to a certain way of life, and suddenly there is pressure to go out to nightclubs, parks, pubs, and other social spaces. Even before COVID-19, the number of people coming to therapy would spike ahead of the summer, such is the anxiety that comes with the increased number of people outside and the ‘obligation’ to join them. You might be feeling this way ahead of the summer. If you are, here are a couple of things to keep in mind.

You Are Not Alone 

It is so important to recognise that you are not weird, or somehow ‘wrong’, for feeling this way. Many clients I speak with are anxious about the coming of a no-restriction summer. Big social occasions and large groups of people can feel scary, especially when you haven’t experienced these things for so long. My practice is a safe space where you can explore these feelings in your own way, ahead of us developing techniques for navigating the situations as they come.

Recognise Burnout 

Burnout has become a notable issue since March 2020. Many of us have been forced to work from home for over two years now. The cumulative stress of trying to remain focused at work and maintain some kind of social life, along with the myriad other obligations of daily adult life, all while staying mainly within the same four walls, has pushed people to a point of extreme stress. Over time, we encounter burnout, which can lead to other more serious mental health issues developing. It is important to keep this in mind as events and occasions pile up over the summer.

In other words: learn to say no. It can be easy to feel overwhelmed at this time. Amid all these jarring forces, with different voices in your ear and everything seemingly happening at once, it may be that you forget to remain close to yourself and your feelings. Always remember to ask yourself: what do I really want?

If you are experiencing this kind of issue, or any problems relating to the ‘new normal’, from depression to anxiety to anger, I offer a safe, confidential, non-judgemental space to talk them through with counselling and psychotherapy in Havering, Hornchurch, and the wider Essex area. Don’t hesitate to give me a call whenever you like.