Alert levels down but anxiety persists

Psychologist Sarb Johal discusses anxiety that may persist as we go down the Covid alert levels. He says this may show itself in parents and children, and has tips for how to transition.A psychologist says as we emerge out of lockdown a higher proportion of people may experience anxiety - but that we can learn to live with life's new uncertainties.At the core of returning to a more social life, there may linger a sense of persistent anxiety for some, Sarb Johal told Nine to Noon.This may take the form of not wanting to get too close to other people, a lingering sense of dread, being easily distracted, poor sleep, or other physiological signs, as an over-activated parasympathetic nervous system compels us into fight-flight response to the unknown."Don't forget, we are being asked to pivot from a mindset of acting like we have the coronavirus and avoiding all unnecessary contact to being able to be near people again, albeit with physical distancing measures still in place," he says.But, he said, anxiety is a normal human emotion when a new, unknown situation, a stressful event occurs, especially if it involves danger.At any one time, 15 percent of the population will be affected by anxiety, which is different from a life-restricting anxiety disorder. The key to overcome post-lockdown anxiety is to build psychological safe spaces."Anxiety is different from having an anxiety disorder. It's very realistic and it's only going to go away once we start thinking about what do we need to do to create psychological safety, so that we're not paralysed by worry."Children and younger adults may need to guidance as to how to behave, but also dealing with the emotions it may raise for them; feeling a sense of psychological danger. And we know that for the best learning to take place, yes; we need structure and predictability, but we also need to feel psychologically safe, so that our cognitive space isn't taken up with thoughts of worry, and that we aren't too caught up in the emotional labour and hard work of managing these silent emotions ourselves."Amongst other factors, underlying all this is a need for certainty that isn't being met, and is unlikely to be met for some time."He says moving from Levels 3 and 4, which did bring a sense of protection and security for some who suffer from anxiety, as well as many in the wider population. Now entering back into society in Level 2 may also bring us face to face with the social and economic consequences in ways that we may not have been in touch with in real ways thus far: job losses, business closures and this may bring up feelings of shame, loss and guilt…Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details