BRACE FOR ‘NORMAL’ LIFE 

Take your own time to come out of ‘lockdown cocoon.’ If you feel overwhelmed, take a sensory break, drink water, take a quick walk outside or call someone you love.

The human brain is highly adaptable and at the same time is a slave of habits. Last year we were familiarising with the “new normal” comprising social isolation, physical distance, altered daily routines in addition to fear and uncertainty in the environment. Living and surviving as a community is a basic human nature therefore unforeseen community isolation created anxiety within us. We accommodated with this process of survival however that had hit us mentally and physically. Acclimatizing was challenging and when we finally achieved it, suddenly an invisible pressure to return back started. As a result of being in isolation for more than a year, even a thought or the prospect of returning back to normal social life may be daunting to many individuals. The impact is so that even those who considered themselves as completely “social” are struggling and having anxious feelings for transitioning back. For those who were already not very fond of social interactions are finding it even harder as pandemic gave them the opportunity to stay in their cocoon and function from there. Many of those who are even partially back to social life are facing sensory overload. It’s happening since now abruptly again there is too much gen available to process through our senses. In social interactions within the physical environment, we can see, hear or feel more information than in video calls. It is leading to feeling like getting stuck and not being able to process what is going around you. To deal with this, start slowly and expect to have some uneasiness at the initiation. This is normal, valid , and temporary. Almost everyone is going through these feelings in varying degrees. Take your own time into transition and honor your own limits and boundaries. If you feel overwhelmed, take a sensory break, drink water, take a quick walk outside or call someone you love. If it is difficult to handle it on your own, seek a professional for you or your loved ones.