Though it seems like everyone around us couldn’t be happier about in-person classes, seeing friends face-to-face, and visiting every patio in the city, recent survey data suggests that they’re actually in the minority. Among the 52 percent of Canadians that reported feeling anxious about our reopening in an Association for Canadian Studies survey, 18 to 24-year-olds showed the most unease: 68 percent, even among the fully immunized.
Psychiatrist Arthur Bregman coined the term “cave syndrome”: a reluctance to once again venture outside one’s home. Cave syndrome can be as mild as feeling apprehensive about dinner plans or as extreme as a full withdrawal from friends and family. If you’re wondering why our reopening is causing anxiety—even though in-person life is nothing new—here are some of the reasons behind this unease and steps you can take to overcome it.
Transitional periods spike anxiety levels. The uncertainty associated with change to our norms and routines has been well-documented. The amygdala—the tiny, almond-shaped part of our brain responsible for memory, emotion, and fear—is trained to be alert to anticipate danger in unfamiliar situations. Just as it’s normal to feel uneasy during a major transitional period, like starting a new job or your first day of college, it’s normal to feel unease about not knowing exactly what to expect as the world reopens. Be kind to yourself and acknowledge the evolutionary validity of those emotions, but remember that there are resources available to help you navigate the adjustment (UofT’s Health and Wellness Centre, to name one).
Social relationships and boundaries have changed. COVID-19 has permanently altered many of our social norms, and it’s difficult to anticipate what will and won’t be considered socially acceptable. How restrictive will our interactions be? What will people be comfortable with? Will vaccination status or social distancing diligence impact our social hierarchies? Make a point of openly discussing boundaries and expectations, respecting each other’s personal comfort levels, and speaking up if you don’t feel comfortable.
Medical anxiety. The pandemic is still very much happening. While much of Canada is seeing success with vaccine programs, our perspective of the pandemic’s life cycle is a privileged one: many communities around the world are in the midst of outbreaks and vaccine shortages. Personal factors—such as individual experiences with COVID, age, and health issues—also mean that we all have varying degrees of concern about our safety. Research around other traumatic events like natural disasters suggests that it can take up to three years to experience full mental health recovery and comfort with a return to normal. There’s no right way to jump back into things—everyone will respond at a different pace.
Just as common as cave syndrome, though, is the sentiment that the pandemic has spurred the re-evaluation of priorities and what matters most. For those of us who have experienced life slowing down, it’s been easier to let empty time be, without giving into the compulsion to fill it with activities we aren’t necessarily looking forward to. The uncertainty of reopening isn’t a directive to return to life exactly as it was before; it’s an opportunity to create something even better.
