Elite Life Care Services, LLC Newsletter – Spring 2021

Reentry Anxiety: 7 Ways to Deal With Stress About Post-Pandemic Life

With all U.S. adults now eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine and vaccine passports on the horizon, we’re closer to “normalcy” than we've been in a year. But if you’re feeling reentry anxiety about a post-COVID-19 world rather than excitement, you’re not alone.

This type of “reentry anxiety” is essentially the stress that people feel as it pertains to getting life back to normal. This might include the stress that comes with going back to work at your office instead of from the comfort of home, waking up earlier for a long morning commute, or the anxiety of feeling obligated to attend social events and family gatherings again. The thought of engaging in these activities may be especially anxiety-provoking with the huge weight of pandemic-related grief on our collective shoulders.

People who already deal with a diagnosed anxiety disorder may experience this type of added stress as well as those without those disorders. So here are a few expert-backed tips to keep in mind to help you cope as our world changes—again.

1. Focus on what’s in your control.

If you’re planning to meet up with friends for the first time in a while, start by writing a list of the relevant factors that you have control over, such as getting your vaccine (or trying to as soon as possible, depending on your local rollout), social distancing, holding the gathering outside, and wearing masks. This will help you recognize what areas of your life you can focus on. Another way to deal with that uncertainty is to think back to uncertain times in your past (like, say, when you first started lockdown). It’ll remind you you’ve been resilient before—and that you can rely on the same resilience now.

2. Make a bucket list of the things you’re excited to do again.

Creating a post-pandemic bucket list is a way to shift your thinking from what you’re anxious about in the future to the positive experiences that could be waiting for you, creating a sense of hope and optimism in the process. Your bucket list doesn’t necessarily have to be extravagant or adventurous; it could be just as fun to list the doctor’s office visits, haircuts, and nail salon appointments you’ve put off during the pandemic as it might be to come up with all the places you’d like to travel when it’s safe to do so. The point is to push yourself to realize that there will soon be new possibilities for joy and, yes, some normalcy.

3. Accept whatever you’re feeling.

Don’t judge yourself for whatever feelings you have. You might be excited to reenter the world, perhaps with new goals and a new perspective on life, while still mourning a loss due to COVID-19. It might be stressful to realize you have those seemingly incongruent emotions, but it’s totally normal and it’s important to let yourself feel everything. The key thing to remember is to go easy on yourself, and be accepting and compassionate of the things you’re feeling.

4. Reintroduce activities slowly.

After being cooped up in our homes for so long, you may feel like you never want to take your freedom for granted again. It might be tempting to plan a get-together, a restaurant outing, and a road trip all in one week. But you may want to hold off on making too many plans too fast. Instead, take things slowly. Ease into new activities by seeing one friend at a time or planning shorter local trips (if it’s safe in your area). Be gentle with reintegrating into society or you’ll risk burning yourself out by over-committing to everything all at once.

5. Stay informed, but disconnect when you need to.

Staying informed is important, especially when it comes to updates in your community that will help you safely start doing more in the world again. But being too plugged in to the news or social media can contribute to anxiety, depression, and general stress. That’s why it’s a good idea to notice when your doomscrolling is no longer productive—and to start taking steps to step back. You can filter the information you take in by limiting the time you spend scrolling on social media, getting your information from only reliable news sources (rather than your Instagram feed), and remembering to take time away from screens can help ease some of the anxiety about what’s to come.

6. Accept that your life may have changed quite a bit during the pandemic.

You may be coming out of lockdown with your life—your body, your job, your relationship—seriously different than when you entered it, and that could be contributing to the anxiety you feel. But accepting that reality, and the idea that things may never return to how they used to be, is crucial. When you accept your reality, it will be easier to take control and plan your next steps intentionally. That understanding will also help you remember that, over time, the anxiety that comes with reintegration will lessen.

7. Reach out for help if you need to.

If you’ve tried to manage your anxiety but find you’re still not making progress, it might be time to evaluate how severe your anxiety really is and possibly work with a mental health professional. If your anxiety is beginning to affect your work life or your relationships with friends, family, or romantic partners, those are signs that it’s time to chat with a professional. And if you find that you’re experiencing physical symptoms, such as headaches, tightness or tension in your neck and shoulders, stomach aches, or difficulty sleeping or concentration, those are also signs that it’s time to seek help from a mental health professional. Getting back into the world may seem like just as big of a life-changing transition as it was to switch to remote work, hold all your weekend chats over Zoom, and stock up on face masks. While some people may find it unbelievably exciting, others are likely finding the idea of reentering society to be quite stressful or maybe both. Whatever you’re feeling, it’s important to acknowledge and accept where you’re at and, if needed, find some productive ways to feel comfortable safely returning to your pre-pandemic activities.

Spring is a great time to take a fresh look at your older adult’s home to make sure it’s as safe as possible. Hazards add up over time and increase the risk of falls or accidents – a top reason for seniors to lose mobility or decline in health. Regular home safety check-ups reduce fall risk and help them stay as independent as possible.

Once or twice a year, go through this checklist of important safety updates to keep your older adult’s home in tip-top shape.

Medication

• Update the list of all medications, vitamins, and supplements
• Safely dispose of any expired or discontinued medications

• Install grab bars (if needed) or make sure existing ones are sturdy and well-attached
• Replace bath mats with non-skid low profile mats
• Install a raised toilet seat or safety frame (if needed) or check that existing ones are sturdy
• Make sure tub or shower floor is non-slip – try this at-home treatment or these stick-on decals
• Add automatic night lights to make it easy to see at night

• Use automatic night lights to light the way to the bathroom
• Check that the bedside lamp is easy to turn on and off
• Make sure the phone and/or medical alert device is easy to reach from the bed
• Check that the bed is easy to get into and out of or add an aid like this one
• Keep clothing and daily dressing & grooming items within easy reach

• Set the water heater at a temperature that won’t scald
• Check that all sinks and drains are in good working order
• Clear hallways and main floor spaces of dangerous clutter
• Secure all electrical cords at the edges of rooms
• Make sure lighting is bright, that there are on/off switches at every doorway, and replace light bulbs as needed or switch to long-lasting LED bulbs
• Change smoke detector batteries or switch to a 10-year smoke detector
• Make sure fire extinguishers are fully charged and easily accessible
• Check that furniture is sturdy and in good shape – no wobbly or sliding chairs
• Check that flooring is smooth and free of tripping hazards

• Make sure that house numbers are clearly visible from the street, night and day
• Check that walkways are clear, free of tripping hazards, and have supportive handrails (as needed)

Ready to get serious about your health? If you’re looking to make a positive change in your life and aren’t quite sure where to start, begin by examining your habits. Are you proactive about your health? If not, are you ready to start? Check out these doctor-endorsed preventive health care tips to help you get started.

Preventive health receives less attention in America than it deserves. Staying proactive about your personal health not only helps your mental health, but it also helps to prevent developing diseases or chronic health conditions from worsening any further. Fortunately, you don’t have to go to a doctor for every kind of preventive health. Let’s take a look at a few things you can do to take control of your health:

1) Walk Everyday

The CDC recommends aiming for about 10,000 steps (5 miles) per day. If you work in a sedentary environment like an office, find ways to incorporate more walking throughout the day. Get up every hour and walk around the office. Park your car a little further from the building and walk the extra distance. Whatever you choose, find simple ways to take more steps every day without sacrificing work time.

2) Wash Your Hands

a surprising number of adults don’t do it or do it improperly. Don’t make the mistake of assuming that your hands are generally clean. We handle bacteria-covered objects every day, from doorknobs to computers to our own housekeys. Worse, touching shared objects means that if the last person to use the item didn’t properly wash their hands either, the bacteria and grime are passed on to you. Wash your hands thoroughly several times a day, but especially in a few key scenarios:

• After using the restroom
• Before preparing or eating food of any kind
• After leaving a public place, such as school or the mall