My patient just asked me if "re-entry anxiety" is a real thing.

Real as in, an official ICD 10 dx.

I don't know if there's an ICD10 but I do know that yes, re-entry anxiety is a thing.
People are really trying to get their footing and there's a lot of pressure right now to "get back to normal." Invites to events, plans for reunions, the not knowing what is/isn't socially acceptable and the "if I go, should I wear a mask if no one else is wearing a mask?"
There's a lot of pressure to regain a sense of belonging and be part of the collective; to feel something close to normal. It's that basic, most fundamental human desire that we lost and are now not sure how to negotiate. Problem is we haven't defined what 'normal' is or will be.
I think we have to take comfort in the fact that we are always living in two realities: the collective reality and our own individual reality. What's copacetic for you may not be copa for me. And as long as we operate around the collective good we can let that be enough.
In other words, keep doing you. Keep operating from your highest vibration and the collective good. Be brave enough to say No to the stuff you're just not ready for. Keep defining your own normal until we figure this thing out.
And if you're in the camp that is ready to party, take off the masks cuz you got your vaccine, want to get folks together and reunite, prepare to extend some grace to the folks who will politely decline; who simply aren't ready. Don't take it personal. It's not about you.
You can follow @angelvshannon.
Tip: mention @twtextapp on a Twitter thread with the keyword “unroll” to get a link to it.

Latest Threads Unrolled: