Not quite ready to 'return to normal'?

It's been over a year now that we've all been longing for things to "return to normal." But it may feel a little scary when the world actually does. Niki Sidle, a therapist and outpatient counselor team lead at Family Resource Center in Findlay, said when everything shut down in March 2020 because of the coronavirus pandemic, "everything happened so quickly" that we may not have had time to be anxious. Now, we've been doing this for so long that some people may be feeling anxiety about resuming the life we had before. Sidle said one reason for anxiety is that the "rules" for what to do during the pandemic have changed. If someone is a "creature of habit" and is used to doing things a certain way, it can make them feel anxious when the rules abruptly change again. And she said there's a lot of uncertainty about what happens next. Perhaps you know that in the near future you'll have to go back to work at the office after a year of working from home. You might think, "Well, when is that? Is that tomorrow? Is that next week?" And, she said, you may wonder if the office will look and feel the same as when you left it. And she noted that different people have different comfort levels. Some people have been dining in restaurants regularly over the past year, while others still aren't comfortable doing so. She said if you think you might be ready to start, "give it a shot." Walk into the restaurant and observe. See if the tables are spaced out far enough, and if staff are wearing masks. But if your heart starts racing as you walk in, give yourself permission to leave, she said. Of course, with the office, you might not have the choice to leave. But you can still try this strategy to some extent. Sidle said if your boss says you have to come in on Monday, stop into the office over the weekend and just look around to acclimate yourself. Recognize, too, that you might have difficulty adjusting, she said. If you've enjoyed being around your pets while working from home, it may feel strange not having them around. If while working from home you found it comfortable to work with a blanket draped over your lap, maybe bring a small one in with you, she said. (You can hide it under your desk.) When it comes to going into stores or other businesses, reach out for support, such as asking a friend to go with you, Sidle said. And she said you can always call a store or restaurant and ask about their mask policy or what other COVID-19 precautions they're taking. "Don't be afraid to ask," she said. She added that, as different people have different comfort levels with all this, "be mindful of each other. … We all want our thoughts and values respected."