Feeling Anxious After Isolation is Common

I’m not going to sugarcoat this. Going out into the public after being in isolation sucks! Feeling anxious after isolation is common for many of us out there right now. There are many reasons for this but the root of the issue is how we have been conditioned to handle uncertainty in life.

For years we have created habits within our life to manage the uncomfortable feeling of not knowing what to expect from a situation, what to expect for a reaction from another person, and what to expect when we explore a new path for our life. In fact, many of us have had trauma around many situations relating to uncertainty so we have learned to stick with what we know, even if it isn’t the healthiest choice.

I get it.

I see you.

I understand it.

I also know that deep down you don’t want to live life this way. I know you want more from your life, which is why you are still reading this article or listening to this podcast episode. Hint: the podcast episode is going to have a powerful truth affirmation exercise that may not have the same effect within this article.

Feeling Anxious After Isolation is Common

Scientifically, our brain is naturally conditioned to protect us. It has been doing it since the dawn of time. Any time something dangerous could happen the brain reacts and send all of the emotions to warn us. That is a natural fight-flight reaction we are all built with.

So why do some have the ability to be more adventurous than others?

Why do some have the ability to walk out of isolation without fear, anxiety, worry, and overwhelm?

In short, their tolerance to uncertainty is higher.

I know that some haven’t had the trauma or the pre-conditioning many of us have had, but I also know that it is possible to decondition habits that are feeding the anxiety. It is possible to get comfortable with uncertainty and increase your tolerance to it. I know that, when you can do this, life isn’t as constricting.

One of the best ways to start deconditioning is to recognize the triggers for uncertainty and the habits we have to soothe ourselves through it. For example, for years when I found myself worried about how an event would go I would plan every detail right down to the minute. I even started doing this with vacations. Then I couldn’t relax during the event because I was consumed with how it all was going. All of this planning just confirmed to my brain that there was uncertainty and I needed to control the outcome.

The planning activities were my soothing methods for not worrying, but it just confirmed there was something to worry and be anxious about. It fed my anxiety and this is just one pattern within my own life, that I needed to be honest about so I could live life with less anxiety.

Unfortunately for many that didn’t have this figured out before the pandemic, the isolation just added to the conditioning habits instead of helping the anxiety. Now when we are being encouraged to enter into public, the level of uncertainty our brain recognizes as potentially dangerous is broader. Things that used to be okay for us aren’t anymore. We find ourselves more fearful and more anxious than ever before.

There is hope though. There is a way through this. I know this because if we have conditioned our brains to live life this way, we can condition our brains to live a life we love as well.

It has been proven time and time again.

Moving Forward with Less Anxiety

Moving forward with less anxiety is the goal. We want to do the simple things again without feeling like we are a ball of tension ready to let loose. We want to enjoy life more. So let’s do that. Let’s move forward by loving ourselves and loving those around us a little more each day.

In my article, How to Handle Uncertainty in Life, I go deeper into the signs around having an intolerance to uncertainty. I also list a number of common excuses we often use to accept those habits that are ultimately feeding the anxiety. You are welcome to review this later, however, if you are having trouble entering the public spaces after isolation that is a clear sign your tolerance to uncertainty has been affected by isolation.

There are a few things you can do. The most important is to, without self-judgment, actively get to know your feelings, the triggers, and the habits you have created to soothe those feelings.

Here are 5 steps to get you started (remember that judging yourself doesn’t help you, so don’t judge just learn from yourself):

Become mindful of the situations that make you feel uncertain.
Accept that you have an intolerance to uncertainty (the amount of intolerance is personal for your journey).
Take note of your reactions to uncertainty.
Notice your excuses for “being this way”.
Expand your mindset to accept a higher level of uncertainty, knowing that you will feel extremely uncomfortable in the short term.

Once you choose to expand your tolerance levels your brain is going to feel extremely uncomfortable with your decision. This is where a truth affirmation exercise is helpful for alchemizing the lower vibrational energies of fear, worry, and anxiety into higher vibrational energies of empowerment, courage, and love for your life.

If you are heading out in public and are feeling anxious, here is a set of affirmations you can say to raise your vibes. Always remember that affirmations themselves don’t have the alchemizing power unless you are saying them with a tone of voice that matters that can strike a chord within you. When you strike that healing chord you will feel waves of healing energy flowing through you.

Yes, I am nervous and unsure about the situation.

I know this is what I am feeling right now.

I also know that I don’t want to continue feeling this way.

I want more from my life and I have the power to create a life I love.

I desire more for my life, and I trust my intuition.

I know my intuition wants this to feel like an adventure.

I trust myself to do what is best for me, while I am creating a life I love.

Nothing and no one has power over me.

I have all the support I need, no matter what.

I have the confidence and courage to do this.

This is what I am doing.

This is who I am.

If you aren’t sure how to use these affirmations or would like an audio or video download to help guide you, this one is available for purchase on my website. Listen to it when you need it and in those moments you feel uncertain, letting it boost your confidence and courage to move forward.

The Bottom Line

Yes, going out into the public after being in isolation sucks! It is a natural tendency for the brain to send you into a fight-flight mode when there is something uncertain. The forced isolations added to your normal habits around soothing your reactions to uncertainty. Now when you want to do things you did before isolation, your brain is thinking those things are uncertain because they have been for over a year.

You can move through this one step at a time. I know you have the power within you to create a life you love. You’ve got this and if you need some help that is okay too. Reach out and let’s talk about how I can continue to help you through this.