It is a beautiful day outside, as I sit and write this. Outside. Such a big, scary word right now. As the pandemic numbers are decreasing, people are being told that they can go outside, even take off their masks. And people’s anxieties are skyrocketing!

My practice, like many psychotherapists’ right now, is beyond full, and I get more calls every day. I hear from my colleagues that they are experiencing the same thing. One would think, that as we are given more permission to have more freedom and return to our previous lifestyle, that we would all relax and enjoy.

Instead, the opposite is happening. As frustrating as this last year has been, we all had a feeling of increased safety hunkered down in our homes. We are not sure if it safe now, truly, to be out yet. We are not sure if we are putting ourselves and loved ones at risk. We are now going against all that we thought was the right thing.

It takes time to re-adjust. It will take repeated experiences to find out that we are safe. It will take our dusting off our old skills of being out in public and being social again. It is okay if it takes time. It is okay if you are anxious. As we all slowly increase our exposure to the old, new normal, we will relax. It will get easier. But, please, follow the guidelines so that we can continue to get use to being outside again!