Overcoming anxiety back to the office during Covid

The cause of anxiety is returning to the office amid COVID-19

When the COVID-19 pandemic began, the level of public anxiety also increased. The reasons also vary, from reading the news about COVID-19 related to death rates to stress due to losing a job.

This difficulty and anxiety can eventually be overcome by adapting. Most of them are getting used to their new life under home quarantine.

However, the calm has begun to be "undermined" by the government's plans to loosen regulations lockdown or PSBB. The announcement turned out to cause panic and public health began to be affected again.

Most of them worry about whether it is safe to return to work because vaccines and special drugs for COVID-19 have yet to be found.

According to the American Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are a number of factors that could be a factor in why this mental problem appears among employees returning to work at the office, such as:

worried about being exposed to viruses at work
take care of different workloads
uncertainty about the future of current work
difficulty adapting to a new workspace or work schedule

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Some of the reasons above are partly why anxiety levels increase when workers are asked to return to work. As a result, some people feel that it is better for them to work at home because they do not need to go out and meet people other than their families.

It is also possible to return to a busy environment to cause problems in the past, such as health anxiety or obsessive compulsive disorder. For example, it is recommended that you wash your hands frequently and keep your distance from other people at all times.

However, the problem for those with mental disorders is that these safety behaviors are carried out out of panic. As a result, the way to prevent the transmission of COVID-19, which should help, actually triggers mental disorders due to anxiety when returning to the office.

So, what needs to be done to overcome anxiety when returning to work at the office when the COVID-19 pandemic is still ongoing?

Overcoming anxiety when returning to the office during COVID-19

Whether you like it or not, working again in offices that have been set by some companies in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic will continue. Therefore, so that anxiety when returning to the office when COVID-19 does not interfere, there are several things that can be done to overcome this problem.

1. Believe that things are working as they should

Giving up control is one of the actions when a person allows himself to believe that things will work out as they should. This may be difficult, especially for those who feel excessively anxious that causes OCD.

Moreover, during the COVID-19 pandemic, this causes excessive anxiety because they have to return to the office after months at home.

Even so, giving up self-control is a fairly effective first step in overcoming anxiety when returning to the office during COVID-19.

Many people may not be able to stop washing their hands and cleaning themselves in an effort to prevent transmission of the virus. In fact, reading news about COVID-19 raises fears of infection and worries that their efforts are not sufficient to protect oneself.

Therefore, excessive worry can be reduced by doing what can be done as a measure to protect yourself. Starting from the practice of washing hands in the recommended amount to using masks when needed.

You also need to realize that whatever has been done, at least there has been effort, does not rule out the infection could occur. By giving up control it is hoped that a person can regain control over their body.

It may also help a person see things more clearly through a calmer mind. This way, you can make better decisions that aren't based on panic or anxiety.

2. Pour out your heart

In addition to giving up control, confiding in your coworkers or closest people is also considered to help overcome anxiety when returning to the office in the midst of COVID-19.

When you work in an office it may be necessary to keep a distance from other employees to reduce the risk of transmission. However, this certainly cannot be a barrier to your desire to share what you are facing.

Instead of sticking around with them, try to keep your distance or text co-workers when they're not busy. Confiding in other people at least helps you to recognize what can be done to control this anxiety.

If needed, you can also discuss this with your boss about how anxiety due to COVID-19 affects work. Don't forget to ask them about mental health resources at your workplace.

3. Adding positive activities

Another way to deal with anxiety when returning to the office amid the COVID-19 pandemic is to add positive activities to your daily routine. It is hoped that positive activities such as trying a new recipe or exercising for a while will distract you when you are feeling anxious.

When you take the time to do fun activities, you also feel satisfied and regain the control you lost during the pandemic. Generally, this method is quite useful when someone is depressed because it helps them get out of the 'cage'.

Therefore, you can change the anxiety energy by doing positive, healthy things. Starting from regularly walking outside the house for a short time, looking for new hobbies, or chatting with other family members.

The key to overcoming anxiety when returning to work amid the COVID-19 pandemic is to keep trying to protect yourself from the virus. Starting from maintaining distance, washing hands, to eating nutritious food so that the body is strong when you have to work in the office.