The Trust’s Social Impact Director, Kelly Tyler, interrogates the relationship between anxiety and digital interaction trends that have flourished since the COVID-19 pandemic. Kelly has conducted this research as part of her new social impact project, ‘Time to Trust: Exploring Anxiety’.
Has the pandemic increased social anxiety?
While researching for the ‘Time To Trust: Exploring Anxiety social impact project, it has become evident that many common social interactions have transformed into digital ones since the pandemic. But has this helped or hindered people who experience anxiety?
Ellen Hendriksen, PhD, a clinical psychologist and author of How to Be Yourself: Quiet Your Inner Critic and Rise Above Social Anxiety, says: “By being housebound during the pandemic, we’ve been acting like we have severe social anxiety.” It has been for a good reason, Hendriksen argues, but this behaviour mimics avoidance, which feeds social anxiety.
When we do again venture out, Hendriksen adds, we are met with high-stake stressors. The possibility of getting sick, of our peers responding differently to pandemic safety, and having familiar routines changed (such as working from home), have their impact.
A different kind of social anxiety
Chris Macloed from Succeed Socially discusses how ‘going digital’ has given people with social anxiety a less confrontational and overwhelming way to interact with others. However, it has also increased social anxiety for people who hadn’t experienced it before. The symptoms he identifies include:
- A strong urge to opt out of events.
- Replaying “mistakes” after conversations are over.
- Worrying you’ll come across as boring, weird, or otherwise unlikable.
- Using unhealthy coping strategies, like drinking, to get you through an event.
We noticed this from the applicants of our pilot programme Exploring Anxiety. Many members couldn’t attend ‘in person’ sessions, as they were too anxious to leave the house, travel, or be in a room with a group of 10 people. Others expressed an unwillingness to travel unnecessarily, as being online was more convenient for them.
Kelly would like to hear your thoughts on how ‘going digital’ has impacted your practice. Has there been a trend in clients wanting online sessions, rather than having them than face-to-face? Or have your preferences also changed since before the pandemic? Leave a comment below if you would like to enter into this discussion.