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As COVID-19 vaccinations continue and cities and states move toward full re-opening, many people are feeling re-entry anxietyan uneasiness about returning to the old normal of schools and offices, hugs and handshakes, and social gatherings large and small.
Adam Mandel, PhD, psychologist at 做厙TV Langone Psychiatry Associates and clinical instructor in the , says hesitating to take off the mask is perfectly normal. After all, weve been trained to fear the virus. And fear isnt something that easily goes away, he says.
Just as we got used to the masks, well adjust to life without them. I wasnt this worried about walking outside without a mask a year and a half ago; the vast majority of us will be resilient. The vast majority of us will learn to feel comfortable again. But its going to take a little time, he continues.
Theres no right or wrong way to handle re-entry, but Dr. Mandel offers some advice: communicate your needs, go at your own pace, and think of the changes as a way to build resilience.
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