Sanjna Selva, a senior at Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., said it was hard for her to go into lockdown in 2020, but now, she enjoys her daily rhythm.
“I feel like I’ve settled into such a pattern of knowing what works for me and how to make this work for me,” she said. “I’ve also grown to really enjoy my alone time. I don’t enjoy the 10,000 Zoom calls a day, but I like being with a few select people, where it’s not overwhelming.”
In the fall, Selva plans to attend graduate school in New York City. She’s excited, but also nervous.
“I think what is most anxiety-inducing for me is the thought of going from this very insular, quiet world suddenly into everything happening at once and being surrounded by people,” she said.
The coronavirus itself contributes to her worry, but Selva is mostly concerned about the energy it takes to socialize. Plus, she thinks her ability to make small talk has deteriorated over the course of the pandemic.
Even though folks might feel hesitant, Dr. Richard Catanzaro, head of psychiatry at Northern Westchester Hospital in Mount Kisco, N.Y., stressed the importance of small interactions.
“A lot of holes in the social fabric have developed over the last year because all of those kinds of incidental contacts that we have with people, whether it’s just going to a bar or an amusement park or sporting event, a concert — we’re not having contact with people in the same way,” he said. “Humans, like most mammals, need contact. So, I think that in and of itself has kind of elevated everyone’s anxiety levels.”
Catanzaro said it’s also important for everyone to remember that they’re not alone in their feelings.
“At this point, if you haven’t experienced some sort of anxiety or mood disturbance over the last year, I’d be worried for you,” he said. “It’s been extremely stressful. So I think we have to kind of normalize that experience. You’re not crazy for being anxious and a bit sad or stressed out by what’s going on in the world.”
If your fears get in the way of your normal functioning, however, Catanzaro said it’s important to seek professional help.