Will Hugging Ever Feel Normal Again? And Will Social-Distancing Increase Social Anxiety?

‘So I tried to get to know my neighbours earlier,’ my sister tells me on a Zoom call from her new flat in Manchester. ‘I heard them on the balcony, went out to say hello and then shit myself and ran back in – they must think I’m an absolute headcase.’

In psychology, this is called an ‘introvert hangover’, according to consultant psychologist Dr Heather Sequeira and it’s actually very common. ‘For those of us with introverted tendencies and especially those of us with socialwe tend to feel depleted of energy after being around people at work for long periods of time or with family or friends,’ she explains. ‘Especially, if were are trying to be our most confident self all day.

‘It’s likely to exacerbate things for people who already struggle with anxiety, social shyness or low confidence because once you stop “battling” against anxieties and putting yourself into social situations that cause you anxiety - the anxiety tends to increase,’ Dr Sequeira says. ‘The more you face your fear or do something that triggers anxiety, the more anxiety abates. Conversely, the less you face your fear, the more it tends to increase.

As a result of all of this, Dr Sequeira says it could completely change our social rituals as a society at large moving forward. ‘Non-essential physical contact might stay down,’ she muses. ‘It could be that social rituals such as handshakes, hugs and other physical shows of affection will be coloured with anxiety even after the peak coronavirus period has passed as people may remain tentative or show hesitation in these normal social gestures.

When we can hug again yes it will feel normal but it will be long hugs to make up for not having we should beware of bruises.from all the hugs.

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