After Lockdown

By Ivy Lee

So we're finally free to leave the house after an unprecedented lockdown, but it seems we've forgotten how to converse entirel.

After months of isolation, I was waiting in anticipation, dreaming of hot summer days with friends in the sun, music charging the atmosphere, and endless banter, this was not scene I was met with. 
It made me stop and wonder- how have we all changed since coming out of lockdown? and how are  going to adapt our mindsets?

In this short self-help book, Ivy Lee explores how our confidence has been shaken, what exactly has changed for us, and how to resume social interaction in our new normal, if that's even impossible, and the crude changes we must accept moving forward.

This book is for anyone who has found that their confidence has been shaken, and wants to start their journey of conquering social anxiety.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ivy Lee
• Release date: Apr 15, 2022
• ISBN: 9798201372019

Ivy Lee

Ivy Lee is a writer from Victoria, Australia. For the past six years Ivy has worked as a counsellor and life coach. With a passion to support others, after witnessing the affects of lockdown on on her client's mental health, she felt compelled to write self help ebooks to share her knowledge with others seeking help to better themselves.

Book preview

After Lockdown

A guide to regaining your confidence and overcoming social anxiety.

Ivy Lee.

Contents

Introduction.

Social interactions can be scary.

Reflections for change.

Trust yourself.

Boundaries.

Breathe in and ground yourself.

Let's get back out there!

Be kind to yourself.

Introduction.

Looking to break away from that unexpected social anxiety that has been coupled with long periods in lockdown? You've come to the right place.

Melbourne, Australia has spent more time in lockdown than any other city in the world due to the pandemic. After six lockdowns, totaling 262 days, we are finally free, but is there any wonder that the streets are so quiet?

It had been months since I caught up with friends. I had been longing to hear all about what they had been up to since we last saw one another in person. I had been craving human interaction, and to have someone other than my dogs to talk to. But something struck me once we had all sat down in the courtyard together. It was as if we were complete strangers. Some stared at the ground, while others fiddled with wallets and car keys, the feeling of awkwardness, highlighted by the silence, was unmistakable. It had become clear that no one knew how to socialise anymore. What I had expected after hours, days, weeks, months in isolation, was far from what occurred.

I had expectations of hot summer days with friends in the sun, music charging the atmosphere, and endless banter, but that is not the scene I was met with. It was painted with awkward pauses in conversation, persisting for far longer than comfortable.  It made me wonder how we are going to adapt, and how we have all changed since coming out of lockdown. So we're finally free but it seems we've forgotten how to converse entirely?

I'm here to explore what exactly has changed for us, and if it’s possible to resume social interaction like once before, or must we accept change and adapt moving forward.

Did you once think of yourself as a confident wordsmith? Were you once charming and charismatic, but now all that comes to mind is the monotonous hum of silence, as you attempt to come up with a response amongst friends? Over the past couple of years, Covid has significantly influenced all of us, both personally and professionally. I'd venture to say that none of us were prepared for the consequences. Some may be dealing with the severity of losing loved ones, while others have lost employment, financial stability, or a regular schedule. Seclusion and being shut inside have truly harmed our confidence. Extraverted people are getting more self-conscious and uncomfortable at the prospect of interacting with others in person.

Perhaps you haven't thought about the social anxiety you experience now that we are out of the house. A common coping strategy for us all (and yes I am guilty of this), is to bottle it up and not think about it. Not the healthiest of coping techniques, as