People cope in different ways. When difficult times arise, some people bury their feelings, push them away or distract from them, and appear to be unaffected and even unemotional. Other people become overwhelmed by their feelings and desperately need to take action to reduce the feelings. Each way is valid for each person and feels normal to them, so it can be hard to understand the other’s quite different perspective and feelings about tricky situations, such as how to behave regarding the new Omicron variant.

At home, or with family, clashing views are likely to cause disagreement and arguments about what’s the right or wrong thing to do. If one partner isn’t as cautious as the other, there will likely be an increase in anxiety in the worried partner, who may feel they are being put unnecessarily at risk. The less concerned partner may feel aggrieved at having to do things in a way they don’t think is necessary. It is important to listen to each other, to open up communication channels and work together to understand and accept the differing points of view. In fact, we can use the other view as a healthy counter-balance, with the optimistic and less worried person reassuring the anxious one, and the anxious one in turn cautioning the over-optimism that increases risk of spreading the virus. 

At work, difficulties may occur when the employer is less concerned than the employee who feels anxious about having to still come into work. An employer should listen to any concerns and offer support that works for that person. If you are an employee and are feeling very anxious then it’s always best to approach a trusted manager or HR to express your concerns, and to get what you need to continue working effectively in your job. Working from home directives, such as those currently in place, can really help, but when these directives are lifted, it is important for employers to understand that people’s feelings don’t change as quickly and to be patient.

Understanding anxiety if you are not anxious yourself is not always easy, but if you can stand back and acknowledge how hard this feeling is to deal with, you can offer support and help to those friends, families and work colleagues who do feel this way. Accept it’s ok for people to feel how they feel and that it is different to you.

If you are anxious, be honest with friends, partners and family if you would rather not meet up. Tell them you would love to see them but are finding the risks a bit high. Offer a zoom meeting online, or send them a written message where you can express yourself more freely to help them understand your perspective. To reduce your focus on dread and what you might lose, re-focus on an attitude of gratitude and reframe your worries into what you are grateful for in life instead, such as spending less time pleasing others and the chance to spend more time on self-care. See our related blog for more ways to reduce anxiety and worry.