Return To Work In The COVID Crisis: Psychological Consequences
Context changes, the transition from one environment and a series of activities to another environment with its own rules of behavior, are usually key moments for people’s emotional well-being.
The end of a season in which we have been away from the workplace is a good example of that: Returning to work has psychological implications for us , both for the good and the bad. And if this return to routine can be complicated in itself, the combination of this with the COVID-19 crisis represents an even greater challenge for many people.
Contrary to what many people believe, the emotional states we experience in our daily lives are not a basically mental phenomenon; They do not begin and end in our heads, and no matter how much we try to avoid expressing any emotions, they arise in the interaction between us and the environment.
It is not that feelings and our subjective experiences are born in our brain and then are reflected “outwardly” in what we do, but that they could not exist if there really was a separation between what surrounds us and what happens in our mind.
Therefore, when we go from being immersed in one context to being immersed in another, a psychological transformation inevitably occurs in us. And what happens when returning to work after a period of not working (at least, paid work) is proof of this. For many people, having to face a wave of new tasks to do or having to adapt to a slightly different work system, is difficult to digest, or directly overwhelms them.
But this year, in addition, returning to work after the summer vacation season is accompanied by an unprecedented social and health context, which has shaken both politics and the world economy; The coronavirus makes there much less certainty about what we will be doing in a couple of months, and also increases the risk of losing the job and/or the level of income we took for granted.
That means There are even more elements to take into account when adapting to the first days of work something that, if not managed well, can trigger significant psychological problems, both emotionally and cognitively and in relation to personal relationships and work performance.
Possible sources of discomfort in such a situation
As we have seen, the transition that returning to work entails can promote or give rise to significant changes on a psychological level.
It must be taken into account that sometimes these changes are for the better; For example, someone who has started to develop an addiction during their vacation trip is more likely to leave it behind simply by returning to their city and its usual routines. However, In many cases, these changes involve a mismatch when having to “relearn” to assume numerous responsibilities
Some of these possible sources of problems caused by returning to work during the coronavirus crisis are the following.
1. Uncertainty
Uncertainty about what will happen is in itself something that biases us towards pessimism. At a time of health and economic crisis, the most common thing is that the lack of information is perceived as a greater presence of dangerous elements, with the consequent increase in the level of anxiety.
In principle, we are the owners of what we do in our private lives, and this includes the degree of risk of contagion that we are willing to assume. But in the work context, many people can feel very insecure about having to fit in with what is expected of their professional role. Even if the organization you work for uses effective security protocols, Not having complete control over the degree of exposure to the virus can lead to significant psychological exhaustion through stress and anxiety.
3. Increased risk of developing symptoms of depression
If returning to work is marked by catastrophic thoughts about what will happen to us and fear of what is to come (for example, if we feel that we are not adapting to the pace of work quickly enough or that the company will go into crisis), it is likely that many of the incentives that kept us satisfied with that job will no longer work.
This combination of anxiety and lack of incentives is highly correlated with mood disorders , among which depression stands out. It is not surprising that a large percentage of those who suffer anxiety about their work life also develop depression.
4. Negative psychological consequences derived from the previous ones
In everything related to psychology, experiences linked to discomfort generate a domino effect very easily. Stress and anxiety increase the likelihood of suffering from insomnia, for example, as well as anxiety management patterns, which in themselves constitute another problem : addictions, impulse control disorders, etc.
Much of what we have seen so far depends not only on what we do ourselves, but on what happens around us. For example, a work environment in which working conditions are very poor or even exploitative often gives rise to psychological problems whose cause lies beyond our actions.
However, in other cases there is enough room for maneuver to enhance mental health without having to change jobs.
In situations like this, psychotherapy is very effective since it can serve to progress in the following aspects, among others:
Are you looking for professional psychological support?
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