Return to Work in the COVID Crisis: Psychological Implications

These are the aspects of return to work to be taken into account in the coronavirus crisis.

Changes of context, the transition from one environment and set 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 this: the return to work has psychological implications for us, both for the good and the bad.for both the good and the bad. And if that return to the routine can become complicated already in itself, the combination of this with the COVID-19 crisis is an even greater challenge for many people.

Returning to work in times of pandemic.

Contrary to what many people believe, the emotional states we experience in our day-to-day lives are not basically a 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's not that feelings and our subjective experiences are born in our brains and then get captured "outward" in what we do, but that they could not exist if there really were a separation between what surrounds us and what goes on in our minds.

Therefore, when we go from being immersed in one context to being immersed in another, there is inevitably a psychological transformation in us. And what happens when we return to work after a period of not working (at least in a remunerative way) is an example of this. For many people, having to deal with a flurry of new tasks to be doneThe new work environment, or having to adapt to a slightly different work system, is difficult to digest, or even overwhelming.

But this year, in addition, the return to work after the summer vacation season is compounded by an unprecedented social and health context, which has shaken both politics and the global economy; the coronavirus means there is much less certainty about what we will be doing a couple of months down the road, and also increases the risk of losing the job and/or income level we took for granted.

That means that there are there are even more elements to take into account when adjusting to the first few days on the job, something that, if not managed well, can be difficult to manage.If not managed well, this can lead to significant psychological problems, both emotionally and cognitively, as well as in terms of personal relationships and job performance.

Possible sources of discomfort in a situation like this

As we have seen, the transition back to work can foster or lead to significant psychological changes.

Keep in mind that sometimes these changes are for the better; for example, someone who has started to develop an addiction while on vacation is more likely to leave it behind simply by returning to their hometown and their usual routines. However, in many cases, however, these changes are disruptive in that they involve "relearning" to take on numerous responsibilities..

Some of these possible sources of problems caused by the return to work in 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 lack of information is usually perceived as a greater presence of dangerous elements, with a consequent increase in the level of anxiety.

2. Feeling of loss of control

In principle, we are the masters 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 become very insecure about fitting in with what is expected of their professional role. Even if the organization in which they work employs effective safety protocols, not having full control over the degree of exposure to the virus can lead to significant psychological distress through stress and anxiety. through stress and anxiety.

Increased risk of developing symptoms of depression.

If the return to work is marked by catastrophic thoughts about what will happen to us and fear about what is to come (for example, if we feel that we are not adapting to the pace of work fast 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 cease to work.

This combination of anxiety and lack of incentives is highly correlated with mood disorders, most notably depression.among which depression is one of the most common. It is not surprising that a large percentage of those who suffer from 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 distress increase the likelihood of insomnia, for example, as well as anxiety management patterns that are another problem in themselves.addictions, impulse control disorders, etc.

Can anything be done about it?

Much of what we have seen so far depends not only on what we do ourselves, but also on what is happening around us. For example, a work environment in which working conditions are very bad or even exploitative often leads to psychological problems whose cause lies beyond our actions.

In other cases, however, there is plenty of room to improve mental health without having to change jobs.

In such situations, psychotherapy is very effective.It can be used to make progress in the following areas, among others:

• Management of anxiety at the moment when it makes us feel bad.
• Enhancement of self-knowledge to be efficient in seeking solutions to discomfort.
• Development of time management skills and performance improvement.
• Adoption of more appropriate habits in personal relationships and enhancement of social skills.
• Increased ease in detecting problematic discomfort management patterns.
• Increased impulse control.
• Improved task concentration management skills.

Looking for professional psychological support?

If you feel that you are suffering from psychological burnout due to the situation you are experiencing at work, I encourage you to get professional psychological support, I encourage you to get in touch with me.. I am a psychologist specialized in cognitive-behavioral therapy and third generation therapies, and I treat adult patients with a wide variety of problems: work stress, anxiety disorders and phobias, depression, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, addictions, couple conflicts... In this page you can find more information about how I work, and my contact details.

Bibliographical references:

• Grupe, D.W. & Nitschke, J.B. (2013). Uncertainty and Anticipation in Anxiety. Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 14(7): pp. 488 - 501.
• Mahmud,S.; Uddin Talukder, M.; Rahman, M. (2020). Does 'Fear of COVID-19' trigger future career anxiety? An empirical investigation considering depression from COVID-19 as a mediator. International Journal of Social Psychiatry, doi: 10.1177/0020764020935488.
• Melchior, M. et al. (2008). Work stress precipitates depression and anxiety in young, working women and men. Psychological Medicine, 37(8): pp. 1119 - 1129.
• Nash-Wright, J. (2011). Dealing with anxiety disorders in the workplace: importance of early intervention when anxiety leads to absence from work. Professional case management, 16(2): pp. 55 - 59.