COVID: #1 Thing to help with Re-entry Syndrome symptoms

So - where are we at, my loves? 

It’s mid October and beyond being sooooo over COVID lock down, partial lock downs, constant government updates and a barrage of emails on new working arrangements, there’s this general notion that things are going to be great when work and schools return to normal. Well - yes … and, no.

Psychologists are seeing an increase in cases of what was historically a less common diagnosis

More than ever before Psychologists are pulling out their Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) handbooks, in diagnosing folks with a not so common syndrome. Historically this syndrome showed up predominantly among those who work in fly in, fly out (FIFO) work arrangements or those in the types of jobs where specialists like scientists exploring the amazon or defence force working in submarines for extended periods of time, start to see significant changes in the way they feel - when returning to ‘normal’ (pre-COVID) life.

This little gem of an odd phenomena is known as Re-Entry Syndrome or Reverse Culture Shock.

How would we know if we have this syndrome? What would it feel like?

It’s that type of feeling you might get when living abroad for a few years in a rather different environment only to return back home, catch up with old friends and realise that beyond the sharing of typical travel stories you don’t seem to have all too much in common, to talk about.

You see - while you were away, in these COVID house bound times of ours; time didn’t stand still - your friends and family carried on with their life, as did you - gaining new experiences, discovering new things about themselves, embedding new beliefs etc...and well, there appears to be this inherent feeling that we’d kinda pick up conversations with friends and family, where we left off and well...it kinda doesn’t often ‘play out’ that way. Because - yep, you and they - have changed.

It turns out then that there’s more in common with Submarines, COVID and work than you might expect.

Folks returning back to home life, following long submarine expeditions report and are shown scientifically as having fluctuating moods and increased anxiety. All jokes of a good shower, some inspiring new company and fresh brewed coffee, aside. These feelings are very much so real!

Reverse Culture Shock or Re-Entry Syndrome and how this might relate to you in this COVID Climate

The journey of these challenges can be mapped in a general way. See below.

It’s these ebbs and flows that amp up the anxiety in most of us. Lock down phases coming into and out of effect, Managers asking us to return to the office, then halting and HR advising to hold off returning for now. 

The concept of reverse culture shock dates back to the early 1960s. US psychologists John and Jeanne Gullahorn observed that after travel and culture shock and homecoming, there's more ups and downs: readjusting to what was once familiar. Many similarities can be drawn to employees and their workplace surrounds. 

Ears to the ground, eyes wide open; we’ve digested a myriad of mixed messages from government, well meaning family, colleagues and workplaces alike: ‘this will all be over in a few months’ or ‘we expect you to continue with work as is, unless you show flu like symptoms,’ through to - ‘if you have any cold like symptoms, be concerned - stay at home, inform your colleagues and take precautions.’ All the while, those with kids have had to juggle similar and yet disparate changes, which have included everything from children aren’t contagious they can stay at school - to, home schooling is the new norm and will be for the next few months and let’s not forget the on again, off again end of school celebrations and HSC examinations. 

There’s a reason Cardi B’s COVID themed song about “shit is getting real,” went viral back in April of 2020. Among all these mixed messages - this, well, this - we could relate to.

It’s a lot of change and although much of the messaging suggests we’re #allinthistogether, we’re most certainly not experiencing the same pain points, in the same way. We’re all impacted - however in walking out the door and saying ‘hi’ to our neighbours, we’re realising that we no longer seem to have a comforting common ground. We can have a laugh about the ludicrous experience with toilet paper - which, as much as it alienated some of us - for many, it brought about some common ground, something we could connect to and talk jokingly about with one another. 

Here’s the challenge we’re starting to see though. 

A few minutes in when all the bathroom humour of what in the hell people actually do with that much toilet paper - there’s often a social awkwardness, a non contemplative, just outright uncomfortable silence. 

A feeling of disconnect.

U-Curve Hypothesis Considerations and what this means for you

These stages of adjustment can be seen in what John and Jeanne Gullahorn proposed as the “Extension of the U-Curve Hypothesis,” (see diagram above) wherein these periods of re-adapting can be just as severe if not even moreso. And, this, my loves, can generally be described as reverse culture shock.

What does this mean at a local level?

If we take Australia and more specifically Melbourne as an example - everyone is waiting on the edge of their chair to hear that restrictions will be eased and the to and fro-ing of: it’s looking good, wait, it’s not - is really exhausting - at an emotional level. 

The turmoil of feelings make for a more challenging reintegration of the general population. 

Social activities as simple as family get-togethers, dining out, sharing coffee with work colleagues, will be different, unusual, unfamiliar and thus uncomfortable and often anxiety provoking. With masks required in some venues, temperatures checked in others, seating taken out of restaurants, weeks in advance bookings required for your local restaurant and hand sanitisers placed everywhere you turn, it’s not surprising that, it’s going to take some time to settle into what the Australian government terms, “ our new normal.”

For some people the differences will be minimal, for others it will be overwhelming beyond their belief.

Good news - #1 thing you can start doing today - to minimise the feelings of overwhelm & anxiety!

There is one thing we can each do, to help ease the shock of re-integrating to this “new normal.”

It may sound simple, but cannot be overstated - reach out to your immediate community: friends and family. 

Spend time intentionally focusing on those shared experiences you have in common to help establish a strong new sense of normal. It’s key in the following months to take concerted efforts  to really capture those parts of the conversation that speak to something you both have in common and take time to flesh them out and share a good ol’ laugh about the craziness of it all.

Please remember...

Above all else - go easy on yourself and take intentional efforts towards having less judgement of others. Next time you see an irate parent with a screaming child in the supermarket spare a thought for them and the “reverse culture shock” of what they and their munchkin may have been and continue to be challenged by. 

Spoil yourself, breathe deep and engage with a, I’ll be ok mentality as you settle into this new phase, where traffic jams agitate you more than you recall, and go easy on yourself as you adapt to this new you and new way of being.xo

• Please note that if these feelings are impeding your everyday health, see a professional. There are loads of free and discounted counselling and coaching services out there (we’ve updated our listing in our resources section). 
• In addition to discounting our services during these COVID times, we have extended our 1:1 session times, so those returning to work, facing varied work environment challenges, can get the support they need when they need it and connect outside of the 9’-5’ day. 

or https://louisewithemployease.com/contact/ to find out how we can help you!

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