COVID 19 BRIEFING: Anxiety is normal as Missouri reopens

As businesses reopen and people venture outside, as well as back to work, a certain amount of anxiety will feel normal.

Dr. Amber Richardson, clinical psychologist with Missouri Highlands Medical Clinic, said Tuesday that the key is to manage that anxiety after many people end a sort of self-imposed agoraphobia by not leaving their house.

"We want to make sure that is not continually reinforced," Richardson said.

A person might leave their house, feel anxious, then retreat back inside to safety, reinforcing the anxiety. They might feel better, but the action is not necessarily healthy.

"The result is that they've escaped that anxious feeling, but now they've inadvertently reinforced that avoidance response. So they feel just as anxious if not more so the next time they try to go out and do something," Richardson said.

Her advice is to intentionally feel a little bit of discomfort. This will prevent the anxiety response from getting reinforced.

Also, use data to guide actions and anxiety. For instance, if a person takes proper safety precautions such as wearing a mask, washing their hands, and maintaining social distancing, how likely is it for something bad to happen?[

A good way to manage anxiety is also to engage in things you know are safe, such as going to an uncrowded park or outdoor activities with friends like a barbecue where you maintain social distancing.

Employers can also help alleviate employee anxiety as they come back to work, Richardson continued. Employers can allow employees to wear masks and provide hand sanitizer, for instance. They could also continue to allow people to work remotely if that practice has already proven successful.

"The last thing you want is to have difficulty finding employees because they've got too much anxiety to come to work, and then sending the message to customers that not only are they allowed to come to your business, but also that it's safe to do so," Richardson said.

Butler County Health Department Administrator Emily Goodin said the health department sent out letters Tuesday to restaurants about the new guidance from the governor that will be starting May 4 and will go until May 31.

"We are asking the restaurants to go at half capacity to follow the governor's rule on being six feet apart between tables, less than eight people at a table, all employees across the board in restaurants or any food establishment to wear a mask, and also, any large gatherings outside or inside, we're asking those facilities to send us a proposal on how you are going to limit the social distancing," Goodin said.