When baby elephants begin to get trained, one foot is roped to a post in the ground. They are small and the rope keeps them from moving away from the post. Initially they may try, but they are not big and strong enough yet to break the rope or uproot the post and get free so eventually they stop trying. In reality, a fully grown elephant could easily break away and run free, but by then they have been conditioned to go no further than the rope will reach. So they never try.

Conditioning through physical restraint is an established and effective technique for training baby elephants. Conditioning people’s behavior is a bit more complicated.

For 13 months or so, we have been conditioned, not through physical restraints, but through information (factual or not), fear, guidelines, rules, executive orders and legislation. We have been conditioned to stay home, leave only when absolutely necessary and always be careful when out with other people. In this way, we have developed a conditioned response to our fears about getting and spreading COVID-19 and if we don’t stay home.

Now, while COVID -19 is still out there, more and more people are getting vaccinated and it may be time to venture out. What can we do to cope with the inevitable anxiety that comes with overcoming the powerful conditioning not to step out, that we have experienced?

Unlike the elephants, as fully grown adults we can choose to break away from the guidelines, rules and laws and overcome the fears and inevitable anxiety that accompanies the conditioning which no longer serves us.

As we begin to re-interact with the outside world, what can we expect? We may find that people will have very different ideas of what re-entry means. Some will immediately return to pre-pandemic activities and mindsets. Other may move more cautiously and still only venture out when necessary.

Where will you land on this spectrum? My suggestion is that you do what makes you feel comfortable, knowing that others may make different decisions for themselves.

At this point, understanding and patience on everyone’s part will be the best way to handle re-entry.

If you are having trouble with how to navigate re-entry issues, hypnotherapy can help you focus on your goals and make a specific plan to achieve them.

Sincerely,

Cinda

HypnoNews and Resources

For more information about coping with lockdown and Post-COVID re-entry, please refer to the following two excellent articles:

https://www.wateringburysurgery.co.uk/coming-out-of-lockdown

https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/coronavirus/looking-after-your-mental-health-we-come-out-lockdown