3 Reasons Why You Feel Increased Anxiety Going Back to Work Post COVID!
If you were already struggling with gender dysphoria, the incubation period during COVID most likely increased the severity and distress of dysphoria.
If you were keeping your gender dysphoria unconsciously repressed, spending time alone in the privacy of your home without work or other external distractions, made your gender dysphoria awareness front and central.
To learn more about the effects of COVID in relation to gender dysphoria, watch my recent video: Why You Suddenly Felt Gender Dysphoria During COVID.
COVID has been instrumental for many to start social, medical, or even surgical transition to help them alleviate pain.
For a lot of people struggling with facial hair dysphoria, wearing a face-covering mask has been a blessing. For others, being able to stay and work from home to minimize social interactions has helped decrease anxiety and stress.
As the home stay policy starts to come to an end and many folks have to re-enter the workforce, the anxiety is beginning to rise!
Here are the 3 most common reasons I have observed responsible for the increase in anxiety. If you know of other factors, which I am sure there are plenty, comment below and share!
#1 FEAR OF COMING OUT AT WORK
Coming out at work is incredibly anxiety-provoking especially if you are unsure where your company stands with trans inclusion.
If you have been on hormones, have started to have visible external changes, and haven’t come out yet, the anxiety of entering the workplace can be tremendous.
If you have had facial or chest surgery, visible changes in your body presentation, you will feel pressure to come out at your work the day you show up.
Many feel and express pressure to come out at work even though they don’t feel ready. What I recommend is ripping the band-aid! Look! You already did a monumental task: facing your dysphoria during the COVID period. You can do this!
If you are concerned your HR has no clue how to navigate your coming out, I recommend sharing with them: Human Resources! 3 Mistakes to Avoid When Employee Comes Out at Work.
#2 FEAR OF BEING FIRED
Let’s address one of the biggest concerns you are most likely experiencing regarding coming out at work.
Fear of being fired!
Unless you are Jeff Bezos, COVID already had a significant financial impact on many of us.
If you don’t know how your company will respond to your gender identity, the fear of potentially being fired is a real one.
If fear of job loss is a real threat to you, to feel more in control of the situation, it is helpful to start looking for another employment. This way having a plan B can help lessen your anxiety knowing you have something lined up waiting for you.
#3 FEAR OF BEING SEEN BY OTHERS
Social anxiety is an incredibly common occurrence alongside gender dysphoria. So common in fact that many assume they have introverted tendencies.
Many physical changes you have gone through via hormones or surgery have been kept private. You may have never turned on a video camera during work calls to further preserve your privacy.
As you get ready to re-enter the workplace, being visible becomes inevitable, adding to already existing social anxiety.
Other factors contributing to increased social anxiety re-entering work are:
fears of being misgendered
annoyance at potentially intrusive questions
boundary crossing
need to justify or explain your gender identity
need to justify or explain your transition decision
If you are feeling increased social anxiety, please note that it is often natural and common when you step outside of your comfort zone.
The tension and anxiety will be there.
The more you engage in being visible, the less you will feel anxious.
You will also realize that there are colleagues and peers who support and care about you.