Fear of an unmasked future: why its withdrawal will create social anxiety for many young people

Wearing a mask has become a second habit for many people during the pandemic. But as countries remove mandatory wearing rules, they may find that not wearing them in public and returning to “normal” makes them feel inappropriate and even uncomfortable. For those struggling with social anxiety, it was a relief to get away from social obligations and not have to show their face in public. Beyond its anti-covid purpose, wearing a mask sometimes acts as a shield that alleviates some of the social pressures associated with appearance.

Coming to the new normality and without restrictions, many adolescents (grown with a mask) and even adults (adjusted to it) have mixed feelings.

Description. According to David A. Moscovitch, professor of psychology at the University of Waterloo, there is a psychological reason for feeling this way. Their research shows that mask protocols during the pandemic are actually increasing the fight against social anxiety. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, this anxiety is characterized by an intense and persistent fear of being watched and judged by others. People with social anxiety tend to be genuinely concerned with behaving in a way that conforms to social norms.

As we emerge from the pandemic, “we may notice that our level of anxiety about interacting with people is a little higher than usual,” Moscovitch said in this CNBC article. For example, you may feel like your social skills are rusting, or you may feel self-conscious about reappearing unmasked at close range.

social anxiety. This social anxiety is exacerbated by the fact that we live in “an unnatural period of forced avoidance.” In other words, being stuck at home and isolated from others mimics avoidance, a common coping mechanism for anxiety. “If we avoid the things that worry us, it may feel like relief in the short run, but it will only lead to more anxiety in the long run,” Moscovitch said.

Fear in teenagers. Adolescence has long been characterized by insecurities about body image, social pressures to conform, a growing sense of identity, and a predisposition to social anxiety. As the mask requirement in schools ends, many young people are missing. For some, anxiety begins as it goes away. Whether due to virus concerns, social pressure, shyness or acne, some kids are reluctant to get rid of it.

They are worried about getting sick or infecting their families. And they are concerned about whether wearing masks can tie them to certain political beliefs. It’s a difficult transition. In addition, the pandemic for two years has raised concerns about the mental health of adolescents. Rates of suicidal ideation among teens have risen by as much as 25% since last summer, and some estimates say teen depression and anxiety levels have doubled.

“Imaginary Audience”. Removing the mask also represents a social transition at a time of development where young people become hypersensitive to what others think of them. “Starting from their pre-adolescent and early teenage years, children often develop what psychologists call an “imaginary audience” that makes them feel like a light on themselves and their flaws. As they begin to spend less and more time with their parents. Time spent with peers, social status, and cultural beauty standards are becoming important,” explains Dr. Choukas-Bradley in this New York Times report.

Imaginary audiences shape how teens think about mundane tasks like dressing, talking in class, or shopping for shoes. While an adult may be thinking about cost or convenience, a teenager may be thinking about what certain people at school will think when they walk into class dressed like this.

mask fishing. this catfishing It is slang used to misrepresent someone’s identity on the internet. For a generation that grew up with smartphones, this is a fitting reference. “Some of these people really haven’t seen my face, except for social networks and stuff like that,” a 17-year-old girl said in the news. “The things I post on social media are a little different from how I look on a daily basis.” The same thing happens with masks, they grew larger with one of them on.

The effects of choosing to continue using them are also magnified on social media. this mask fishingThe idea that someone might be hiding facial flaws under someone first surfaced on dating apps, but was trending on TikTok a few months ago. A few recent videos have garnered tens of millions of views as teens draw attention to children hiding or not hiding in their schools. How can this not be a source of social anxiety?

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