That’s because although avoidance minimizes anxiety and dread in the short-term, it maintains it in the long-term. In addition, prolonged avoidance can engender anxiety and/or dread, even in situations we previously found to be manageable, such as work commutes. Help kids formulate an exposure plan: Children who have been largely isolated this past year may be anxious, too. Ehrenreich-May recommends that parents work with children who are old enough to create a “sensible” exposure plan. But it will help you manage the demands of post-pandemic life with more confidence and less worry.

Source: Washington Post April 07, 2021 12:00 UTC