Some,such as Maddie Storey,25,are suffering heightened anxiety as Melbourne opens up.
“In normal times I’d go to bars and shops but I’m still avoiding those because it’s overwhelming for me to be in crowds,” says Storey.
“I’d love to be more motivated to be out and about but I’m starting very slowly by only going to places where I feel comfortable. Until then,I have strategies such as going to familiar places and doing things I enjoy like going to the beach.”
Working as a receptionist,Storey says it’s been difficult not seeing her friends in the 111-day lockdown because most lived more than 5km away from her home in Blackburn. But she admits she liked the slower pace.
“I have more fear about readjusting to normal life because lockdown suited me in many ways and I didn’t suffer as much anxiety,” she says.
Smiling Mind head Dr Addie Wootten says the emotional impact of opening up will be experienced in different ways. Other Australian cities have shared lockdown stress though the length of lockdown affects the degree of its emotional challenges.