Post-COVID Anxiety in Children: Unlocking the "Lockdown" Mindset
Why warnings from the past are affecting teen relationships and childhood anxiety today.
By Chris Hoare, PlymHypnos Hypnotherapy
Do you remember the start of the pandemic? It is hard to forget the Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, instructing the nation to "Stay at home - Don’t go out - Save lives". These messages were inescapable, appearing on our TV screens, mobile phones, and news reports.
While the immediate result was an eerie silence in our towns and cities as people retreated into "bubbles", we are now seeing a secondary, longer-lasting impact. Beyond the damage to the economy and education, the pandemic sowed the seeds for major anxiety in our youngest citizens.
The "Lion" in the Substation: How Children Process Fear
Why is anxiety skyrocketing in children a few years later? It often comes down to how young minds interpret warnings.
During the lockdowns, infants and toddlers were told, "Don’t get close to anyone," or "Stay away from people or you could kill us all". While adults understood the context, children often took these statements literally.
Consider my personal example: Even as an adult, I still hesitate when walking past an electricity substation. Why? Because my nursery school teacher once told us all there was a lion inside to keep us away from the dangerous equipment. That fear, planted in childhood, created a lasting association.
Why Social Anxiety is Lingering
The instructions to "stay away" didn't simply vanish from a child's subconscious when the COVID risk declined. Just as I still look for the lion, many children are still operating on the internal program that says proximity to others is dangerous.
This helps explain why we are seeing specific difficulties in teenagers regarding:
Forming close friendships: The deep-seated warning "Don't get close to anyone" creates an internal barrier.
Social Anxiety: A skyrocketing rate of general anxiety in social settings.
Relationship struggles: Difficulty trusting physical or emotional closeness.
How Hypnotherapy Can Help
The good news is that this isn't permanent. These fears are essentially "knots" woven into a child’s early understanding of the world, but they can be undone quickly and easily.
At PlymHypnos Hypnotherapy, we identify these internal barriers and open up new possibilities. We help the unconscious mind realise that the "lion" isn't real and that the "Stay at home" order is over.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can post-COVID anxiety be treated?
Yes. Hypnotherapy is highly effective at removing the internal barriers created during the pandemic, bringing down anxiety levels quickly.
Why is my teenager struggling to make friends?
Many teens internalised the message "Don't get close to anyone" during their formative years. This can manifest as a subconscious block against forming relationships.
Ready to clear the anxiety?
If you or your child are suffering from anxiety, get in touch with PlymHypnos for a quick chat. It could change a life.