By Corinne Yeadon, of the Being Better private therapy practice in Skipton

THE lifting of restrictions may be welcomed as a step away from the pandemic, but there exists concern and anxiety particularly because of a rise in Covid cases.

Having become accustomed to seeing people with masks, even watching television programmes, people from afar with uncovered faces in crowded spaces now can feel counter intuitive and can trigger our early warning system alerting us to threat or risk.

I am in the gradual process of catching up with people who have been physically absent from my life for a considerable amount of time, but very much emotionally present.

Being amongst loved and trusted people is not a guarantee of being with people who are Covid free, however it can instil a sense of comfort, calm and more importantly be instrumental in rebuilding confidence in the safety of the wider world.

It can be helpful to reach an acceptance that we can only be responsible for ourselves and have zero control about the actions of others.

Some people will continue to protect their space and wear face coverings, others will choose not to.

Passing judgement on the beliefs and attitudes of others can be more damaging to the critic. Respecting the choices of others while balancing assertions about what you are comfortable with and refusing what feels unsafe or worrying is a better use of energy.

Whatever your standpoint, asserting yourself in a measured way can be instrumental in avoiding conflict and anxiety.

* Be polite, calm and firm, avoid shouting;

* Avoid justification or presenting information as this becomes a negotiation;

* Think “I” or “It” rather than “You”;

* Keep it brief;

* If not being heard, remove self where possible.