Dear Babs, Back in the pre-Covid days, I didn’t mind going to art openings and events; they weren’t my favorite thing, but I knew it was essential to show up and meet people. Now, after a year of not going out, I find these activities next to impossible to endure. I’m vaccinated, booster-ed, and wear a mask, so I’m not afraid of getting Covid. It’s just that I have this new anxiety I didn’t have before. I find myself unable to socialize; I feel paralyzed and just not myself. What do I do?

—Awkward in Altadena

Dear Awkward, At least you kinda liked going to openings in the “before times.” Most artists I know were happy to have a reprieve from obligated social functions during months of lockdown. But the fact is we all need to start showing up for each other—if only to rebuild social bonds and communities damaged by the pandemic. That doesn’t mean it will be easy. After adapting to our isolation, getting out into the world feels like a shock.

You should know you’re not alone in your newfound anxiety. The American Psychological Association published a report in March of this year stating that nearly half of all Americans they surveyed felt “uneasy about adjusting to in-person interaction.” So know that everyone else feels weird too.

Remember to take your time. You don’t have to be the same social butterfly you were before COVID. Socializing is a skill, and you must practice it just like anything else. Set a goal of going to one art event a month. If you feel overwhelmed with anxiety during the small talk that plagues all social functions, just come out and say how you’re feeling. Trust me; many people will be happy you did and will welcome the opportunity to talk about their own awkward social re-emergence.

After a few months, you’ll get more comfortable. Before you know it, your calendar will be so filled with openings and parties and fairs and other social functions you’ll be wishing for another lockdown.