For months now, people have been asking: when will it end? When can I see my colleagues, family and friends? When can I go on vacation? Now those activities are in sight--yet., many of us feel hesitant. Why?

Clinical psychologist Dr. Michelle Pearce, a University of Maryland-Baltimore professor, tells how behaviors learned during the pandemic become survival skills. They don’t just flip off like a switch:

“We just need to be patient with ourselves. Our brains are really quick to learn threats but we’re slow to unlearn them. So we’ve got to give ourselves a break as we go through this process.”

And we talk about her recent book: ‘Night Bloomers, 12 Principles for Thriving in Adversity.”

Links: Baltimore Sun Commentary, Night Bloomers

Original airdate: 4.14.21

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