At least, that was what the Sunday Scaries looked like three months ago. But since the coronavirus sparked stay-at-home orders and widespread job losses, they’re more like the Everyday Scaries, as a tremor of anxiety courses through each and every day.
“What even is a weekend anymore?” has become the de facto joke to respond to people asking what we’re doing on Saturday and Sunday. But, according to Dr. Amy Cirbus, Director of Clinical Content at online therapy service Talkspace, the weekend is actually more important now than ever—especially as states discuss lifting restrictions and reopening businesses.
“We’re seeing a spike in anxiety,” she says, describing the ebb and flow of our attitudes throughout the past few months: “There was the crisis stabilization phase, then a sense of endurance, and now this. Even if places aren’t opening up, nationally, we’re talking about it, and people are feeling that sense of, ‘I have to make that decision for myself. What’s best for my health? Who do I look to?’”
It’s the moment we’ve been waiting for—a return to normal or something a little closer to it—and rightfully so, we’re all concerned about making the right moves (and at the right time) to prevent the virus from revving back up. That’s why we need the weekend so badly. It’s a chance to unwind and recharge yourself, replacing that constant thrum of worry with calm as you head into the week—which, for many, is also compounded by concerns over paying bills, finding a new job and/or doing all of the above while caring for their kids as schools remain closed.
