SAN RAFAEL, Calif. - Mental health experts are noticing a new phenomenon: anxiety about life after COVID-19.As restrictions are lifted and activities resume, normal may not feel so "normal" anymore."We're in a bridge between two worlds and we're still very much in a pandemic world," said Dr.
Elissa Epel, vice chair of the UCSF psychiatry department. "We have created cocoons for ourselves, and like them or not, they have been a safe place and now we have to leave them for this busier world." Epel suggests a gradual approach because change of any kind creates stress."I'm not comfortable, I've lost a bit of my comfort in crowds," said Annie Bonacci of San Rafael, who describes her pre-pandemic life as hectic.Bonacci juggled two jobs, friends.