As more workers returned to in-person work this year with the end of an emergency order for the COVID-19 pandemic in the U.S., anxiety is also on the rise, according to a press release from the Fearless Presentations public speaking class program.
“In-person meetings and sales calls are back post-pandemic,” it said. “So is the dreaded fear of standing up in front of a group of people and presenting. Different types of social anxiety have been growing in number for years. But, post-pandemic, the increase is staggering.”
According to Pew Research Center research released in March, about a third (35%) of workers with jobs that could be done remotely were working from home all of the time. That percentage was down from 43% in 2022 and 55% in October 2020. It was up around 7% compared to before the pandemic.
“We spent over two years not having to interact with each other face-to-face. Now that most companies have returned to their offices, many of their team members are struggling to acclimate,” said Doug Staneart, author of the Fearless Presentations class.
Anxiety disorders are the most common form of mental illness in the U.S., per the Anxiety and Depression Society of America. Worldwide, rates of anxiety and depression increased 25%, said the World Health Organization.
Phobias, or extreme fears, are a type of anxiety disorder. Public speaking phobias are the most common – ahead of death, spiders and heights – according to the National Social Anxiety Center.
“According to Staneart, the number of requests for public speaking training... has increased almost 1,000% in the last 12 months,” said the Fearless Presentations press release. When working from home, people who struggle with this anxiety had more options to avoid it.
“During the pandemic, many people who felt this panic could just turn [off] their camera. If you're now in the same room, though, you don't have that option,” said Staneart. He offers resources for people impacted by the condition through the program.
Related
Related
