“One of the things we talk about in trauma is called shattered assumptions. Some people go through the world with assumptions about the world and that influences how you respond,” Koenen said. “If you think the world is generally a safe place … a lot of people’s answers are different and shaped from different experience and trauma.” Fear and anxiety are further shaped by one’s experience during the pandemic, she added. If someone lost a loved one to COVID-19, they may be more wary to let their guard down regardless of vaccination status... Exposure therapy is a psychological treatment where individuals are “exposed” to the things they would normally fear and avoid, according to the American Psychological Association. “The way to work through anxiety is to take very small steps forward and expose yourself to manageable amounts of anxiety,” said Chanoff of McLean Hospital. “As you become more and more comfortable with small amounts of anxiety, that builds confidence and it allows you to take the next step.”