“Our lives have completely changed – things like our sense of freedom have been punctuated by government briefings and rules; the things we could plan and look forward to are still uncertain largely; things are not ‘normal’ – at least not like they were before,” psychologist Audrey Tang tells Stylist.

I can date the nebulous sense of bubbling anxiety back to the lifting of the first lockdown, when we could only spend time with one other person from one other household (but apparently the government could host birthday parties with cake). Naturally, there was relief: ‘Hurrah! I’m leaving my house and seeing some of my favourite humans in the flesh!’ But there was also fear that swirled around in my stomach like a small cyclone. As somebody that’s never been particularly anxious, this was anathema. Why did I suddenly feel sick at the thought of living the life I’d lived happily for years?

Post-pandemic anxiety: “Am I the only one that feels like I’m living a lie?”