The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on people with anxiety disorders will be felt for a long time to come. Rates of new-onset anxiety rose dramatically, and factors such as long-covid introduced aspects to anxiety such as ‘brain fog’ and new-onset panic and anxiety. Additionally, 24/7 negative news and the lurking threat of new variants have created ‘ambient anxiety’ that fuels the vigilance and persistent worry that are hallmarks of anxiety disorders. The spread of confusing information on social media particularly affects adolescents’ experience of anxiety and therapists can be watchful for ‘contagious panic and anxiety’. For a time, isolation felt like safety, but now, as people, emerge from restrictions, ‘cave syndrome’ affects all ages, causing especially those with social anxiety to struggle with the new ‘re-entry anxiety’. In this session, Dr. Wehrenberg will focus on practical strategies that will help any client with anxiety to suffer less panic, to increase stress resilience, and to block worry (especially health anxiety). Join us and get new ideas to manage anxiety in a world where pandemics are real.