Managing Your WFH Paranoia

Even before the pandemic, remote employees were already more likely to report feeling left out and unsupported. But now, with increased isolation, higher workloads, and more stress than ever before, it’s no wonder why paranoia — a state of fear in which a person misinterprets ambiguous situations, seeing negative meanings, and potential threats — continues to rise. It can be hard to interpret body language, facial expressions, and the nuances of feedback from a distance. And spending time alone in your home office can render you stuck in your own head, replaying mental loops. To stop irrational suspicion in its track you can: proactively set expectations with your colleagues around communication style, beware of scope creep, depersonalize other’s actions, and compartmentalize your anxieties.