THE REALITY OF ZOOM ANXIETY
Allesandra Plourde Doodles by Maya Goldenberg
The coronavirus pandemic has limited human-to-human inperson interaction. The sole connection for most people is to communicate with others online. Work meetings, classes for school, and even virtual happy hours are all part of day to day life now. With new online forums like Zoom, virtual interactions can become debilitating. This can result in Zoom anxiety. Zoom anxiety is a feeling of stress and fear when on a Zoom call. It can be characterized as having trouble unmuting and participating in discussions, having a crippling fear of contributing in class, trouble reading social cues or body language online, fear of unsolvable tech problems such as wifi connection, and uncertainty about the professionalism of your space, including background or appearance. Zoom can leave room for awkward silences, people talking over one another and misunderstandings about who speaks next, all this contributes to the anxiety. Oftentimes Zoom fatigue; weariness after a Zoom call, gets the limelight, but Zoom anxiety is just as important to recognize and acknowledge.
9 | COLLEGIETTE
Zoom Anxiety can be draining and it is one of the many adversities that Zoom has caused for online students. American University senior journalism student Hunter Rich feels that his anxiousness does not stem so much from Zoom itself, but rather from the feelings of disconnectedness and falling behind. “I feel less connected with professors as there’s no opportunity to build rapport. I feel less connected with my assignments, projects and papers as there are fewer opportunities to discuss them with my professors and classmates,” Rich said. “In general, I think it’s all of the worst parts of college-before-COVID with all of the redeeming qualities washed away and that, some days, leaves me feeling hopeless.” The American University Counseling Center does offer advice and resources to students dealing with anxiety with the COVID-19 pandemic like online counseling services for students with clinicians. This allows students to have the opportunity to talk about anxious feelings surrounding the global pandemic and Zoom calls. This can be contradictory as it is also in a virtual setting, but, having your camera off can help with expressing your feelings in a safe environment.