How our Mental Health has been impacted by the pandemic

Seeking out therapy can be fraught with hesitation and reluctance in the best of times as it can often feel intimidating to face one’s own anxieties, depressive thoughts or past traumatic experiences. As our world has significantly changed in the last year due to the Covid-19 pandemic, many of our previous struggles may now be magnified and/or or new concerns and struggles may have surfaced which may be negatively impacting our daily functioning as well as our interpersonal relationships and interactions with others.

During these unprecedented times, it is completely normal that we may be experiencing an increase in anxiety as many things remain uncertain as we attempt to establish a “new normal”. As social distancing continues to be recommended as one of the main precautions to take in order to prevent further spread of Covid-19, many people are feeling isolated and disconnected from their social support system. With so much time passed and interactions with loved ones lost, people are experiencing an increase in symptoms of depression and anxiety. It is also not uncommon when a person has experienced previous trauma, that an increase in stress may re-trigger certain aspects of past trauma making it difficult to live in the present.  

What has been an added challenge during the pandemic is our inability to utilize our usual coping mechanisms for stress including meeting with family and friends, exercising at the gym/studio, attending events (such as concerts, fairs, sporting events, etc) and even going to work and/or school. We may even find ourselves engaging in less healthy habits as a means of coping with this stress, including increasing alcohol and/or substance use, engaging in emotional eating and increasing time on our devices. All of us are having to learn new coping skills in order to be able to work though this difficult time. Some of us may be more aware of the impact that this stress is having on us and our loved ones, while others may struggle to recognize how they may be affected by the pandemic. 

If you are experiencing any of the following it may be worth considering seeking professional assistance from a therapist:

-Excessive anxiety and worry that may be difficult to control

-Feelings of hopelessness and/or helplessness

-Loss of interest in activities that normally bring you pleasure

-Insomnia or significant changes in sleep patterns

-Feelings of worthlessness

-Diminished ability to think or concentrate

-Recurrent involuntary and intrusive distressing memories, dreams or thoughts

-Changes in reactivity and arousal (i.e. increased irritability, exaggerated startle response, hypervigilance)

-Persistent inability to experience positive emotions

-Increase in alcohol and/or substance use

-Thoughts of death and/or suicidal ideations

-Inability to find ways to cope with stress

-Impairments in social, interpersonal, occupational, or educational aspects of life

If you recognize the need for professional support, please do not allow the pandemic to interfere with seeking appropriate medical care. Most therapists and counselors are continuing to work from home offering telehealth in order to keep their communities safe. If you reside in the states of Florida and Illinois, please do not hesitate to reach out to me at Natasha@insighttelehealth.com or phone 941-329-6417 for an initial consultation.

Coming up: How to get the most out of your Telehealth therapy sessions