{"id":68084,"date":"2021-02-12T15:10:00","date_gmt":"2021-02-12T20:10:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.imperialcrs.com\/blog\/?p=68084"},"modified":"2023-12-09T05:27:11","modified_gmt":"2023-12-09T05:27:11","slug":"covid-vs-emotional-health-tips-to-helping-yourself-and-others","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.imperialcrs.com\/blog\/business-insights\/covid-vs-emotional-health-tips-to-helping-yourself-and-others\/","title":{"rendered":"COVID vs. Emotional Health: Tips to Helping Yourself and Others"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n

Life is full of experiences and responsibilities that cause stress, fear, and anxiety. If left unchecked, these stressors can lead to mental health struggles, which can become very severe. The COVID-19 pandemic has introduced collective stress across the globe, unlike anything we have seen before. Now more than ever, people are struggling through fear, anxiety, and worry far beyond life\u2019s typical stressors.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Professional therapist Bryan Nixon, MA, LPC,<\/a> founder of Mindful Counseling GR<\/a> in Grand Rapids, Michigan, talks about mental health in relation to the pandemic.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Bryan provides insight into the effects that the COVID-19 pandemic is having on our professional workforce, and how we can better understand when our concerns and fears may have crossed the line into something more serious, like depression or anxiety.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Q1: How has your typical day as a psychotherapist changed since the pandemic began? \u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

We have seen a huge increase in people reaching out. The original thought was COVID would be a few weeks, but that didn\u2019t happen. We are in the thick of it. It\u2019s been a sustained season of high anxiety with the news of the virus, and during a high-tension political year. Our practice has seen a spike in intake every month.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

On an existential level, there\u2019s a collective threat to our sense of safety. This collective trauma has normalized the need for therapy. Everybody can benefit from therapy, and the virus has amplified it. It\u2019s a blessing to be able to help others at this time.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Q2: Could you elaborate on this statement you made; \u201cHow you’ve learned to show up in the world is multifaceted, complex, and shaped by a lifetime of experience.\u201d? How has the pandemic shifted how we show up in the world as professionals?<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

We all have different patterns, different personality traits, or defense mechanisms. There are multifaced streams that flow into the ocean of who we are. At an early age, we develop our personality traits. Some are conscious and others are subconscious.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

When things get overwhelming, people become less present. As a response, they check out mentally and become less effective at their job. Their ability to tackle responsibilities since COVID has become more challenging. Others may become more aggressive. Some put their head in the sand and pretend it is not that bad. These are all unconscious coping mechanisms or patterns of relating to the world. \u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Q3: Let\u2019s talk about the emotional fatigue we might experience from isolation and living with COVID restrictions for so long. What are some tips to combat that fatigue?<\/strong> \u00a0<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

To put it in a different language, COVID fatigue is a function of our nervous system, which controls our unconscious behaviors. Our parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous systems are at work. The waves come along and trigger fight or flight, and introduce a surge of chemicals in our bodies. When the stressor is ongoing, our bodies cannot handle the influx of chemicals. \u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

People are feeling a measure of not being in control. Our bodies can go into a shutdown mode from dealing with cortisol, which is the fight-or-flight stress hormone in your body, for long. It looks like a lot like depression. You will see a lack of motivation and a sense of powerlessness. If it goes unchecked too long, it can lead to more serious issues.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

How we cope has a lot to do with how honest we can be with ourselves about how we are doing. We live in a culture that values independence, although we are wired by relationships. There can be shame around the sense of needing help. Finding the courage to reach out to a family member, a friend you feel safe with, or a professional practice is the first step. Sometimes other people can see what we cannot see.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Q4: The pandemic is the dominant news story everywhere and is a prominent topic on social media. Is it possible to get oversaturated with COVID-19 news and information?<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

It is not just possible, it\u2019s absolutely happening. With short news cycles and social media, it\u2019s a constant message of fear and it puts us right back into fight or flight mode. All this energy and information comes at us at an outrageous pace. It\u2019s important to set boundaries around what you allow yourself to take in terms of media and from the people you communicate with. \u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Some people talk about the pandemic nonstop to regulate their own nervous system. There\u2019s a sense of, if I talk about it, I will feel better. I\u2019d encourage people to set boundaries and confide in trusted friends to talk about how they\u2019re truly feeling. Limit intake. Figure out what self-care looks like for you.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

What is energetic and healing for you? Healing activities are things like physical exercise, meditation, or mindfulness practices.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Part of what causes so much anxiety is that our brains travel into the future and worry about things we cannot control. Mindfulness keeps you in the present. Breath is the anchor to the present moment. You are breathing now in this moment. Take a moment to listen and feel your breath. Notice your sensations and try to be patient. If you try to focus on your breath, and if you notice your brain is thinking about the future, acknowledge this and move on. This is a technique that can calm someone who is feeling anxious.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Q5: Lockdowns, working from home, and distance learning are examples of restrictions that can create stressful challenges. What signs should someone look for to identify whether normal stress has become something more serious like depression or anxiety?<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Sometimes it helps to ask another person, \u201cHow do you think I am doing?\u201d Direct feedback from someone you feel safe with can be a good way to check-in.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

You can also look at how your life feels.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n