Uncertainty about the future and anxiety don’t mix well. I watched the news the other night and heard dates ranging from this May to sometime in 2022 for when this whole thing would end. This highlights a truth about anxiety. Living in limbo is more stressful than knowing what’s coming next. There is no rhythm to life right now. How many times have you heard someone say, “I’ve lost all track of time and have no idea what day it is.” And how many people are struggling with being thrown into the role of homeschooling their children, feeling unprepared and wondering if there is enough patience to make it until the end of May. How many people are working from home and miss the camaraderie of the office or simply don’t feel nearly as efficient or productive.Īnd to make matters worse, we don’t know when the world might shift back toward normal. For most of us, however, the days, now weeks, of isolation are taking their toll on even the most introverted of personalities. The lack of close contact with extended family and friends, as well as the lack of contact with coworkers and our church homes, only exacerbate the stress. There is the direct stress of being sick or having a family member who is ill.
The current worldwide health crisis most definitely qualifies as increased, unusual stress. Isolation and depression simply don’t mix. I am particularly concerned about those who struggle with depression and anxiety because so many of the things we are being asked to do to help stop the spread of the virus - increased time alone, lack of exposure to support systems such as friends and faith community and no access to hobbies that take you out of your home - are the opposite of what you would recommend for someone struggling with a mood disorder. Some of the stress is really mere inconvenience. For example, I am ready to be able to eat at Carambas again. In March, the strategic, long-term goal of slowly introducing telehealth counseling options quickly turned into a short-term, immediate need. The coronavirus placed Centers in a position of needing to find an effective way of still meeting clients’ needs, while at the same time adhering to local, state and federal guidelines for distancing. Thanks to the efforts of many Centers’ staff, our agency counselors are all now working from home and are equipped to provide both phone and video conferencing for the families we serve. CanvaĬenters (formerly Centers for Children and Families) has provided counseling and mental health support for individuals and families for more than 60 years. In recent months, we have started conversations about expanding our services to include telehealth support. We know this is becoming a much more common practice, especially in large metropolitan areas, as well as some very rural, remote locations. We prefer to meet with clients in person and find that format to be most effective, but also understand technology, to some extent, is driving the field of counseling and mental health in a telehealth direction. STOCK PHOTO: Whether you consider your mental health need great or small, Centers encourages you to call and request a meeting with one of their counselors.