Among other things, the emotional impact of the coronavirus outbreak is unprecedented in many of our lives. The COVID-19 global pandemic is a new experience for everyone, and there are multiple ways that it may be impacting you and your loved ones. Getting support for your emotional and mental health needs right now is a priority so that you can make it through the next few months. Managing your overwhelm, your anxiety or depression, and your grief will help you be available and supportive for yourself, your friends, and your other family members during this difficult time. Online counseling may be the answer for you to get your own emotional needs met right now.
What is Online Counseling?
Online counseling, also called teletherapy or telehealth, is an easy, convenient way to do therapy with a professional counselor while staying home and staying safe. There are many things that online therapy can help you with during the coronavirus outbreak. Depending on your temperament, history, and current situation, you may be feeling more anxious or worried, amplified sadness or depression, increased frustration and anger, or just feeling overwhelmed with everything. You’re not sure how to feel better because you don’t know when things are going to change, or get better. Consider engaging in online counseling for extra support, strategies to help you cope with your emotions, and skills to learn about how to start feeling better. Here are a few things that online therapy can help you with:
Anxiety
Anxiety, at its most basic level, is fear of the unknown. And we are living in a world that is completely changed from even just a month ago. We don’t know what is going to happen or change tomorrow, we don’t know how bad this pandemic will be or how it will affect us and others, and we feel powerless to change or control it. Online counseling for anxiety can help you explore your fears, learn coping skills for your anxiety, and change your negative thought patterns so that you can feel some relief from your anxiety.
Worry
Perhaps your anxiety isn’t over the coronavirus itself or what will happen, but it’s more worry about your more vulnerable family members, friends, and colleagues. You may still have parents living that fall into the over-60 category, or maybe yourself or a family member has other medical issues that make them more vulnerable to the virus. Processing your worry and figuring out how to manage it, so it’s not managing you, through online counseling can be calming and helpful.
Depression
If you are prone to depression, or live by yourself, this is a particularly challenging time for you. Likely you are working from home, if you do have a job at all, and rarely seeing other people in person is causing you to feel down. Social connection with others is a basic human need, and the longer you go without it, the more your mood will be affected. You can use online therapy for depression treatment to help break this cycle and connect in a meaningful way with a skilled, understanding counselor. You don’t have to isolate yourself completely from others.
Stress
We have all had to adjust very quickly to a new way of life. Maybe you’re now dealing with trying to work from home in a corner in your bedroom while your partner works in another bedroom corner, while caring for two young kids and helping them manage remote learning for school (ahem, like me…). Or perhaps you are an essential worker and are still going into work, but the panic and concern over you catching the virus is becoming more and more stressful. Whatever your reason, we are all stressed right now, and online counseling for stress management can help you identify your stressors, normalize your feelings, and find home to help you balance your life again.
Grief
In so many ways we are grieving losses right now. We are grieving the loss of our normal lives, of safety and security, and of our freedom. Acknowledging your grief and processing through it is an important step in being able to manage the chaos and overwhelm right now. Online counseling for grief and loss can help you to make sense of your world, understand what you are grieving and how to get through the process. You don’t have to grieve alone.
The emotional impact of the coronavirus pandemic is unprecedented. We are all having to scramble to figure out our lives, and we could all use a little extra support right now. Online counseling is a great option to help process anxiety, worry, depression, stress, and grief during this uncertain and challenging time.
How to Access Online Therapy with Catalyss Counseling
If you’re interested in how the caring therapists at Catalyss Counseling can provide you with online counseling, contact us for a free 20-minute phone consultation or book directly online with an available therapist. We can help you get through this crisis time with compassion and understanding.
Author Biography
Shannon Heers is a psychotherapist, guest blogger, and owner of Catalyss Counseling in Englewood, CO. Shannon helps adults in professional careers manage anxiety, depression, work-life balance, and grief and loss. Follow Catalyss Counseling on LinkedIn and Facebook.