People around the globe are eagerly awaiting the end of the pandemic now that effective vaccines are in use and being distributed. Most of us are exhausted from lockdown and restricted activities. We miss the freedom and ease of life before the pandemic. We can sense the end nearing and wait with impatience.
But if we’re being honest, how quickly will life actually be able to return to normal? And what will normal even look like after we’ve lived through such a stressful time?
These questions are even more pressing for the many Americans who’ve experienced new, worsening, or relapsed addiction during the pandemic. Many lives have been deeply changed, not just inconvenienced.
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Adolescents live with an exuberant false sense of immortality that leads them to throw caution to the wind. It’s hard for them to see the point of wearing masks or distancing from their friends when they’re young and healthy. Here are some ideas to help you encourage them to follow CDC guidelines.
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Grief really does produce physical symptoms that leave you exhausted. Understanding these symptoms is important so you know what’s happening to yourself and how you can manage them.
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When you hear the words “individual resilience,” what comes to mind? What does it mean to you?
No matter what hardships and difficulties you’ve encountered in life, resiliency plays a crucial role in helping you move beyond them. While people may describe it differently, at its core, resiliency is being able to navigate hurdles and setbacks without giving up. It is a type of inner strength that helps you withstand the tough times and even come out stronger on the other side.
One of the beautiful things about resiliency is that it is a skill that you can nurture and grow. Even if you don’t think of yourself as a resilient person, you can find a way to become one.
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Mental health therapists are among the many professions that have had to rapidly pivot their services during the pandemic. While teletherapy wasn’t unheard of before COVID-19, its use has risen exponentially in the last year. This has had the remarkable effect of allowing people to get the support they need during an unprecedented time. Therapists and clients have been able to continue holding sessions, addressing anxiety and depression, and find healing as a result.
However, you may be wondering what you can do to make the most out of your telehealth therapy. Even though teletherapy is clinically proven to be as effective as in-person sessions, here are steps you can take to ensure you get the most out of it.
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It’s safe to say that the times we’re living in now are stressful for many, if not most, of us. The pandemic’s effects have been many. And, of course, life can be incredibly stressful whether or not a pandemic is in play. Employment or lack of it, health concerns, family demands, and so much more can weigh heavily on you.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, no matter the cause, it’s critical to take steps to reduce your stress. There are many helpful things you can do on your own. You can also consider reaching out to a therapist for telehealth sessions during this time.
As you learn how to reduce your own stress, you can also positively impact those around you.
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Many engaged couples choose to go through premarital counseling before the big day. Premarital counseling is designed to help you understand each other better. It gives you a chance to think through how you’ll handle conflicts and disagreements in the future. You’ll take time to delve into life goals and what each of you want from life — but premarital counseling might have had to wait until after quarantine time frames.
If you’re like many couples, you intended to begin or complete premarital counseling before the COVID pandemic began. But once it started, your premarital counseling sessions were put on hold in the interests of social distancing and public health. Perhaps you holed up together during the isolation and strangeness of this last year.
All that time together has likely changed your relationship in many ways. Because of this, premarital counseling after quarantine may look a lot different than it would have before the pandemic. Here are some things you might expect.
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If you’re a parent and you’ve survived this far along in the pandemic, please give yourself a giant congratulations. It hasn’t been easy. You’ve managed to help your children with remote learning for at least part of the school year, if not all of it.
You’ve probably been working remotely from home at the same time. Or you may have still been leaving the house to go to work but struggled to find care for your children who were learning from home.
All of this is a lot for anyone to handle. If you’re feeling stressed out and worn thinner than you can imagine, you’re not alone. It’s essential to remember to address your own self-care needs and to reach out for help if you need it. Here are a handful of self-care ideas for stressed parents.
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If you and your spouse are struggling through a rough time, you may be wondering if counseling can help. There are countless reasons that couples seek therapy, and chances are some of these apply to your situation. Reasons include major disagreements on finances and child-rearing, infidelity, growing apart, toxic relationship patterns — and more.
You may even be to the point in your marriage that you don’t know if things will work out. One or both of you may be ready to walk out the door. But you want to see if counseling can help.
No matter where you are in your marriage, understanding the different counseling types can be helpful. Let’s look at divorce vs. marriage counseling — and one in between.
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When you look back on your family’s experience through this last year of pandemic living, what stands out? How have you, as a couple or family unit, been able to manage the stress and uncertainty of these times?
The challenges of the last year have been many. One or both of you may have lost employment or contracted COVID-19. You may have lost friends and family to the disease. The enforced isolation may have taken a large toll on your partner or yourself. New mental health conditions, such as anxiety, depression, or addiction, might be looming over your life right now.
If you’re struggling to know how to help your partner navigate these new struggles, please know there are things you can do.
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If you have post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), the coronavirus pandemic may have changed how you can manage your symptoms. You may have felt an increase in your PTSD symptoms and found yourself more easily triggered than before.
Of course, the pandemic has created significant changes in the lives of many people. Restrictions and attempts to manage it have added stress and uncertainty on top of the everyday life stress. Anxiety over becoming ill with the virus, losing loved ones to the virus, or making ends meet after pandemic-related job losses are ongoing issues for millions. Enforced isolation often plays out as increased depression and anxiety.
If your PTSD symptoms have become increasingly overwhelming during the pandemic, please know that there are ways you can manage them during this time.
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Breaking up with a romantic partner can be one of the most challenging things you face in life. After all, your relationship formed because of your attraction and love for each other.
Depending upon how long you were together, you likely became each other’s closest friend and greatest comfort. When you weren’t at work, you were usually together. Evenings and weekends centered around your relationship and your life together. And with the pandemic restrictions of the last year, your time together probably became even more intense.
If your relationship has ended, whether through mutual agreement, infidelity, or growing apart, loneliness may be at the forefront of your mind. How will you fill the gaps left in your life now that your partner is gone?
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The world is eager to celebrate as we say goodbye to 2020 and welcome 2021. After all, it’s been a tough year — and having patience in the pandemic is no small feat.
But even though we are entering a new year, unfortunately, the pandemic itself doesn’t recognize dates on a calendar. It’s still here, along with the all-encompassing changes it brought with it.
If you’re like most, you’re doubtless growing impatient with the situation. In fact, you were probably tired of it a long, long time ago.
The arrival of effective vaccines for the coronavirus brings hope. Glimmers of change are on the horizon. How long do I have to practice being patient, you may wonder. You may question your ability to outlast these tough times. You’re ready to leap back into normalcy.
But common sense tells you that you need to hang in a bit longer while vaccines are administered and the harsh winter season passes. How can do you do this? Here are a few tips.
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Living with bipolar disorder can be incredibly painful. Whether you’re experiencing the highs of mania or the lows of depression, it can cause you to act in ways you later regret. You struggle to process your behavior and the consequences on your life and those you love.
At one point or another, everybody walks through the journey of grief and loss. And it’s probably safe to say that all people struggle with regrets. But when you’re bipolar, these losses and regrets take on their own flavor. After all, they often occur due to something largely out of your control: the cycles of bipolar disorder.
Many people just like you, though, have worked through these regrets and found healing. Here are a few steps that can help you, as well.
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If you’re like many parents, you may be struggling to figure out how to make the holidays special this year. You’re looking for parental support when it comes to navigating changing holidays. After all, the chances are good that they won’t be exactly as usual.
The pandemic has disrupted many traditional holiday activities. Concerts and performances are canceled or virtual. Big family gatherings likely won’t happen. Instead of enjoying a huge turkey dinner with your grandparents, you may be having a smaller meal at home. You get the picture.
But you still want to ensure that the holidays are special for your children. You want them to create good memories that will last for decades. Despite the pandemic, you can still make this happen. Creating new holiday traditions is an excellent way to start.
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The holidays hold so many emotions, so many expectations, and so many traditions and activities. If you have a new partner, you may be trying to figure out how to navigate the holidays.
How will the relationship affect your usual holiday activities? What expectations will there be for gift exchanges? Should you meet each other’s families if you haven’t already?
All of these factors can easily make you feel anxious. There’s always excitement and anticipation when you’re with someone new. But you don’t want to mess things up, either, and take steps too early. Likewise, you don’t want to make them feel left out. How do you figure out how to navigate the situation?
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