PANDEMIC COUNSELING
Pandemics reshape everyday life.
A pandemic is a public health crisis that challenges our emotional, physical, social, and spiritual wellness. It is impossible to escape the impact of a pandemic, such as COVID-19, due to its far-reaching impact – from the home, to the workplace, and to the broader community. Pandemics are accompanied by devastating losses, the most significant being the loss of lives.
Examples of other losses during a pandemic include:
- Health
- Having a sense of security/safety
- Jobs, careers, or professional trajectories
- Homes and stable living spaces
- Socialization and/or contact as it was before the pandemic
- Entertainment
- Routines/traditions
- Finances
- Childcare
- Traditional school for children
- Special plans (vacations, weddings, gatherings with friends/family)
- Day-to-day “normalcy”
- Meaning and purpose
- Foreseeable future
Pandemics take a toll on mental health.
In addition to experiencing grief and loss, public health actions (such as wearing a mask and social distancing) may contribute to depression, anxiety, stress, and other mental health issues.
Some symptoms of depression and anxiety are:
- Sadness
- Sense of helplessness/hopelessness
- Loneliness
- Fears and worries
- Feeling “on edge”
- Difficulty sleeping
- Lack of motivation
- Fatigue
- Changes in sleep or eating patterns
- Difficulty with concentration
- Worsening of chronic health problems
- Suicidal ideation
Each individual experiences a pandemic in a unique way.
Responses to a pandemic range from healthy to unhealthy, and are based on may factors such as values and beliefs, level of social support, health, and sense of resiliency.
Factors that may contribute to struggles include:
- High levels of exposure to information and images from news and social media
- Being an essential worker, first responder, health care worker, teacher, or caregiver
- Being a member of vulnerable or high risk groups
- Reluctance in help-seeking
Counseling and therapy at Wellness Grove…
Our clinicians are competent in addressing the psychosocial impact of a pandemic. It is important to use that we can provide you with a space to process emotional reactions, explore the short-term and long-term ways that your life has been shaped, and strengthen your resilience. We take the highest levels of precautions to ensure the safety and well-being of our staff, clinicians, and clients. Reach out to discuss options for service delivery, to include telemental health sessions.
Our in-person (outpatient) counseling services are offered in Canton OH (near Akron, North Canton, and Massillon). We also offer telemental health sessions to all Ohio residents.
Wellness Grove
