Since the pandemic started, we have been overwhelmed with behavioral health needs. We have already spent a year away from our loved ones and nobody told us back in March that we would be away from our family for so long.
Most people were excited to start this new year with hopefully a clean slate. As optimistic as this sounds, we know that we are still in a pandemic and the world wasn’t going to change when the clock struck 12 at midnight. At this point in our pandemic journey, we are all overwhelmed and have reached a breaking point. We have found a surge in individuals feeling a new wave of depression and loneliness. It’s important to check in with yourself and your loved ones on how everyone is feeling during these times.
We encourage all individuals who are struggling with these emotions to seek professional help and know that they are not alone. Another common theme has been that many children have now been conditioned to be at home and we find many parents wondering why their children refuse to leave the home even for simple trips like doctor visits or grocery stores. Many children have now been accustomed to spending their time indoors with little social contact and like everything in life our brain becomes conditioned to what we subject it to. It’s important to know that it makes sense that being around people might bring up anxiety in children given how much time they have spent alone in the past year.
Continue to place emphasis on self-care whether that includes exercise, connecting with others even if it’s virtual, getting plenty of rest, and eating healthy meals. We need to continue to stay strong towards the last part of this pandemic. We are all hoping to return to normal soon and as vaccines are being given across the country, we can only hope it brings us back to a life we all took for granted at some point.
It’s important to recognize that the entire world is struggling, some more than others but to be easy on yourself and remember we are facing something nobody is prepared to face. We expect a large level of symptoms to begin to diminish once the pandemic ends. However, it is important to still be aware of your emotions and seek support as needed.
If you would like to schedule an appointment with one of our behavioral health providers, please call 844-599-3700.
