Controlling & Healing - COVID-19
Updated: May 15, 2020
What We Can Control About COVID-19 | By Lauren Ray, LPCA
As I’m writing to you, humanity is in uncharted waters.
For the first time ever, the entire state of Kentucky — and much of the world — has been asked to stay in our homes and self-isolate. We’ve been asked to engage in social distancing in order to stop the spread of COVID-19.
Self-isolation may bring up old pains & triggers for your mental health
For some of us, self-isolation comes an unprecedented amount of free time. And, unfortunately, many of us are now facing our deepest struggles. We're finally acknowledging some issues and concerns that we’ve placed on the back burner. These are way easier to ignore during the usual hectic pace of our lives. Many of us have unhealed wounds that are resurfacing. I’d bet that almost all of us are facing heightened anxiety and fear. Some of us may even feel the cold fingers of panic in the face of the reality that this disease has brought to our world.
There’s no doubt that everything occurring in the world right now is scary. And I mean, really scary! Therefore, it makes sense that you're having more anxious thoughts. But, as a therapist and someone who’s done a fair share of my own healing, I have a bit of a different perspective on “social distancing.”
Social distancing doesn't have to be lonely or lead to depression
These Spring 2020 stay-at-home orders don’t have to be lonely. Social distance doesn’t have to mean several weeks of uncontrollable worrying about the economy. Stressing about your child’s educational future. Or, anxiety about any of the five hundred other things that are legitimate and serious concerns during this time. Depression is not inevitable.
In fact, I believe with all of my heart that this time of increased isolation can be the perfect setting for your healing process to begin. This can be a time for you to learn how to cope with stress and to feel better than you ever have. You can find a way to use this time to your advantage.
How often have we said to ourselves, “When things slow down I’ll ________,” or “I wish I had more downtime so I could focus on _______.”
I’m telling you, NOW is that time.
The coronavirus outbreak can be a time of personal growth and emotional healing
Since we can’t control so many of the things happening around us right now, what if we focused on what we can control? What if we focused on our healing?
Our personal growth and healing are always within our control.
At this point, you may be wondering Is this really the time to be thinking about personal growth? That’s understandable. It’s easy to shut down when fear is looming on the horizon. We only want to think about the things we need to survive, to get through it, to make it. Just until things are "normal" again.
But, what if I told you that focusing on your personal growth would be exactly the thing that you needed to survive? The way to get through. The key to help you get back to normal faster.
Change your focus to improve your mental health
What you are focusing on matters. What you focus on grows. If you are focusing on how bad everything is, how scary, how uncertain, you will find your anxiety growing. Yet, in the midst of the fear, worry, and depression that social distancing has caused, you still have a choice. You CAN choose to focus on becoming the person that you have always wanted to be. By doing this, you will find that goal getting larger in your mind. You might even find that instead of just surviving COVID-19, you thrived. You tried something you were scared to do. Achieved something you didn’t think was possible. And, you became a better version of yourself through the unthinkable.
It’s possible.
It’s possible for YOU.
With that being said, let’s talk about online counseling in Kentucky.
Telehealth, Video Therapy or Online Counseling: A tool for healing during COVID 19
In this season, one unique opportunity that individuals can utilize for their healing and growth is online counseling (or “telehealth”).