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COVID-19

March 22, 2020 at 7:19 pm · · Comments Off on COVID-19

COVID-19

Infectious diseases, like any life stressor, can challenge the way we cope. Learning about disasters on the news, from family or personal experience can evoke negative feelings, fears and anxiousness regarding   our personal safety. We experience increase worry about our family, friends, colleagues, and the community. Stressful events are also known to bring up memories of past traumatic events thereby compounding the distress that we already feel.

The Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) is one such infectious illness that currently poses significant risk to public health. It is important to remember that it is normal to be emotionally affected by these events and that there are steps we can take to help us cope.

While people vary in their response to a crisis, like that of COVID-19, it is likely that more people will see impacts on their mental health and well being, rather than actual physical illness. Persons vulnerable to react more strongly to the threat of a crisis include:

• Older people and people with chronic diseases who are at higher risk for COVID-19,
• Children and teens,
• People who are helping with the response to COVID-19, such as doctors, nurses, other health care providers, and first responders,
• Persons who have mental health conditions including problems with substance use,
• Persons who tend to worry – particularly about their health, or who have experienced a previous or recent traumatic event,
• Persons who live alone or have few social supports.

Please be mindful to care for yourself, friends, and family to help ameliorate the stress overload, and help enhance a stronger community.  Staying informed and taking guidance from experts to help you most accurately assess your personal risk of getting physically sick can help; or consulting expert sources such as infectious disease practitioners, family physicians or nurse practitioners, public health hotlines, or government websites.

Additional Resources:

nCOV and Stress

COVID-19 Coping Strategies

www.gov.bm/coronavirus#

Bermuda Government: https://www.gov.bm/health-information
World Health Organization: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019
US Centers for Disease Control: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/index.html

 

Dealing with the Fear of the Unpredictable

 

 

 

Teens and COVID-19

March 22, 2020 at 6:52 pm · · Comments Off on Teens and COVID-19

Teens and COVID-19

Taking care of your family:
The threat of illness can be particularly upsetting to children and teens. Children and teens react, in part,
to what they see from the adults around them. When parents and caregivers deal with the COVID-19
calmly and confidently, they can provide the best support for their children.
There are many things you can do to support your child or teen
• Give them the opportunity to talk about their concerns about the outbreak, tell them the truth,
reassure them, and let them know they can count on you.
• Let them know it is ok if they feel upset or scared and talk to them about ways to cope with their
feelings.
• Limit your family’s exposure to news coverage of the event, including social media.
• Try to keep up with regular routines to the extent possible. If schools are closed, create a schedule for
learning activities and relaxing or fun activities; if organized activities are cancelled, try to engage in
the activity (or an adaptation of the activity) at home.
If you notice that your child or teen’s behaviour has changed significantly, discuss the situation with
them.

Behavioural changes (listed below) may suggest a need to contact a regulated health care professional for additional help:
• Excessive crying or irritation in younger children
• Returning to behaviors they have outgrown (for example, toileting accidents or bedwetting)
• Changes in sleeping patterns (too much or too little) or appetite (eating too much or too little)
• Excessive worry or sadness
• Unhealthy eating or sleeping habits
• Irritability and “acting out” behaviors in teens
• Poor school performance or avoiding school
• Difficulty with attention and concentration
• Avoidance of activities enjoyed in the past
• Unexplained headaches or body pain
• Use of alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs

( 2020 Canadian Psychological Association)

Additional Resources:

Children’s Booklet on Covid-19

www.nytimes.com/2020/03/02/well/family/coronavirus-teenagers-anxiety.html

Bermuda Government: https://www.gov.bm/health-information

World Health Organization: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019

US Centers for Disease Control: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/index.html

nCOV and Stress

Dealing with the Fear of the Unpredictable

 

What to Expect in Psychotherapy

November 9, 2017 at 2:29 am · · Comments Off on What to Expect in Psychotherapy

What to Expect in Psychotherapy

Dr. K. P. Lanthier, C.Psych.

People attend psychotherapy to learn how to understand the thoughts, feelings and behaviors that repeatedly cause them problems. Psychotherapy is about learning to cope rather than an emphasis on a cure. Understanding your own feelings, conflicts and the way you react will increase self-esteem, self-confidence and control. How well you achieve these goals will be one measure of satisfaction with your psychotherapy.

There can be a degree of trial and error in psychotherapy when choosing the best clinical modality relevant to your psychological distress. Certain models of therapy are designed for certain problems. There is no guarantee that treatment will work. Psychotherapy can be discussed in terms of short-term (12-20 sessions), crisis management (2-3 sessions) or long-term (12-24) months or open-ended. If you are considering ending therapy, it is important to discuss this with your therapist. It is common courtesy, and a predetermined last session can be arranged, to facilitate a proper closure.

Sometimes, after attending three or four sessions, individuals question whether they should continue receiving help. You may consider dropping out during this period. It is imperative to discuss these concerns with your therapist.

Psychotherapy is designed to have you look at things you tend to avoid on a day to day basis. You may see yourself in many uncomfortable or surprising ways. Treatment can evoke anxiety, sadness and depression at times. This is not a sign that treatment is not working.   Therapy can be hard. Typically, you will set the theme for the session. However, in the initial couple of visits, your therapist will be more active in the treatment gathering historical data about your life and presenting issues. This is termed the assessment phase. Then there will be more listening than talking. You may interpret this as a lack of interest or understanding. To the contrary, your therapist will be with you the whole way. To some degree, the usual ‘give and take’ format of conversation is dispensed with in therapy sessions. It is more one sided than your other relationships. This is an important strategy that facilitates the therapeutic process. The relationship is protected by important modes of conduct and boundaries. This can stir up positive and negative feelings within an individual. Often the feelings are linked to past life experiences.

Typically, advice giving and personal opinions are not shared with the patient/client to promote understanding and self-determination of one’s own actions. Attention is drawn to possible patterns of behavior that contribute to one’s difficulty. Openness and honesty about one’s thoughts, feelings and beliefs are essential to assist your therapist in understanding possible recurring themes. Homework assignments might be apart of the treatment plan or processing session material is expected to continue beyond the therapy hour.

Expect to have a variety of reactions toward your therapist. You may have doubt, distrust, anger or even feel attracted to your therapist. These emotions are common, yet can be difficult and embarrassing. It is important to have an open discussion that will likely lead to greater self-understanding. Professional practitioners are trained to tolerate envy, dissatisfaction, aggression or admiration from their clients. It is usually viewed in the context of the past influencing the present dynamics of the current situation. Physical violence and property destruction are not tolerated during the therapy hour.

Sometimes people drop out of treatment for fear of dependency upon the therapist. It is natural to miss your therapist when they are not available. Therapy is a great opportunity to learn how to depend on someone while maintaining one’s own autonomy and independence. As treatment draws to a closure, discuss any underlying fears about ending the therapeutic relationship. You and your therapist can work out a plan to minimize the impact of the loss.

What to expect in psychotherapy? Time is required to build trust with your therapist. Time is needed to share one’s deepest thoughts and emotions. Time is needed to learn any new skill. Time is needed to practice that new skill in areas of sports, school, work, or interpersonal engagement. Psychotherapy can be time consuming, while emotional problems, mental illness or stress can be debilitating. Take that first step today. Get professional assistance for your emotional needs and wellness.  You may also find helpful reading https://psychcentral.com/lib/therapists-spill-10-tips-for-making-the-most-of-therapy/.