Dealing with depression while social distancing.
Depression is one of those things that can sneak up on us and turn our days into a battle of survival. Battling depression while coping with feelings of isolation and loneliness due to quarantines and social distancing is far from easy. When getting out of bed requires too much energy, Thriveworks Amherst wants you to know that we are here for you.
Remote therapy for depression is a way for you to connect with licensed, professional therapists while staying in the safety and comfort of your home. While we may often be comforted by the in-person presence of a therapist during these times of a threatening pandemic, online therapy can provide the support and comfort we need.
What Are the Symptoms of Depression?
Symptoms of depression have increased since the outbreak of Coronavirus. As more people are hunkering down in their home, they are becoming lonely and detached from the outside world. Hopelessness and defeat can start to sink in. Decreased activity and productivity can often lead to boredom and a sense of worthlessness. These states can also trigger depressive episodes.
Online therapy might be especially helpful if you are experiencing symptoms of depression such as:
- Feeling worthless
- Having no energy (may be called “lazy”)
- A loss of interest in things that used to bring you joy
- Mental fog (not thinking straight)
- Abnormal sleeping patterns (sleeping too much or too little)
- Unordinary eating habits (eating too much or too little)
- Irritability
- Changes in sex drive
- Feeling down or sad
- Suicidal thoughts or behavior
It’s common to think that what you’re experiencing “isn’t that bad”, or “other people have it worse. I shouldn’t complain.” Or even, “I should be strong enough to get through this on my own.”
It isn’t true that some cases of depression are “harder” or “more important” than others. If you have symptoms of depression- that’s hard enough! You deserve to be free of it.
When to Seek Online/Phone Therapy for Depression?
Speaking to a professional is a way to ease the pain of today by providing support, encouragement, and expert guidance in a safe and community driven way. Especially during the shelter-in-place and quarantine notices, online counseling is a great option for those who can’t or don’t want to leave their home. Listening to reputable health organizations and local governments is absolutely important during these times, so we are taking steps to make online therapy more accessible for everyone in the Western Mass area.
Speaking to one of our online therapists can help in a number of ways. The therapist or counselor can work with you in the following areas:
Help establish a new routine: The therapist can help identify activities and ways we can be productive at home. Using these opportunities to establish a new routine can decrease both boredom and establish a sense of worth.
Maintaining personal interaction: Regularly meeting with the counselor will be a way of connecting with another human being that is essential in getting through periods when we feel isolated. However, the therapist can also guide us to ways of regularly connecting with friends and loved ones via phone or internet.
Giving ourselves a break: Establishing new routines and/or connecting can with others in new ways. A therapist or counselor will teach cognitive techniques that help us resist urges to make negative self-statements and develop internal self-talk that will encourage and strengthen us.
What Is Online Counseling? How Can It Help?
In 1982 the first online counseling session was held as a self-help group. Since then, online counseling has expanded to encompass nearly everything a face-to-face therapy session can do. It is versatile, mobile, and entirely safe, and has many pros, including:
- Convenience:
You don’t even have to change out of your pajamas in an online counseling session.
- Confidential:
Online counseling sessions with Thriveworks Amherst are always secure and safe, just like a face-to-face therapy session is. In the wake of COVID-19, more and more people are using the internet at all times of the day. This does not affect the safety of our services, which include video conferencing, online chat, phone calls, and texting.
- Effective:
In some cases, online counseling can actually be more effective than face-to-face when treating depression. It is a very individualized thing, but the layers of anxiety and stigma that can surround therapy are often removed when it is done from a remote location. We strive to remove as many of those barriers as we can so that you can get on the fast track towards healing and growth.
If you are considering online counseling you can get to know our therapists in the Pioneer Valley and easily begin making an appointment here.
Not every day will be a good day, and that’s okay. What’s important is to get back up and keep trying. Sometimes, having an empathetic, nonjudgmental support system can help you get back on the path towards a happier, fulfilling life. Thriveworks Amherst is just here to show you the tools to do so. We accept most insurances for online counseling and depression. We also offer an affordable self-pay option.
