'We can't control the situation we are in but we can control the way we respond to it' say therapists
Clem and Margaret Turner are therapists from Sutton-in-Ashfield. Here they blog for ITV News Central on the mental health conditions they're seeing increase during the pandemic, and how we can control our responses to the unusual circumstances.
Isn’t is strange how life can change so suddenly and drastically? This is something we’ve all experienced recently.
Until 23 March we were seeing clients face to face in our therapy room, helping them with their problems and issues.
From that date, life changed for us as well, and we had to put out practice online. We had to learn how to use Zoom and WhatsApp with clients - it’s been a bit of a learning curve but it works really well.
Old clients have started to come back, as well as new ones, suffering from the following problems:
Panic attacks
Anxiety
Stress
Weight problems
Sleeping problems
Drinking excessive alcohol
Grieving for the life they used to have
Loneliness
And many more……
Existing clients are now dealing with two issues at once - their previousanxiety and stress problems, coupled with their concerns over catching Covid-19.
One of the reoccurring issues is the uncertainty of when the coronaviruspandemic will end.
There is anger, frustration, financial concerns and relationship problems,because people are locked down with wives, husbands and partners for a large amount of time.
When things have got back to normal and children go back toschool, some might not want to be parted from their parents because they have been with them every day.
The longer it goes on, the more people are going to be worried about going out in public, like to restaurants and pubs.
People made a great start, tackling things like home improvements, but now are at a bit of a loss.
If you don't occupy your mind with good things, you will find badthings to occupy your mind.
We had one man who would not get up in the morning and is frightened of the day.
He is now doing exercises and learning how to cook.
It is about changing the way we think about things.