Mental Health And COVID-19: How To Apply For Therapy During Lockdown

Most of us have suffered, and still are, through attempting to cope with the changes that COVID has brought upon us. Being under lockdown does not make life any easier. Many people developed mental issues like social anxiety and depression. And then there are those who already suffered from other mental illnesses before COVID and lockdown didn’t help, but they made things even more stressful. 

The lockdown also made it pretty difficult to carry on with therapy or apply for therapy, since one of the main reasons people are having anxiety is being physically close to people and either catching the virus or carrying it and, unintentionally, passing the virus on to the people they live with. But, let’s look at the bright side, which is that there is always a solution to every challenge and this where we come in. We will not give you therapy sessions, but we will help you understand how to apply for therapy during those difficult times of lockdown. 

Finding Your Therapist

It’s quite a challenge to find the therapist you feel comfortable talking to about your deepest insecurities. That’s understandable and ok, since there are many great therapists out there, but you don’t have to click with all of them. This “click” is hard to explain, but it’s this feeling you get when you meet the right therapist that you can easily talk to without feeling self-conscious about talking your heart out. It’s ok to see a therapist and decide s/he isn’t the one for you. The process may take a couple of therapists to finally meet the one you are ready to talk to freely and comfortably. Don’t let this discourage you. Always remember that you need therapy for better life quality, and you deserve the most comfortable life you need. Everything takes a little patience though, so always keep in mind that your mental health is very important and worth going through the process of trying out different therapists until you meet the one you feel comfortable enough to trust with your mental health. 

How to Meet the Therapist

Being in lockdown made a lot of people anxious to go out and meet people in person in fear of the pandemic, it is preferable that meet-ups be virtual. COVID-19 has proven to the world that almost everything can be done virtually; most businesses started being managed virtually, meeting your friends can be done virtually and having a therapy session can be done online as well. It may feel more personal when you and your therapist are in the same place, but technology has developed fast that people are now more used to texting and video calling than they used to, which makes virtual therapy sessions more acceptable and effective now. Video call applications have developed their quality greatly. Also, computer and smartphone cameras now have clear video images. It’s almost like you’re with the person you’re talking to. There are now many health organizations that offer online therapy. 

How To Apply for Online Therapy

You can find many websites and applications that offer online therapy. All you need to do is sign up and check the requirements needed for your online therapy session. The good news is that some therapists offer free therapy sessions, understanding how expensive psychiatrists, or psychologists, sessions may be. Adding to the fact that many people have either lost their businesses, their jobs or had huge salary cuts. This loss alone is enough reason to need therapy, and it is one of the many negative effects the pandemic has had on our lives. This is why many therapists offer free online sessions to help people cope with the many challenges this pandemic has forced us to face. 

Having mental health issues is stressful enough, mainly because people who suffer from mental health issues do not fully understand what they’re going through or why they’re going through it. COVID-19 has made things more difficult for people who already suffer from mental health issues, as well as been the cause of mental health issues to people who never suffered from any of these issues. The positive side to this is that now the world has become more open to accepting, and understanding, mental health patients. Mental illnesses are becoming more recognized as normal diseases that need treatment, just like any other disease. The idea that a mental illness patient is “mad” is fading away bit by bit. Not being ashamed or afraid to seek help when you need it is another milestone in helping others do the same, and for the whole world to have a better understanding of mental illnesses.