Mental health professionals know what you have been quietly suspecting since mid-March—as hard as you may try, you are not equipped to expertly handle being a full-time employee, parent, spouse, homeschool teacher, household manager, caretaker, and a good citizen all at once.
For most, the first few weeks of quarantine seemed manageable. In the beginning, we decided that if staying safe in our homes, albeit stressful at times, for a few weeks is the worst we endure during this pandemic, we are lucky. Then the days went on. And on. No one has been immune from the unknowns about COVID-19 and the pressures of being in quarantine. Asking, “How much longer until I crack?” is inevitable. (That is if you have not already.)
Venting to a family member who is within arm’s reach most likely is not the solution to easing your anxiety right now, particularly if that person is among the reasons you need to vent. If the thought of starting, or restarting therapy has crossed your mind, there is no need to wait until the country re-hangs its “open for business” sign. All you need is a laptop or cellphone and a comfy spot on your sofa.
Telehealth is an emerging service in the mental health industry, and Dallas Therapeutic Services is at its forefront. “We offer telehealth services year-round in our practice, but in the past few weeks, it has become 90 percent of our business,” says Apree Clicque, a licensed professional counselor with Dallas Therapeutic Services. “No one is immune to the emotional effects of this pandemic or quarantine and their impact on one’s mental health. With so much uncertainty ahead, seeking professional help is an effective way to help manage anxiety and depression.”
Telehealth services are conducted just like an in-person therapy session. The only difference is that everything takes place via a device, such as a laptop or a cellphone. Once you are logged in and connected, the session can begin. Dallas Therapeutic Services sends each patient detailed, thorough instruction about how to log in prior to the session to patients know what to expect.
Here, Clicque addresses some of the fears and feelings you and your family members may be experiencing during the COVID-19 pandemic and what can be done to help manage all the emotions and stresses that have accumulated since the initial shelter-in-place order was given.
Anxiety and depression can sneak up on children. These feelings usually manifest as behavioral issues. Children are missing their routines, their friends, and the daily entertainment value they get from school or daycare where they are occupied and stimulated. Parents may think what they are seeing is rebellious behavior or assume they aren’t listening or purposefully not following the rules, when what the kids are really feeling are confusion and depression. Then parents punish them, which perpetuates the cycle because the actual issues are not being addressed.
Younger children all of a sudden seem to have more energy. That is because their routines are disrupted, and the stimulation they get from school and playing with friends is missing. This results in rougher play, later bedtimes because they aren’t tired, and tantrums over things they may not normally be affected by. Therefore, it’s important to go outside a few times a day so they can play and to establish routines that keep them engaged and busy. Some kids may become clingier, want to be cuddled more, or ask to sleep in your bedroom. They may not understand what the virus is, but they understand things are different, which may result in them feeling anxious and acting out. Parents are surprised to know that we offer play therapy for children via telehealth. Parents can come in and out of the session, but the focus remains on the child, just as it would during an in-person play therapy session.
We are seeing a big spike in anxiety and depression across the board, including parents. At about the fourth week, more people started to notice a feeling of hopelessness. We are getting bored. At first, it was fun to imagine having all this time to get things done around the house, play with our kids, or try new things. But it is only natural that we have become lonelier and more stressed as time goes on. We are hearing about more children being abused, and some parents are noticing they get angrier faster and snap at their kids quickly. People are not meant to be in insolation. When a family is stuck together in a small space trying to get work done, and school completed, plus keep up with cooking and household chores while keeping everyone entertained, tensions will rise. These are too many roles for one person to handle. No one was meant to be a full-time parent, a full-time employee, and a caretaker all day, every day.
With most teenagers, the idea of going to therapy is embarrassing. By nature, many are resistant to talking to someone they don’t know about their problems. Telehealth has been great for teens because it is delivered in a manner they understand, like FaceTime, Zoom, or Skype. Some of my teen patients have taken me on virtual tours of their bedrooms or favorite spots in the house or have shown me their pets. Sometimes, it’s good for the parent to sit in the first session or two, but eventually, my teen patients are more than fine with having that session to themselves so we can work through the anxiety and frustration they are feeling to come up with different ways to cope with the losses they have experienced.
Being alone for too long under any circumstance can lead to feelings of isolation and depression. It may have been fun the first couple of weeks, realizing you now have time to cook for yourself and clean the house. But at some point, you run out of things to do, and depression starts to creep in because you feel so isolated. Some signs of this are sleeping more, being less productive at work, and having prolonged anxious thoughts. At first, virtual happy hours via Zoom and other platforms felt encouraging and fun. But it is just not the same. I’ve heard from my clients that they enjoyed them at first—go grab a cup of coffee or a glass of wine and login—but now more people are getting fed up with it because it’s just one more Zoom call when you’ve had so many all day at work. It’s not filling the void. Because of this, some people are starting to break quarantine because they are lonely, which is concerning because that can perpetuate a different issue.
Many of us are going to bed later because we know we don’t have to get up early for our daily commute to work or to get the kids off to school. We are losing out on daily exercise simply by reducing the daily activity of coming and going. Our rhythms are off. When we are anxious, we release cortisol into the bloodstream, which affects sleep. Sometimes, staying in bed for a few days, like when we are sick, can have a regenerative effect. But after a while, it can cause us to feel more anxious, increase lethargy, and have a negative impact on one’s health.
I liken our feelings during this time to what is going on with flattening the curve for COVID-19. Depending on how long this lasts, eventually, you are going to start experiencing some of these psychological effects. The earlier you seek therapy, the faster you can build some immunity to the stress and learn coping skills. We can talk about all the potential things that could happen and start developing a plan for how you will handle them when and if they occur.
That way, if you get to that point, there are fewer surprises. Therapy is a great way to connect with someone other than a spouse or a family member—someone else to talk to during the week you can vent to and who can give appropriate feedback. We offer almost every service through telehealth that we do in our office, including group therapy, play therapy, and EMDR.
Absolutely. If you are thinking you will wait for an in-person therapy session when this passes, then it could be the fall or later before you get help. That’s a long time to put a Band-Aid on something. If you find a private space at home in a quiet location, it will be very similar to an in-person session. I have had clients go to their closets or even to their cars. We already know how to FaceTime or Skype. There is really nothing more to learn. It’s a simple login process, and we can walk you through it in our initial email. If anything, a telehealth appointment is easier because you aren’t commuting back and forth to a doctor’s office.
We are taking new clients and encouraging people who have been tentative about therapy to try it during this complex time. We have 12 therapists, including two who speak Spanish, on staff who specialize in a wide range of types of therapy for patients of all ages. We also have therapists who specialize in LGBTQ+ issues, as well as those with special training in counseling medical professionals and first responders. We accept insurance and have noticed that many insurance providers are temporarily paying 100 percent of mental health services, even the co-pay, and deductibles.
It is important to make sure you have a good support system in place. It’s also important to find alternative ways to feel useful and make connections, such as safely volunteering. We have had several clients turn their talents and hobbies into ways that can help others, such as making medical masks or delivering food through Meals-on-Wheels. Other things we recommend:
I always tell people, myself included, that you can’t compare what you’re feeling to what others are going through. The stories are too unique. This is an unprecedented time we are experiencing. It is normal to feel all kinds of ways—sad, guilty, afraid, or maybe even happy. We get so caught up in needing to always put on the right face that it feels inauthentic. Being honest and vulnerable with others about how this or anything is affecting you pushes into those emotions and lets us find relief and lets others feel safe to do the same! Just like we learned in school; if you are thinking it, someone else is too. Someone just has to say it first.
This is going to have widespread effects. Relationships and marriages will be at risk as people experience new sides to their partners. Parental relationships will be strained. It will take a long time for kids to get back into a schedule and for teenagers to get used to going back to school. There will also be disappointment for kids who were looking forward to things that may not happen, such as graduations. All of this is on top of general anxiety about staying healthy, finances, and jobs. All these problems have been here on some level, but never at this magnitude as a result of shutting down a country. People are going to be nervous, more hesitant, and panicked. A fear has been introduced that hasn’t existed before, and it’s hard to know how to handle that, which is where therapy can come in.
Dallas Therapeutic Services, based in Irving, is composed of 12 Licensed Professional Counselors and Licensed Clinical Social Workers who specialize in a variety of mental health services, including individual therapy, group therapy, play therapy, animal therapy, and EMDR, among other, for patients of all ages. The practice accepts most insurance plans and offers convenient telehealth hours to accommodate a variety of schedules, including evenings and weekends. To schedule a telehealth appointment, call 214-940-9089 or email [email protected]. To learn more, visit dallastherapeutic.com.
For most, the first few weeks of quarantine seemed manageable. In the beginning, we decided that if staying safe in our homes, albeit stressful at times, for a few weeks is the worst we endure during this pandemic, we are lucky. Then the days went on. And on. No one has been immune from the unknowns about COVID-19 and the pressures of being in quarantine. Asking, “How much longer until I crack?” is inevitable. (That is if you have not already.)
Venting to a family member who is within arm’s reach most likely is not the solution to easing your anxiety right now, particularly if that person is among the reasons you need to vent. If the thought of starting, or restarting therapy has crossed your mind, there is no need to wait until the country re-hangs its “open for business” sign. All you need is a laptop or cellphone and a comfy spot on your sofa.
No one was meant to be a full-time parent, a full-time employee, and a caretaker all day, every day.
Telehealth is an emerging service in the mental health industry, and Dallas Therapeutic Services is at its forefront. “We offer telehealth services year-round in our practice, but in the past few weeks, it has become 90 percent of our business,” says Apree Clicque, a licensed professional counselor with Dallas Therapeutic Services. “No one is immune to the emotional effects of this pandemic or quarantine and their impact on one’s mental health. With so much uncertainty ahead, seeking professional help is an effective way to help manage anxiety and depression.”
Telehealth services are conducted just like an in-person therapy session. The only difference is that everything takes place via a device, such as a laptop or a cellphone. Once you are logged in and connected, the session can begin. Dallas Therapeutic Services sends each patient detailed, thorough instruction about how to log in prior to the session to patients know what to expect.
Here, Clicque addresses some of the fears and feelings you and your family members may be experiencing during the COVID-19 pandemic and what can be done to help manage all the emotions and stresses that have accumulated since the initial shelter-in-place order was given.
Is it possible for younger children to be depressed or anxious during quarantine since they are usually at home with their families anyway?
Anxiety and depression can sneak up on children. These feelings usually manifest as behavioral issues. Children are missing their routines, their friends, and the daily entertainment value they get from school or daycare where they are occupied and stimulated. Parents may think what they are seeing is rebellious behavior or assume they aren’t listening or purposefully not following the rules, when what the kids are really feeling are confusion and depression. Then parents punish them, which perpetuates the cycle because the actual issues are not being addressed.
What are signs of stress and anxiety I should look for in my younger children?
Younger children all of a sudden seem to have more energy. That is because their routines are disrupted, and the stimulation they get from school and playing with friends is missing. This results in rougher play, later bedtimes because they aren’t tired, and tantrums over things they may not normally be affected by. Therefore, it’s important to go outside a few times a day so they can play and to establish routines that keep them engaged and busy. Some kids may become clingier, want to be cuddled more, or ask to sleep in your bedroom. They may not understand what the virus is, but they understand things are different, which may result in them feeling anxious and acting out. Parents are surprised to know that we offer play therapy for children via telehealth. Parents can come in and out of the session, but the focus remains on the child, just as it would during an in-person play therapy session.
How has the shelter-in-place order affected parents?
We are seeing a big spike in anxiety and depression across the board, including parents. At about the fourth week, more people started to notice a feeling of hopelessness. We are getting bored. At first, it was fun to imagine having all this time to get things done around the house, play with our kids, or try new things. But it is only natural that we have become lonelier and more stressed as time goes on. We are hearing about more children being abused, and some parents are noticing they get angrier faster and snap at their kids quickly. People are not meant to be in insolation. When a family is stuck together in a small space trying to get work done, and school completed, plus keep up with cooking and household chores while keeping everyone entertained, tensions will rise. These are too many roles for one person to handle. No one was meant to be a full-time parent, a full-time employee, and a caretaker all day, every day.
How can I help my teenager and/or college student who must come to terms with the loss of special milestones and celebrations with friends, family, teachers, and classmates?
With most teenagers, the idea of going to therapy is embarrassing. By nature, many are resistant to talking to someone they don’t know about their problems. Telehealth has been great for teens because it is delivered in a manner they understand, like FaceTime, Zoom, or Skype. Some of my teen patients have taken me on virtual tours of their bedrooms or favorite spots in the house or have shown me their pets. Sometimes, it’s good for the parent to sit in the first session or two, but eventually, my teen patients are more than fine with having that session to themselves so we can work through the anxiety and frustration they are feeling to come up with different ways to cope with the losses they have experienced.
How are people who live alone affected by social distancing and being quarantined?
Being alone for too long under any circumstance can lead to feelings of isolation and depression. It may have been fun the first couple of weeks, realizing you now have time to cook for yourself and clean the house. But at some point, you run out of things to do, and depression starts to creep in because you feel so isolated. Some signs of this are sleeping more, being less productive at work, and having prolonged anxious thoughts. At first, virtual happy hours via Zoom and other platforms felt encouraging and fun. But it is just not the same. I’ve heard from my clients that they enjoyed them at first—go grab a cup of coffee or a glass of wine and login—but now more people are getting fed up with it because it’s just one more Zoom call when you’ve had so many all day at work. It’s not filling the void. Because of this, some people are starting to break quarantine because they are lonely, which is concerning because that can perpetuate a different issue.
I feel more tired during quarantine, even though I’m doing less and napping more. Why?
Many of us are going to bed later because we know we don’t have to get up early for our daily commute to work or to get the kids off to school. We are losing out on daily exercise simply by reducing the daily activity of coming and going. Our rhythms are off. When we are anxious, we release cortisol into the bloodstream, which affects sleep. Sometimes, staying in bed for a few days, like when we are sick, can have a regenerative effect. But after a while, it can cause us to feel more anxious, increase lethargy, and have a negative impact on one’s health.
I don’t feel as anxious as others are reporting. How can therapy benefit me if I’m not even sure what I’m feeling during this crisis?
The earlier you seek therapy, the faster you can build some immunity to the stress and learn coping skills.
I liken our feelings during this time to what is going on with flattening the curve for COVID-19. Depending on how long this lasts, eventually, you are going to start experiencing some of these psychological effects. The earlier you seek therapy, the faster you can build some immunity to the stress and learn coping skills. We can talk about all the potential things that could happen and start developing a plan for how you will handle them when and if they occur.
That way, if you get to that point, there are fewer surprises. Therapy is a great way to connect with someone other than a spouse or a family member—someone else to talk to during the week you can vent to and who can give appropriate feedback. We offer almost every service through telehealth that we do in our office, including group therapy, play therapy, and EMDR.
Are the results of a telehealth therapy session as good as a one-on-one therapy session?
Absolutely. If you are thinking you will wait for an in-person therapy session when this passes, then it could be the fall or later before you get help. That’s a long time to put a Band-Aid on something. If you find a private space at home in a quiet location, it will be very similar to an in-person session. I have had clients go to their closets or even to their cars. We already know how to FaceTime or Skype. There is really nothing more to learn. It’s a simple login process, and we can walk you through it in our initial email. If anything, a telehealth appointment is easier because you aren’t commuting back and forth to a doctor’s office.
Do I need to be an established patient to receive telehealth therapy services?
We are taking new clients and encouraging people who have been tentative about therapy to try it during this complex time. We have 12 therapists, including two who speak Spanish, on staff who specialize in a wide range of types of therapy for patients of all ages. We also have therapists who specialize in LGBTQ+ issues, as well as those with special training in counseling medical professionals and first responders. We accept insurance and have noticed that many insurance providers are temporarily paying 100 percent of mental health services, even the co-pay, and deductibles.
In addition to therapy through telehealth, what are some ways that I can cope on my own as we all progress through dealing with COVID-19?
It is important to make sure you have a good support system in place. It’s also important to find alternative ways to feel useful and make connections, such as safely volunteering. We have had several clients turn their talents and hobbies into ways that can help others, such as making medical masks or delivering food through Meals-on-Wheels. Other things we recommend:
- Establish a daily structured routine. This will look different from the one you are used to, so think of things you can add in to fill the time and give you a sense of purpose.
- Exercise, even if it’s just taking a walk around the block. We aren’t getting the same kind of stimulation that we do when we are out in public. It’s important to get out of the house.
- Start and maintain a good sleep schedule for mental and physical health.
- Avoid alcohol and other vices. There have been reports in a spike in alcohol consumption during this time. Alcohol can adversely impact your daily function, mood, sleep, and health.
- Practice some form of meditative exercise. There are a lot of apps for this now, which make it easy and convenient.
- Yes, Netflix is there and is tempting, but reading is good for the body and mind.
I feel like my problems and disappointments related to COVID-19 are small in comparison to what others are experiencing. Is it OK for me to still express my sadness when others have lost more?
I always tell people, myself included, that you can’t compare what you’re feeling to what others are going through. The stories are too unique. This is an unprecedented time we are experiencing. It is normal to feel all kinds of ways—sad, guilty, afraid, or maybe even happy. We get so caught up in needing to always put on the right face that it feels inauthentic. Being honest and vulnerable with others about how this or anything is affecting you pushes into those emotions and lets us find relief and lets others feel safe to do the same! Just like we learned in school; if you are thinking it, someone else is too. Someone just has to say it first.
How do you recommend coping with life after the shutdown and quarantine, knowing it will be so much different than before?
This is going to have widespread effects. Relationships and marriages will be at risk as people experience new sides to their partners. Parental relationships will be strained. It will take a long time for kids to get back into a schedule and for teenagers to get used to going back to school. There will also be disappointment for kids who were looking forward to things that may not happen, such as graduations. All of this is on top of general anxiety about staying healthy, finances, and jobs. All these problems have been here on some level, but never at this magnitude as a result of shutting down a country. People are going to be nervous, more hesitant, and panicked. A fear has been introduced that hasn’t existed before, and it’s hard to know how to handle that, which is where therapy can come in.
Dallas Therapeutic Services, based in Irving, is composed of 12 Licensed Professional Counselors and Licensed Clinical Social Workers who specialize in a variety of mental health services, including individual therapy, group therapy, play therapy, animal therapy, and EMDR, among other, for patients of all ages. The practice accepts most insurance plans and offers convenient telehealth hours to accommodate a variety of schedules, including evenings and weekends. To schedule a telehealth appointment, call 214-940-9089 or email [email protected]. To learn more, visit dallastherapeutic.com.
