Overcoming Social Isolation with Therapy

COVID-19 has turned life as we know it on its head. The systems that we based our lives around are suddenly not supporting us the way they used to. When this first started, we probably thought about how this would impact us financially and physically. With millions of Americans stuck inside and unemployed, these are some of the most apparent issues at hand.

Overcoming social isolation

As time has gone on, though, it has become evident that there are serious mental and emotional issues at play as well.

Associate with Friends

The most important way to overcome social isolation, while maintaining social distancing, is by keeping connected to the people in your life.

Now more than ever, we realize all of the social interactions we have in our daily routine. We talk to our co-workers, we talk to our neighbors, we share passing comments with people walking down the street, and most of all we choose to spend time with friends and family.

Since we cannot do that today, we have to think of alternate ways of connecting with friends. Tools like Skype and Zoom have connected us in a whole new way, but there are still problems that come from them.

We have seen that connecting online is not the same as connecting in person, and this can add stress and anxiety over time. While it is important to stay connected, too much time in online video calls can be stressful.

Therapy

Talking to friends, relatives, and coworkers can be nice and help us to feel more normal. However, we have been through a stressful experience. Perhaps we have lost someone close to us because of COVID-19.

Even if we haven’t, we have been displaced from our routine. That is enough to cause anyone anxiety. The best way to deal with exceptionally stressful experiences is through the use of a professional therapist.

There are many websites that can connect you with a licensed therapist and get you the help you need.

Online therapy has been growing in popularity over the past few years, with many advancements being made. Today, online therapy is likely the only option some have for dealing with the challenges they face during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Thankfully, with enhanced features and a streamlined process, online therapy is an excellent way for us to deal with the trauma that either has resulted from or at least been aggravated by, the current pandemic crisis.

Groups

Another way that online therapy can help you is by connecting you to appropriate support groups for your particular needs. Your therapist may suggest a number of one-on-one sessions to work through personal issues before moving on to work in a group setting.

This not only helps you to get the most out of your group treatment session but also helps you be confident that all in your group will be ready to support one another and build each other up.

In group therapy sessions, you are paired up with people in similar situations that are able to discuss common challenges faced and work together to develop coping mechanisms to overcome the struggles of daily life.

Group therapy has proven to be effective in relation to a number of different problems, as many people face the same difficulties. Even more so today, people can relate well with people across the country as we all deal with the challenges of staying indoors, facing this pandemic, and the many anxieties that may be associated.

Other mental and emotional problems can come in times like these, so you can be grouped with people who may be experiencing the same thing. With online therapy, you are not limited to people in your physical area to relate to.

Your therapist can group together people with very similar needs to help build one another up and develop appropriate skills and coping techniques.

Cost

While many of us are either unemployed, working with reduced hours, or struggling financially for another reason, therapy might not seem like the right choice for the time.

In-person therapy costs can easily cost from $50-$150 per session, which quickly adds up to keep us from getting the services we need. Thanks to online services like BetterHelp.com, we can get the help we need for a lower cost per week than an in-person therapist would likely charge per session.

Wrap-Up

Whatever challenges you are facing in these difficult times, don’t feel like you have to face them alone. Reach out to friends and family. Stay connected. If needed, contact a therapist with the professional experience needed to help you overcome the obstacles that you are facing now.

That way, when this pandemic is over and quarantine has been lifted, you can go back to your daily life better than ever!