Many people are experiencing anxiety and depression during the Covid-19 pandemic.
gettyIf you are feeling defeated, frustrated, and angry during the Covid-19 pandemic, you are not alone. You may be experiencing depression and anxiety, and to the point where you feel you are one step outside of everything in your life. You may have even wished you could disappear. Read on for how you can cope with your anxiety and/or depression during the pandemic. This applies particularly if you’ve realized you aren’t able to work at the same pace or work at all during the pandemic.
Go Easy On Yourself
As I mentioned in a previous article, you cannot be expected to produce at the same volume as you did pre-pandemic. It’s just not possible. Part of your day and your emotional energy is spent adapting to a new normal. That is to be expected. You also may have your family all at home, and they are getting bored and annoyed with each other. That also takes up a piece of your time. You simply cannot produce the same work at the same rate right now. It’s not realistic for your employer to expect it either. Ask yourself if you need to stop working for now, or would a decrease in work responsibility be enough to help you through your anxiety and depression? When you have anxiety and/or depression, you may engage in what practitioners of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) call “all or nothing” thinking. That “go big or go home” attitude may help you in sports or in your pre-pandemic workplace, but the flip side of that is if aren’t working at 150% you are ready to pack it in. There may be other solutions, like sharing work responsibilities with a coworker or cutting back on some projects.
See a Mental Health Professional
If you have a family history of anxiety and/or depression, if you aren’t feeling like yourself, or if you have a history of anxiety or depression, please make an appointment with a mental health professional (MHP). MHPs include psychologists, social workers, licensed professional counselors, and psychiatrists. Knowing that you need help is a strength, not a weakness. See if your employer offers an employee assistance program (EAP). Your employer’s EAP may be able to give you referrals for MHPs and provide short-term therapy at little to no cost. If you are concerned about seeing an MHP in person due to the pandemic, almost all MHPs are providing therapy via telehealth. Check with your MHP to see if the video service they are using is HIPAA-compliant. Telehealth therapy has some unique advantages. One study found that CBT for depression was more effective via teletherapy than in-person therapy.
Contact a Crisis Line if You are Suicidal
If you are feeling like life is no longer worth living, you have a history of suicide attempts or feel that you are a burden on your family and friends and they would be better off without you, please contact a crisis center or crisis line. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You can call them at 1-800-273-8255 and suicidepreventionlifeline.org.
Contact an Attorney for a Consultation
If you are considering disclosing your anxiety or depression diagnosis to an employer to receive protections under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), it is recommended that you first consult with an attorney that specializes in ADA workplace issues. You need to know what risks and benefits may result from disclosing your diagnosis to your employer. You may also want to know what your rights are in the workplace if you feel your depression and anxiety is a direct result of the way you were treated or your working conditions.
Know You Are Not Alone
You may feel very isolated right now, both due to the pandemic and from having anxiety and/or depression. Many people are experiencing the same feelings. Anxiety and depression are known as “hidden” medical conditions — others most likely wouldn’t know you had them. This means that there are a lot of people with anxiety and depression that feel like they are the only ones with it. Feeling isolated is a symptom of depression and anxiety. People don’t talk about having anxiety and depression very much due to stigma. Remember that anxiety and depression are medical conditions, just like diabetes or asthma. You are not alone.
The Link LonkAugust 25, 2020 at 09:31AM
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How To Cope At Work When Anxiety And Depression Take Over - Forbes
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