PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT: Please be advised, in the past few years there has been an increase in mental health symptoms that are presenting differently than ever before.
Mental Wellness Post-Covid for all ages: A Guide and Public Service Announcement
1. We do not handle stress like we used to before the Pandemic.
The title of this section says it all. The American life style, and in particular the midwest lifestyle has always been a bit fast paced and lined with stress. And this was regarded as not only normal but expected. In the past we would load up to do items for “the next” thing to accomplish and rush to do so. As children and teens this might look like testing, completing homework, learning, doing sports, earning awards and accomplishments, and being good and obedient people, all while dealing with various interactions with friends and enemies, expectations and teachers. As adults this might look like balancing children, bills, pets, jobs, obligations, MONEY, all while looking like this life is effortless. For college ages multiple the stress 100X.
Much of that life came to a screeching halt or looked vastly different during the pandemic.
Fast forward to today. I am going to state a fact that I hope each of you can step back to consider.
We as humans no longer handle stress the way we did prior to the pandemic. To put it another way, Post pandemic, overall we do not handle stress as well.
This is NOT a slam against any of us, it is simply the way it is.
My favorite line from Americans is that we are “fine” always. How are you? Fine. But the relative nature of this has become strikingly different since prepandemic times.
As a people, we have been taught that we can and should look on the bright side of things and that things are always fine. We can handle anything.
I really wish I did not have to be clicking away on this computer so say –That is no longer true.
It may be true in the future, but right here at this moment most likely for a variety of reasons we no longer can or should leave ourselves in a sea of stress and being “fine.”
As Americans, we have always persevered and have been strong. But that is not what I am talking about here.
I am not talking about a mental issue.
We all have remnants of trauma symptoms stemming from the pandemic. I could point my finger to a lot of factors, and in doing so place blame and a variety of things. I choose not to do this. Instead, what I am going to say is that no, we do not all have a mental issue that we should label. BUT, it is important that our actions of how we talk to and take care of ourselves and others changes to match who we are right now, post pandemic.
We needs to be kinder and more patient with ourselves and others.
In doing so, we may have to lighten our loads we carry and add in more self care time. And we have to be OK with this.
We need to celebrate where we are now.
We CANNOT succumb to beating ourselves up emotionally for what we view as not keeping up with our “Prepandemic Rat Race.”
This needs to be the new normal.
2. Long COVID symptoms likely are causing mental health symptoms. This may include thoughts of self harm and other disturbing thoughts.
We already know a long symptom of COVID is depression. This could be for a varied of reasons.
I would like to pose another symptom I have been seeing in my office as a full time clinician.
An increase in disturbing thoughts, and sometimes those thoughts are of harm to self or harm to others.
Let me state again. Long COVID is likely causing an increase in Disturbing Thoughts. Sometimes these thoughts involve hurting one self or hurting someone else.
So a new public service announcement: If out of the blue, you feel so down that you think of ending your life or doing something crazy, this could be caused by Long COVID symptoms. Seek help immediately. The clients I have helped get better very quickly with appropriate care.
Please note, if this happens to you, it is not your fault and nothing is wrong with you. Blasted COVID is to blame. Again, go directly to get help. Tell a family member or a friend. I know it doesn’t seem like it at the time, but the thoughts are caused by COVID and they are not true.
It is extremely important that we get the word out on this. Because if people know this might happen and have a plan, they can execute it to avert a disaster.
There are certain personalities that would be extremely vulnerable to these disturbing thoughts.
1. Those that have never experienced any significant mental health issues prior to this. --many would not be familiar with their minds playing tricks on them. Nor would they have taken seriously any of the talks on how to get help or the suicide hotline. Why? Because they likely had not needed to before this point.
2. Serious Type A Overachievers. Academics, High Level Athletes, Business Execs. When these people intend to do something, they do it. In this case with the possibility of out of the blue disturbing thoughts this group needs have the PSA immediately. For the aforementioned reason they would be extremely vulnerable to this.
Another thing to consider is that when we have a “down day” or a “bad day” our lows go lower than ever before. This means that even if something relatively small goes wrong, our feelings are at risk of plunging to rock bottom as if some catastrophe had occurred. Even briefly feeling this low could lead to some serious problems. Again, if this happens you be aware that it’s not your fault. Do not act on it. Please reach out to a friend, family, your doctor, a mental health provider, your church. Just reach out. I guarantee people feel better.
Take away message: Knowing that these disturbing thoughts might happen to you can save you. If it happens-- you are not crazy. Do not act on it. Reach out immediately for temporary assistance.
Note about the Author: My name is Heather Hurd. My clients call me Dr. Heather. I am a Clinical Psychologist with a background in both Education and Psychology. I own and operate my own psychology practice, and have done so since 2013. I serve individuals from children up to adults. I specialize in providing therapy to children, teens, college ages, and some adults with developmental disabilities and Autism. During the pandemic I went full time with online therapy sessions and helped people through that difficult time. I was so happy to return to practicing in person (although I still do some online work). Once I returned to full-time psychology work post pandemic, I have realized that there have been some fairly drastic changes in the mental health patterns and presentations of symptoms. Hopefully, clinical research is coming on these changes, but in the meantime, I am going to share my observations on these changes and the strategies and treatment that now are the most effective for not only identifying those who should seek care, but the things that should be done to foster the most positive outcomes. Please feel free to reach out to me to collaborate. drheather@hurdpsychology.com .
Mental Wellness Post-Covid for all ages: A Guide and Public Service Announcement
1. We do not handle stress like we used to before the Pandemic.
The title of this section says it all. The American life style, and in particular the midwest lifestyle has always been a bit fast paced and lined with stress. And this was regarded as not only normal but expected. In the past we would load up to do items for “the next” thing to accomplish and rush to do so. As children and teens this might look like testing, completing homework, learning, doing sports, earning awards and accomplishments, and being good and obedient people, all while dealing with various interactions with friends and enemies, expectations and teachers. As adults this might look like balancing children, bills, pets, jobs, obligations, MONEY, all while looking like this life is effortless. For college ages multiple the stress 100X.
Much of that life came to a screeching halt or looked vastly different during the pandemic.
Fast forward to today. I am going to state a fact that I hope each of you can step back to consider.
We as humans no longer handle stress the way we did prior to the pandemic. To put it another way, Post pandemic, overall we do not handle stress as well.
This is NOT a slam against any of us, it is simply the way it is.
My favorite line from Americans is that we are “fine” always. How are you? Fine. But the relative nature of this has become strikingly different since prepandemic times.
As a people, we have been taught that we can and should look on the bright side of things and that things are always fine. We can handle anything.
I really wish I did not have to be clicking away on this computer so say –That is no longer true.
It may be true in the future, but right here at this moment most likely for a variety of reasons we no longer can or should leave ourselves in a sea of stress and being “fine.”
As Americans, we have always persevered and have been strong. But that is not what I am talking about here.
I am not talking about a mental issue.
We all have remnants of trauma symptoms stemming from the pandemic. I could point my finger to a lot of factors, and in doing so place blame and a variety of things. I choose not to do this. Instead, what I am going to say is that no, we do not all have a mental issue that we should label. BUT, it is important that our actions of how we talk to and take care of ourselves and others changes to match who we are right now, post pandemic.
We needs to be kinder and more patient with ourselves and others.
In doing so, we may have to lighten our loads we carry and add in more self care time. And we have to be OK with this.
We need to celebrate where we are now.
We CANNOT succumb to beating ourselves up emotionally for what we view as not keeping up with our “Prepandemic Rat Race.”
This needs to be the new normal.
2. Long COVID symptoms likely are causing mental health symptoms. This may include thoughts of self harm and other disturbing thoughts.
We already know a long symptom of COVID is depression. This could be for a varied of reasons.
I would like to pose another symptom I have been seeing in my office as a full time clinician.
An increase in disturbing thoughts, and sometimes those thoughts are of harm to self or harm to others.
Let me state again. Long COVID is likely causing an increase in Disturbing Thoughts. Sometimes these thoughts involve hurting one self or hurting someone else.
So a new public service announcement: If out of the blue, you feel so down that you think of ending your life or doing something crazy, this could be caused by Long COVID symptoms. Seek help immediately. The clients I have helped get better very quickly with appropriate care.
Please note, if this happens to you, it is not your fault and nothing is wrong with you. Blasted COVID is to blame. Again, go directly to get help. Tell a family member or a friend. I know it doesn’t seem like it at the time, but the thoughts are caused by COVID and they are not true.
It is extremely important that we get the word out on this. Because if people know this might happen and have a plan, they can execute it to avert a disaster.
There are certain personalities that would be extremely vulnerable to these disturbing thoughts.
1. Those that have never experienced any significant mental health issues prior to this. --many would not be familiar with their minds playing tricks on them. Nor would they have taken seriously any of the talks on how to get help or the suicide hotline. Why? Because they likely had not needed to before this point.
2. Serious Type A Overachievers. Academics, High Level Athletes, Business Execs. When these people intend to do something, they do it. In this case with the possibility of out of the blue disturbing thoughts this group needs have the PSA immediately. For the aforementioned reason they would be extremely vulnerable to this.
Another thing to consider is that when we have a “down day” or a “bad day” our lows go lower than ever before. This means that even if something relatively small goes wrong, our feelings are at risk of plunging to rock bottom as if some catastrophe had occurred. Even briefly feeling this low could lead to some serious problems. Again, if this happens you be aware that it’s not your fault. Do not act on it. Please reach out to a friend, family, your doctor, a mental health provider, your church. Just reach out. I guarantee people feel better.
Take away message: Knowing that these disturbing thoughts might happen to you can save you. If it happens-- you are not crazy. Do not act on it. Reach out immediately for temporary assistance.
Note about the Author: My name is Heather Hurd. My clients call me Dr. Heather. I am a Clinical Psychologist with a background in both Education and Psychology. I own and operate my own psychology practice, and have done so since 2013. I serve individuals from children up to adults. I specialize in providing therapy to children, teens, college ages, and some adults with developmental disabilities and Autism. During the pandemic I went full time with online therapy sessions and helped people through that difficult time. I was so happy to return to practicing in person (although I still do some online work). Once I returned to full-time psychology work post pandemic, I have realized that there have been some fairly drastic changes in the mental health patterns and presentations of symptoms. Hopefully, clinical research is coming on these changes, but in the meantime, I am going to share my observations on these changes and the strategies and treatment that now are the most effective for not only identifying those who should seek care, but the things that should be done to foster the most positive outcomes. Please feel free to reach out to me to collaborate. drheather@hurdpsychology.com .
Contact Hurd Psychology at:
Phone Number: 608 228 0750
Email: drheather@hurdpsychology.com
Madison Office:
700 Rayovac Drive, Suite 114
Madison, WI 53711
Wausau Office:
2405 Schofield Avenue, Suite 250
Weston, WI 54476
Phone Number: 608 228 0750
Email: drheather@hurdpsychology.com
Madison Office:
700 Rayovac Drive, Suite 114
Madison, WI 53711
Wausau Office:
2405 Schofield Avenue, Suite 250
Weston, WI 54476
608 228 0750
