Is COVID Affecting your Mental Health?

These are troubling times. Fear and worry are normal responses to the many unknowns and perceived threats that we are all experiencing. Discouragement and sadness are also normal responses to economic distress or the loss of normalcy, planned events, job security or loved ones.

Anxiety is the most common mental health disorder in America (18% of the population) (Anxiety and Depression Association of America). For some, anxiety is a debilitating disorder with panic attacks or phobias. But just because anxiety is common, it does not mean that you have to live with it untreated. Lifestyle changes, medication, spiritual resources, and professional therapy can all be useful to reduce the distressful feelings of anxiety.

Depression likewise can be debilitating. Once it sets in, the very things that could remedy it feel may be difficult to make yourself do. Help is possible!

But how do you know if your anxiety or depression has reached a clinical level? How do you know if you have “tipped”, and it’s time for professional help?

First, ask yourself a few questions:

1. Are your usual healthy coping strategies no longer working to reduce the anxiety or lift the depression?

2. Are you using unhealthy coping strategies which are having negative consequences in your life (such as substance abuse or detachment from others)? 

3. Are you excessively worried, irritable, or apathetic?

4. Are you unable to function fully or as you normally would to accomplish your responsibilities?

Next, if you are concerned, take a self assessment for anxiety or depression.

• The Burn's Anxiety Inventory 

• The Burn's Depression Checklist

If your scores are high, it may be time to take action on your own behalf and get some help.

• Consult with your personal physician for further resources.

• Watch a free video for some tips for overall stress reduction techniques.

• Check out this great app, The Tapping Solution, for stress reduction using EFT Tapping.

• Join an online support group for Depression or Anxiety, starting in August.

• Ask for an appointment with a therapist for a consultation to see if further counseling would be a benefit to you.

Remember that we can cast our anxieties (1 Peter 5:6-7) on God, because He really does love us. He can guide us to professional, practical, or spiritual solutions for our anxieties. He can give us His perfect peace (Isaiah 26:3) as we trust Him to guide us to the solutions.

This Week's Episode of Wellspring On the Air:

Anxiety and Depression with Lindsey Steffen, LMHC, Christopher Cheung PhD, and Judith Lemus