Impatience, anxiety and depression.
That’s what many people will increasingly feel for the next few weeks due largely to the COVID-19 pandemic crisis, according to a Columbus mental health professional.
Lifestyle changes such as social distancing, higher unemployment and disrupted routines will be leaving a large number of Bartholomew County residents feeling increasing discomfort up until the last week of April, said Kathy Christoff, director of adult and family services at Centerstone Behavioral Health.
“But then, it will level off,” Christoff said. “Drastic change is really hard on us, and everyone responds differently. But eventually, people will figure out how to deal with it.”
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Some have the means to deal with the COVID-19 crisis and social distancing better than others. Single parents with multiple children will likely feel overwhelmed for quite some time, according to licensed clinical social worker Lori Ellegood of the Center for Counseling, Coaching and Consultation in downtown Columbus.
She explained there are many laid-off single mothers without internet who are still expected to oversee their children’s eLearning, gather food and supplies, cook meals, sanitize the home and keep the entire family isolated, all while worrying when the limited amount of money might run out, Ellegood said.
“We all lost so many things when this happened weeks ago,” Ellegood said. “And it is OK to grieve that loss and let ourselves (and our children) get mad and sad.”
Emotions have been running high for the past three weeks, statistics delivered by Indiana Family and Social Services Administration Secretary Jennifer Sullivan late last week show.
Sullivan reported that Indiana’s 211 hotline went from receiving about 1,000 calls a day regarding mental health — including potential suicide threats — to 25,000 calls a day. In addition, calls to Indiana’s addiction hotlines went from an average of 20 a week to 20 a day, Sullivan said.
But Christoff called those figures “encouraging” because they show Hoosiers are recognizing they need support, and are reaching out for help.
Nevertheless, she remains concerned because south central Indiana residents were already struggling with drug addiction, overdoses and suicides prior to the COVID-19 health threat.
“Those who were working on their own mental health issues prior to the outbreak might feel more uncomfortable than ever,” Christoff said. “Those working to recover from substance abuse are now stuck at home — perhaps in an environment that isn’t the healthiest to them to be in.”
Experiencing solitude
And then, there’s solitude. A recent survey shows one in five Americans report feeling loneliness prior to the social distancing directives, said Nicki Vreeland, mental health action team coordinator for the Healthy Communities initiative locally.
Many feel lonely because they get much of their socialization from their work environment, Vreeland said.
“We develop routines that provide comfort and structure to our day, but now, many of us don’t have them,” Vreeland said. “It’s already unnerving and unsettling to try to figure all of this out. But then, when you find you don’t have your usual support system, that adds to the frustration and stress.”
All three mental health professionals are encouraging family, friends and neighbors to reach out by phone to those with drug or mental health issues, as well as those who live alone, to voice their support and provide some human contact.
Family Service and Centerstone are accepting new clients through telehealth platforms such as video conferencing or telephone.
At the Center for Counseling, Coaching and Consultation, Ellegood said she’s willing to offer participants five telesessions for the cost of one.
It’s not surprising that more than a few Hoosiers have turned to drinking alcohol to cope with the new challenges. According to the Nielsen Market Research Firm, alcoholic beverage sales went up 55% in the third week of March, compared to the same week in 2019.
While two clerks at a Columbus liquor store asked not to be identified, both said their sales have skyrocketed since the bars closed their dining areas.
But getting intoxicated is far from being the best of coping mechanisms, Vreeland said.
“It also doesn’t help with domestic violence, and if you do have a mental health condition, the use of alcohol or other substances only help to contribute to your symptoms,” she said.
From Jan. 1 through April 6, the Columbus Police Department received 336 complaints of domestic violence or domestic disturbances. That’s up 11% from the average of the same period over the previous four years, Columbus Police spokesman Lt. Matt Harris said.
Consider the basics
What might help cut through all the layers of emotion, anger and confusion is grasping the basic problem most people have at this time, the mental health professionals said.
“What most people are trying to do right now is to find some normalcy in what is a very abnormal condition,” Vreeland said.
“We’re all navigating uncharted waters,” she said. “Since we haven’t had a situation like this since the Spanish Flu epidemic of 1918, none of us have lived through an experience like this.”
Most people need to feel they are in control of their lives, Christoff said. However, the current situation and circumstances leave nobody in complete control, she said.
So what’s the best way to lessen the fear?
Creating a new daily structure provides situations that you can control, the Centerstone department head said. Every person can control whether or not they get out of bed, what they choose to eat, where they decide to go, whether or not to exercise and when it’s a good time to go for fresh air, Chrisoff said.
Kids need structure in their lives, too, so make sure to include play time and learning time in the structure of your day, she said.
While maintaining a daily structure will help, the three mental health professionals said it’s important to be kind to yourself.
Since these circumstances are new for everyone, it isn’t realistic to expect yourself to be a super parent, Christoff said.
“You can’t be super-anything right now,” she said. “You can only do the best you can do with an unusual situation.”
Finding the ‘up’ side
For those furloughed from their jobs, Christoff strongly suggests finding upsides to the situation by turning negatives into positives.
“If you don’t normally have enough time with your kids, now you do,” Christoff said. “What are all the things you wish you could have done, if you only had time? Can you do those at home with the kids?”
There seems to be agreement among most mental health experts that individuals need to limit how much news we watch on television each day.
“Don’t absorb too much of it,” said Christoff, who explains that too much television news can make every COVID-19 or economic development seem overwhelming.
In terms of social media, a number of mental health professionals suggest unfollowing Facebook friends who are prone to sharing panic-inducing posts.
But Christoff says those writing the posts are obviously feeling uncomfortable, and probably need a little more compassion and support.
“It’s helpful if we all acknowledge that everybody is doing the best they can, so we should strive to be patient and kind to each other, Vreeland said.
Finally, Ellegood said a simple change in wording can change how you feel about where you are and what it really means.
“Don’t call it self-isolation or lockdown,” the social worker said. “Instead, call it ‘safe at home’.”
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Center for Counseling, Coaching & Consultation, LLC
724 Third St., Columbus
Phone: 812-447-2464
centerforccc.com
Centerstone Behavioral Health
Services currently provided via telephone or video conferencing
Information or appointments: 800-344-8802
24 hour Crisis line: 800-832-5442
Family Service, Inc.
Now accepting new clients through teletherapy via Zoom
Phone: 812-266-0575 Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Phone 812-372-3745 to leave an after-hours message.
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