How can we help when everyone is anxious?

As the pandemic measures put in place have been extended, it is to be expected that nerves are beginning to fray. People are getting restless, and short-tempered. And throughout, the anxieties and worries still remain.

While mental health experts and counsellors remain worried about domestic violence spiking during this period, counselling centres and counselling support networks are seeing upticks across the board calling in about their health and financial worries.

Anxiety over health
It’s understandable that during a pandemic, people would worry for their health. While people may worry about getting sick or their loved ones getting sick, there is also a concern from counsellors that isolation from their personal support networks and friends can seriously impact people’s mental health. This isolation, even for a few weeks, has a tendency to cause people to entertain negative, dark thoughts about their health, and even mortality. The potential for people to fall into depression is increased in such a situation. Th esupport networks we surround ourselves with on a daily basis is an important part of how we maintain order and sanity.

Mental health is also an important health issue that needs to be addressed.

Anxiety over finances
For those who work to make a daily or weekly living for themselves and their families, this is an especially trying time that will take a heavy toll, emotionally and psychologically. Even for those who are so acutely affected and still have jobs, they may be worried about:

• How their careers will survive this?
• What their life may look like afterwards?
• What does this mean for their future and the  future of their family and friends?

These are some of the cited concerns affecting people as they play their part in their isolation during the pandemic. There are more issues that people will be struggling with. Interpersonal issues at home an example of one such issue. Another is domestic violence. Yet another underrated concern is the anxiety over working from home, with some people finding it more difficult to work from home, and people feeling less useful and less productive.

The effects of all this anxiety over health, finances, and the future may linger far longer in people’s hearts and minds than any measures to control the pandemic. 

When the world is turned upside down, how do you help them, and how do you help yourself?

College of Allied Educators’  accredited Counselling Psychology programmes will train individuals to understand thoughts and emotions; and with the right tools, allow individuals to help themselves and others who may be going through very sensitive and difficult situations.

• POSTGRADUATE DIPLOMA IN COUNSELLING PSYCHOLOGY
  Postgraduate Diploma in Counselling Psychology (PGDICP) is a counselling psychology course accredited by the Singapore Association for Counselling (SAC). The part-time Postgraduate Diploma in Counselling Psychology programme focuses on developing and enhancing experiential knowledge and skills through a holistic approach. Some of the subjects covered include Counselling Children, Addiction Intervention, Crisis Intervention, and Family Therapy.