Mental Health During COVID-19 (Click to Read)

The complications of COVID-19 may have impacted you or someone you know directly or indirectly. Although life challenges or situations differ from person to person; one thing individuals have in common are the benefits of attending to one's mental health.

On a personal note, I sometimes think that because I am doing everything in my power to think, feel and act with healthiness in mind that nothing wrong should come my way. I expect the world around me to simply notice my hard effort to have peace in my life and leave me be. Sometimes instead, it seems as if the powers that be are following me around with a rain cloud on days when I am hoping for pure sunshine. If you can relate, then just know that you are not alone.

I once read "people tend to think their circumstances determine the quality of their lives, yet it is possible to be content in any and every situation". Circumstances may impact or alter your life but choose not to let circumstances determine the quality of your life. As a result I have adopted this way of thinking to keep my mental health in check. I may not be exempt from rainclouds, but I choose how I will react to them and so can you. 

I encourage everyone to recognize and address appropriately through counseling any issue(s) that disrupts or impairs your ability to live peacefully and healthy. It can be issues with your job, school, finances, personal/professional relationships, sickness, death, addictions, things outside of one's control; internal battles such as depression, various traumas, and all other situations. 

We may not be immune to challenges but toning our mental health and attending to one's self care can help us build antibodies to face the challenge if it resurfaces. Let COVID-19 and anything else that negatively impacts your mental health and overall well-being be a constant reminder that life hits hard but with strong mental health you can give yourself the strength to hit back harder.

Carolyn Harris, MS, LMHC