Tips from Clinical Psychologist Dr. Judith Zackson you might find helpful while social distancing, quarantining, and self-isolating during the coronavirus.
“A pandemic or any other kind of trauma is a wake-up call that invites us to consider what is most important to us. Many of us are realizing how much we valued the opportunity to spend time with friends, family and colleagues in-person now that we are separated. We are struggling to find the same amount of meaning and fulfillment in our relationships that we did when we could connect with people face-to-face.”
PTSD is a disorder that is triggered by witnessing or experiencing a traumatic event. Historically, the psychological problems of soldiers returning from war (the American civil war, World War I, World War II, and the Korean war) were called “soldier’s heart,” “shell shock,” “combat fatigue,” or “Post Vietnam syndrome.” Those who served in combat would come home feeling distressed and anxious, suffering from flashbacks, nightmares, and a sense of detachment that interfered with their daily lives. In 1980, PTSD was officially recognized as a distinct diagnosis and added to the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM).
According to Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), about 42.5 million American adults suffer from some form of mental illness. Only about 46-65 percent with moderate-to-severe impairment are in treatment. Are you one of them and how do you know it’s time to seek treatment? Despite the cultural belief, you do not have to be “mentally ill” or feel “extremely bad” to see a therapist. It’s time to see a therapist when you feel that something is not right, before you experience symptoms of a diagnosable mental illness.
At Greenwich Psychology Group, our symptom checker helps clients track their symptoms of depression or anxiety. Taking the assessment doesn't provide a formal diagnosis, but it can help you determine what next steps you may need to take. The evaluation uses a series of questions to review the feelings and symptoms you've experienced over the past two weeks. The results will help you distinguish if professional help is the best next step.
