So, how are you really doing?

While you may be enjoying some aspects of being on lockdown – like being able to spend more time with your family – how are you really doing? Are you worried about getting sick or a friend or a family member getting sick? When you think about going out in public, do you worry about encountering people who are not following social distancing and masking protocols? Are you having difficulty with concentration? Are you having trouble with sleep?

We have all heard the common recommendations for dealing with stress. Exercising, meditating, staying away from alcohol, tuning out for a while and reading fiction instead of the news. But sometimes, despite doing all of that, we still need help to cope.

During this pandemic, many therapists and other mental health professionals are offering phone and/or teletherapy sessions. Scheduling an appointment with a therapist may actually be easier right now than it was in normal times, because both you and the therapist are at home. The possibilities are wide open for making a connection with a therapist, regardless of location.

I sit on the board of a wonderful Philadelphia non-profit, Therapy Center of Philadelphia (TCP). The therapists at TCP nurture individual well-being and personal growth by providing high-quality, affordable psychotherapeutic services to women, transgender and gender non-conforming communities. Working from an intersectional framework that pays attention to social locations and oppression, TCP therapists are committed to racial equity and trans-affirming work.

As with other marginalized groups, there is a shorthand amongst members of my community. Starting out with a therapist that is already aware of the social injustice you face and knows the language and issues within your community can be a huge help in facilitating a strong therapeutic relationship.

If you connect with this message, I encourage you to seek professional quality help to work through the challenging stressors that we are all facing due to the COVID-19 virus. You are not alone, and you do not need to suffer in silence. Remember what Mister Rogers taught us as children: “When we can talk about our feelings, they become less overwhelming, less upsetting, and less scary.”

I wish you all good mental health!

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