Mental Health in the Pandemic
When your currency is empathy, certain things become very expensive. Things like our time, attention, energy, and give-a-fucks! Some people see therapists, as ‘hope dealers,’ which makes sense because, along with other foundational tenets such as, “do no harm,” to our clients, we’re also tasked each day, to “install hope” in clients’ lives. Therapist friends, you know what I’m talking about.
It’s a wild ride, dare I say, bizarre even. To be simultaneously experiencing the same trauma while helping clients through it too. The layers are plenty… I could totally see that being some’s dissertation topic.
Therapists have some experience working on ourselves because in graduate school our own personal families and ways of experiencing the world are closely examined. So we learn to sit and hold space for people by looking closely into our own lives. This level of introspection and self examination exposes our traumas and resilience as well.
We exchange empathy. It is our gift, our superpower, our currency even. It is what connects our hearts to our clients’ in the dance of attunement. And it is also the gift that allows us to have a sense of dual awareness. To notice what’s happening for us while at the same time, noticing and feeling what is happening with our clients.
Recently I felt my attunement begin to wain, the weight of the pandemic, our collective mourning loss of recent high profile suicide completions and the weight of being a private practice entrepreneur were beginning to weigh heavily on me personally. I was actually blessed with the gift of corona. Corona gave me space from everything. I heard a whisper in my ear, ‘just coast.’
The still, small voice told me I needed a break. And although I would never have chosen to take it this way, the space of recovery is slow and like we say in trauma therapy ‘slow is always better.’
Listen, we must keep talking about mental health! Checking on your friend means asking the hard questions. How’s your mental health? Are you thinking about suicide? Do you need help finding a therapist? I know it’s scary, but I guarantee your loved one will be grateful you were brave enough to show your concern for them, to ask the hard questions, to walk with them through terrifying times.
If you or someone you know, needs to talk or is struggling right now, please call:
Mental Health Resources
National Suicide Hotline: 800-273-8255
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