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A year after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, to say that our mental health has felt the impact is painfully obvious and a huge understatement. “What we have endured collectively over the past year due to a pandemic alone is extremely stressful,” said therapist Maddie Spear, LCSW. “Add to that other natural life stressors, such as job loss, loss of family, loss of social life … how could we not all be mentally affected by this? ? “
Our mental health also reflected the changes we saw as the pandemic continued (and again and again) and other issues (racial injustice, political unrest) piled up. “A year ago 90 percent of my clients suffered from anxiety,” said psychotherapist Carrie Mead, “but today I am diagnosed with a mixture of anxiety, depression and trauma.” She added: “I believe the trauma of the political environment, the pandemic, the loss of economy and the general fear of the future will increase over time.”
But before we get there, let’s take this moment – roughly the first anniversary of what many of us experience as the “start” of the pandemic and its effects on our lives – to reflect on how our health is changing. mental during the year. and what we can do for those of us who are struggling. In advance, mental health professionals share what they have seen from their patients and what we can do to cope and heal.
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