When is the last time you took a moment to ask yourself how you are feeling?

According to a recent report by the CDC, over 40% of adults over the age of 18 reported at least one adverse mental or behavioral health condition resulting from the pandemic, including symptoms of anxiety or depression. The same CDC report states that 1 in 4 adults aged 18-24 have “seriously considered suicide” in the 30 days preceding the survey.

So take this opportunity to close your eyes, take a breath, and truly ask yourself… How are you feeling?

When asked if their clients have expressed any changes since the pandemic, our clinicians agreed that anxiety is on the rise.

“All of my clients, whether they are children or adults, have reported increased stress and challenges since the pandemic began,” said Margaret Morrow, Clinical Supervisor at C&FS. “Clients are struggling with depression, poor sleep, and missing out on their regularly practiced self-care activities out of the home.”

“Many clients have reported increase in feelings of loneliness, isolation, and sadness,” seconded Clinical Supervisor, Lori Chiarmonte.

What can you do to help your mindset? Reaching out to others is just one way in which you can try to create a sense of control during these unprecedented times. Lori said, “We have been working on ways to stay connected with others, especially for those that don’t have social media – such as sending a letter to someone and calling someone they haven’t spoken to in a while.”

We should also try to keep in mind that life is difficult right now, which means that we need to be extra gentle with ourselves. This can take the form of asking for help, practicing daily stress management techniques, and not being so hard on themselves for having a tough time. When we face extra stressful events, we need to be even more mindful of engaging in practices that help us to feel grounded to lower our stress.

If you are feeling as though you need to speak to someone about your mental health, please reach out to our Counseling Services. We are currently offering both on-site and Telehealth sessions, so we will be able to serve you even if you would prefer to speak to a counselor while remaining home.

For more information, call 716-842-2750 or visit cfsbny.org/our-services/counseling.