As a South Dublin psychotherapist I have a great deal of experience working with people suffering with anxiety, obsessional thoughts, OCD, and worry. As a symptom, general anxiety is often characterised by its vagueness - the cause of the anxiety is hard to place, or is caused by every situation, or seems to irrationally flare up at times that make no sense. Now that the Covid-19 virus has arrived in Dublin, the symptoms of anxiety or OCD almost become normalised as more and more people begin to adopt behaviours that at other times would be viewed as neurotic. As people become increasingly aware of the threat and take precautions against becoming ill in this unprecedented and strange time, it’s worth while stopping for a moment and asking the question - what is ‘normal’? And if you think that maybe you need to talk to someone about how this whole coronavirus situation is unsettling everything you thought you knew, how do you see a psychotherapist if you can’t leave the house?
What is ‘normal’?
There is a much bigger discussion to be had about what considerations lead to certain behaviours being labeled ‘normal’ and others as ‘mentally unwell’. What is the difference between someone washing their hands 50 times a day because they think they’ll contract covid-19, and someone who does the same because they think that something bad will happen to a loved one if they don’t? Objectively, the chances of contracting a lethal dose of covid-19 are extremely small. This doesn’t change the fact that everyone has a responsibility to practice good hygiene and take care of themselves. What is interesting though is how the outward behaviour is the same, yet because of the context it means something different. In one context, obsessive hand washing is socially responsible and sensible; in another it is a sign of a ‘problem’.
Why go to a psychotherapist?
This question of context is an important thing to be aware of. When people approach a psychotherapist it is often because they have a symptom - obsessional acts, depression, anxiety, addiction, and many others. If treatment is focused solely on addressing the symptom, then the vital aspect of context is missed. Why does someone, in this example of OCD, perform the same action repeatedly throughout the day? There is very often a reason behind it, something that the person carrying out the actions is unaware of because it is unconscious. Psychotherapy, and psychoanalysis in particular, can uncover the unconscious motivations behind these actions and deal with them by placing them in the larger context of the patient’s life.
Psychotherapy if you are worried or anxious about coronavirus
In some ways, a novel contagious disease is the perfect anxiety fuel. It cannot be seen, is indiscriminate in who it infects, and there is so little information about it that there is lots of space for the imagination to run wild. It is important to take things seriously, especially if there are vulnerable people in your life who might be susceptible to the more severe symptoms of the illness. If you are worried about being exposed, or if you are experiencing symptoms, it can be very stressful and could compound other issues that you may be dealing with either on your own or indeed if you are already engaged in psychotherapy. There is a way to ensure that if you feel that you need help, you can still get it during these kinds of situations.
Online psychotherapy
Online therapy, or virtual therapy, teletherapy, online counselling, video therapy etc. is a rapidly growing part of psychotherapy practices around the world, and given the way that many people live their lives today there is little wonder why. Increasingly, there is a demand placed on people to be more flexible in their work practices, work longer hours or relocate for months at a time, even to other countries. There are shorter lunch breaks or more pressure to take your breaks in the employer provided canteen, maximising the time that you are at your desk. It’s not as easy as it once was to take a longer lunch break to visit your counsellor or therapist.
Counselling online
But it is not just those who have greater work pressures that benefit from online therapy. Improving internet infrastructure now means that those who live in more remote, rural parts of the country can have access to a psychotherapist or counsellor that they may have been denied before. No longer is there a need to travel great distances to find help with one’s addiction, or anxiety, or depression. Likewise those who suffer from immobilising illnesses or accidents, or if your anxiety is prohibiting someone from venturing outside, can now dial in to their therapy sessions without having to make complex travel arrangements.
Effectiveness of online psychotherapy
So much of psychotherapy is focused on the spoken word, and as such it can be incredibly effective in any medium that allows two people to talk to each other. We have been offering online psychotherapy, counselling and psychoanalysis to our clients for a number of years at Sandymount Psychotherapy, and demand is only increasing. The effectiveness of working online over video call is similar to in-person psychotherapy. All that is needed is a stable internet connection and a private space to sit for 45 minutes. We’ve had many cases where someone has been held up at work or missed a flight connection, and so we conduct the session online. Recently, however, we are more and more working with people exclusively online. Like with any form of therapy, it may not be what you are looking for. But the ability that online psychotherapy has to work around the increasingly complex way that people are living their lives makes it a very real, and effective, option for many. This is especially true when life becomes unpredictable, and ensures that those who need mental health help can get it, even if they cannot leave the house.
If you are interested in making an appointment for online psychotherapy or counselling, or any in-person therapy, then drop us a line or call us. We can even have an initial consultation over video call. Check the contact page for details.