Managing Mental Health in the resumption of face to face

ASK THE PSYCHOLOGIST

02

MANAGING MENTAL HEALTH

by Tracey-Ann Coley, PhD

Tracey-Ann E. Coley is a Clinical Psychologist who operates a private

Q: Dr. Coley, you are an expert in helping

practice in Kingston, Jamaica. Her

people

areas

to

overcome

mental

health

of

clinical

include

challenges, anxiety and depression. Can you

psychotherapy

tell us about some of the main reasons why

children with a variety of issues

you have decided to focus on these areas in

including anxiety, depression, grief,

your practice?

and academic challenges. Dr. Coley is

A. That’s an interesting question! In a lot of ways, I think anxiety and depression chose me!

The fact is that I entered the profession to be of service to others who were in mental and

also

a

Psychology,

with

focus

Lecturer and

adults

in

and

Sociology,

Social

Work

Department of the University of the West Indies, Mona Campus.

emotional pain. The reality is that anxiety

problematic when we experience them

and depression have become two of the

so

most

functioning or cause personal distress.

common

forms

of

pathology

that

intensely

that

they

disrupt

our

individuals experience. Almost every one of us will have an experience of anxiety or at

Anxiety is characterized by excessive

least intense sadness at least once in our

worry about a range of things like what

lives.

others are thinking about you, animals, closed spaces like elevators, academic

B. As noted above, anxiety and depression

grades, work pressure, etc. Physical

are

symptoms include increased heart rate,

also

two

of

the

most

debilitating

conditions that functioning individuals can

stomach

pain,

experience. So, these “functional” individuals

mouth,

diarrhea,

carry the weight of intensely negative and

Mentally,

people

uncomfortable emotions while having to go

concentrating

to school, go to work, parent, and interact

concentration.

with others as though they are ok. Because

lapses in motivation and feel mentally

these are internalized states most people

confused.

won’t

know

that

these

individuals

muscular

aches,

and can

insomnia.

have

or They

dry

trouble

sustaining may

also

have

are

suffering from anxiety or depression unless

Depression is characterized by sad or

the sufferer shares this information. As a

pessimistic thoughts that invade the

result, it can be a very lonely experience.

mind and are difficult to control. These

Given

was

thoughts

are

usually

important for individuals experiencing these

negative

and

leave

conditions to have a place to go for help. I

feeling badly about themselves and

believe

their prospects socially, interpersonally,

these

in

factors,

I

thought

nontraditional

as

it

well

as

self-critical the

or

or

individual

traditional forms of therapy so people have

professionally,

academically.

options in terms of how they can help

Physical symptoms include tearfulness,

themselves.

difficulty sleeping or sleeping more than the normal, loss of appetite or

Q: Can you explain to us in layman’s

increased

terms how these symptoms may manifest

wanting to be alone, and feelings of

in our lives?

helplessness or hopelessness.

It is important to note that anxiety and

Q: I have seen more recently that the

sadness are normal, important emotions. We

rates of mental illnesses such as

all experience these emotional states to

depression

varying

astronomical,

extents.

They

however

become

eating

and more

to

self-soothe,

anxiety

are

so

the

since

Covid-19 Pandemic. Can you provide us with further explanations on why this is the case?

There are several reasons why we would be

The pandemic also brought news of

seeing increased anxiety and depression

death and many people lost members

rates. Covid-19 is the first pandemic that this

of

generation has been through. As a result, the

compounded because people were not

world was plagued by fear, uncertainty, and

able to complete cultural rituals like

confusion. Anything that induces this type of

nine-night celebrations and funerals.

response on a global or even localized level

Furthermore, even those who were not

would

touched

lead

to

panic,

depression,

and

their

families.

by

The

personal

grief

loss

was

reported

extreme interpersonal violence caused by

increased death anxiety; that is, fear of

pent-up frustration.

dying, and of losing loved ones. These are just some of the stresses created by

One specific source for the increase in

the pandemic that contributed to the

distress can be attributed to the mandatory

large numbers of individuals reporting

lockdowns. We are social beings, especially

clinically significant levels of anxiety

in Jamaica. Culturally we put a premium on

and sadness.

connection and family. We also tend to be outside people; that is, we go to the beach,

Q: I have often found that clinical

play sports, and attend sporting events. This

diagnoses, such as depression and

was

the

anxiety may be interpreted as a label

internal

and in some sense, may even be

virtually

pandemic

eliminated

thus

during

creating

an

imbalance and dissociation from who we

internalized

are. This dissonance would naturally increase

there another way that persons can

anxiety

levels

look

people

lost

and their

sadness. jobs

Additionally,

which

created

financial stress and hardship making them again vulnerable to negative mood states.

at

diagnosis?

as a

one’s

identity.

Is

clinical/psychiatric

I think it is important for people who experience anxiety

and

depression

to

understand

that

everyone feels these emotions. So, the experience of the emotion is not unique. Unfortunately, some individuals experience these negative states more frequently than is typical. It is important to be patient

and

compassionate

with

yourself.

A

physical illness such as the flu or Covid that does not dictate a person’s identity, mental illness should be given the same consideration, it is a mental illness, not who the person is. Like physical illness, mental illness has its own management which

can

be

effectively

addressed

through

therapy and for more severe cases a combination of medication and therapy.

Q: Now that we are resuming face to face, are there any tips on how to cope, especially for those with a clinical/psychiatric diagnosis?

If you have been diagnosed with a mental illness, please ensure that you maintain a treatment protocol; whether it includes outside assistance or self-help strategies. I recommend that individuals learn to prioritize – giving in to undue pressure and stress

makes

increase

it

more

vulnerability

likely to

that both

individuals conditions.

Additionally, maintain healthy routines such as regular

exercise,

meditation,

a

balanced

diet,

maintaining contact with loved ones, taking time to

connect

socially,

developing

interests

or

hobbies outside of school or one’s profession, committing to staying present, that is, enjoying or appreciating the blessings in your current life, doing gratitude journaling. If your condition is severe, seek help from a therapist or psychiatrist.

Also, be mindful that re-entering social spaces after two years of isolation and restrictions may be draining. Know that it is ok to calibrate your social exposure; that is, start out with small intimate gatherings and make alternative plans so that you are able to leave if you start to feel overwhelmed.

The most important thing is to re-engage with life – let go of avoidant tendencies and embrace connection.