Today’s mentoring session is an incredibly important one in light of the current pandemic. Our guest this week Dr. Danielle Delaney. She’s a THD, a certified crisis intervention counselor, a specialist in addiction and recovery after-case, a rape-crisis counselor, spiritual counselor, sober coach, interventionist, and author. Dr. Delaney is here to talk to us about turning that corner into the light. We’re experiencing a moment in history unlike any other before it. Many people are struggling or know someone who could use guidance as we navigate uncharted territory. With the right support systems in place, you’ll get through this and come out the other side. 

As we’re in a time of major crisis, everyone’s experience differs. For some, they have built up, like a muscle, an ability to adapt and overcome this sort of turmoil. Dr. Delaney recommends structure. Doing what feels “normal” whenever possible can give you a sense of order and normalcy. From there, some sort of gentle movement can help release endorphins. Additionally, if you were having meals at certain times, continue to do that!

From a mental-emotional standpoint, having support helps. Touching base with friends, family, and coworkers can help ease the monotony of the day-to-day. To supplement that, many therapists are employing a sliding scale to make therapy more accessible to everyone. 

It’s important to remember what not to do during this crisis as well. Dr. Delaney reminds us not to overindulge. Be it food, alcohol, sleep, or even drugs, it’s essential that we don’t allow ourselves to slide into negative habits just because we are quarantined. That means overindulging in negative mentalities as well. Someone who was already in a negative headspace is experiencing that even more right now, and it’s important to recognize that things aren’t especially easy right now. If that means you need to separate yourself from those people, though, don’t feel guilty. Tolerance is temporary and this isn’t going to last forever. 

Dr. Delaney talks about finding the right counseling, journaling, and grief support. Something she especially recommends is honoring those feelings of grief, journaling, and eventually seeking out professional help. 

 

What you’ll learnIn today’s episode, Dr. Delaney sits down to talk about mental health as we navigate the COVID-19 pandemic. She touches on therapy, journaling, grief, and shares with us her top tips for staying healthy, and points out some pitfalls to avoid. 

 

LINKS

1-800-273-8255 National Suicide Prevention Hotline

https://danielledelaneycounseling.com/

Instagram: danidelaney