There’s one thing everyone can agree on: this year has been difficult. With the outbreak of a pandemic, raging wildfires, civil unrest and a tumultuous campaign season, this year has been marked by unforeseen distress. Every single person on the planet has felt the effects of this year’s events and has dealt with loss in some capacity.
I’ve felt it personally. I got sent home from the university that I love and had to spend months at home, hundreds (and in some cases, thousands) of miles away from the people that I love. I couldn’t find a job. I just sat at home with my family and my cats and lived months of my life through screens.
Although I’m writing this as I sit in my apartment on campus, things are still happening that remind me of the insane loss we have all experienced. I just watched some of my best friends graduate through a virtual commencement. I’m in quarantine and have to wear a mask in my own apartment to keep my roommates safe. One of my best friends that I haven’t seen for eight months visited this weekend and I had to speak to him through my window.
I personally know that this year has been painful and know that we’re all still being hit hard. Luckily, we have resources available to help us through it all.
No matter what you’re going through or what you’re feeling, there’s a place for you to talk about your experiences, and be guided and supported through it all.
When should you seek counseling? Psychology Today gives a list of eight reasons to go to counseling: everything you feel is intense, you’ve suffered a trauma you can’t stop thinking about, you have unexplained and recurrent headaches, stomachaches or a run-down immune system, you’re using a substance to cope, you’re getting bad feedback at work, you feel disconnected from previously beloved activities or your relationships are strained and your friends have expressed concern. It’s likely that all of us have experienced at least one of these symptoms within the past few months.
If you’re a student here at Asbury, the Center for Wholeness and Wellness offers free counseling services. Both individual sessions with a therapist and support groups are open to all students at no cost. This eliminates the financial strain of seeking out mental health care.
It is easy to feel isolated, alone and absolutely crushed by the world around us at the moment. However, we can find support and hope during this time through counseling services. I can personally attest to the life change that counseling can provide.
Remember, seeking help is never an act of weakness but always an act of bravery.
