2020 was so bad, 1 in 6 Americans entered therapy for the first time!

Study Finds ^ | January 8, 2021 | Chris Melore

[CheshireTheCat]

From health to the economy, it’s no secret 2020 will go down as one of the most stressful years in recent memory for people around the world. So just how difficult was 2020? Enough that more than one in every six Americans entered therapy for the first time, according to a new survey.

A OnePoll study of 2,000 adults reveals these new patients joined the 31 percent of Americans who either continued or returned to therapy during the last year. Researchers find 15 percent also began taking medication for mental health issues for the first time in 2020. Another 15 percent changed or increased their prescription dosages during the pandemic....As you might expect, the coronavirus pandemic was a major reason why Americans are now seeking a therapist’s help for their issues. Forty-five percent of respondents say they considered seeking treatment due to COVID-19. Just 15 percent of Americans think the pandemic did not damage their mental health.

Entering 2021, the winter weather is now adding to the problems of many people. Over six in 10 adults (62%) say they feel more depressed during the winter months. One in three (32%) call winter the worst season for their mental health....

[CheshireTheCat]

What I want to know is what can a therapist do for a person in times such as these?

Let's say for the sake of argument a person goes to a good therapist, a therapist who is not messed up or leftist as so many are.

Normally, such a therapist would probably recommend and encourage the patient to do such things as join a support group, maybe a bible study group, take a cooking class, take a Pilates class, etc.

How does that work in the age of social distancing?

[gcparent]

Support group 6 ft apart or zoom.

[dynachrome]

What will happen if times get really rough?

[Noumenon]

I get my therapy on the range and in the woods.

[who_would_fardels_bear]

I will admit that at one time I went to a therapist. But then I realized that the reason I was anxious and depressed was because I had been reading the news and had a reason to be anxious and depressed.

So I stopped going.

[BipolarBob]

I couldn’t get in to see my therapist because he’s in therapy.

[Viking2002]

I resolved to lose more weight, fish more, get put-off repairs and painting done in my house, and get my ham radio license, none of which requires me to ‘social distance’ (I’m anti-social anyway). Either I don’t need no steenkin’ therapy, or I’ve needed it for thirty years, depending on who you ask. I’m on the downhill side of 60 and I’m past my sell-by date where I’ll lay on a sofa while some pointy-beard in Oxford shoes and holding a steno pad says, “Tell me about your mother.......”

[aquila48]

The way 2021 is going, I’m starting to miss 2020.

Going from the year of the virus, to the year of the Rats.

[who_would_fardels_bear]

At this time I would recommend a life coach over a therapist. The life coach will give you recommendations on improving your diet, exercise regimen, etc.

A lot of this you can do on your own or with a few others in a safe way, e.g. running with others in such a way that their breath and your breath never come in contact (ha ha good luck with that!)

[Osage Orange]

3 in 6 Freeper’s did...

[Mariner]

Pussies!

[monkeyshine]

I’ve been through a lot of different therapists. The first was from Kentucky, Dr. Jim Beam. Joined a group therapy with Canadian Dr. Seagram Seven and the beautiful Ginger Ale. Then, started with this Russian guy, Dr. Stolichnya. Had some Californians, Italians and French who all belonged to the In Vino Veritas society. Had a Mexican shrink by the name of Dr. Modelo but after a while switched to an American with the strange name of Adolph Coors. When I felt he was too heavy on me, I would sometimes have a Coors lite session.

[Roman_War_Criminal]

American snowflakes have been pampered so long they forgot what real grit was.

It’s gonna be a long road for some. A short one for the weaker ones.

Jesus is your only hope BTW...

[setter]

I’m going to lock myself in the basement after work for the next 6 months and finish my antique car.

[Jedediah]

I have yet to know someone saying they are a therapist thats life isnt a mess in itself and no clue how to help themselves just saying

[TexasKamaAina]

I'm a therapist. I use an approach called Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy. I teach my clients that we are distressed not by events but by the view we take of them. I help them to identify the unrealistic, unhealthy thoughts that cause them distress and replace them with realistic thoughts leading to greater tranquility and enjoyment of life.

Essentially, I teach them applied stoicism and how to implement the recommendations of Epictetus, Seneca and Marcus Aurelius.

[Sacajaweau]

I don’t believe these stats....not one bit.

[littleharbour]

I prefer to self medicate

[monkeyshine]

What I want to know is what can a therapist do for a person in times such as these?

---

Sounds like the thing these doctors did the most was hand out pills. We’ll go from an opiate crisis to a benzodiazepine crisis. I wonder how they’ll mix with my personal alcohol crisis :-) Amazingly you can just zoom onto an app, talk to a doc, tell him you’re climbing the walls and can’t sleep, and he’ll send you 30 Xanax and 14 Ambien.

[setter]

Young people that have no grit?

I’m 58 and young people have it way worse than I ever did. Massive student debt, covid, poor job market, sky high house prices, new cars that used to cost 1/4 of your annual wage that no exceed annual wage, health insurance premiums and high deductibles, loss of employee benefits, no more pension plans.

They have reason to beotch