Coronavirus Stress on Kids—Mental Health Help in Newark, DE

Children’s lives are structured around social gatherings. They wake up in the morning and go to a school packed with kids sharing similar experiences to them simply through proximity of location and age. They go home and engage with friends or extracurriculars. The weekend comes and there’s band practice, sports games, theatre recitals, play dates, parties, and hanging out with friends.

And then, COVID-19 hit, and their schedule wasn’t just disrupted, it was shattered. We can love our kids with everything in us, but that doesn’t change the fact that their world, which once seemed so big and wide and full of opportunities, is now limited to a computer screen and the walls of their house.

It might seem that since kids don’t have to worry about bills or employment that the coronavirus hasn’t effected them as harshly. This can be a dangerous misconception. Kids don’t always have the vocabulary to describe their stress or anxiety, and as they get older, they might not always want to communicate that. But stress related to COVID-19 is very real and prevalent in children’s lives. Like adulthood stress, it is also highly treatable. We just have to acknowledge it and meet them where they’re at. Thriveworks Newark is here to do just that, and to help you as parents do so with your kids.

For more information on how the coronavirus is effecting kids, or to schedule a virtual or in-person session today, give Newark counseling a call at 302-724-6662.

How Has the Coronavirus Affected Kids?

As adults, counselors, and parents, we have a duty to listen to our kids. Sometimes, this means looking for the unspoken communications.

COVID-19 has impacted everyone differently and, depending on the age and lifestyle of your kid, it will have different effects. Let’s look at a few possibilities:

• Disruption of School Schedule- This is a big one. School is a vital part of the social development and mental health of kids. Having it taken from them suddenly with little idea on when it’ll return can create a lot of uncertainty and instability in kid’s lives, something that they crave at any age. It can also be stressful for students who’s skills do not match a virtual learning environment. This can foster negative self-talk and low self-image, which can progress to other mental health concerns when not addressed.
• Lack of social circle- Many kids find their expression and their “people” through social groups. While some of these groups are online, many of them were still meeting in-person before the pandemic. Especially for adolescents and teenagers, their identity as a member of a certain group is a big deal, and feelings of displacement are common when that is taken.
• Stressing about the future- For our older children, the pandemic will have longer-reaching effects. College or post-high school dreams may be postponed or questioned. It’s hard being young and feeling like you have to have the rest of your life figured out. It’s even harder when you’re trying to build your future in the middle of a pandemic.
• Restlessness and Lack of New Experiences- Some of our kids might be totally okay with the stay-at-home orders, and others might be positively crawling the walls. Quarantine is not easy for everyone, and just as some adults have struggled with depression and anxiety during the pandemic, kids can too. If you have a child who leans towards extroverted tendencies, pay close attention to their mood and behavior. They could be struggling.

These are only a few of the scenarios that could be impacting your child’s mental and behavioral health. It’s hard to be a parent and not know how to help your child. Most days, it might feel like a fight to get them eat veggies or come out of their room, and now you have to worry about their mental health?!

That’s what Newark child and adolescent counselors are here for. We have years of experience and training working with kids. Their mental health is not all on you. We just ask that you don’t discount the possibility that they are struggling, too. If they are, there are many resources for them! Thriveworks Newark therapy is just one possibility.

For more information, or to schedule an appointment today, give Thriveworks Newark a call at 302-724-6662.