As if it wasn’t hard enough to stop worrying and get out of bed some days for a lot of people, the COVID-19 virus has certainly changed the way we are living in 2020, to say the least.
It is more and more difficult to keep track of what day it is, let alone maintain any sense of normalcy with routine and structure. The added stress of kids at home, partners working from home and isolation are adding stress to an already challenging time. Those who struggle with Depression and Anxiety, among many other mental health issues, have a hard-enough time motivating to get out and be among others and now it is not even a safe option to do so. Technology, despite its flaws of discouraging social interaction, can be extremely beneficial during this isolative time. As such, here are some resources that may be helpful in obtaining useful information, providing support, offering fun activities and relaxation/meditation exercises and suggesting ways in which we can still stay connected to friends and family safely.
Of course, as a mental health practice, we at Gaithersburg Counseling Center, are not suggesting that these resources take the place of your regularly scheduled (now virtual) appointment with your therapist; however, they can help keep you informed and boost your mood during this difficult time. We are still here to help in any way that we can and have several therapists that are accepting new clients virtually. We can connect with you, help you manage your stress, and help create more peace in the home during this overwhelming time with couples or family counseling. Please reach out to us at (240) 274-5680 or Admin@HealingLLC.com if you are struggling and want to talk about setting up counseling services for yourself or a family member.
Please remember to be kind to yourself and know that you are doing the best that you can in this unprecedented time! Stay safe and healthy! We hope you find the following resources to be helpful.
Take Good Care,
Amy Hooper, LCSW-C, CEAP, Director and Psychotherapist, Gaithersburg Counseling Center
Sara Rothleder, LCSW-C, Director of Operations, Gaithersburg Counseling Center
Anxiety and Stress Management
- 8 Mindfulness Exercises For Dealing with COVID-19
- #CheckInWithMe: Give and get support here
- The Mighty
- A Brain Hack to Break the Coronavirus Anxiety Cycle
- Ten Percent Happier: Coronavirus Sanity Guide (FREE)
- Why your mental health may be suffering in the COVID-19 pandemic
- Headspace.com
National Health and Mental Health Resources
- World Health Organization
- Mental Health and Coping During COVID-19 – CDC
- National Alliance of Mental Illness – COVID-19 Information and Resources
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
- Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) | coronavirus.gov
Crisis Intervention Hotlines
- National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
- National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233
- National Sexual Assault Hotline: 1-800-656-HELP (4673)
- Montgomery County Child Abuse and Neglect Hotline: 240-777-4417
- Disaster Distress Helpline: 1-800-985-5990
Resources for Drug/Alcohol Addiction and Recovery
- Washington Area Intergroup Association Online or Phone AA Meeting List
- AA Meeting Finder App
- Narcotics Anonymous – Chesapeake and Potomac Region
- A Guide to Staying Healthy, Connected and Booze Free in the DMV During COVID-19
- Kolmac Clinic
Online Support Groups
Staying Connected
- 7 Free Apps to Help You Stay Connected During Coronavirus
- The Ultimate Guide To Hanging Out Virtually With Your Friends
- Zoom Tutorial
Local MD/DC Information
Staying Active (some local resources, free virtual classes, free apps)
- The Best Free Workout Apps
- IM=X Pilates Studio: Offering 2 weeks of free virtual classes
- Planet Fitness: Offering 20-minute workout sessions via Facebook
- 11 of the Best Gyms Offering Online Classes
- 125+ Free Streaming Workouts to Do From Home During Coronavirus
- 50 Exercises for a Bodyweight Workout You Can Do Anywhere
Free Yoga and Meditation
- Flow to Fit Yoga
- Do Yoga With Me
- Insight Meditation Community of Washington
- Insight Timer: The largest library of free guided meditations on earth
- Tara Brach: Pandemic Care Resources
- How to Meditate: NY Times Article
Activities and Information for Parents, Children & Young Adults
- Quick Activities Parents Can Do With Their Kids During Self-Isolation
- 125+ ideas for online learning and fun for kids of all ages
- Lunch Doodles with Mo Willems
- Audible.com: Free audio books for kids for as long as they are out of school!
- Delish.com: Hosting free cooking digital classes for kids
- Just For Kids: A Comic Exploring The New Coronavirus
- Dave the Dog is Worried About Coronavirus
- Celebrities Reading Children’s books
Fun Things to Watch Online: You can look up any museum around the world and they have virtual resources
- National Zoo Webcams
- The Metropolitan Opera
- NPR List of Concerts to Watch
- How to Try Every Streaming Service For Free During the Coronavirus Quarantine
- Travel and Leisure’s National Parks Virtual Tours
- 15 Broadway Plays and Musicals You Can Watch On Stage From Home
Mobile Apps
- Anxiety and Depression Association of America Reviewed Apps
- The 7 Best Mental Health Apps of 2020
- Dailyo: Helps to set daily goals and will remind you. Allows you to process how you feel that day and write in a journal.
- MyDBT: Provides skills to manage difficult emotions and allows tracking of skills.
- Impulse App: Helps to note impulses and help with managing and recognizing them
- Headspace: Helps with guided imagery/meditation and allows you to write about and process difficult thoughts/feelings.
- Reflectly: Journaling app to reflect on your day
- Sanity & Self: Helps you to stay well with yourself during difficult times
- Relax+: Relaxation techniques
- I am: Helps with positive affirmations and allows for pop up reminders of selected affirmations
- Self-checkout: Allows you to check in on yourself and your feelings, allows for journaling too
- CBT-i coach: Helps with sleeping better and with insomnia and techniques for combating it
- Woebot: Virtual “personal life coach” to help think and feel better.
- Toobee: Positive affirmations and reminders as pop-up notifications to remind you of the affirmation at a frequency that works for you
- Calm
- The Mighty: Mental Health articles and affirming posts for self-help