We’re more anxious and lonelier because of the coronavirus and the quarantine measures many are facing. Go figure.

A new study commissioned by ValuePenguin and conducted by Qualtrics found that 47% of Americans are experiencing more loneliness and 1 in 6 feel more anxious. The results are based on an online survey of 1,184 Americans conducted between April 14-April 16, 2020.

Gen X-ers (49%), millennials (48%), and Gen Z-ers (46%) are experiencing the highest increases in loneliness. Older Americans haven’t experienced much of a difference in their level of loneliness. 62% say the amount of loneliness they have had during the quarantine and COVID-19 crisis is pretty much the same.

But. If older Americans were already pretty lonely before this crisis and now they feel the same, they’re still lonely, right?

Yes. I'm not afraid to break it down for you.

Increases in the levels of anxiety are due to the following reasons:

Fears that they or their loved ones will contract the virus
The overall state of uncertainty
Worries about loss of income
Financial stress other than loss of income
Increased work-related stress

Some respondents are suffering from mental health issues because of “other” reasons not mentioned in the list above.

Here are some of my guesses:

Trying to homeschool children
Lack of childcare options
Lack of interactions with loose-tie relationships like those we have with our hairstylists
Domestic abuse
Having to pretend everything is fine on daily social media COVID-19 journal updates
Lack of access to community-based support services
Lack of access to libraries
Limited people-watching options
Strange dreams and nightmares and crazy-ass sleep schedules

Some respondents said they want to try to find virtual mental healthcare options that might help them deal with their emotions. Verywellmind published a list of the best online therapy programs of 2020.

Here’s the statement on Verywellmind’s website about how they decide to recommend what they recommend: “Our editors independently research, test, and recommend the best products; you can learn more about our review process here. We may receive commissions on purchases made from our chosen links.”

I haven’t read the fine print because no one is paying me to write this. I just happen to be interested in this topic and curious about this new study and think others might be interested and curious, too.

Maybe I should’ve read the fine print? It probably wouldn’t have taken much time or energy.

Perhaps next time.

Anyhow, if you want to try an online mental health provider, please research your options. Let us know if you try one and if it was legit or not.

Or. If you’ve already tried one and it was helpful, please share some details in the comments below. If you want to.

I had a FaceTime appointment today with my psychiatrist who’s also my therapist because she’s brilliant. I had a big list of items to discuss. I’m so thankful for the mental healthcare professionals who have helped me become healthier over the years and who continue to support me and give me the tools I need to be more of who God made me to be while living with bipolar disorder and anxiety.

If you’ve never met with a therapist, now’s a great time to give it a go.

Here’s something to consider. Some people think it’s selfish to get healthy. They think the money and time commitment required to meet with a therapist, etc. should go to someone else or something else. But when we recover from trauma and mental illness and emotional dysregulation, we are helping others, too. I mean, wanting to help ourselves is enough of a reason to seek professional care. But when we get healthier, we are able to love and care for others better, too. We are able to inhabit the kingdom of God in ways that are more effective. We are more prepared to contribute to the common good.

So it’s not a selfish decision to get help. If you think it’s selfish, stop thinking that. Please?

If you have money and can donate money to organizations that increase access to therapy or counseling services for people who have limited income, please do so. Or if you have power and influence and the authority to make some kind of decision that would help people have access to mental healthcare, please do so.

Here are a few organizations that increase access to mental healthcare. I’m sure they’ll be happy to take your money. Every little bit helps, right?

Mental Health America (MHA)—founded in 1909—is the nation’s leading community-based nonprofit dedicated to addressing the needs of those living with mental illness and to promoting the overall mental health of all Americans. Our work is driven by our commitment to promote mental health as a critical part of overall wellness, including: prevention services for all; early identification and intervention for those at risk; and integrated care, services, and supports for those who need it; with recovery as the goal.

The Child Mind Institute is an independent, national nonprofit devoted to transforming the lives of children and families struggling with mental health and learning disorders. Lack of awareness and the stigma associated with mental illness prevents the treatment of many children and teens. The Child Mind Institute, however, strives to improve the futures of this population through three commitments: provide these children with access to the best, most effective treatments when and where they need it most; advance the science of the developing brain in order to improve diagnosis and treatment; and offer helpful, accurate information and guides that empower families and communities to get help.

The Treatment Advocacy Center is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating barriers to the timely and effective treatment of severe mental illness. The organization promotes laws, policies, and practices for the delivery of psychiatric care and supports the development of innovative treatments for and research into the causes of severe and persistent psychiatric illnesses, such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. (This person who lives with bipolar disorder thanks you, Treatment Advocacy Center.)

Alright. I’ll stop there. A lot of people are suffering from anxiety and loneliness right now. If you’re suffering from anxiety and loneliness right now, you aren’t alone. That might not help you feel better, but it might. A tiny bit?

Here’s one thing that usually helps me: Reach out to a friend or a family member whom you trust and tell them you feel lonely and/or anxious. When we are open and honest about our struggles, those things we’re struggling with seem to have less power over us.

Also, try to get some help if you’re suffering from mental illness. (By the way, loneliness isn’t a form of mental illness but it can be a symptom of mental illness.) Therapy and meds might help you heal and return to your typical self—or maybe even a new and improved self.

Peace and love to all who are struggling with anxiety and loneliness. Hang in there.

And if you happen to be living your best life, please think about who you might need to reach out to and check on.

The end.

Photo by Finn on Unsplash (Maybe I should’ve cropped that image, but I think I prefer it nice and big and dramatic.)

Charlotte Donlon is a writer, a spiritual director for writers, and the founder and host of the Our Faith in Writing podcast and website. Charlotte’s writing and work are rooted in noticing how art helps us belong to ourselves, others, God, and the world. Her writing has appeared in The Washington Post, The Curator, The Christian Century, Christianity Today, Catapult, The Millions, Mockingbird, and elsewhere. Her first book is The Great Belonging: How Loneliness Leads Us to Each Other. You can subscribe to her newsletter and connect with her onTwitter and Instagram.