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Teens and Isolation During COVID-19

Picture of Stonewater Recovery By   ·  2 minute read
With the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, medical experts and government officials from around the country continue to recommend social distancing. They also suggest that people stay at home as much as possible, causing many school systems to switch to online schooling, or, at the very least, hybrid learning. Doing so can continue to discourage the spread of this virus, but it can also make many teens feel lonely and isolated. The consequences of isolation and COVID-19 can include mental health issues and possible substance abuse. If you're suffering from the effects of isolation due to the coronavirus pandemic, our team can help. Contact Stonewater Adolescent Recovery Center at 662.373.2828 today to learn more about your treatment options.

Teens and Isolation During COVID-19

Many teens battle thoughts of suicide or self-harm in the best of times. However, when you're also isolated from friends and loved ones, these thoughts can become overwhelming. In addition, if you struggle with depression or anxiety, isolation can increase your symptoms, which can also lead to self-harming practices and thoughts of suicide, even if you've never engaged in these behaviors before. Furthermore, you may be spending a lot of time in your room during coronavirus. Having increased privacy may seem like a great benefit, but it can also enable you to find more ways to use substances such as drugs and alcohol in your home. Under normal circumstances, it isn't too hard for your parents to monitor your substance abuse and put a stop to it before it goes too far. In addition, when you're in school, your teachers, friends, and classmates can also help to make sure your substance use hasn't gotten out of hand. However, if you're not in school, that added layer of protection isn't available, and your parents need to focus on navigating the challenges of working from home.

Coping With Teen Isolation

Fortunately, there is a way to cope with your isolation. First off, it's critical to create a new routine. Your schedule should include time for school, as well as time to exercise and participate in socially distant communications, such as calling your friends using Zoom or FaceTime. In addition, it would be best if you also made time apart from your screen. While we understand that you enjoy your phone and tablet, and they're a lifeline between you and your friends, it's critical to limit the amount of time you spend on your phone. Instead, you can spend your time with other activities, including:
  • Reading a book
  • Learning to play a new instrument
  • Learning a new skill, such as photography
  • Journalling
  • Drawing
If you need to spend time on your screen, consider using your time online to create and complete a project. This project should have a beginning, middle, and end, and give you a feeling of success and fulfillment. In addition, though you may act like you aren't concerned about the dangers of COVID-19, it's critical to accept that you are worried about these very real dangers. You may be worried about your parents or grandparents, leaving you stressed and feeling alone. Such feelings are perfectly understandable, but it's not healthy to keep it bottled up inside. Consider talking to your parents about these concerns, or use a journal to express your feelings.

Contact Stonewater Adolescent Recovery Center Today

Don't let the isolation of COVID-19 negatively impact your life. Our team can help if the insulation has already left you with mental health conditions or substance abuse problems. We offer a wide range of treatment options, including: To learn more about how to cope with isolation during COVID-19, contact Stonewater Adolescent Recovery Center today at 662.373.2828.