Two years after the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, millions of girls and boys in Mexico have returned to face-to-face classes; however, this return can represent a psychological impact on the students’ daily lives, as Genoveva Rodríguez Cantón, director of operations of therapy.
And it is that since last February 21, in most of the entities of the Republic, the educational model migrated from virtual classes to a face-to-face and hybrid model.
The above – according to the director of the online psychological counseling company – can imply in many cases, a break in the continuity of the routines that students used to have, which in turn causes discomfort and psychological wear and tear on children.
“(The school) in addition to being a safe space for a healthier routine that allows the organization of daily life, it contributes to being a place that reduces the time of exposure to screens, regulates sleep habits and offers a feeling of relaxation. stability,” he explained.
However, with confinement measures, cases of depression, stress and anxiety increased by up to 25 percent in the first year alone, according to a report by the World Health Organization (WHO).
Given this, Rodríguez Cantón mentioned that regardless of age, children are also likely to manifest symptoms related to adjustment disorders, because due to the pandemic they have been much more exposed to stress than would normally be expected.
Although the symptomatology is not completely the same as how adults manifest it, the health specialist recommended being aware of symptoms such as: feeling of constant sadness or hopelessness, frequent crying, manifestation of anxiety or nervousness, insomnia, lack of appetite, Difficulty concentrating, Difficulty performing daily activities, Withdrawal from sources of social support, Avoiding important matters, such as wanting to attend school.
“The symptoms of adjustment disorders appear within three months after a stressful event and do not last more than six months after its end. However, persistent or chronic adjustment disorders can continue for more than six months, especially if the stressor continues,” he explained.
Recommendation
To counteract these psychological manifestations in infants, the director of Terapi Mexico suggested the use of “Conversational Therapy” techniques and thus contribute to generating empathy.
Here are some ideas that describe ways of proceeding that follow the logic of this variant:
● Body mirroring: it is about following in a synchronized way the breathing and body posture that the patient has in the session as a living mirror in front of him.
● Repeat the last words: It may be enough to mention, for example, the last words heard from the patient: “and you just started first grade and your parents just separated” “mmm… the fights with your parents have increased.” friends at school” This helps to mark conversation turns, while sharing with the patient that he is being understood.
● Paraphrasing: It is about mentioning what we are understanding, for example: “If I understand you correctly, you are here because…” “Correct me if I am wrong, what you would like to change in your house is…”.
● Reflexes: These are empathic comments about what we are understanding regarding the feelings that the patient experienced in some situation. Examples are: “I imagine it must have been a difficult stage for you.” “I wouldn’t be surprised if you were angry” “It must have been complicated” “I can think it was a sad moment”.
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