Many psychotherapists are being forced to specialize in is talking isolated clients with COVID through their illnesses. Watching for symptoms that warrant a call to the doctor or the ER, trying to help clients distinguish between anxiety & serious symptoms.

Trying to offer realistic assurance is less possible when hospitals are filling.

Many are entirely alone trying to think through their illness and discern when to seek medical or emergency care by themselves

Trying to help people make sure they have the right supplies, over the counter meds, pulse oximeters, and are coherent enough to track their symptoms in a log so they can communicate with their telehealth medical appointments

Helping people manage their fear of death, suffering, disability and isolation while they are extremely vulnerable.

People forget that mental health providers are part of the COVID response, and are trying to remotely keep people grounded through it, supporting clients in their illness and recoveries and bereavement. Mourning clients who have died.

Have Tylenol and NSAIDS, expectorants and cough medicine, antihistamines etc stocked should your medical doctor suggest them. Have a thermometer and a fingertip pulse oximeter. Keep a symptom log next to your bed. Have heating pads,ice packs, icyhot cream for head/muscle aches

Have plenty of tissues, and broths and teas and fluids for hydration/electrolytes if your stomach is involved.

Have a phone charger and a go bag packed, especially if you are alone- you may not need it, but you won’t want to think about what you need when you are feeling sick and disoriented and alone.

Ask your doctor what you might take for anxiety if you are very scared.

Lots of people get through it on their own, but the isolation makes the ride harder for many

Think about what comfort items you might need or feel soothed by.

Make a list early on of who you can call when you are bored. Who you can call when you are lonely. Who is good for distraction. Who can you call if you get scared in the middle of the night.

Set up a group text for those who will want updates so you don’t have to repeat a lot

Some have an itchy skin rash: oatmeal baths or soothing lotions can offer some relief.

You can’t cure the illness but you can soothe some of the symptoms.

The more you can keep yourself comfortable the clearer you can discern if your symptoms are distressing or emergent.

But in this process psychotherapists and social workers are important ancillary care providers.