Feeling Anxious? The Crisis Text Line is There for You

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With Monmouth County so close to the epicenter of the COVID-19 virus outbreak, residents are on edge. Not knowing when the peak of the crisis will occur, being cooped up inside for who knows how long, worrying about loved ones in essential areas of care, getting laid off from work - it’s just plain exhausting. The board-certified podiatrists at Affiliated Foot & Ankle Center want to use this opportunity to reach out to our patients who may be experiencing anxiety. There are ways to cope.

First, recognize that you may have an anxiety problem. Symptoms vary widely among people and can include:

  • difficulty sleeping

  • inability to concentrate

  • constant feelings of helplessness or worry

  • feeling short-tempered or irritable

  • fatigue or, conversely, feeling hyperactive, restless, or wound-up

If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, please know its okay. Anxiety is one of the most common mental health disorders in both children and adults. And especially these days, with a global pandemic on our heels, feeling anxious is nothing to hide. Talk it out with a friend or spouse. Try to get more sleep. Keep up with your exercise routine or start a new one. Meditate. Ask your doctor to recommend a therapist you can talk to, even if it’s by phone.

If none of this is helpful and anxieties become a daily problem for you, you can contact the Crisis Text Line. Text the word “HOME” to 741741. Your text will be answered within minutes by a real person who’s trained in mental health counseling. The service isn’t new - it’s been helping people since 2013. Your counselor’s goal will be to help you “move from a hot moment to a cool calm” - that is, to listen to you and help you formulate a plan that moves you away from crisis and back toward feeling safe.

If any of your anxiety stems from foot pain, you’re not sure if you should see a podiatrist soon or put off medical care, or you’re worried about how to pay for foot care, please contact us online or call us in Howell or Jackson, NJ at (732) 905-1110. Our caring staff and physicians Dr. Samantha Boyd, Dr. Hal Ornstein, Dr. Dan Phan, and Dr. Joseph Saka, will also do our best to bring you to a place of cool calm.