It seems like everything has gone remote, including work and even spending time with friends and family in the past few years. Technology has allowed us to do everything we need to do from the comfort of our own homes, so why should therapy be any different? While many therapists’ offices were shut down during lockdown, they were still able to hold sessions via video conference platforms like Zoom and Google Meet, continuing to help their parents during some of the most emotionally straining times of their lives. 

Online therapy is similar to in-person therapy. The only difference between your two options is that you can either get treatment in an office or enjoy it from the comfort of your own home. Some people prefer online therapy over in-person therapy, while others feel more likely to go to therapy if it happens online. This article will discuss online vs. in-person therapy to help you decide which is right for you based on your unique circumstances. 

Factors to Consider When Choosing Between Online and In-Person Therapy

Both options for therapy can make remarkable differences in your mental health and teach you how to care for yourself better. The goal of therapy is to help you deal with your emotions and any present mental illnesses like anxiety and depression. That being said, people who aren’t diagnosed with mental illness can also benefit from therapy as it provides them with an outlet and someone to talk to about their problems. Here are factors to consider to help you choose between online and in-person therapy. 

Time

Having online therapy is much more convenient than going to therapy in an office. Online therapy might be a better option for you if you’re always pressed for time because you can have your session just about anywhere, including at home or even at your office. 

Before you decide to have therapy online, consider how much time you have available for weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly appointments. Depending on your therapist, you might also have the option to have hybrid therapy, which would be a mix of in-person and online sessions. 

Of course, some people enjoy getting ready and driving to therapy since it gives them more time to themselves. By visiting an office, therapy can give you a reason to get out of the house and spend some time thinking about yourself instead of all the things you have going on in your hectic life. 

Your Commitment

Those who decide to pursue therapy are typically committed to overcoming obstacles or problems in their lives. They simply want to learn how to manage stress and anxiety and be happier. No matter what, most people who go to therapy have a goal in mind, and you don’t want your therapy method getting in the way of achieving those goals. If your level of commitment to therapy might change depending on your chosen method, it’s always best to choose the platform that works best for you. For example, some people will be more committed to their therapy if they have a set appointment in person, while others will remain just as committed if they decide to have therapy online in the comfort of their own homes. 

Relationship Building Preferences

If you’re someone who forms more meaningful bonds in person, you might prefer in-person therapy over online therapy simply because you prefer to get to know people outside of the digital world. Additionally, those who enjoy communicating through body language would also prefer to go to therapy in person because body language is not as easily read via video conferencing software. Of course, these preferences might depend on your age. Overall, younger people are more comfortable building relationships via messaging, smartphones, and video, while older generations prefer in-person communications and connections. 

Necessary Space

For your therapy, you’ll need a quiet space that’s free of distractions and allows you to focus on what you and your therapist are talking about so you can think deeply about your situation. For example, if you’re someone with a noisy family and a chaotic household, online therapy might not be for you unless you’re able to find a quiet room during your appointments. You can also choose to have your appointment during your lunch, in which case you should have your own office and ensure you won’t be bothered during that time. 

If you’re interested in online therapy, consider if you can have the privacy necessary to have a successful session. Additionally, consider how likely you are to get distracted. It’s more difficult to get distracted in person than it is when you’re video conferencing. Your brain might be used to working on your laptop, so switching off when you need to attend your online therapy session can be hard. 

Cost

Many online therapy websites are affordable, but you should be careful about the types of platforms you use because pricing models vary, and some therapists might be out of your insurance network. Additionally, online therapy can be more expensive than in-person therapy, depending on your insurance. Some online therapy providers charge a subscription fee for a specific number of appointments.

Which Is Right For Me?

Many people find success with both online and in-person therapy, and what you decide to do is a matter of preference; no option is better than the other. Before you can decide which therapy option is right for you, make sure to consider all of the factors outlined in this article. If you’re still unsure, consider looking for a therapist that offers online and in-person sessions. That way, if you’d like to experiment with your options, you can switch from online to in-person and vice-versa, depending on your preferences. 

Regardless of your choice, always ensure you’re working with a licensed and certified therapist that you believe can help you. Some therapists specialize in certain areas, including children or families, while others take on various clients. Always vet your therapist to ensure you’re working with the right person to help you. 

Marné Amoguis

Marné Amoguis holds a B.A. in International Business from UC San Diego. She is a contributing writer at 365businesstips.com where she loves sharing her passion for digital marketing. Outside of writing, she loves traveling, playing music, and hiking.

When you feel an emotion that triggers stress, your adrenal gland releases epinephrine — the hormone responsible for the flight-or-fight response — and then cortisol. In dangerous situations, this response can save your life. Too much cortisol, however, can have a long-term, negative impact on your metabolic rate, memory formation, and blood sugar regulation.

Stress can take one of three forms:

Acute Stress:

The most common form of stress, acute stress, is the result of day-to-day stressors, such as waking up late, running to class, or receiving a bad grade. Fortunately, most acute stress fades quickly and has little mental or physical impact.

Episodic Acute Stress: 

As its name suggests, episodic acute stress develops when a student experiences acute stress multiple times over an extended period. Common symptoms include migraines and tension headaches.

Chronic Acute Stress: 

Chronic acute stress happens when someone can’t avoid a long-term stressful situation. For example, students struggling academically in a major course may develop chronic acute stress, which can lead to weight gain, sleep deprivation, and anxiety. Students use Adderall to cope with stress, leading to severe consequences. 

What Are the Causes of Stress in College Students?

College students respond to stressors in different ways, but some situations are almost always stressful. Here are some of the most common stressors for students.

Finances

Many students work while in school to afford high tuition and housing costs. Unfortunately, part-time jobs typically pay just minimum wage. If you’re struggling economically, speak to your financial aid office to see whether you qualify for grants, loans, or work-study.

Homesickness and New Levels of Independence

On top of classes, exams, and meeting people, many students have to deal with growing up. Out-of-state students may be living away from their homes for the first time in their lives, which can easily become a source of constant stress.

Living Among Strangers

Students new to campus life often feel isolated, especially if they’re in an unfamiliar city or state. Some students are naturally shy and may find it difficult to make friends.

Cohabitating With Roommates

Many students may not be accustomed to sharing a room with someone else, especially if their roommate is someone they hardly know. This situation can compound the normal stress of college life.

Coursework and Exams

Students often feel overwhelmed by the increased workload associated with college-level coursework. This realization can blindside students and contribute to stress and anxiety. In many classes, exams make up a large percentage of students’ grades, causing midterms and finals to be more stressful than normal.

Family Turmoil or Loss Back Home

A 2014 NPR study found that the death of a loved one is the second-highest cause of stress amongst U.S. adults. A death in the family can be extremely traumatic for college students, especially if they live away from home and can’t afford to take a break from classes.

Work Schedules

According to a 2013 survey by Citibank and Seventeen Magazine, 4 in 5 students work while attending college. The average student works 19 hours a week. Many learners try to find a job that can accommodate the scheduling concerns associated with full-time education.

Social Obligations

In addition to academic pressures, college introduces plenty of social pressures, such as the idea that you must make tons of friends and party every weekend. Peer pressure and societal expectations can exacerbate stress, especially for first-year students.

Romantic Relationships

Romantic relationships take work. When you and your partner face the stresses of college life, the pressure can feel even greater. Additionally, many students may be in the process of questioning their sexuality and/or gender identity, which can impact dating and relationships.

How to Manage Stress in College: 7 Key Tips

Figuring out what situations might cause stress is only half the battle for college students. Fortunately, there are several tricks you can use to help you avoid getting stressed out, reduce how much stress you feel, and improve your ability to cope with and ultimately eliminate stress.

1. Get Enough Sleep

Getting both quality sleep and enough sleep offers a variety of health benefits, including reducing stress and improving your mood. What’s more, students who sleep well are less likely to get sick, have better memory recall, and enjoy a clearer mind.

2. Eat Well

Make an effort to eat nutritious meals and avoid eating on the run so you can avoid indigestion. You may also look for foods that are known to combat stress and boost your mood.

3. Exercise Regularly

In addition to keeping your body healthy, regular exercise releases endorphins and improves your overall cognitive abilities. Exercise can even help you fall asleep, thereby reducing stress. Keep in mind that exercise doesn’t need to be strenuous — yoga, short walks, and stretching can all lead to immense mental health benefits and help relieve tension.

4. Don’t Rely on Stimulants

Drinking coffee and energy drinks to fuel your late-night study sessions will inevitably lead to a crash later on. These stimulants boost cortisol levels in the body, increasing the physical effects of stress. Apart from stimulants, students may use Xanax to cope with anxiety. 

5. Set Realistic Expectations

Consistently having too much on your plate can lead to a lot of stress. Try to manage your workload by setting realistic expectations and picking a class schedule that gives you plenty of time to study and relax.

Communication with professors is key — if you’re swamped with work, you might be able to get an extension on an assignment by simply asking and explaining your situation.

6. Avoid Procrastinating

Procrastination might feel good in the moment, but it often leads to stress. By managing your time wisely, you can avoid spending all night catching up on coursework. Additionally, habitual procrastination may be a sign of ADHD or anxiety.

7. Identify a Stress Outlet

Stress can never be completely avoided; however, finding a healthy way to reduce stress can go a long way toward keeping it from overwhelming you. Common stress outlets include exercise, spending time with friends and family, and getting massages.

You can also try relaxation techniques such as deep abdominal breathing, concentrating on a soothing word (like “peace” or “calm”), doing yoga or tai chi, and visualizing tranquil scenes.

How mental health affects Physical Health

Research says people with mental health problems are more likely to have bad physical health conditions such as heart disease. health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being. Mental health has a direct impact on physical health. The reason behind this is mentioned below. 

People with mental pressure are more likely to suffer from sleep disorders such as insomnia. Which leads to breathing problems.

People who suffer from mental health conditions and their physical conditions are hard to care for. Similarly, physical problems can also affect our minds. Any skin problem gives us stress. Having dangerous diseases also causes depression. 

Lots of things can affect our health, life is full of surprises. When unexpected things happen to us that affects us badly. Like money crisis, close one death, etc. Avielle Janelle Hernandez is an example, she lost her father at a very early age. 

Things that are good for physical and mental health

Here are some simple health management examples for you. That is good for our physical and mental health both.  

Regular physical activity

Regular physical activity is really good for our health. We feel more refreshed. It helps to maintain a healthy weight and also manage many noncommunicable diseases like heart, stroke, cancer, etc. Do physical activity whatever you like including swimming, running, walking, dancing, etc. It can improve your mood and decrease depression, anxiety and stress. Exercise increases the endorphin production which produces positive feelings. You can see the result in a short period of time. 

Eat balanced diet

Eating high-quality food contains lots of minerals and vitamins. An unhealthy diet has rich fats and sugars that cause inflammation of neurons and can affect the brain. Green leafy vegetables, broccoli, eggs, chicken, and brown rice are good sources of food. Eating enough protein helps us to think and react quickly. Pay attention to how you feel when you eat, chew slowly, and properly avoid television when you eat. Check up on your health every year. Nowadays we can check up on our health at the online  Home Depot Health Check website. 

Get enough sleep

Sleep is an essential part of every human. Sleep and mental health are closely connected. Set a regular bedtime. When you get enough sleep you can make good decisions. Our body repairs and functions normally if we sleep well.  Most adults need 7-8 hours of sleep every night. Blood pressure goes down, blood sugar control, and weight gain can be prevented when we sleep properly. Use blue light in the bedroom, and keep your bedroom clean and quiet so that it can make you sleepy.

Bottom Line

Our health is a precious thing. We should always take care of both physical and mental health. Follow those simple things that we mentioned above in the article that can help you to lead a healthy life. However, People need to understand that poor mental health can lead to poor physical health, both connect to each other.

Instead of spending money or long therapy hours, you could consider thrilling activities like traveling. Traveling can be exhilarating, but it has more than just lovely photos for your Instagram.  

First, identify where you want to visit, then acquire the necessary traveling gear to avoid confusion and stress. Read on to learn how traveling will nourish your mental health. 

Alleviates Daily Stress 

The day-to-day work stresses may deter you from realizing what is fun and exciting. Sufficient working time is a vital part of decent work. It represents a critical element of working conditions and significantly impacts workers’ income, well-being, and living conditions.  

According to research, most of the world’s population work for longer hours, a situation that leads to mental health deterioration. So, it is crucial to break away from the daily bustle, and traveling is an excellent way to do that. 

Packing your bags and crossing fabulous destinations can boost happiness and help get your mind off strenuous job-related thoughts. A study indicates that a short vacation of at least four nights improves one’s well-being, recovery, strain, and perceived stress. Besides, these effects may last thirty to forty-five days after the trip. 

Given the results, a short vacation can be a worthwhile alternative for enhancing your mental health and recovery from stress-related conditions. So, you can introduce a short trip program to your routine without interfering with your regular schedules. 

Apart from adventure, traveling eases any worry, apprehension, and tension. At the same time, it is advisable to carry a natural stress remedy like CBD gummies on the journey. Studies show that CBD can be a fantastic remedy for stress and pain. Ensure you get your hand on a high-quality product.  

Helps In Learning More About Yourself 

Visiting places with rich cultural heritages helps you think about yourself, your culture, and what you like. Also, facing various characters and places makes you re-analyze your tenets and can be a point of reinvention. 

Traveling, especially alone, in a foreign place makes you learn new trends and ways of handling different situations. Besides, if you are recuperating from a traumatic situation or significant life transitions, touring a new place gives you a fresh start. 

It is no secret that interacting with the world is crucial in finding new passions, interests, and companies. It brings joy and purpose and relieves traumatic stress. 

Makes You Happy and Satisfied 

Apart from relieving you of the skirmish of going to work every day, journeying in different places provides a new experience that realigns your brain to less stressful situations. It, therefore, enhances mood and self-confidence. By accomplishing something you relish, you achieve essential self-care and promote your happiness. 

If you’ve ever gone to a new place, a game reserve, a beach, or just a new neighborhood, you’ll realize that sceneries, food, climate, and the sight of new people promote relaxation. The experience is calming and can help get rid of mental disturbances. 

Further, the anticipation of an experience alone gives you joy. According to an analysis, people derive pleasure from waiting for an experiential adventure rather than material goods. So, before even embarking on your journey, the thought of it alone improves your mood.  

The ability of anticipatory situations to promote joy is not a theory; while waiting to take on a new experience, the brain reward zones become active and produce dopamine. This neurotransmitter is known as the happy hormone as it causes glee and optimism. 

Increases Mental Tolerance 

Visiting a new thrilling area and living there even for a few days increases mental and emotional toughness. It helps you overcome fears that might have haunted you previously. 

Also, confronting hardships in a foreign setting, among alien cultures, compels you to learn and adjust to a life outside of your comfort zone. Imagine a wellness trip directed at yoga, meditation, and mindfulness exercises. You can acquire skills that can help you maintain an everyday fitness program. This routine may be crucial in strengthening mental state as it improves flexibility, patience, and emotional strength. 

It is not only the hardships that improve mental health; when you adjust your daily schedules, the mind has to detach from the regular rewards and adapt to new ones. The brain systems then become flexible even to future changes.   

Improves Creativity 

Foreign experiences increase cognitive flexibility and depth. Also, it helps you integrate thoughts and improves the ability to connect separate occasions and ideas.  

While traveling, you interact with various sounds, smells, languages, tastes, sensations, and sights that relay new signals to the brain. New impulses are relayed between sensory organs and brain cells, helping in building new nervous networks and realigning the brain. 

A recent experiment linked new adventure to creativity. Adventure helps in priming students to mentally recreate their past experiences staying abroad or conforming to a new culture, at least temporarily. For instance, the students drew space aliens and unraveled word puzzles more creatively than students prepared to recollect other non-adventurous events. 

Conclusion 

Maintaining a healthy mental state can be challenging and costly if you are not well equipped with the necessary remedies. When you experience stress, anxiety, or depression, it is best not to quickly hurry into using synthetic medications since they can do more harm than good. 

Instead, you can embark on a journey to a local game reserve, the beach, or any other thrilling destination to help clear your mind. Traveling is quite therapeutic and can help you learn and improve your creativity.