Sleep disorders, fear of the future, depression: How people are reacting to the current crisis

How much the war in Ukraine and the corona crisis, as well as other factors, can influence life is something that the counselors at the Psychological Counseling Center for Marriage, Family and Life Issues (EFL) Weilheim see in their work.

The demand at the contact point is high, as director Paulo Nicoly Menezes explains in an interview.

How is the war in Ukraine affecting the people who come to the counseling center, Mr Nicoly Menezes?

Menezes:

Older people who have experienced war or heard a lot about it bring back memories and concerns.

Those affected realize that this is not good for them.

Young people are more likely to think: What's next?

Will I keep my wealth, be able to pay my energy bills?

The current crisis is a reason for panic attacks, sleep disorders, irritability, burnout and depression, but also for increased disputes among couples.

What shocks me is that even people who don't tend to wake up often at night and have worries about the future.

What can those affected do?

Do you have any advice?

Menezes:

I advise getting professional help – as an individual, as a couple, as a family.

It often has a positive effect when you can talk to someone.

And what can those affected do themselves?

Menezes:

I recommend reflecting on the fact that war has always existed and then thinking about how to better deal with the current situation.

You can think about the cause of your personal stress and how you can find a balance - for example in sports or in contact with nature.

The increasing pressure to perform in our society can also be a burden.

One can ask oneself: How do I learn to say no?

Which relationships are not good for me?

What am I actually living for?

How big is the demand at your counseling center at the moment?

Menezes:

We have a waiting list, but those seeking advice usually get their first appointment in two to three weeks.

So far we have still managed to offer all of them an appointment.

The number of cases this year is similar to last year.

In addition to fears about the future, another trend is currently emerging: there are young fathers who feel totally overwhelmed - in their role as father, employee, husband, friend.

They want more time for their families, but don't want to lose their jobs.

It is noticeable that today there is often a lack of support from grandparents.

Also read: If there are cracks in life, your help is needed.

25 years of marriage, family and life counseling in Weilheim

How did the counseling for migrants, which you wanted to offer more, develop?

Menezes:

More and more migrants are coming to us, including many academics from Munich.

They take advantage of the opportunity to receive advice in Weilheim in their native language, such as Spanish or Portuguese.

We also feel a need for this in our branch offices in Landsberg and Starnberg.

We also work with interpreters, but we face the challenge of having them available and getting enough money to pay them.

This year around 25 migrants took part in a group offer from our anniversary program for the 25th anniversary of the EFL Weilheim.

From their side there was also interest in a sequel.

And what is your outlook for the future?

Menezes:

We would very much like to continue offering groups for women, men, couples and especially for migrants.

We also want to promote networking with other bodies.

We look forward to continued financial support for our program from local communities and the Church.

I am concerned that the Church will eventually adopt austerity measures, although that may not be the case in the next few years.

Our offer is currently 80 to 90 percent financed by the church.

This is the EFL:

The Psychological Counseling Center for Marriage, Family and Life Issues (EFL), headquartered in Weilheim, offers advice on problems in couples or the extended family as well as after a death or difficulties in the professional environment.

Since 2020, the contact point of the diocese of Augsburg has been headed by Paulo Nicoly Menezes.

The Brazilian is a marriage, family and life coach, a graduate philosopher and a graduate theologian and received his doctorate in Germany.

In 2021, 633 people were cared for by EFL employees in Weilheim and its branch offices in Starnberg and Landsberg (395 cases).

This corresponds almost exactly to the figure for 2020. Of the more than 2,430 hours of counseling in 2021, couple counseling accounted for the largest share with 1,350 hours, followed by individual counseling and family counseling.

58 of the clients had a migration background.

Telephone contact to the EFL in Weilheim, Waisenhausstraße 1, under 0881/901150911.

Advice is free, but clients are asked to make donations.

Also read: Whether anorexia or food addiction: More people suffer from eating disorders - interview with an expert from the "Eating Disorders Therapy Network", which runs a counseling center in Weilheim

You can find more current news from the region around Schongau at Merkur.de/Schongau.