Tag: New

What events contribute to Health Care Worker Burnout

Posted on by Jill

Those who work in healthcare such as Physicians, Registered Nurses, Licensed Practical Nurses and Health Care Aides often have higher levels of burnout than those in other professions. What factors contribute to this phenomenon.  Often it is a combination of situations.

If you believe that you are suffering from burnout do you recognize any of the common contributing factors below?

1. Heavy patient load not allowing for the kind of care you want to give.

2. Resources that you require to do a good job are unavailable.

3. Shift work that often leaves you feeling exhausted and makes planning a “normal life” more difficult.

4. Cases that appear to be more complex than they used to.

5. Management that has unrealistic expectations and does not support changes to improve things.

6. Difficult interpersonal situations with coworkers or management.

Through Counselling and Therapy strategies can be put in place to help you minimize the impact of your situation on your physical and emotional health.

Are you a health care worker suffering from “Burn Out”

Posted on by Jill

Burn out is a term that is used to describe a group of symptoms that can be debilitating and lead to all kinds of unpleasant physical and emotional symptoms.  It is one of the main reasons employes take short and long term disability.  Burn out is extremely common for people who work in helping professions like health care workers, especially Registered Nurses, Licensed Practical Nurses and Resident Care Attendants or Health Care Aides.  If you answer yes to any of the following symptoms or situations you might be experiencing burn out and not know it.

1.  A feeling of overwhelming despair thinking about going to work.

2. Panic attacks or anxious feelings at work or on the way to work.

3. Inability to focus on work and complete tasks.

4. Impatience and irritability with co workers or patients/clients

5. A feeling of learned helplessness-no matter what I do I won’t be able to make the difference I want so why bother.

6. A change in sleep patterns, sleeping too much or sleeping to little.

7. A change in eating habits, eating too much or eating too little.

If you answer yes to 3 or more of these symptoms you might be experiencing burn out at work.  Counselling and Therapy and can also help you learn to manage yourself in a workplace that might not change.  Counselling and Therapy can also help you learn to change and improve relationships and supports so that they work in your favour.

4 Essential Components of a Mental Training Program for Sport

Posted on by Jill

Creating a Mental Training Program for sport is just as essential as a Physical Training Program.

A Successful Mental Training Program will include:

1. Learning to create the right level of  “up energy” a good balance between tension and relaxation.

2. Harnessing the power of your inner voice so that it encourages and supports you rather than talking you down.

3. A structured Mental Rehearsal program to reinforce patterns for your body through your mind.

4. Eliminating Mental Roadblocks that prevent your from excelling in Competition.

Incorporating these four components can take your performance from average to elite!

5 Ways to Improve Your Communication and Reduce Stress

Posted on by Jill

Misunderstandings create additional stress when the person you are trying to communicate with does not get what you are saying.  You can improve your odds of being understood by following these 5 tips.

1.  Be clear in your own mind what you are wanting to accomplish.

2. Be calm when you present your point of view.

3. Use straightforward language that clearly explains what you mean.

4. Give your message without worrying about how they are going to react, it is not your responsibility.

5. Repeat your message again and clarify that they have understood it as you intended.

Are your symptoms of anxiety related to work stress?

Posted on by Jill

Anxiety symptoms can be linked to chronic stress at work, ask yourself if you:

1. Wake up dreading going to work.

2. Have difficulty going to sleep on Sunday night thinking about going back to work

3. Notice that uncomfortable emotional or physical symptoms disappear when you are on vacation.

4. Feel physically tense and angry after a day at work

5. Allow issues from the workplace to creep into your life at home.

If you are experiencing several of these symptoms you can find relief working with a counsellor to explore the ways you can learn to create a healthy work/life balance and develop boundaries and self care strategies at work.

Occupational stress can contribute to anxiety symptoms

Posted on by Jill

It has been long studied and understood that occupational stress contributes to anxiety symptoms.  Factors that contribute to these symptoms often include:

1. Little decision making ability over systems in place even if they don’t seem to make sense to you.

2. Interpersonal challenges, working with people who are demeaning, demanding or unpleasant

3. A higher level of work required than resources or time allow.

4.A lack of appreciation from supervisors or management for a job well done

5. Minimal opportunity to give useful feedback for change.

Although we cannot always change the parameters or personalities in the workplace we can learn to manage ourselves differently in the same situation to create a more balanced healthy working life.  Learning to understand interpersonal dynamics and alter communication styles can help you create a more positive situation for yourself.

 

The top 5 places people experience panic attacks

Posted on by Jill

Intense anxiety and panic attacks are much more common than you think.  But intense anxiety and panic attacks are often so unexpected that many people are often diagnosed for the first time at the emergency room.  Why?  Because they believe they are actually having a heart attack.

Based on my experience as a therapist specializing in treating anxiety and panic, the top five places where panic attacks occur are:

1.  On a plane

2. In an elevator

3. Going over a bridge

4. In a crowded room or mall

5. Driving alone in a car

When experiencing a panic attack the most common response is to try to run away however, when you are in any of the above situations running away is often impossible.  The inability to leave is why these situations tend to intensity anxious and panicky feelings.

The good news ease intense anxiety and panic attacks are easily treatable with the right combination or counselling and often hypnotherapy.