 An often overlooked but essential truth of the healthcare profession is this: If you don’t take care of yourself, you won’t be able to take care of anyone else.
That has never been truer than over the course of a two-year pandemic that has stressed not only the facilities, systems and supply chains related to the healthcare field, but the physical and mental limits of those professionals working in it. If you’re a traveling health care pro, when even finding a place to eat after work points to the problems of the world, the stresses are multiplied further. Now more than ever, it is important for health care pros to prioritize their mental health. Watch for the Warning Signs While thoughts of suicide, drug and alcohol abuse and a heightened fear of workplace violence are major — and increasingly common — red flags, it is important to know other warning signs. In general, health care workers are at higher risk for developing stress disorders such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Acute Stress Disorder (ASD). Both are accompanied by flashbacks, nightmares, sleep loss and concentration difficulties. PTSD symptoms, which typically present a month or more after trauma and could last years if untreated, also include:
ASD symptoms, which typically present immediately and are commonly of shorter duration, include:
Furthermore, health care pros are prime candidates for burnout and Compassion Fatigue. Both are characterized by mental and emotional exhaustion, isolation, and losing a sense of accomplishment or meaning in work. Burnout — where stagnation can lead to frustration and apathy — emerges over time, is associated with workload and institutional stress, and it is not trauma related. Compassion Fatigue often has a more rapid onset and faster recovery if the following symptoms are recognized and treated quickly:
How to Cope Recognize first that the pandemic has introduced unusual stress levels into the equation. Many health care professionals face isolation in order to continue going to work; potential quarantining on the front and back end of assignments; and longer hours with more responsibilities in a workplace likely to be understaffed and overcrowded with patients who are bringing their own fears and stresses into the mix. Perhaps most important to those feeling overwhelmed by stress is the knowledge that they are not alone. According to the National Alliance on Mental Health (NAMI), in the United States at least 21% of all adults suffer from some type of mental illness. There are many simple practices and habits that can help fortify your mental health, such as:
Above all, don’t let fear prevent you from seeking help. The stigma associated with seeking treatment for mental health issues, though real, is changing. Conversation spurred by athletes such as Simone Biles and Naomi Osaka is but a small part of that evolution. Reach out. Find a professional to help take care of you. For more information, check out the accompanying resource. Sources: https://stabilityhealthcare.com/taking-care-of-your-mental-health-as-a-travel-nurse/ https://apibhs.com/2019/10/02/acute-stress-disorder-vs-ptsd#:~:text=The%20most%20significant%20difference%20between,several%20years%20if%20not%20treated. https://www.stress.org/military/for-practitionersleaders/compassion-fatigue https://www.teladoc.com/health-talk/simone-biles-shattering-mental-health-stigmas/ Written by: Mozzaz, visit their website at https://www.mozzaz.com/
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