Stress Management and Self Care Webinar (05/07/2020)

Institute for Disaster Mental Health


Eustress:  The positive stress that keeps us functioning.. like challenges at work, or pushing oneself physically

Sometimes there is a delayed response to a particular stressor

Stress Reaction:  Emotional, Cognitive, Behavioral, Spiritual, Physical (Shame, Guilt)

Quarantine Brain can be a stressor!  yes!

Outbreak Specific Stressors:
General Uncertainty and Unfamiliarity
-Impact is unpredictable... we don't know when this will end.
-Unprecented use of social distancing
-Information changes rapidly
  
Result: Constant need to adapt

Stressors:
Medical Fear, Caregiving, Practical concerns (job loss, enough supplies, education, other healthcare needs), Social Experiences, Economic Concerns, Work/Life Balance,

Self care imperative:  "People who do not take care of themselves cannot take care of others or meet their professional demands."   Taking steps to take care for you own

Compassion Stress Continuum: 
Compassion satisfaction <----------------> Compassion Fatigue
http://www.proqol.org

Burnout

Emotion and Behavior-Based Pratices
Meditation
Mindfulness
Yoga
Breathing exercises
Exercise

Cognition Based
Self talk, Stress Inoculation, Cognitive restructuring

Stress Innoculation:
Acknowledge that stress exists

Component elements:
1. ID potential stressors
2. Appraise or evaluate the stressors
--is the situation a challenge or a threat? 
--is it under my control or not?
3. ID how we're going to cope with them 
A. If under my control:  Develop a problem-focused strategy. 
B. Not under my control: Emotion-focused Strategies, like the Serenity Prayer
4. ID Organizational Strategies