June is PTSD Awareness Month!

 What Are the Symptoms of PTSD?

PTSD symptoms usually start soon after the traumatic event, but they may not appear until months or years later. They also may come and go over many years. If the symptoms last longer than four weeks, cause you great distress, or interfere with your work or home life, please reach out to Well In Mind or other support services.

1. Reliving the event (also called re-experiencing symptoms). Memories of the traumatic event can come back at any time. For example:
   1. You may have nightmares.
   1. You may feel like you are going through the event again. This is called a flashback.
   1. You may see, hear, or smell something that causes you to relive the event. This is called a trigger.
2. Avoiding situations that remind you of the event. You may even avoid talking or thinking about the event. For example:
   1. You may avoid crowds, because they feel dangerous, or driving if you were in an accident.
   1. If you were in an earthquake, you may avoid watching movies about earthquakes.
   1. You may keep very busy or avoid seeking help because it keeps you from having to think or talk about the event.
3. Negative changes in beliefs and feelings. The way you think about yourself and others changes because of the trauma. For example:
   1. You may not have positive/loving feelings towards others, or may stay away from relationships.
   1. You may forget about parts of the traumatic event or not be able to talk about them.
   1. You may think the world is completely dangerous, and no one can be trusted.
4. Feeling keyed up (also called hyperarousal). You may be jittery, or always alert and on the lookout for danger. You might suddenly become angry or irritable. For example:
   1. You may have a hard time sleeping or concentrating.
   1. You may be startled by a loud noise or surprise.
   1. You might want to have your back to a wall in a restaurant or waiting room.

Well In Mind is here for you.  Call 815-933-2240, option 2 to schedule an appointment or to ask about your EAP benefits.

Help for When You Feel Unappreciated at Work:

• Make time for 1:1 Meetings: Managers are busy, and often it’s a time crunch that gets in the way of them providing praise or feedback             
  • By sitting face to face, you can have a focused conversation about your work and your needs

• Get to Know Your Manager’s Leadership Style: Everyone has different communication and leadership styles, and taking them into consideration can help you understand why you may be feeling unappreciated at work
  • Getting to know your manager’s habits—like when and how they share feedback, whether they’re more introverted or extroverted, and whether they prefer to acknowledge your team as a whole or quietly give kudos to individuals—can help you level your expectations and meet your boss where they are
  • Plus, you may get a better idea of when and how to seek feedback
• Don’t Wait to Celebrate Wins: At the end of the day, your validation from within counts most!
  • Try shifting your mindset from one that seeks external validation to one that offers yourself unwavering self-acceptance
  • Don’t wait for someone else to tell you that you did a good job! Cherish your achievements and appreciate yourself for every milestone and success

• Share Your Kudos: Creating an environment where everyone feels valued can start with you!
  • Make it a habit to recognize your team members for their work, and don’t hesitate to share your gratitude when they go out of their way to help out or take the lead

• Ask for What You Need: Often in life, getting what you need requires asking for what you want
  • You can ask for feedback on a more regular basis by asking your manager, “What should I start, stop, and continue doing?”
  • It’s also okay to specifically ask for positive feedback
  • Although it can be difficult to be vulnerable at work, telling your manager that you’re struggling to feel seen and heard could open a door to more recognition

Well In Mind is here for you.  Call 815-933-2240 to schedule an appointment or to ask about your EAP benefits.

A Guide to Manage Tough Times

• Focus on Future Goals
  • When the present is painful, it’s okay to shift your focus to future goals that help you feel excited, motivated, peaceful, and more in control
  • Set goals that will help improve your day-to-day routine to bring you more joy and peace
  • Set bigger future goals that help shift bigger problem areas, like finances, school etc.
• Generate Positive Memories
  • Even when times are stressful in a relationship or at work, we have to also think about the positive and good memories that are part of those experiences
  • Actively engage in reliving past, positive moments to help counter the present negative memories
• Find Laughter
  • Laughter reduces stress and eases symptoms of depression!
  • The source of laughter is not as important as actively seeking out people, places, memories etc. that will elicit laughter for you
• Stay Engaged
  • Finding ways to stay engaged in your life and active in the pursuits that make you happy is one way to begin working through stress restoring your life to balance
  • Set reminders on your calendar to engage in hobbies, attend events, call friends even when you don’t feel like it
  • Ask yourself: if I’ll be stressed/tired etc whether I do the hobby/go to the event or not, is it better to stay home and be stressed and tired, or do something that could give me the chance to feel better?

Well In Mind is here for you.  Call 815-933-2240 to schedule an appointment or to ask about your EAP benefits.