Whether an employee or a patient, there are tools and skills to develop to Increase the change of verbally de-escalating a situation.

Keeping a professional attitude can be a challenge, especially when a disruptive person is invested in lashing out or arguing rather than resolving a situation. Rational detachment is the ability to keep calm and stay in control of one’s behavior during an uncomfortable situation despite feelings of anger or frustration

How to support someone in a crisis:

Know the Warning Signs

• Looking sad or down
• Spacy, forgetful, easily distracted
• Overly apologetic
• Extreme mood changes
• Not as socially engaged
• Appearing overtired
• Short, snappy, quicker to lash out
• Decreased ability to cope with stress
• Talking about drinking/substances
• Suicidal thoughts: I don’t want to be here anymore, I can’t take this, You’d be better off without me, What’s the point of trying

Last week you took the self-care assessment, and now it’s time to make a self-care plan! Why does a self-care plan matter? Customizing a self-care plan is a preventative measure to combat stress and increase resilience. We don’t know when the next wave of tough times will come, so if we are regularly engaging in self-care we are more likely to handle those tough times with less distress. Having a plan also takes the guesswork out of what to do in moments of stress- instead of wondering how you will cope or what you need, all you have to do is look at your plan and pick what you need in that moment. Having a plan helps you stay the course, build routines, and stay accountable. It’s easy for life to get in the way, and for self-care habits to fall by the wayside. Having a set plan makes it easier to stay on track!

Use the information you gathered from your self-care assessment last week to fill in your self-care plan.