HOW MENTAL HEALTH AFFECTS US AT WORK
For those that have a difficult time of seeing their mental health as a normal part of our humanity, think about it in terms of physical health. We may find it easy to share with others when we are under the weather or that we have a common condition like high blood pressure, but people tend to think of mental health as something separate. Maybe thinking about mental health like we do our overall health would be helpful because it’s normal to have difficulties with our mental health, just like it is normal for us to have difficulties with our medical conditions.
MENTAL HEALTH AND WORK
One of the places mental health concerns show up is in our work and if we start noticing ourselves really dreading going into work. This is not the typical, “It’s Monday morning,” kind of dread. It’s about really struggling to get going, being late frequently, or missing work quite a bit. We may have difficulty focusing on work, making lots of mistakes and overlooking details. Or we may be procrastinating on things that are due, on work projects or assignments that need to be done. Work may be feeling like it’s piling up and we become more and more overwhelmed, maybe a little more agitated and argumentative with our colleagues or peers.
Unaddressed mental health needs build up, just like if we ignored high blood pressure or other health issues. At some point we stop functioning like we usually do which can affect our job performance and personal life. If ignored long enough and as problems build, people may start having thoughts of things like suicide, or being better off dead as a way of trying to escape.
Oftentimes, people view any kind of struggle with mental health as if it’s a character flaw. They wouldn’t do that if it was a medical condition. We’re quick to encourage others to take care of themselves when it comes to physical health. Wouldn’t it be nice if we did the same thing for our mental health instead of making it into some sort of a character flaw? That’s one of the perceptions that tricks people into thinking they should be able to handle problems on their own, or simply get over it. They may even focus on others who are “worse off” than they are. Those are signs of trouble.
WHAT IS ANXIETY?
If we don’t start paying attention to the signs that point to mental health issues and being kind to ourselves around our mental health, these conditions can interfere with daily functioning and lead to issues like anxiety. Anxiety is more than just a feeling of stress. It causes a physical reaction similar to going for a run. Your heart rate is rapid, your hands may get sweaty, and you may feel like you can’t catch your breath. Often there is a feeling of impending doom, or fearfulness. These are common feelings when you experience anxiety.
One way to help a friend who is feeling anxious, particularly if they’re having a panic attack (a panic attack would be having difficulty catching one’s breath, and/or not able to calm down without help), is encouraging your friend to slow down, take a deep breath in, hold it, and then breathe out. Do that a few times, until they’re able to calm down a bit and get grounded. Another technique includes using the senses to calm down and relax. Help them focus on multiple things in the room that they can see or hear, touch or smell, and increase their awareness beyond the issue causing distress.
SEEKING HELP
Just like managing your physical health, your mental health is worthy of maintenance. If you start noticing that you are not able to do the things that you did before, and you are missing work, or you are not able to attend to your daily activities that you normally do, maybe it’s time to get help.
Asking for help can feel overwhelming. Talking with friends or family could be the first step. Another good starting point is your primary care physician. Make an appointment and visit with them about your options. If you’re in school or college, you can talk with your counseling center. At work, the Employee Assistance Program is also a good resource. While there are many services and resources available to you, perhaps just talking with a friend to see if they can help you make that first phone call is a good place to start.