Each year, our team makes a personal emotional connection with 3+ million callers to resolve complex challenges. In our own way, we are making the world kinder. Our agents may be the only person who shows empathy and caring to a caller that day. Not only are we transforming the lives of those we serve, but research has found that helping others is good for us too. It gives us purpose and makes us happier.
While we care for others throughout our days, we must remember to care for ourselves too. The coronavirus pandemic exposed the mental health crisis faced by millions in our country today, with increased rates of depression, anxiety, distress, and low self-esteem.
Two years into the pandemic, a CDC study reports:
- 31% of respondents reported symptoms of anxiety or depression
- 13% reported having started or increased substance use
- 26% reported stress-related symptoms
- 11% reported having serious thoughts of suicide in the past 30 days
These numbers are nearly double the rates before the pandemic. Some individuals are experiencing symptoms of post-traumatic stress, or what is being called post-COVID stress disorder, according to Dr. JoAnn Difede, attending psychologist at New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center. According to the Center for Treatment of Anxiety and Mood Disorders, this stress may also be causing:
- Problems sleeping
- Difficulties with concentration
- Angry outbursts
- Changes to your eating patterns, such as not eating or over-indulging
- New or increased substance abuse (tobacco, alcohol, or recreational drug use)
- Chronic health problems may be getting worse
- Pre-pandemic mental health conditions may be worsening
Returning back to a more “normal” world as soon as possible is on the mind of most of us right now. Remembering to care for ourselves is an important coping strategy for easing the emotional upheaval over the last couple of years. The Center for Treatment of Anxiety and Mood Disorders offers examples of self-care, including:
- Being kind to yourself – don’t criticize yourself for how you feel. It’s normal to have strong emotions when facing a life-altering event.
- Eating nutritious meals.
- Getting plenty or restful sleep.
- Keeping to a schedule for eating, sleeping, showering, cleaning the home, etc.
- Exercising – even as little as walking 15 minutes a day can help distract you, allowing a reset of your emotions.
- Limiting your news and social media consumption. News organizations make money when you click on their stories, so they are certain to post worst-case scenarios to lure you in. This keeps your emotions running high, which is why setting viewing limits can help.
- Meditation or mindfulness is also very helpful for retraining the brain to be calmer and less anxious. In fact, studies show they actually help to increase your positivity and reduce negative thinking.
- If you don’t know how to work with these modalities, you can find YouTube videos or books to instruct you.
- Try the Calm app for meditation, sleep, and to find your calm.
- Try the Headspace app.
- Try Personal Zen, a science-based brain-training exercise created to reduce stress and anxiety.
- Try the Mindfulness Coach app, a gradual, self-guided training program designed to help you understand and adopt a simple mindfulness practice.
If your symptoms are affecting how you go through your daily activities, it may be time to seek help through a professional. By working with a mental health professional who specializes in trauma, you can recover and learn to feel safe again. Covid PTSD can be treated through two very effective therapies: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Eye Movement Desensitizing And Reprocessing (EMDR). CBT helps you identify and manage your distorted thoughts and beliefs about the event so you can replace them with accurate views. EMDR helps you process your trauma on an emotional level. This therapy is simple, yet studies have shown that it can help PTSD sufferers heal faster than through traditional therapy.
If you are experiencing emotional and mental health challenges during the pandemic or afterwards, Pearl offers our Employee Assistance Program (EAP) through MetLife. Call 1-888-319-7819 or log on to metlifeeap.lifeworks.com. For more questions about Pearl’s benefits, please contact our benefits team at pearlbenefits@pinsourcing.com.