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by starshine19

When Mental Health Affects Your Job

December 29, 2020 in COVID-19, Educate Yourself

Over the past few months, the numerous life changes that have happened to me (moving across the country back home, losing not one but two different jobs, and starting a new position thousands of miles away from the rest of my team) has been incredibly challenging. I thought I had it under control – I had a team of doctors working with me to get a better plan for managing my anxiety and depression. Unfortunately, a few slight changes to my health insurance plan and I’m back to the starting place where I was a few months back prior to all of these crazy events.

This has started affecting a lot of different areas in my life, but nothing has been hurt more than my work. I would cry late at night when I was about to sleep over small things at work. My concentration and ability to work a standard eight-hour day began to decline, and I became so frustrated when things did not go the way that I expected that I began to lash out at my close friends and family members.

How am I going to resolve this issue? I managed to reach out to my health insurance provider and now they are setting up a whole team for me (called care management) that will know my story, the treatments that I’ve tried, and will keep me accountable and help me as I sort through my options.

Have you ever tried care management before? How do you go through times that would otherwise be very harmful to you? Have you ever reached out to your health insurance company to ask about mental health treatments?

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by starshine19

How to Deal with SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder)

December 2, 2020 in Educate Yourself

Every year, millions of people deal with SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder), and I happen to be one of them. I tend to have symptoms of depression such as sadness, little interest in doing things, and loss of concentration right around the time where the leaves begin to turn colors and the air becomes a bit colder. It usually lasts for a few months until the spring finally comes around. For me, I was not even aware that it existed until a few years ago when my doctor had brought it up during an appointment.

I was a bit nervous at first describing the way that I felt around depression, feeling fatigued, and not having the same mood that I usually do since it was impacting both my work and school; however, my doctor brought it up as a potential issue and after hearing the symptoms figured that it matched my situation.

To deal with the symptoms, I personally have used a special kind of lamp that has a flat surface and emits bright light. You can put it on either earlier in the day when you wake up to get a fresh boost of energy or at night before you go to sleep. I’ve found it especially helpful during those dark and cold winter days when you cannot even see a peek of sunshine.

Have you heard of SAD before? If you are coping with it, what are some things that help you? If you experience more depressive symptoms around this time of year, do you think you would bring it up with your doctor?

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by starshine19

My Experience with Telehealth Medicine

November 6, 2020 in LINKS

Over the last couple of weeks, I have had the opportunity to start using telehealth services in order to better look after my health. My workplace has a partnership with an application (which also has a website version) called Doctor on Demand. On top of being able to connect you with general physicians, there are also options for psychiatrists and therapists. Given that the next psychiatrist I could see would be in months and that I was going through a lot of things that needed help sooner rather than later, I decided to give the app a try.

Overall, the experience was pretty good. To set up the initial appointment, it began with a few questionnaires and surveys that take 5-10 minutes and ask about such things as your mood, past medical history, and family conditions. From there, you can schedule an appointment by time or by the individual therapists that each have a short biography attached. Personally, I was able to get an appointment for a psychiatrist within 4-5 days of setting up my account, which is pretty good compared to over a month I’ve had to wait for others.

The visit itself went pretty well. There are several screens that tell you to have your camera on in a well-lit spot and other helpful tips. The appointment was very similar to that of being in-person, and any notes and prescriptions that you receive during the visit will appear in your record afterward.  Any medications usually get to the pharmacy within 2-3 hours of the visit.

Have you ever done telehealth before? Would you recommend it to others?

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by starshine19

My Experience in IOP

October 7, 2020 in Educate Yourself

Over the past few weeks, I have had the experience of attending an IOP (Intensive Outpatient Program). This happened three days a week for three hours each time for a total of nine hours. For me, it was a transition out of what was a pretty difficult time with my mental health. I had just left a job that was extremely draining and did not have the best work-life balance. Although I was tired going into the program, I decided to give it a try after visiting the hospital and getting advice that this would be the best option for me.

Once joining IOP, the sessions each followed a pretty similar format. The first hour or so was a check-in where each member of the group (usually between 7-9 people in total) would go around and share what happened during the day as well as what Dialect Behavioral Therapy (DBT) skills they used. Some examples include opposite action (i.e. doing the opposite of what you feel like doing), wise mind (being in a state where you use both reason and emotion to make decisions, not wavering on one side or the other), and observe (in essence just seeing how you are feeling and not necessarily act on it. Then, you will do skills building or a time period in which you will learn the aforementioned skills and more towards being able to handle mental health issues in a more effective way. Finally, you end with setting goals and continuing to practice your skills.

Overall, I was a bit hesitant when joining IOP but honestly gained so much through the program. It provided me a sense of community with the others in the group, as we could all share all challenges and triumphs in a way that made us all one cohesive team. The skills that I learned have helped me so much as far as managing my anxiety disorder; I don’t panic about it as much anymore. I would really recommend this for anyone that is at a crossroads or turning point with their mental health.

Have you ever heard of IOP? What about DBT? Are these techniques or programs that you think are a good fit for you?

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by starshine19

Photo of a feminine person typing on a laptop at a table in front of a window.

Tips for Being Successful in the Workplace During Quarantine

August 31, 2020 in Be Positive, COVID-19

Are you a young professional who’s just starting out in the workplace? If so, you’re not alone. The graduates from the class of 2020 have faced some of the toughest challenges yet. In particular, the crashing job market and all that comes with it have affected thousands. If you are so lucky as to land a full-time job in these economic conditions, you’ll start out remotely, which will cause you to miss some of the most valuable time networking and meeting new coworkers in-person.

So, how do you manage to make those vital connections (while staying sane) in a remote-first setting?

Here are some of my recommendations:

Create a structured routine!

In other words, decide when and how you work best, and create a schedule that revolves around that time. I like to start my day with some exercise and reading before working so that I am energized for the day ahead. I also utilize a feature on Google Meets that allows you to set common “working hours.” This lets coworkers know when you are (and are not available), which is very helpful for not getting meetings that are too early or too late in the day.

Make a personalized space!

If you can, try to create a designated nook (or room) in your house/apartment where work is a main priority. Set up all of your equipment (desk, laptop, lamp) and eliminate distractions so that you are able to be as productive as possible. I personally don’t have enough room in my apartment but instead use a certain couch in the common area of the complex to carry out my work tasks. I bring my water bottle to stay hydrated alongside some earbuds to listen to music.

Don’t be hard on yourself!

During all of this craziness that is happening in the world today, don’t be afraid about taking a break from being “on” all the time. You deserve it. In my own experiences, I have had times where I have not felt like I have done enough, even when it’s been my 110% efforts. I tell myself during these times that I can do it and that all things are possible.

What other tips do you have for being successful at work or school during quarantine? What kind of job do you have? Is this your first job?

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