Tips for Texans to manage return-to-work stress / Public News Service
More Texans are returning to the office this spring after working from home for more than a year, which can trigger bouts of anxiety and stress. The experts have some tips for a smoother transition to the office.
Talli Dolge, CEO of the San Antonio Mobile Mental Wellness Collaborative and senior vice president of school and community partnerships for the Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute, said a good place to start is your own personal “inventory.” Ask yourself how you feel about the work you are doing and if you get the support you need from your superiors when you are not feeling well.
“We’re in an environment where everyone has accepted that mental health is changing in our society,” Dolge pointed out. “Workplaces need to learn to adapt to this and be able to plan and create programs that would help support mental health.”
Dolge noted that feeling supported is an important key when it comes to mental health issues. She added that a person should never blame themselves for feeling stress, anxiety or depression. You’re not alone. Everyone has experienced trauma in the past two years. Some experts advise finding someone you trust at work or going to therapy.
Dolge suggested another approach is to give yourself grace and talk to yourself in a positive way.
“Saying things like, ‘I can get through this,’ or ‘It’s just a period of time, and then I can find something else that’s going to make me feel better after work,'” Dolge advised. .
She recommended eating healthy foods, getting eight hours of sleep at night and exercising at least three days a week.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, many people with mental disorders also need care for physical health issues, including heart disease, diabetes and respiratory disease. Treatment costs for people with both mental and physical health problems are two to three times higher than those who do not have them at the same time.
And Dolge pointed out that if you’re dreading going to work, unable to do things you once loved, or feeling “examined,” it might be time to seek help or even find another workplace.
“Our sanity is our health,” she said.
It can be reassuring to know what your company is doing to protect the office from the spread of COVID, including its policy on mental health days. Dolge recommended trying a calming app on your phone. Many offer mindfulness and meditation exercises, as well as access to peer groups and therapy services.
get more stories like this via email