Why Not?
Psychological distress as a health care worker is inevitable. It is not that we like it or seek it out, it just happens. Maintaining elevated stress levels affect every aspect of our being. Usually, we can’t prevent it from happening but what we can do for ourselves is to remember is that we can always change the effect it has on us. With selfcare we can begin to check in on ourselves more often and we can start to make the necessary changes quickly. Just ask yourself who controls my thoughts? Who controls my emotions? Who controls my feelings? If you answered I do to each question, you are correct. From here, the challenge begins. With no one to blame but self, responsibility can burst your bubble.
Questions you may ask yourself is:
Why do I give people my power over my thoughts? By giving up your power, you are setting up yourself for misunderstanding. Why is that? The truth is that no one can make you think anything. Your thoughts are only yours. No other person has had or will ever have your experiences as you have. The same goes for you emotions and feelings.
What can you do to relieve your stress?
Figuratively, step back and look at your thoughts, feelings, and emotions involved in the event . Asses their validity. Keep them, yet look at how additional thoughts could be more helpful. This can occur quickly. You have the answer within yourself already. Pick a thought, feeling or emotion that you wish to release. Then, take in a long deep breadth while counting to 5, hold in that breadth while counting to 4, then exhale slowly while counting to 6. While exhaling imagine stress exiting from your body. Feel the immediate relief. If you do that 3 times, you can feel energized again!
Other suggestions:
Recall those great outcomes that you achieve today
Count them
Take time to recognize them all
Each one has its meaning for you Acknowledge your limitation and be glad to have them. No one is great, perfect, etc. all the time.