Research from several studies indicates depression and anxiety were the most prevalent mental health conditions that affected employees in the workplace. Every week, 500,000 people will not go to work due to mental illness, according to the Mental Health Commission of Canada.
The situation deserves attention because many of us don’t take stock in our emotional or mental well-being after we have gone through a rough patch. For example, if someone twists their ankle, immediate action takes place. The foot is elevated, an ice pack is found and the doctor is called.
But what happens when your brain gets twisted up after a reorganization takes place at work, or if some of your co-workers were laid off?
It’s time to pay attention to our psychological health. Guy Winch, a clinical psychologist and author of Emotional First Aid suggests to adopt the habit of “treating” common psychological “injuries” when you sustain them. Here’s how:
Protect your self esteem. Whenever self-critical thoughts pop into your head, consider what you would say to a close friend who expressed similar feelings. Then address those exact thoughts to yourself. Practicing self-compassion and allowing your self-esteem to recover will give a big boost to
Take control after a failure. Make a list of all the factors that are in your control such as effort, preparation, and planning, and give thought to how you can improve your execution of each of them. Focusing on variables that are in your control will balance out defeatist thoughts.
Find meaning after a loss. Regardless of how painful or traumatic the loss, one aspect has been found to be extremely important for emotional recovery — our ability to find meaning in the events. Once you’ve begun to heal, think about possible ways in which you might derive some good from the situation.
