Building Resiliency to Better Manage Occupational Stress

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Building Resiliency to Better Manage Occupational
Stress

• S. Joshua Kenton, Psy.D.
• LCDR USN
• Staff Clinical Psychologist
• Naval Medical Center, San Diego

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Work Related Stress

• Unreasonable demands for performance
• Lack of interpersonal communication between the
  employer and the employees
• Lack of interpersonal relationship among the
  employees
• The fear of losing one's job/job insecurity
• Long working hours
• Less time to spend with the family
• Under utilization of skills

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Psychological Symptoms

• Mood swings
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Irritability
• Poor decision making
• Lack of concentration

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Physical Symptoms

• Suppression of immunity resulting in infection
• Headaches
• Increased appetite leading to weight gain.
• Sleeplessness
• Loss of sexual drive
• Memory disturbances

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Behaviors you may display

• Change in friends
• Withdrawal
• Changes in appetite
• Inability to rest
• Pacing
• Change in sexual functioning

• Increased Alcohol consumption
• Emotional outbursts
• Erratic movements
• Change in speech patterns

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Stress Injury Sources
Intense or Prolonged Stress
Impact

• A trauma injury
• Due to events provoking terror, helplessness,
  horror, shock

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Stress Injury Sources
Common Examples in Healthcare Setting
Impact

• ER Trauma Care
• Psychiatric Emergencies Response
• ICU, NICU, etc

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HEALTHY
READY
GREEN ZONE

• Fit Focused
• Well-trained and qualified
• Positive command climate
• High morale
• Strong cohesion
• Good order and discipline
• Clear sense of mission
• Exhibits ethical and moral
• behavior
• Balanced healthy relationships

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RECOGNIZING STRESS REACTION
YELLOW ZONE
REACTING

• Anxious, irritable, sad
• Poor concentration
• Trouble sleeping, fatigued
• Changes in appetite
• Apathy, loss of interest
• Negative, pessimistic
• Increased interpersonal
• conflict
• Poor decision-making

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RECOGNIZING STRESS INJURY
ORANGE ZONE
INJURED

• Poor emotional control
• Major sleep difficulties
• Guilt, shame, fear
• Loss of interest
• Disruption of moral values
• Substance Abuse
• Decreased confidence
• Poor morale
• Family disruption

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RECOGNIZING STRESS ILLNESS
RED ZONE
ILL

• Chronic and severe distress
• Substance dependence
• Major disruptions of sleep, appetite, mood
• Significant problems at work
• Panic, rage, guilt, and shame
• Symptoms that persist or get worse over time
• Injuries that dont heal without help
• Family/relationship violence or abuse

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What Doesnt Help

• Using alcohol or drugs
• Violence or conflict
• Overeating/restricting diet
• Working too much
• Blaming others
• Withdrawing from pleasant activities

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Building, Maintaining and Restoring Your
Resiliency

• Create small goals
• Stay in the here and now
• Dont run from the problem/Keep things in
  perspective
• Maintain an outlook of hope
• More fun
• Rely on good relationships
• Exercise
• Breathing/Relaxation

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Conclusion

• Managing stress takes practice
• Be preventative
• Stay in the Green/Yellow
• Look out for each other
• Know when to get professional help.