Stress Education Center - Dstress.com Newsletter

"Dedicated to serving by providing information, products, and services to create awareness and then offer control of stress and the process of change."

In this issue:

1. Introduction and Welcome

2. Article: Critical Incidence

3. Product of the Month: Stress Tapes

4. Stress Management Tip of the Month: Reconnect

5. Special Article submitted by Dr. Morry Edwards, Ph.D.: Sadly Cancer is an Apt Metaphor

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1. Introduction of the Stress Education Center's - Dstress.com Newsletter

Welcome to the September-October, 2001 issue of this monthly e-zine.

Our world is different, since September 11th. We are more stressed. We feel less control! We no longer have our innocence. Our feelings of safety and security are redefined.

The purpose in providing this newsletter is to offer information about stress and possible solutions to managing stress and change. Your input is encouraged. This will be a forum for answering questions/concerns, offering suggestions, motivating you and your clients to develop and practice a strategy of self-care that includes regular stress management.

The goal is to enhance your quality of life, increase your productivity, and offer tested fun strategies that will give you more time and energy.

Please read the newsletter and provide feedback. This feedback will help to shape the form and content for future editions. Thank you in advance for your assistance in the development process.

L. John Mason, Ph.D.

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2. Article: Critical Incidents and Stress

Since September 11th, we have been repeated viewing the television's replaying of the tragedies which occurred. The latest media format on the TV shows us a "talking head" (commentator), text/graphics, and marquee moving text at the bottom of the screen. We are not only overwhelmed by the news, but by the way it is now presented to us.

With little sense of control over these events and no experience in appropriate response, we are transfixed by the horrible images. Our stress escalates until we are driven into a "mind numbness" or driven from our TV's portrayal of these events. Our children are now living in a changed, possibly unsafe, world.

The following articles can help us to identify the impact of the these "critical incidents," and the stress that we can manifest. We also have some suggestions for self-care.

Please take good care of yourself.

Critical Incident Stress Articles obtained from CRITICAL STRESS MANAGEMENT course by David Wee, M.S.S.W.

People who experience a critical incident are impacted by the event in some way. Psychological reactions to critical incidents are usually normal reactions by normal people to abnormal events. It is also normal to have no reaction to a critical incident.

Critical incident stress reactions usually diminish in severity over time for most people but can become more severe as time passes. When stress responses become a problem or are distressing for you or your family, a consultation with a mental health professional can be helpful. The list below describes some of the normal reactions people have following critical incidents.

Anger
Headaches
Criticism
Anxiety
Confusion
Denial
Depression
Disorientation
Emotional Numbing
Fatigue
Fear
Feeling of Loss
Forgetfulness
Frustration
Grief
Guilt
Helplessness
Irritability
Letdown
Loss of Appetite
Memory Problems
Muffled Hearing
Muscle Tremors
Nausea
Nightmares
Persistent Thoughts
Shock
Sweating
Withdrawal
Difficulty Concentrating
Decreased sexual interest
Intense concern for family members
Visual flashbacks
Anger at supervisors/organizations
Difficulty making decisions
Feelings of being unappreciated
Distortions in time or perspective
Sense of being in a bad dream
Sense of unreality (or like being in a "movie")

Information obtained from CRITICAL STRESS MANAGEMENT course by David Wee, M.S.S.W.

Coping with Critical Incident Stress

People can take steps to help themselves, family members, and each other cope with critical incident related stress reactions. This is a list of self-help suggestions. *

1. Within the first 24 hours periods of strenuous physical exercise alternated with periods of relaxation will alleviate some of the physical reactions to a stressful situation.
2. Structure your time by keeping busy.
3. Remind yourself that you are normal and having normal reactions. Don't label yourself as "crazy", "wacko", "weak", or unfit.
4. Talk is one of the most healing medicines. Talk to people you know care about you. People do care.
5. Be aware of numbing the pain with overuse of drugs or alcohol. Don't complicate things further with substance abuse problems.
6. Keep your life as normal as possible.
7. It is all right to spend time by yourself.
8. Help your co-workers as much as possible by sharing feelings and checking how they are doing. (Respect their feelings of not wanting to talk about the incident.)
9. Do things that make you feel good.
10. Realize that those around you are also under stress and may not act or react in a manner you would normally expect.
11. Keep a journal. Writing during sleepless hours may help.
12. Don't make any big life changes, buying that Ferrari or house you've always wanted, going to Reno to get married suddenly.
13. Do make as many daily decisions as possible that will give you the feeling of control over your life.
14. Consult a mental health professional if you need assistance.
    

* Information obtained from CRITICAL STRESS MANAGEMENT course by David Wee, M.S.S.W.

In future newsletters we will examine other factors related to increasing your ability to be effective in communication. Your experiences and your questions will be appreciated. More in the future.....

Along the way, do not forget to take good care of yourself!

Good Health!

L. John Mason, Ph.D.

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3. Products of the Month:

Stress Management Certifications for Professionals

Important, but not for everyone!

We are putting together a special program to help train and support professionals who wish to offer stress and change management training and consulting. Requests have come from: consultants, trainers, speakers, coaches, therapists, teachers, HR Professionals, Clergy, Nurses, Hospice Trainers, even Dentists for a standardized training that develops knowledge, skills, and offers materials to trainers who want to offer effective professional programs in stress and change management.

The first group will be for counselors who work on North Sea oil rigs. This will be a two day training program in September, taking place in Phoenix, AZ. The formula will be modified for special groups like teachers, dentists, or people working in chronic pain clinics. The process involves a combination of exposure to information, demonstrations of techniques, personal experience, and demonstration of presentation skills.

More information and a list of specific techniques and tools to be covered will be available in the near future. If you are interested in this certification process, please contact Dr. John Mason.

Please view the tapes page for more information at http://www.dstress.com

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4. Stress Management Tip of the Month:

Make time to connect or re-connect with your friends and family. We require special support from caring, friendly people and we have to make time for these activities. Companies, organizations, places of worship, social groups, schools, and governmental should consider offering additional opportunities for people to connect and to offer care and support to all participants. This is not the time to emotionally "circle the wagons" and the deal with our grief, fear, sadness, and anger, alone!

Go out of your way to reach out top others. Offer personal and sincere compliments and offers of support. You will feel better, because you are doing something positive. You may also be saving a life.

Do not forget your own self-care. Reduce your personal expectations regarding your performance for the sake of your emotional and spiritual well-being. But do not withdraw from your life and your friends.

Remember to breathe! Distractions will surface, but gently return your mind's focus to the process of slowly breathing.... inhale then exhale. It does require practice and some discipline, but this will work for you.

Try this.

Try this. It can really work well for you.