Career Stress: When You Really Need a Vacation.

If we are really sick many of us comfortably “use the sick day” and take off of work. However the same idea of taking care of our health does intend to apply the same way in relation to our emotional well-being. Many times we don’t have external markers that “justify” taking care of ourselves until the problem becomes much bigger. Once the problem reaches this point is more likely to interfere with her functioning and this could have been avoided by taking action earlier.

Keeping busy can even be a way to avoid things that are uncomfortable. which can be very helpful in the short run and that we get more things done and do not become overwhelmed immediately. However, we can wind up feeling stuck in keeping busy. If we stop being busy we are susceptible to being overwhelmed by things that we may not see his being easily addressed in the short run. On the other side, if we continue to be busy we will not likely get to the point where we can make headway with the things that overwhelm us.

This is where taking a break from the regular pattern can be helpful and even insightful.

American culture doesn’t seem to place the same way on the need for vacation and recharging as other cultures. In fact, taking time off can be viewed as a weakness with fear of retribution. This is unfortunate, since it is accepted that being fully healthy and recharged allows us to be most effective. Taking time off can allow us to produce more and be more diverse and creative in our responses to challenges. Once we begin to get worn down these problems can compound making it harder and harder to get back to our peak performance. A 2011 review by researchers at the University of South Florida found that high stress at work can also contribute to difficulty sleeping, headaches, stomach issues and more.

As related to work burnout there are some signs that you may be nearing burnout or at least benefit from some time off.

1. Little annoyances seemed are more annoying than they used to be
2. People are asking you if everything is okay or noting that you look fatigued.
3. You notice making more mistakes on routine tasks.
4. You’re more negative about things… pessimistic
5. You start doing things at work that you know you shouldn’t ‘borrowing’ a stapler or not returning calls.
6. More headaches, muscular pain, or overall physical discomfort. Stressful situations cause more inflammation and sensitivity to pain.
7. Stomach upset.
8. Difficulty falling asleep and or staying asleep.
9. Drinking more alcohol or increased substance use frequently coupled with decreased exercise.
10. Having a hard time remembering why you like work or your career.

Stress can be a positive contributor to our working at peak performance however there is a point of decline which is not frequently appreciated in our culture or workplace. If we are not mindful of when we get close to this point we set ourselves up to be susceptible to burn out or at least working harder with less return.

Dr. Charles R Davenport is a Licensed Psychologist who provides counseling and therapy services in Venice Florida in Sarasota Florida with Charles R Davenport Psy.D. LLC. He works with students and professionals around career stress to identify signs of burnout and aid them in using their strengths to overcome areas of difficulty.

How to help your children thrive and be happy

Most parents hope to raise children that are self-sufficient and able to contribute to society. Additionally, parents want their children to have a better life and progress.

Helping our children care for themselves, treat themselves with love as we would, could be aided by encouraging healthy lifestyle habits. This includes sleeping well, eating well, and listening to the feedback our body provides. It is hard to maximize your performance when you feel sluggish, anxious, or irritable.

The American Psychological Association suggests that happiness can improve the chance of success. This brings to mind the old saying that money cannot buy happiness… It seems, however, that happiness may help us be more successful and in turn have more financial resources. An additional benefit of happiness is decreased likelihood of disease including cancer according to the cancer center at MD Anderson.

As discussed in several other blog entries, physical activity, on a regular basis and a healthy diet contribute to healthy weight, and better health which sets us up for more opportunity to feel happy and do our best. Connection with others and responsibility for other living things can be powerful and fostering self development. Having a pet to care for or gardening can be a powerful way to connect caring with well-being in the case of gardening healthy food. Additionally caring for something over a continued time can foster patience which is likely to be a powerful life tool.

Dr. Charles R Davenport is a licensed psychologist who provides support for parents and children at Charles R. Davenport, Psy.D., LLC. in Venice, FL and Sarasota, FL.

When your child won’t talk… Anxiety based Selective Mutism

Florida International University (FIU) offers intensive, weeklong immersion programs for students who struggle with a form of anxiety called Selective Mutism. Selective Mutism is most frequently seen in children younger than five years old. Many times these children tend to be more anxious or inhibited. Anxiety or worry about how others may assess them is also frequently seen. Other characteristics commonly associated with Selective Mutism include, and ability to speak at home with family, anxiety around those they do not know,shyness, and not speaking in certain social situations.

Selective Mutism can interfere with academic functioning and leave children feeling less secure about himself and social situations. Understandably, this anxiety can escalate and interfere with many versions of socialization. Disruption in children’s feelings about themselves internally and related to others can expose children to greater risk for depression and anxiety. Florida International University’s program Center for Children and Families offers repeated exposure to various situations which may cause anxiety and ample time to process them over a six-hour day. The hopeless to “translate gains to real school settings” according to Jami Furr the director of the Selective Mutism at FIU.

It is important to recognize that some children may be shy and are frequently reserved even when at home. These children tend to warm up after a few minutes; however, children with Selective Mutism do not warm up.

Avoiding anxious situations is known to make symptoms worse and in the case of selective mutism delayed treatment can make things worse.