Psychological News You Can Use - June 2007

Welcome...

Summer has arrived with its own opportunities as well as challenges. Whether stress come from our weather patterns or our personal ones, summer is a great time to slow down and look more closely at ourselves and our world.

Please share this e-newsletter with family members, friends, community leaders, local professionals, teachers, and anyone else interested in learning how psychology can enrich your life.

Many businesses today have recognized the need to have a disaster recovery plan, but generally, these plans only cover how computers are backed up and where the company will relocate if necessary. Most do not take into consideration how they will manage their employees in times of crisis. It is only when something happens that they realize that they have forgotten this aspect of planning.

Plan Overview

1. Evaluate business components
2. Create a plan that includes:
   A. Teaching employees the skills to handle stress and trauma
   B. Helping employees develop individual and family disaster plans
   C. Strategies on how your business will function with a decreased staff
3. Develop a list of emergency contact numbers for employees including people to call during & after emergencies, people to call if something happens to them, daycare center and school phone numbers if they are unable to pick up their children and a list of doctors and insurance coverage in case of a medical emergency
4. Cross train staff in a variety of work functions
5. Develop a plan for telecommuting and give employees the ability to work from home before an emergency or pandemic
6. Have staff members keep a record of the procedures they use in their jobs so that they can be followed by another employee
7. Test the plan and update the phone lists periodically

Plan Details

There are many types of disasters. Natural disasters may include fires, hurricanes, floods, or tornados. Man-made disasters may include technological accidents, terrorism, transportation accidents and purposeful or accidental injury or death. An epidemic illness or threat of one will also cause massive disruption. The unexpected death of a loved one or colleague may also be traumatic to the business as well as the individual.

Employees will have varying responses to disasters and trauma. Many factors influence an individual’s reactions, including the degree of disruption to their lives and the amount of terror and/or horror that they experience. Worry about an impending event will impede the ability to attend to work. Employees must learn to handle the stress of the unknown and how to get accurate information on the level of threat they are under. A business may be helpful in disseminating information.

If an event occurs at work employees will be able to disperse and return to safe, intact homes & communities. They will have energy to return to work and tackle the problems of recovery. If the disaster affects the infrastructure of an entire community, emotional reaction to the loss of home and loved ones may not allow good functioning at work.

An epidemic illness will present additional challenges. Employees must know the facts of the epidemic so that they may minimize their chances of catching and spreading the disease. Businesses must plan for decreasing medical risks in the workplace.

A business may minimize disruption by evaluating, planning, and setting up recovery systems in advance of an event.

The evaluation must occur on numerous levels.

1. What kind of threats is it susceptible to? A business that is located in a flood plain will have a different plan than one that isn’t. A business in an area or industry that could be the target of a terrorist attack will need to plan for that possibility.
2. How will the business be affected by a physical disaster? By a traumatic event at work? By a traumatic event in the life of an individual? By a traumatic event in the community?
3. How will the business continue to function in the face of a key employee loss or the loss of a group of employees?
4. How will it function if a segment of the workforce is unable to come to work or if it does not work optimally because of worry about what is occurring at home?

Each business function must be evaluated in order to create a plan that optimizes resilience in the organization and the individual employee.

A plan will address how each function will be covered in the event of a disruption at the business location, the loss of key individuals or the inability of employees to stay at or return to work. It will also include the individual and family recovery plans of the employees. Recovery will be easier if everyone knows what to do in advance of a problem.

Keep things in perspective. Disruption will be minimized by getting the facts, having a plan and keeping connected with your employees. A business psychologist can help to set up your plan and train your employees. You probably already have insurance to cover unexpected physical losses. A plan for your employees is assurance that your human capital will be available as well.

A workshop on Business Disaster Planning will be held at the annual convention of the Pennsylvania Psychological Association on Thursday, June 28, at the Hilton Harrisburg and Towers. For more information about the meeting visit www.PaPsy.org, or call Marti Evans, PPA Conference Manager, 717-232-3817.

Caring about someone who is an alcoholic (or abusing or addicted to any drug) can often create turmoil and distress. Not only is the alcoholic's drinking out of our control, but our own lives begin to feel as if they are spiraling out of control right along with it.

Family members and significant others may experience symptoms of anxiety and depression including hopelessness, guilt, sadness, irritability, excessive worry, sleeplessness, changes in appetite or weight, trouble concentrating and making decisions, and an inability to enjoy life anymore. When chronic, these symptoms can take a serious toll on our health and well-being.

Our symptoms may also serve a function. When we touch a hot stove, the pain we feel is functional because it helps us know that we should move our hand away from the stove. Symptoms of anxiety and depression can help us see that our way of coping has to change because what we are doing is no longer serving us.

Family and close friends of alcoholics often repeatedly respond to this emotional pain by focusing on the loved one’s addiction. While this may be logical and valid, it is rarely successful or adaptive. Our lives often become overly organized around the addict’s behavior, which is ultimately out of our control. We may begin to lose sight of any sense of worth or purpose beyond responding to the anxiety and distress created by the other person’s drinking.

Yet, despite the pain of our symptoms, we are often reluctant to give up behavior patterns that have become comfortable for us. Our behavioral habits may be hard to give up because they may be protective in the short run, averting potential disasters such as job loss, drunk driving accidents, and so forth. Unfortunately, in the long run our constant vigilance takes a heavy toll on us and may even support the addiction by allowing the addict to avoid the consequences of his or her behavior.

Therapy and self-help groups like Al-Anon (for families and friends of alcoholics) can help us learn how to change our responses and live more fulfilling lives. In addition to learning to accept that some things in life may not be under our control, we can be helped to summon “the courage to change the things we can change.” We can learn how to begin changing our own behaviors and thinking patterns that are keeping us stuck. For some, that might mean ending a toxic relationship or leaving a toxic situation. For others, it might mean changing one's way of relating to the addicted person so that we better care for and protect ourselves.

Psychologists can help us look at our own behavior patterns within the context of our individual identity and development. They can also help us develop alternative ways of seeing ourselves, relating to others, and coping with challenges. We receive the support in therapy that we need in order to face the difficult task of changing. A psychologist who is familiar with the challenges of living with addiction and substance abuse can also help us see things that are universal to this experience and lift our sense of isolation, guilt, and hopelessness. Therapy can help us begin to build a more fulfilling life that goes beyond just coping with addiction.

Therapy is particularly helpful for people who are very uncomfortable with the idea of self-help groups or when a specific group such as Al Anon doesn't quite address the full scope of concerns we may have.

For many, self-help groups like Al-Anon are also a great source of relief and support. Because it is group support and not tailored to the individual, all parts of the Al-Anon program may not fit for everyone. Their slogan, "Take what you like, and leave the rest," encourages people to get what they can from Al-Anon and feel free to reject any aspects of it that are irrelevant or unappealing.

Al-Anon groups link us to social support from others who may be experiencing similar challenges. In these groups we can discover the universality in some of the struggles family members of people with addictions face – things we may tend to personalize and feel guilt and shame about. Al-Anon helps lift some of these feelings. Hearing other people's strategies for coping can help us differentiate between functional and dysfunctional coping strategies for ourselves. For
many (but not all) the ritual and the spirituality of Al-Anon are also very soothing.

Like therapy, Al-Anon’s slogans help us challenge our hidden and not-so-hidden assumptions that may be keeping us stuck. The slogans work well because they are easily remembered and applied, especially when a psychologist helps us apply them to specific struggles in our own lives.

For example, when we are living from crisis to crisis, we sometimes begin to respond to every stressor as if it is a crisis, even when it is not. This can lead to chronic anxiety and irritability, and can drain us physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Some self-soothing cognitive strategies that may allow us to respond more calmly and mindfully include Al-Anon slogans such as: “Easy does it,” and “How important is it?” (Sometimes it is “important,” but we need to assess our response, not impulsively react.) Another example is that often when we are working toward change, we may become hopeless when change doesn’t happen fast enough or completely enough. This can lead to frustration and giving up. A good slogan that addresses this mindset is the phrase, “Progress, not perfection.”

Remember, we do not have to face these challenges alone. Supportive therapy with a licensed psychologist and/or participation in a self-help group such as Al-Anon can help us explore our choices and learn to cope more effectively in all areas of our lives.

Links:

Link for Al-Anon Pennsylvania (including a list of meetings): http://www.pa-al-anon.org

Link to a good description of the Al-Anon program (from an Al-Anon district in Michigan):
http://www.afgdistrict5.org/newcomer.htm

“I’m soooo bored!” These words echo in homes across the land each year with increasing frequency as summer vacation replaces the frenzy of school.

“They are driving me up the wall.” This, of course, is the traditional reaction of parents to their children’s chants of boredom and displeasure with so much free time.

Once the pressure of school is off (unless your child is in summer school) summertime begins to present its own frustrations and annoyances. Rather than waiting for problems in paradise, parents can benefit by talking about summer expectations early on.

So don’t sit back and resign yourself to having a stressful summer. Rather, try to keep challenges manageable from the outset.

Big time keys to family harmony during the summertime involve:

• Making plans
• Increased sharing
• Turn taking
• Negotiation
• Compromise

Younger children and older ones with social skills challenges may welcome some parental support in this area. Get-togethers can include friends and summertime camps (sports, scouts, church related) which can all help burn off summertime steam.

When problems arise:

1. Remember the power of using a calm, firm and non-controlling tone.
2. When things heat up you might cool them down with, “I’m asking you to take responsibility for your frustration and not let it rule your reactions” or “I’ll feel much better about meeting you halfway wherever I can if you give me the same courtesy.”
3. Privately speak with each child about the signs and signals to look out for in other family members so that they don’t fall into a “bad mood trap” sprung by their sibling (or perhaps by a parent, as well.).
4. Reassure them that this awareness will pay off in their not getting into trouble.
5. If it comes down to it, calmly and firmly ensure that when children threaten the family peace they spend time by themselves to recover control over their reactions.

And finally, remember that for all kids, “playing” is how they learn about the world and how to interact with others. It is OK if there are unscheduled periods of time as long as parents have summertime boundaries limiting time in front of the TV, the computer and the game player.

To get them started you can help your kids pick out books from the library, provide them with craft supplies, wood, and recycled materials for imaginative projects, and encourage outdoor activities that involve actively moving their bodies.

Summer can become a time when children can learn and experience both the responsibility of creating their day as well as the joy of slowing down a bit from their over-scheduled school year pace.

Summer is here – the season of longer days, warmer weather, and often, a slower pace of life. For optimum health, you need to take an occasional break from your busy everyday routine. An annual two-week vacation from work is not enough.

Periods of “down time” should occur regularly in your schedule. This provides the balance your body needs in order to function at its best. Stress is associated with many illnesses. By managing stress well you are improving your health and happiness.

So, how can you make the most of this time of year? By relaxing and by trying new activities which seem interesting and fun.

1. Relaxation is a state of mind and body. This sense of calmness can be achieved while strolling in the park with your dog, lounging on the beach with your friends, and even while spending the day at home barbecuing, playing games, and gardening with your family.
2. A positive attitude and a desire to let go temporarily of everyday worries will help you to relax. For additional inspiration you may wish to try yoga, meditation, or some other more structured form of stress management.

Engaging all of your senses – sight, smell, sound, taste, and touch – will add meaning and depth to your activities and often make them more enjoyable. Things such as viewing artwork or reading a book, smelling flowers, listening to music or ocean waves, tasting a variety of summer foods, and doing needlework, playing an instrument, or getting a massage can be pleasurable and soothing.

Being outdoors and surrounded by nature can bring a sense of appreciation and calm. The sun and sky, birds and butterflies, trees and flowers, and rivers and streams are amazing. Perhaps you will want to sit in a lawn chair with a nice cold glass of iced tea or lemonade and your journal and write your reflections on this grand scene until your body gives in to a peaceful nap. Or, perhaps you’ll want to gather some friends and play ball, ride bikes, swim in the pool, or find some other form of exercise to enjoy outdoors. Or, maybe you would prefer to have a quiet picnic in the park with your family and some kite-flying time with your children. It’s your choice. There are many options.

Licensing has dominated the legislative agenda of the Pennsylvania Psychological Association more than most other issues. The goal was to pass a state law that set minimum standards for psychologists offering independent services to the public.

The year 2007 marks the 35th anniversary of the passage of the Licensing Law for Psychologists. On March 23, 1972, Governor Milton Shapp signed the bill creating the Professional Psychologists Practice Act (Act 52). It took 35 years from the first draft of a bill to the enactment of a law, and 14 more years until the law was amended to be consistent with national standards.

The law established a licensing board that had responsibility to protect the public from unqualified practice. Dr. Marshall Brown was the first chair of the State Board of Psychology, and Dr. Patricia Bricklin was the first vice-chair. The State Board continues today in its goal to protect the public welfare and set standards for psychological practice. PPA maintains an active and respected voice in its efforts to advance psychology as a science, a profession, and a means of promoting human welfare.