Most medical professionals are enduring one of the most difficult and challenging periods of their career. Now, many are moving to other jobs, in new cities, on the back of their work, in search of better pay and work/life balance. Indeed, CNBC has highlighted huge wage growth and upheaval from multiple sectors ranging from healthcare assistants to surgeons. For medical professionals making the move, there’s a wide range of factors to consider, from the amenities and security of a new town to crucial factors, such as the ability of a young family to settle on new shores.
Making the switch
Upheaval will impact every member of the family but children are often disproportionately impacted. According to a study analyzed by Psychology Today, relocating with a young family can, if managed improperly, create serious long-term problems that impact the development of kids well into adulthood. The reasons why are fairly clear – the emotional and physical ties that anyone makes with their community and surroundings is one that has a big impact on who that person becomes later in life. Depriving them of it, without explanation, can be harmful. The key is, of course, communication. Families moving to a new city should first make it absolutely clear just what is involved with the move, and why it’s happening. To further develop the message, provide opportunities to retain ties with the home community. That’s easy in the modern day, with the help of communications tools.
Developing new roots
Don’t treat a new area as simply somewhere to stay. A healthy psychological state relies on community; one NAMI blog asserts that community helps to develop a sense of belonging, purpose, and support, all crucial factors when putting roots down in a new city. Meet neighbors, join local events and traditions, and make your out-of-work life as important as making a good impression in your new job.
A work-life balance
Moving to a new job is a chance to impress. As a result, many workers will work long hours, go the extra mile, and do everything in their power to make a good impression on a new boss and set of co-workers. Unfortunately, that attitude can be dangerous. A report by the BBC found that western workers now operate, on average, 54 hours a week – and that this can be detrimental to long-term health. It’s clear that making a good impression can be beneficial to long-term professional development and job satisfaction, but it cannot come at the sacrifice of a work-life balance. Back yourself by setting boundaries early and only taking on what you can sustainably support. You will thank yourself in the long run.
Your family, too, will thank you. Moving to a new community is something that often benefits the breadwinner in the family, but it needs to be looked at through the prism of family. Look for solutions that benefit everyone, not just the newly employed.
Please also review AIHCP’s Certification Programs and see if it matches your academic and professional goals. The program in online and independent study and open to qualified professionals.
Reducing risk to the patient and improving care is essential for any healthcare organization. Providing the best care with the best risk management not only helps the patient but also protects the institution from future liabilities and helps the institution provide its mission to provide the best care. It is because of this that risk management is an essential study and need within any organization.
It is important to manage risk in any healthcare setting. Please also review AIHCP’s Healthcare Case Management Program
The article, “Why Healthcare Risk Management Is Important” by Caitlyn Cooley looks closer at the importance of risk management. She states,
“Medical liability and reducing an organization’s risk against unseen threats has changed exceptionally since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. We have seen new treatment centers, vaccines, and mass staffing problems across the United States. Risk management strategy “has traditionally focused on the important role of patient safety and the reduction of medical errors that jeopardize an organization’s ability to achieve its mission and protect against financial liability”, according to NEJM Catalyst. Unfortunately, these traditional risk mitigation techniques are not enough to combat cyberattacks on medical infrastructure.”
Please also review AIHCP’s Healthcare Case Management Program and see if it matches your academic and professional goals. The program is online and independent study and open to qualified professionals seeking a career in Case Management.
Anger when misused and not controlled can be a dangerous emotion for oneself and all involved. It is critical to utilize various Anger Management techniques to control one’s anger. Learning various Anger Management techniques can help one regain control of one’s life.
Controlling anger is important to a peaceful life. Please also review AIHCP’s Anger Management Certification
The article, “Are You Angry?” by Steve Alexander looks at some Anger Management techniques to regain control of one’s life. The article states,
“I work with a lot of people who suffer from unhealthy anger. It resonates with me because I struggled with anger until I was a young adult. This anger often manifested in outward aggression such as punching walls and other destructive behavior. I had been referred to as a “ticking time bomb” by a family member. I started to accept anger as part of my temperament, which only exacerbated my plight.”
Please also review AIHCP’s Anger Management Consulting Certification and see if it meets your academic and professional goals. The program is online and independent study and open to qualified professionals seeking a four year certification in Anger Management
ADHD can push one to constantly be on the move and never settled. Perfectionism and OCD hence naturally coincide with this disorder. Some individuals may exhibit extreme cases of perfectionism in what they do.
ADHD can push some to perfectionism. Please also review AIHCP’s ADHD Consulting Certification
The article, “How to Cope with ADHD and Perfectionism” by Sharon Sallne looks at how self criticism can be controlled with those facing perfectionism and ADHD. She states,
“Do you set unrealistic goals for yourself, fret about disappointing others, and compare yourself negatively to those around you? If so, you are probably like many other people with ADHD who struggle with perfectionism.”
For those who struggle with ADHD, this article may give some coping strategies and aids in dealing with perfectionism
Please also review AIHCP’s ADHD Consulting Certification and see if it meets your academic and professional goals. The program is online and independent study and open to qualified professionals seeking a four year certification in ADHD Consulting.
Surprisingly despite the efforts of Grief Counseling to help individuals restore balance, meaning, and biological, mental and social functioning to life, sadness and even depression has deeper evolutionary and adaptive values. Depression itself is obviously a pathology and sadness or grief is not. Sadness though has many benefits, and even in some cases, depression served its purpose for humanity’s ancient ancestors.
Like anger or other emotions that respond to stress to help activate the fight or flight response, sadness also has purposes in helping the body recover as well as helping the body survive the change process of loss. In addition, sadness has multiple social benefits. So while, everyone wishes to be happy, sadness is a natural result to change and an important one. Grief Counselors can help individuals again find osmosis in life, but the temporary stints of sadness that human beings experience are crucial to human existence. These emotions cannot be dismissed as inherently evil but as necessary emotions in a world that is far from perfect. The emotions of sadness such should be accepted but monitored properly so they promote the self healing necessary instead of the long term damage of these emotions found in depression or even prolonged grief itself
Sadness, and in some cases depression, served to humanity’s ancient ancestors as something that could increase the change of survival. Withdraw, lack of energy and lost of interest in activities could keep ancient individuals safe from harm and danger in a prehistoric world. While processing grief and loss, the individual would be more prone to stay in a safer place, isolated from the dangers of a savage world. While these symptoms today are far less desirable in the modern world, they still serve a temporary function to allow the body to heal from the distress. With immune systems lowered, staying home and feeling the grief may be the best answer.
Sadness also affects the mind and emotions in a variety of ways due to various changes in brain chemistry. Individuals who are sad tend to have sharper memories than when happy. A negative mood tends to improve attention to detail as opposed to a happier mood which can become less focused on details due to the euphoric state. Believe it or not, negative emotions can also increase motivation. When one thinks of sadness, individuals think of unmotivated individuals but this is only initially. When bad things happen, the mind can also become more motivated to fix situations and make them better. There is a motivation to leave the unpleasant state.
Sadness has important evolutionary factors for survival. Please also review AIHCP’s Grief Counseling Training Program
Socially, sadness also plays a key role. Through tears or behaviors of withdraw, it communicates the need for communal help. The function of sadness communicates to family and friends that something is wrong with an individual. Honest Signaling Theory emphasizes that sadness communicates sadness to others within the society. The sign of sadness not only is negative to the sufferer, but also to the family or community. Bargaining Theory looks at the damage to the society as a whole when someone cannot operate a certain level. This was true in prehistoric times especially but is also true in the modern world, when a particular family member plays a crucial role to the family’s survival.
In prehistoric times, sadness also could play a role in hierarchal social structure. If one felt more negative about life, it would induce compliance to the more assertive individuals. This in turn could protect the totality of the clan or group in allowing the mentally stronger to lead hence promoting survival of the whole. This is referred to as Rank Theory. Forming cooperative bonds with others to reduce risk of exclusion from social relationships places a key role here and is emphasized more in Social Risk Hypothesis. Again, in the prehistoric world, this was vital to survival but in the modern world, plays a detrimental role.
Biologically, the body when it responds to pain withdraws from the pain. The nerves signal to the brain that something is not right or bad. Likewise, mental anguish also notifies the mind that something is not right. A loss of family is detrimental to the structure and existence of all involved. This type of pain hence creates a natural withdraw from the painful stimuli. The withdraw can allow the mind time to heal and focus on the issue. This hypothesis is known as the Psychic Pain Hypothesis. Of course, only short term withdraw and avoidance is healthy and any long term examples of this can be detrimental.
Another similar theory is the Behavioral Shutdown Model, which emphasis of risk and reward. Again, during initial sadness, the risk of activity is higher than the reward, which mentally and emotionally pushes one to avoid. The body itself becomes more tired due to grief and stress and again this is a self defense mechanism, but only in normal amounts, as opposed to depression and prolonged grief. Overtime, a learned helplessness can result in which when an animal is placed in a situation outside its control, it adopts a helplessness. Prehistoric humans through helplessness could find the time and duration to rest to avoid danger, but in today’s modern world, any type of prolonged helplessness can be detrimental.
Another hypothesis is Analytical Rumination. When grief strikes, an individual’s brain is more focused. It focuses on the loss, the memories and the incidents surrounding the loss. When in a negative emotion, it is important to focus on the problem and find ways to make it better. This type of motivation to correct a wrong coincides with sadness. However, if in excess, this type of continued obsessive thinking and worrying can be a potential onset to depression.
Regardless of theories above, it is obvious sadness plays a function in life and a positive one if in the right doses. While Grief Counselors look to help an individual navigate sadness, they do not seek to remove it because it is crucial in the adaptation to the loss. It must play its role for a healthy outcome.
Please also review AIHCP’s Grief Counseling Training Program and see if it meets your academic and professional goals. The program is online and independent study and open to qualified professionals seeking a four year certification in Grief Counseling.
Grief can be very transformative in life. Unfortunately, it can be a very painful transformation as well. As part of life, it is something all must endure and learn to allow the changes to help us move forward in life while still cherishing the past.
Please also review AIHCP’s Grief Counseling Courses. The courses lead to a four year certification in Grief Counseling. Those in ministry, counseling, social work, mental health, or healthcare can enter into the program and earn the four year certification.
The loss of a parent after the loss of a child is considered the most painful loss for individuals. Losing a parent not only hurts but also can leave an individual feeling left alone or by oneself. The younger one is the more difficult it is to adjust to the loss itself. It is important for those who still have their parents to enjoy them everyday
Please also review AIHCP’s Grief Counseling Certification and see if it meets your academic and professional goals. The program is online and independent study and open to qualified professionals seeking a four year certification
Ecological Grief is a type of social grief. It can be more personal but is can also be shared. The term was first introduced by Aldo Leopold in the 1940s to describe the emotional pain tied to environmental losses. Glen Albrecht would later refer to it as a mental distress caused by environmental change. When individuals lose or perceive an anticipatory loss of something, either in a unique personal way or even a more distant way, a grief and distress can result.
Grief over loss of the environment is referred to as Ecological Grief. Please also review AIHCP’s Grief Counseling Certification
The environment affects everyone. Whether the indigenous person directly affected, or the person who lives thousands miles away. A climate that changes for the worst will eventually affect everyone. The ripples of the effect do not forever remain isolated but affect the planet as a whole. This fear and anticipation the type of grief most experience, while unfortunately others are already feeling the direct effects of this type of loss through drought, flooding and extreme weather causing massive displacement.
Social scientists, Ashlee Cunsolo and Neville Ellis both wrote regarding the direct experience of climate change. Cunsolo dealt with the loss of identity of the northern tribes who live on the ice and find identity with the ice. With the polar icecaps melting at an alarming rate, their identity and way of life is being stolen from them. Meanwhile in Australia, Ellis pointed out how farmers for generations are no longer able to grow crops to extreme drought. They too are losing their identity. Indigenous people are losing their identity but also far worst things, including their homes, way of life but also their lives. Flooding and extreme weather are causing massive displacements. These types of grief of total loss create untold sorrow and trauma.
Those more distant from the fire itself are also starting to see small signs of altered weather, but also are in a state of anticipatory grief and fear. Like those who feared nuclear destruction, the new fear is global warming and its pending doom. Individuals fear for the future, their children’s future and what earth will be like by the end of the century.
In addition, many individuals are seeing the loss of climates and habitats. This universal loss to humanity is a great loss. Many grieve the bleaching of the Great Barrier Reef. Scientists witness first hand the loss of beautiful eco systems and divers see the horrible damage to the reefs due to global warming. The loss of beauty itself is a form of loss. As more beautiful habitats die and more animals go extinct, a piece of beauty dies not only for the current generation but also for future generations.
In dealing with ecological grief, individuals must know they are not alone. They must share their frustrations, discuss it and find like minded individuals. Lament the pain together and not only lament but focus on change. First, focus on what one can control. Work towards better ecological friendly life styles when applicable. Recycle, save energy, and try to reduce your carbon footprint. One can also take action at higher levels by becoming more active in political movements to save the planet. Finally, find the natural spaces that do exist, or create some of your own via gardening and partake in the beauty of nature.
Future generations will lose the beauty of animals and habitats due to global warming. Grief can push one to action
Unfortunately, there are many powers who value the dollar over the environment. These individuals push a false narrative against global warming. In addition, there are many individuals who are in denial of the pending problem. They choose to deny the problem and pretend it does not exist. Unfortunately, many powerful people in government as well as news outlet suffer from denial in their grieving process.
One cannot become caught up in denial and lies, but accept the reality that our planet is in need of serious help. Our grief for the situation can be a powerful catalyst to action. Like all social grief, it can lead to social action and change. By taking control of our grief and by playing our small part, we can grieve together but also change together.
If you would like to learn more about AIHCP’s Grief Counseling Certification then please review and see if it meets your academic and professional goals. The program is online and independent study and open to qualified professional seeking a four year certification in grief counseling.
Sources
“Eco Grief: How to cope with the emotional impacts of climate change” by Aviva Fialkow
Loss is terrible but unnatural loss is even more painful. One type of unnatural loss is the loss of a child. When a parent dies before a child, it creates a pain so great that many label it the worst loss and pain one can emotionally experience.
Please also review AIHCP’s Grief Counseling Program and see if it meets your academic and professional goals. The program is online and independent study and open to qualified professionals seeking a four year certification as a Grief Counselor.
Happiness may seem subjective but the human soul and its very nature yearns one objective reality and that is God. Only God can answer the ultimate thirst of human happiness. All other forms of happiness while sometimes entertaining are temporary, or incomplete without God. When these objects of happiness are placed over God, only unhappiness can eventually result.
Please also review AIHCP’s Christian Counseling Program and see if it meets your academic and professional goals. The program is online and independent study and open to qualified professionals seeking a four year certification as a Christian Counselor.
By Lucy Peters
