There’s a Lot of Anxiety Out There...

It seems I have started every conversation in the last 3 months with that phrase. I guess because it’s the truth. There is a lot of Anxiety and Fear out there and for good reason.

First of all, if you are feeling more anxious then usual or more fearful then usual you are not alone. Everyone is feeling it whether they admit it or not. In the situation we are in, A Global Pandemic, you would not be normal if you felt no added anxiety and fear.

Most of us have been trained to work towards a goal with a time limit. Our goals may still be there but there is uncertainty about the timing of everything. Just that uncertainty about lack of timing can create anxiety and fear.

Then when you add some of you are part of the teams that have been working directly with Covid-19 Patients and some of you have been furloughed because of Covid-19 there is a perfect storm of anxiety and the fears that are behind anxiety.

So when you feel Anxious you are actually feeling fears that are there behind the anxiety.

All of that said, you will need to find ways to deal with the increased level of fear and anxiety or it will affect your work, your professional, and your personal relationships. You may have noticed that it already has affected all of the above.

So here are some suggestions to reduce some of the anxiety & fear you may be having:

1. Turn off the TV and get outside in nature...
   
   Take a walk, run, or just sit and watch the birds. Trust me it is therapeutic. Limit your intake of news. We recommend only 30-60 minutes a day.
    
2. Mindfulness helps...
   
   We recommend a tape called; Calm & Confident by Australian Therapist, Mark Grant. You can download it for less than a dollar. It also helps if you are having trouble sleeping.
    
3. Keep up your relationships via electronic media...
   
   I know when you are anxious & afraid this is the last thing you want to do. Force yourself if you have to. Staying connected to other humans is essential to mental health. The friends and family that are always there to support you are the ones to contact first.
    
4. Try writing out what you are anxious about...
   
   Taking things out of your head and putting them down on paper helps to get clarity and reduce the level of anxiety & fear. When it rummages around in your head it gets bigger and out of control.
   
   So pull out some paper (or computer) and write down exactly what you are anxious about.
   
   Step 2 is to list the fears you have associated with each item you are anxious about.
   
   Ask yourself “Do I have control over the circumstances that created this fear?” If you have no control over it star it and put it aside.
   
   If you have control over the circumstances that created the fear then devise a plan to remove the fear.
   
   I know this sounds too simple to work but differentiating the circumstances you have control over from those you have no control over can clear up some of the fear & anxiety.
    
5. Last and not least do not be afraid to ask for help...
   
   Whether from friends or professionals, asking for help is key to your ability to deal with big issues like this Pandemic. It is a sign of strength to ask for help, not weakness. You are much more effective in your work or at home if you are the best you can be.
   
   Lastly start looking at what you have accomplished during this difficult period. The family members you have helped the children you have improved your relationship with and the people whose lives you have actually saved. You will be astonished at how, even in a Pandemic, you have had some pretty significant accomplishments. Be proud of that and keep putting one foot in front of the other.

Susan Van Vleet, MSW
President
Susan Van Vleet Consultants® Inc
svanvleetconsult.com

Mutual Respect, Why is it Important?

Mutual respect isn’t just a combination of words without meaning, policies without purpose. It is a commitment, a mandate for all of us as we navigate through our professional and personal lives. Each and every one of us has the right to pursue our career and personal objectives free from coercion or disruptive conduct from those around us. Each of us needs a personal policy, a code, to guide us in our conduct when facing challenges related to mutual respect. We have all heard “you are responsible for your own actions”. This applies to all of us and I believe this to be true.

In a typical week, you spend approximately 45 hours in your work environment, or to put it another way, 50% of your time awake! This does not include other volunteer activities you may be involved in. How you spend that time matters. Mutual respect plays a key role in job satisfaction, job effectiveness and your willingness to engage in extra-curricular activities. Our experience of living as individuals in a complicated world is an experience of relationships — with things, people, organizations and ideas. Many of the troubles in the world arise from substandard relationships in which one person or group tries by one means or another to coerce another person or group into behaving in some involuntary manner. There is a term for this type of behavior, often referred to as “bullying”. Such interactions cause unhappiness for the individual; the offender creates turbulence among those involved with that person or group. This is where personal responsibility, your “code” comes into play. You must begin to take notice and choose not to let these unacceptable behaviors violate who you are as an individual. Do not let what happens determine the major part of your future. What happens to you affects us all. It is what you do about what happens that counts. I believe each of us are wired with similar core values. It is an important part of our make up, our upbringing and an important piece of why an employer or group may have chosen to hire or retain a member of a team. I can’t think of a time when I had to be reminded that I should make a conscious effort to treat others with respect and dignity. Those of you reading this article don’t need to be told how important it is to value the diversity of our clients/patients, staff, colleagues, team members and family members. You already know. You’re already “wired” with the core values.

So, what is the point? First, we are all professionals both in the workplace and in our personal lives. Second, there is someone out there that looks up to us. Whether we are the offender or the recipient of bullying we have the innate ability to affect the lives of others and with that comes personal accountability. We should demand it and make it our mission to instill it in others whenever possible. The workplace is where we spend most of our time and it is of great importance that we take control of those uncomfortable situations. We all are equipped with the tools...we are in total control of our emotions and the outcome of an uninvited breach of mutual respect. Personal integrity requires that we look deeply into ourselves and try to be objective about our own ideas, feelings and emotions. This introspection may be risky. You may find that some of your beliefs are built on fragile foundations. It is important to note as you continue with your professional career and personal life that valuing each other’s differences encourages open communication.

Mutual respect, consideration and courtesy should be expected of every surgical team member. Everyone has the right to pursue their career free from coercion or disruptive conduct from others. This should also be the expectation in other related arenas and specifically with respect to teams. Take the step, lead the way and set a trend. Make mutual respect the norm in your professional and personal life. You’ll find greater happiness and fulfillment, as will those around you.

Ron Alston BA, MA
Past President, Board of Directors NBSTSA

This article originally appeared in the fall 2013 issue of NBSTSA's The Edge newsletter.

Did You Know?

• The National Board of Surgical Technology & Surgical Assisting gave the first certification examination in 1970.
   
• To date, there are 86,372 surgical technologists and surgical first assistants certified through the NBSTSA.
   
• The CST and CSFA are nationally recognized and the only credential accepted by many hospitals and states.

Photo by Simon Migaj on Unsplash