October 2018

Wellness, Productivity, and You!

UCONN Health EAP 860-679-2877 or 800-852-4392 Learn the Five Steps of Think Outside Suicide of the Box Prevention ou’ve heard the expres- he National Suicide Preven- sion “thinking outside of tion Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK Y the box.” It’s thinking T (8255) recommends awareness creatively and solving prob- of the “five steps” to suicide preven- lems in ways that defy con- tion. The research-supported model vention. Outside-the-box can reduce the risk that a person in crisis will take his or her thinkers see the same infor- life. The approach includes a series of action steps anyone can mation differently from the learn. This includes 1) asking if a person is suicidal, 2) being way their coworkers do. When there and offering support, 3) playing a role in keeping some- others “zig,” they “zag.” You can learn how to think outside of one safe and summoning help, 4) assisting the person in con- the box. The payoff can be huge for your employer. Learning necting with other support resources, and 5) following up. Sui- this skill starts with experiencing failure caused by conditioned cide prevention is everyone’s responsibility. The five steps are linear thinking. Try a few exercises designed for this purpose. for everyone because someday you might be the one in the Once you have an “aha!” experience with the exercises, then you’ve got the idea. position to save a life. Source: http://www.bethe1to.com/bethe1to-steps-evidence/. Resource: www.creativethinking.net [search: “exercises”]. “Amotivational Syndrome” and Marijuana Anger in the oes cannabis use foster Workplace apathy and reduced self- you blow up at disap- D efficacy—“amotivational pointments, rage at in- syndrome”? The most thor- If conveniences, or bark at ough study yet examined the others’ mistakes, then you cannabis use and behaviors of probably recognize your anger over 500 college students. management problem. Are you Marijuana use, age, gender, still struggling to get a handle race, personality style (extraversion, agreeableness, conscien- on it? The change you want tiousness, openness, and neuroticism), use of other sub- entails education about anger, self-awareness, and triggers; stances (alcohol and tobacco), and general personal assess- practicing alternative responses; logging attempts at change; ments of initiative, effort, and persistence were examined. Re- practicing response tactics; apologizing to others when you slip sults: Marijuana use forecasted lower initiative and persistence, up; and measuring progress. Anger responses become en- even after statistically ruling out 13 other variables! The debate grained, which is why a programmatic approach is often about amotivational syndrome has raged for years, but only needed to gain control in the long term. Talk to your EAP or a marijuana (not alcohol or tobacco) use significantly and longitu- counselor to discuss the pieces above and how to turn them dinally prompted lower initiative and persistence in subjects. into a plan that will give you results. See the report: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28620722. Information in FrontLine Employee is for general informational purposes only and is not intended to replace the counsel or advice of a qualified health or legal professional. For further help, questions, or referral to community resources for specific problems or personal concerns, contact a qualified professional. Add “http://” to source links to follow. Link titles are always case sensitive. October 2018 FrontLine Employee Stress Tip. . . Relationships —the Secret to Catastrophic Happiness Reduce any articles , Thinking books, and umans worry, M speeches have but when we discussed the secret H focus on the to finding happiness, worst-case scenario, it but there is only one is called catastrophic 75-year study that has thinking. It’s worry on attempted to pin down steroids. Catastrophic the answer. It’s the Grant and Gluek Study, which began in 1934. And thinking is agitating it continues today. The project focuses on the lives of two completely and exhausting. It can be toxic to your mental health. different groups of people—a large group of low-income people from Catastrophic thinking can be applied to almost any- Boston, Massachusetts, and a similarly large group of Harvard gradu- thing—child safety concerns, bills, personal health, the ates. The only finding common to both groups of what ultimately brings environment, deadlines, etc. Remaining concerned joy is quality relationships. Recent studies on the negative effects of while avoiding one’s worst fears is possible. 1) Recog- loneliness lend support to these findings. Developing strong and posi- nize that catastrophic thinking is a drain on your mental tive relationships is a social skill that also has some important ingredi- energy. 2) Reduce worry levels by constructing contin- ents. And it can be learned. If you’re past your teens and younger gency plans and solutions in writing . 3) Take a mental years and you find your health and relationships are lacking, it can be break with “thought blocking” by refusing to worry about a bit more of a challenge to fire up an active friends network. Start with something for a set period of time. 4) Consider how you a visit to a workplace counselor or EAP. For advice on reestablishing a engaged in catastrophic thinking in the past, but here social life after lots of time away from the practice of doing so, consider you are today with those past fears or concerns never the book “The Friendship Crisis: Finding, Making, and Keeping Friends having come to pass or coming without the impact you When You’re Not a Kid Anymore.” originally imagined. Source: http://www.adultdevelopmentstudy.org/grantandglueckstudy. Are Teenagers Switching Stalking to Xanax? Awareness any teenagers who Month have been using M opioids may be switch- tudies show that a ing to prescription drugs like woman over the S course of her life will Xanax, say addiction treat- ment professionals who spe- have about an 8% chance cialize in teen substance of being stalked. For men, abuse. The war on street it’s about 2%. Stalking is unwanted or repeated shadow- opioids, related overdose fears, and the risk of death when using fen- ing, observation, and scrutinizing of another person. It tanyl may be influencing the switch. Drugs like Xanax are often plenti- may involve following a person, showing up where and ful in medicine cabinets of parents and grandparents. Stealing the when they do not expect it, and ignoring boundaries of substances and distributing them among peers is not uncommon. privacy. Stalking is a crime. Many incidents of workplace Once you are addicted, quitting Xanax suddenly can be life- violence have been linked to stalking, although later threatening. Because drug-using teens often drink, using Xanax, Val- may only be labeled as “domestic violence” related. If ium, and similar drugs can be particularly hazardous. If you have been you’re stalked at work, don’t keep it a secret. Tell your prescribed medications like Xanax, manage these substances so they employer or HR advisor, or discuss it confidentially with cannot be stolen. Never give your medication to your teen as a way of the EAP and get the support you deserve. Don’t be re- controlling his or her anxiety. Teens more susceptible to Xanax and luctant to let your employer know about the victimiza- other benzodiazepine addiction will be those with family histories of tion. Your safety and that of coworkers is your em- substance abuse. ployer’s most important concern. http://www.pewtrusts.org [search: “Xanax”]. Source: http://victimsofcrime.org [search: “stalking”].