Taking Care of Your Mental Health While Working in Healthcare
Our mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well being. When it isn’t well taken care of, we can feel its effects in the way we think, feel, and act. As a healthcare worker, it’s easy to neglect taking care of yourself when you’re busy taking care of everyone else, but your mental health is important. Below are ways you can better prioritize looking after your mental well-being.
Find What Recharges You
Self-care looks different for everyone. It can look like never missing an exercise class or giving yourself quiet time to enjoy a good book. It can also look like prepping healthy meals for the week or letting yourself enjoy ice cream after a long day. It may take some time to find activities that give your mind and body the most peace, but once you find what works for you, make it a priority to do it everyday. When you’re feeling stressed, overwhelmed, or burnt out, your self-care activities can help you recharge and get you back to feeling your best.
Surround Yourself With Uplifting People
If you find yourself feeling depleted, it might help to take a look at your social circles. For example, after you spend time with your friends and family, ask yourself if you feel recharged or drained by how they treat you. If you feel uplifted after you say goodbye, then those people are likely good for your mental health. If you feel distressed after, and maybe even before, you hangout, then consider giving yourself some space from your friends and family to best help your mental health.
Get Professional Help
While a healthy social circle is crucial for your mental well-being, you should respect your friends and family’s boundaries when it comes to constantly needing emotional support. For example, your stress may be too heavy for them to carry on top of what’s going on in their own life.
If you find yourself wanting guilt-free vent sessions, objective advice, and professional guidance on how to cope with what you’re going through, consider therapy. Remember, you don’t need to experience a crisis or have a mental illness to get professional help. However, if you are experiencing any of the following symptoms for more than two weeks, reach out to your primary care provider for a referral to a mental health specialist:
- Difficulty sleeping
- Unwanted weight changes from shifting appetite
- Struggling to get out of bed
- Difficulty concentrating
- Inability to complete daily tasks
If you are experiencing a crisis, tell someone who can help immediately or dial 911 in an emergency. You can also call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or text the Crisit Text Line (text HELLO to 741741). These calls are free, available 24/7, and are confidential.
HealthCare Support Is On Your Side
HealthCare Support understands how stressful and overwhelming working in healthcare can be. That’s why our team wants the best for you, and your mental health. Our recruiters work to understand where you’re coming from and where you want to be. We are a dedicated team focused on placing passionate healthcare professionals in long-term careers or short-term jobs. Our network is vast, and with our customized staffing solutions, dedicated advocacy, compassionate guidance, and highly responsive support, we can get you living a life you love.
To learn more about our open jobs and services, please give us a call at 888-219-6285.