Remote Work: Better Or Worse For Mental Health

During the beginning of the pandemic, remote work became the new normal for non-essential workers, but how has it impacted our mental health? Working from home during the height of COVID-19 may have lowered stress levels for workers about getting sick or having long-haul symptoms. Working from the comfort of your home office may be appealing for many, but can the lack of interaction challenge your mental stamina?

In this blog, we will look at some studies and other resources that look at the impact of remote work on our mental health. Those who have previously struggled with mental illness may be more susceptible to the strains of remote work. We will also include some tips and therapy practices that could help those who are still participating in remote work.

Benefits For Mental Health

For many, remote or hybrid work schedules can improve their mental health. Working from home can limit the amount of stress that is pressing on your brain while you are working on your job to-do list. Most people have reported that remote work has helped them find a better work-life balance because they can help out at home and limit their commute time which eats up precious hours in the day.

Remote work may also give you time for leisure activities or self-care. Lowering the time required for a commute or in-person meetings will give you time later in the day to focus on activities that recharge your battery. This extra time can be spent with your family or close friends which helps elevate your mental health.

Challenges To Mental Health

Over the past few years as remote work has become more commonplace, some mental health challenges have begun to emerge. Studies, including one from the Integrated Benefits Institute, have shown that those who were working remotely experienced higher levels of anxiety and depression. 40% of fully remote workers saw an increase in depression symptoms, while 38% of hybrid workers saw an increase.

The research shows that remote work may not be the best option for every employee. Some of the participants in this study said that they experienced constant disruptions, stress about home office space, and a more endless workday. All of these factors contributed to how they felt about their mental health.

Another study from the National Library of Medicine found that those who had a hybrid schedule had better mental health compared to those who were exclusively at home. This study also looked at vaccination and masking factors affecting the employee’s stress they feel in the office. With these factors in mind, only around 7% of people felt that working in person with these factors in mind was more stressful.

The research does not answer the question of why employees experienced a heightened amount of stress or depressive symptoms.

How Mental Health Impacts Businesses

Even if you don’t want to think about mental health, it plays a part in how a business operates. Employee mental health impacts their performance and their connection with managers and other employees. Talking to your employers about your mental health can be a great way for you both to determine what will work best for both of you. Some employees do well with a few remote work days a week, while others won’t need any.

When employees experience burnout or excessive stress, your business profits could suffer as well. Mental health days and remote work days are something that employees are advocating for. Factoring these days into a routine working schedule will help all workers feel healthier.

Company Culture And Connection

When everyone in a business can work together and make a connection with others, a business can thrive. Employee relationships make it easier to collaborate on projects, improve job performance, and prevent the work day from dragging on. If you are someone who struggles with mental health, finding a job with a supportive and collaborative culture can help you avoid mental health challenges. A positive work environment that also understands when you may need a break makes for a more well-rounded business.

How To Transition Back To The Office

So your employer has asked you to come back to the office full time and you’re not sure how to keep up with your mental health and be productive at work. Here are some tips on how to achieve a smoother transition while staying on top of your mental health.

Reconnect with colleagues or make a new friend
Stick to a routine (sleep, meal prepping, morning meditation, lunch break, etc.)
Refresh your workspace
Set goals but also realistic expectations
Take your vacation days
Communicate your concerns to HR
Stay on top of self-care practices, therapy, and other well-being tasks

Mental Health Help From Red Willow Counseling And Recovery

Our counselors and therapists provide evidence-based therapies for individuals, couples, and families. No matter what mental illness you are struggling with, therapy or counseling resources can help limit your symptoms. Red Willow also collaborates with other local professionals to help you achieve well-rounded care. If you want to see what therapy can do for you, reach out to us and schedule your first therapy appointment.

Trauma & PTSD Salt Lake City Utah Mental health IOP

Those who have experienced trauma can be deeply distressed and experience mental illness, physical ailments, and damaged relationships. Therapy is the most commonly used method to help individuals heal from trauma. There are many therapy techniques that are used by our therapists at Red Willow Counseling and Recovery that are effective in helping individuals towards healing. This blog will explore the benefits of therapy for trauma and how it will help those who are victims of abuse, neglect, or other trauma.

What Is Trauma?

Before we talk about how trauma can affect people and how you can heal, it is crucial to understand what trauma is and how it affects the brain and body. Trauma does not just refer to an event, but it also refers to how the person responds to the event. Both emotional and psychological responses are taken into account when looking at a person who experiences a traumatic event.

When someone experiences trauma, they will go into survival mode and the brain will release a stress hormone. This can often result in the fight or flight response or can cause a person to dissociate, or block out the event. While the body tries to protect itself during the abuse or trauma, it can cause long-term problems if not treated properly. Prolonged trauma, especially childhood trauma, can result in severe mental illness and physical manifestations.

How Can Trauma Manifest?

For individuals who have had a traumatic event, there are many reactions and manifestations the body can have. Physical, emotional, and mental responses are all common for trauma patients.

Trauma can manifest in mental illnesses like Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID), and emotional dysregulation. These illnesses can include intrusive thoughts, disconnected emotions, and amnesia about the events that occurred.

Trauma patients can also experience weakened trust that can lead to relationship struggles. Trauma can lead to the person seeking isolation or forming unhealthy relationships just to feel “normal.” Self-negative talk can also impact a person’s self-esteem and how they process relationship affection. People can be self-critical or will have a hard time accepting love from others. Therapy for trauma can help you break down these issues and help make you a more confident and trusting person.

Techniques Used In Therapy For Trauma

Therapy is a tool that will help patients understand emotions, work through pain, and regain a sense of control. There are many therapy techniques that include talking, meditation, and medication to aid in the healing process. Here are a couple of trauma therapies that are effective for those who have experienced a traumatic event.

Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART)

A newer therapy for trauma approach is Accelerated Resolution Therapy. This therapy is proven to help patients with PTSD, Phobias, Depression, and Grief. This therapy approach involves replacing negative images with positive ones. A therapist will help guide the patient to replace triggers or memories with more positive images. This will limit nightmares, flashbacks, and intrusive thoughts.

Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Cognitive-behavioral therapy combines two psychological theories, Emotional Processing Theory and Social Cognitive Theory. Emotional Processing Theory involves the thought that the traumatic event can be reframed to seem less scary. Changing responses and triggers to the event will help to change the unhealthy functioning of patients.

Social cognitive theory suggests that patients who try to incorporate the experience of the trauma into their beliefs can help them understand the experience in a healthier way. For example, if someone thinks that bad things happen to bad people, and being abused or raped makes them bad, the situation can be reframed so the patient understands they were unjustly violated.

CBT often uses exposure to the emotions or reminders of the trauma to help them heal. These are done in a controlled setting to help the person feel safe while helping them learn they do have the ability to cope. This is a therapy for trauma because it helps you face your fears in a healthy way and overcome them without needing outside factors.

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)

This is a specialized therapy that helps patients process traumatic memories and reduce emotional charges. Therapists do this through guided rapid eye movements that help the patient focus on memories, current triggers, and future goals. The rapid eye movements help improve memory and eliminate problematic physical symptoms.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

Dialectical Behavior Therapy is often used for patients who have experienced immense trauma or dissociation. It is used to help regulate emotions so patients can understand how the trauma has affected them. Navigating strong emotions while dealing with PTSD or other mental illnesses can be difficult, so DBT can improve your emotional capacity.

Internal Family Systems Therapy (IFS)

IFS focuses on our internal sense of Self that makes us who we truly are. Our other Parts fit into three categories; Exiles, Managers, and Firefighters. These parts carry the pain of the trauma and the trauma itself. These parts protect us from pain and resort to extreme measures to protect against pain when the Exiles break through the Managers’ defenses. The patient will learn more about their Self and connect with their inner consciousness.

Mindfulness-Based Therapies

Practices like mindfulness and meditation can help calm those with extreme stress. They promote self-compassion, emotional regulation, stress reduction, and communication. Although mindfulness is not a therapy for trauma, per se, practicing mindfulness can be combined with other therapy techniques and medication to help you achieve well-rounded healing.

Other Forms Of Healing Obtained From Therapy

There are other ways that therapy can improve your life and help you process your trauma. Helping you heal is the goal of therapy so that you can gain more control of your life. Here are some additional items you can obtain from proper therapy:

Validation
Emotional regulations
Coping skills
Healthier relationships
Limit negative thoughts
Improved self-esteem
Deal with triggers in a healthy way
Accept their pain
Learn from the past and implement better practices in the future
A positive outlook on life

Narrowing down choices for therapists can be extremely difficult. There are some factors you should consider when finding a therapist that will help create a smoother process. Before beginning therapy, you should have some goals in mind of what you want to get out of your sessions. You should also work with your primary care provider for referrals or recommendations to start.

Below are some more tips and factors that should be at the forefront of your mind when trying to find a therapist. Not all therapists will be right for everyone, so finding the best one could take some time. This list will help you to get started down the right path.

1- Utilize A Trusted Online Directory

If you want to have multiple options of therapists to choose from, you can start with online directories. Some directories include Psychology Today, BetterHelp, GoodTherapy, and Inclusive Therapists. These directories have private or public practices listed with prices and the specialties of the therapists. Some of these directories do have membership fees, so look into those before signing up.

2- Ask Thorough Questions During The Consultation

Asking the right questions is the most important step when finding a therapist. This will help you get a feel of the therapist’s mindset and how they plan to treat you. This will also allow you to narrow down your list if they don’t treat your specific need or you can’t afford it.

Do they treat your specific issue?
What Is their availability like? Can they work with your schedule and/or be flexible?
Do they take your insurance?
What therapy styles do they use?
What training or certification do they have?
Are there other therapists in this office you should look into or that would be a better fit?
What does a typical session with them look like? How long are they?
How will you both assess your progress?
What does successful therapy or treatment look like to them?
Ask about a free consultation

3- Narrow Down Your Goals

Different therapists will have different methods of treatment and how they view a patient to be fully treated. Narrowing down what you want to accomplish and the goals you want to achieve will help you be able to discuss them with a potential therapist when seeing if they are right for you.

Finding A Therapist: 7 Factors To Consider When Finding The Best One For You

When you have specific goals in mind such as overcoming an addiction, healing and limiting fear from a past relationship, or learning to manage your anxiety better, a therapist can tell you what treatments they would use to help you. If you don’t vibe with their treatment plan, you will know to continue your search in finding a therapist

4- Therapists For Specific Issues

Therapists can help with various mental illnesses, loss, trauma, and more. Some therapists focus on specific issues, while others work with a variety of different patients. You can ask your therapist if they treat other patients with your specific issue. If they have experience treating others with this issue, you will know they may help you to reach a healthier mental place.

5- Getting Recommendations From Friends

If you have friends who love their therapist, ask them for their contact information. It is still important to ask your friends some questions and potentially do a consultation with the therapist. A referral from your primary care provider is also a good way to limit the number of options.

6- Why The Right Therapist Matters

Therapists and patients need to have good communication and be able to connect with each other in order to make therapy work. This is known as the Therapeutic Alliance, which is the relationship that the therapist and patient can develop. This relationship can contribute to the healing of the patient.

The right therapist also is important to help you feel comfortable opening up without judgment. A therapist that understands you will help you navigate micro-aggressions, and triggers, and avoid making your mental health worse by feeling judged.

7- Don’t Be Afraid To Switch

Many people are worried about hurting their therapist’s feelings if they switch or don’t feel very connected to their therapist. If you are not accomplishing what you feel necessary from therapy or are feeling judged, there is no shame in switching. We know finding a therapist can be a long process, but it is essential for patients to feel absolutely comfortable opening up to their therapist. Therapists know that not everyone is going to vibe with their personality, so having an open conversation can help both you and the therapist be better in the future.

Finding A Therapist At Red Willow

Our therapists cover issues with family, couples, LGBTQ issues, trauma, addiction, and more. We have multiple therapists, clinical directors, receptionists, and interns that have your best interest at heart. Don’t let these issues be debilitating or take over your life and seek quality therapy with Red Willow Counseling and Recovery.