EP 37: Mental Health Tune-Ups for Healthcare Workers with Diana Hendel

2020-12-14

COVID-19 has traumatized the world, but no group has been more impacted than frontline healthcare workers. After months of battling the pandemic (and no end in sight) they are facing unprecedented levels of stress, depression, anxiety, hopelessness—and increasingly, post-traumatic stress disorder. That's why today's guest - Dr. Diana Hendel – joins the show to provide mental health tune ups for frontline healthcare workers who are struggling to cope with COVID-19. As an executive coach and former hospital CEO she shares tips for healthcare profes...

That's why today's guest - Dr. Diana Hendel – joins the show to provide mental health tune ups for frontline healthcare workers who are struggling to cope with COVID-19.

As an executive coach and former hospital CEO she shares tips for healthcare professionals on how to navigate the pandemic and the traumatic stress they have experienced and continue to face.

Dr Hendel not only shares tips exercises, tools, and tips for frontline workers - she also shares how we can love and support those in our lives working in healthcare.

Here’s a sneak peek of what’s in this episode:

[05:56] I love being part of a group that’s there for others.
[06:09] In one moment, they’re delivering their first baby, and in the next moment, a family is dealing with the most difficult, the most traumatic day of their life, the passing of a loved one.
[06:56 ] I put that 27 years of experience to good use by helping other organizations and other leaders, particularly navigating through traumatic situations but also with leadership.
[08:23] We often think that healthcare workers are accustomed to seeing death and traumatic stress. Yes, that does happen. Healthcare workers are amongst the most resilient, the grittiest, the toughest, the strongest people emotionally we’ll ever meet.
[08:48] The traumatic effects of this pandemic have been enormous. It would be understandable that they would struggle with that traumatic stress, acutely, or chronically.
[09:29] Sleep, food, and exercise are really important. More important than ever for health workers.
[10:08] Having a regular practice for health workers at the beginning of the day, at the end of the day, and throughout the day if possible of grounding. Being able to ground back to their circumstances, refocus on what’s important, what matters, and purpose in life.
[14:20] It’s different for different people. Some of us want to be told it’s going to be okay; some of us want a pep talk. Others just want empathy, to hear, “I know how you feel. I understand.”
[16:29] In expressive writing, you have these writing prompts. It starts to jog all those thoughts in your head, getting them out of your head and getting them on paper.
[19:00] They can’t just disappear and leave their shift. They need to stay in the moment. At the same time, continuing to just repress or suppress those feelings can cause harm.
[19:13] When we’re stressed, when we’re traumatized, we tend to hold our breaths.
[19:44] Taking several deep breaths and moving into box breathing can be helpful.
[20:35] The practice of grounding that people can do every day by bringing an immediate grounding or anchoring. So if I’m triggered and can’t leave the situation, I can reground and anchor as I’m breathing.
[21:46] The buddy system with our co-workers or having a fire team can help. Healthcare workers are usually very bonded, and having a level of trust to have the ability to talk about how we can help each other is important.
[22:33] Tapping into those connections, camaraderie, and purpose can be important at the moment. Often we need our co-workers to do that.
[23:25] On a break, a person can sit on a chair, go through a body scan, exercise, a body relaxation, or a short meditation; those can be helpful.
[24:08] Remaining connected to others is essential.
[25:34] When we eat these grounding foods grown close to the ground, it carries that energy and passes it on to you. Examples of these are potatoes, carrots, and beets that you can add when you’re packing your lunch.
[26:33] Add the leafy greens and add good foods after partaking the unhealthy food as much as possible. Forgive yourself for eating those donuts and fast food but counter it by adding healthy food.
[29:35] Be there to listen to them without judgment or not to fix things.
[33:38] My favorite way to take care of my mind and body is hiking. I’m an avid hiker in any weather or any condition. I love hiking because it forces me to breathe. I’m not an easy breather. I’m a breath-holder. Hiking allows me to get into a rhythm. I have to breathe. I’m forced to breathe. It’s also very meditative. It puts me in touch with the natural world. My mind doesn’t wander. I can only be present when I’m hiking.