My heart is pounding. I’m achy. I’m exhausted. My thoughts are completely scattered, much like the files and coffee cups on my desk.
“You need to relax, work stress is perfectly normal,” is what others would tell me. Most people look forward to the end of the work day so they can go home and relax. I, on the other hand, dread it. All I can think about is the never ending to-do list waiting for me at home.
Why can’t I seem to manage the things that everyone else seems to find so simple? I feel like I am barely able to keep my head above water while everyone else is swimming past me. How am I supposed to balance it all? How will I get through the rest of the day?
Let’s set the facts straight!
It comes as no surprise that we all experience stress at some point in our lives. In fact, 73% of all working adults between the ages of 20-64 report some level of stress. Furthermore, 1 in 4 Canadians report stress as the reason for leaving their jobs (Statistics Canada).
Stress is systemic; we all experience it in our daily lives. What differentiates good stress (eustress) and bad stress (distress) is how we choose to think about it, feel it and respond to it. When we harness stress for the good, it energizes us, it nurtures positivity and it can help us develop great coping mechanisms. When we don’t combat bad stress, it beats us down to our core, and significantly impacts our ability to complete seemingly simple tasks.
How can Occupational Therapists help manage my stress?
Occupational therapists help to solve the problems that interfere with our ability to do the things that are important to us – everyday things like:
- Self-care (eating, personal hygiene, getting dressed)
- Being productive (going to work, grocery shopping, paying the bills)
- Leisure activities (sports, gardening, social activities)
Stress has no boundaries. When stress gets the best of us, it can impact all areas of function. And this is where Occupational Therapists come in. We are trained to help support people to regain function in the various areas of life.
The Canadian Association of Occupational Therapy upholds that occupational performance is the result of the dynamic interaction between the person, environment and the occupation – when one changes, everything else is affected and performance changes. Occupational Therapy is unique in that it take a holistic approach to health and wellness. When an Occupational Therapist sees an individual suffering from chronic stress, they don’t just look at individual factors, rather, they look at the interaction between the person, their environments and their occupations.
Here are just 10 of the ways Occupational Therapy can help manage stress:
1. Support with developing behavioural adaptations.
2. Intervene with mindfulness-based, stress-reduction techniques.
3. Provide training of energy conservation for those experiencing chronic fatigue.
4. Provide strategies and exercises for chronic pain management.
5. Cognitive restructuring to reduce reflection on negative thoughts.
6. Help identify strategies that distract or self-soothe an individual when they are feeling stress symptoms.
7. Provide recommendations for environmental modifications.
8. Facilitate and assist with return-to-work planning.
9. Develop a work-hardening program to minimize the risk of relapse.
10. Functional and cognitive job coaching to provide strategies in real life situations.
Want to Learn More about the role of Occupational Therapy in managing stress in the Workplace?
PSHSA is hosting a webinar on Sensory Processing and Management of Chronic Stress in the Workplace on Thursday, December 19, 2019 from 12:00-1:00 pm. In this webinar we will discuss the sensory system, how to identify our own sensory needs and ways in which workers can identify stressors and take steps to better self-regulate sensory-related challenges.
Want to learn more about the role of Occupational Therapy in Occupational Health and Safety? We want to hear from YOU. Contact us by email at [email protected].
In its most basic definition, stress is our body’s response to a demand. With the introduction of the COVID-19 pandemic and all the protective measures put in place to try to wrangle it, there are plenty of new demands for people’s bodies to adjust to. Here are five strategies to help lower stress during this challenging time.
Gratitude journaling
Right now, it can be easy to focus on all we are missing out on due to the stay at home mandates. Identifying three things to be grateful for each day and writing these down can help us feel happier, allow us to better tackle stressors that we encounter during the day, and has even been shown to boost our immune functioning.
Writing down a list of things one is grateful for helps to train the mind to acknowledge and focus on the positive, even in difficult situations. (Photo/Shutterstock)
Stretching — For many people, attending class, studying and participating in meetings may all be happening in the same workspace. Getting up and stretching periodically is not only good for managing aches and pains that can develop, but is a great way to alleviate muscle tension that can occur as a part of the stress response and provide proprioceptive input through our joints that can have a calming effect.
Stretching not only helps to prevent injury, but can have a calming effect on the mind by releasing tension. (Photo/Shutterstock)
Set Boundaries — There is an over-abundance of COVID-19 related news and media. While it’s important to stay informed, excessive consumption can contribute to increased fear and anxiety. Try limiting news intake to particular times of day or a few reputable sources, and then use the rest of your media consuming time to catch-up with loved ones, watch funny videos, and explore new and interesting topics.
Get Outside — Exposure to sunlight can increase Vitamin D production which is associated with reduced risk for depression and anxiety, and being in nature improves our mood and feelings of well-being. If you have access to safe outdoor space that you’re able to enjoy while socially distancing, consider incorporating an afternoon walk into your routine or sitting outside to read or study. If you aren’t able to physically go outside, spend time relaxing near a window or recalling your favorite outdoor setting — research shows that even imagining yourself in nature can have the same positive effects as being there!
A back yard, an apartment courtyard, or a walk around the block can all serve as outdoor getaways as long as one practices social distancing and wears a mask in public. (Photo/Shutterstock)
Breathe — When your body is in a stress response, breathing becomes quicker and shallower. To move your body into a more relaxed state, focus on breathing slowly and filling your lungs fully with air before exhaling. Putting a hand on your stomach or counting (e.g., inhaling for 4, holding for 2 and exhaling for 6) can provide helpful cues. The great thing about breathing as a stress management technique is you can use it anytime, such as during a test or before speaking in front of the class, without anyone knowing.
— Tracy Jalaba, OTD, OTR/L, of the USC Occupational Therapy Faculty Practice
Image credit: BD Hypno Plus
Occupational therapy focuses on the therapeutic use of daily activities (or occupations) with individuals or groups. This is to improve their participation in roles, habits, and routines in the home, school, workplace, community, or other settings. An occupational therapist helps you to get back to your customary activities as much as possible. They work with individuals who have physical and cognitive impairments, psychosocial dysfunction, mental illness, and developmental (or learning) challenges. So let’s discuss the significance of occupational therapists and mental health interventions.
Occupational Therapists and Mental Health and Wellness
An occupational therapist assesses each client holistically. For each client, they will consider various factors such as:
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Values, beliefs, spirituality, mental function, sensory function, etc.
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Performance skills (or motor, process, and social interaction skills)
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Environment or context
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Performance patterns (or habits, routines, roles, etc.)
Your occupational therapist will work with you to promote, establish (or restore), maintain, or modify tasks to help you participate fully in your daily life. Furthermore, occupational therapists will seek to prevent potential barriers to participation in desired activities.
Is Occupational Therapy Considered Mental Health
Assistance?
Mental health is an essential component of all occupational therapy interventions. Occupational therapists provide mental health treatment and prevention services for all – children, youth, the aged, and people with severe and persistent mental illness. All interventions focus on improving each client’s function and independence.
Occupational therapists work in mental health settings and they focus on enabling persons to re-engage in useful occupations. How do they do this? They help each client build a variety of skill sets, establish good habits and routines, set therapy goals, apply cognitive-behavioral techniques (CBT), and understand and counter physiological influences.
Within the settings of children’s and adolescents’ mental health, occupational therapy focuses on these physiological influences. They teach clients how to identify and utilize self-regulation strategies to get them back to participating in meaningful activities like going to school or work and interacting with family and friends.
Also, occupational therapists serve individuals with sensory processing disorders (SPD) and social-emotional learning dysfunctions. These conditions are usually seen within the children and adolescent segments of the mental health sector.
Occupational Therapy and Community Mental Health
Did you know that occupational therapy has its roots in mental health? It’s true! The creation of the profession coincided with the early 20th century’s mental hygiene movement.
Eventually, the call for deinstitutionalization of people with mental challenges led to the 1963 Community Mental Health Act. This act meant that occupational therapists and their assistants began working in community mental health. Today, occupational therapy within community mental health settings provides services such as:
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Community mental health centers
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Assertiveness community treatment (ACT) teams
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Psychosocial clubhouses
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Homeless and women’s shelters
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Correctional facilities
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Senior centers
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Consumer-operated programs
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After-school programs
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Homes
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Worksites
As mental health services have shifted from the hospital to the community, there has also been a paradigm shift in the service delivery philosophy. Traditionally, there was an emphasis on the medical model, but now the focus is on implementing the recovery model.
This latter model acknowledges that recovery is a long-term process and clients are encouraged to keep participating in community activities until they can do so fully. Therefore, occupational therapy activities include finding and keeping employment, going to school, and living independently.
The philosophical foundation of this recovery model is the integration of occupational therapy with community mental health. The goal of this integration is to increase your ability to live independently, as much as possible, in the community as you engage in productive daily activities.
Occupational therapy facilitates your participation and is client-centered. It also plays a significant role in the success of those recovering within the community. Occupational therapists and occupational therapy assistants are educated to deliver mental and physical health and wellness services, rehabilitation, habilitation, and recovery-focused approaches. They are also trained in clinical fieldwork that’s focused on assessing psychosocial issues.
Examples of Occupational Therapy Within Mental Health
Occupational therapy interventions improve the health outcomes of those with mental health challenges. These interventions are found in the areas of education, work, skills training, health, and wellness, as well as cognitive remediation and adaptation. Some examples of occupational therapy interventions in community mental health include:
Evaluating and adapting the home, work, school, and other settings to facilitate your optimal functioning.
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Providing educational programs, experiential learning, and treatment groups or classes to address key issues. These issues include assertiveness, self-awareness, interpersonal and social skills, stress management, and role development (for example, parenting).
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Helping clients develop leisure or avocational interests and pursuits.
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Developing skills for independent living such as using community resources, managing your home, time, and medication, as well as being safe at home and in the community.
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Providing training in daily living activities (for example, hygiene and grooming).
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Consulting with employers about appropriate accommodations for their clients (as required by the
1990 Americans with Disabilities Act
).
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Conducting functional evaluations and ongoing monitoring for successful job placement.
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Guiding and consulting with persons in all employment settings (including supportive employment).
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Providing evaluation and treatment for sensory processing deficits.
Occupational therapy benefits individuals of all ages with a variety of mental illnesses. Furthermore, friends and family members also benefit from occupational therapy as they learn how to deal with the stress of caregiving and successfully balance their daily responsibilities in life.
Occupational Therapy Approaches
Occupational therapists use several evidence-based approaches within the mental health environment. They include:
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Teaching coping and self-regulation skills that are useful in a variety of contexts.
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Educating people about sensory exploration and implementing sensory approaches for self-regulation.
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Utilizing CBT approaches to support your participation in desired activities.
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Identifying and implementing healthy, positive habits, and structure into daily routines.
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Supporting the learning and implementation of key skills. These skills include those related to social competence (like making and keeping friends), coping with anger, solving problems, learning about social etiquette, and following rules.
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Evaluating factors that block your success in school, at work, as well as in your home and community.
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Modifying your environment to support improved attention, participation, and decrease sensory overload at school and/or at work.
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Educating parents about important behavioral and psychosocial approaches to enhance their children’s daily functioning.
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Reducing restraints and seclusions within the inpatient setting. This is done via comprehensive assessments to determine what facilitates and bars your participation in:
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Life tasks
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Self-awareness and skills development
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Developing attainable goals
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Modifying your environment for optimal fit.
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Promoting the use of self-regulation and sensory strategies.
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Educating an interdisciplinary team on prevention techniques.
Can an Occupational Therapist Assist With Anxiety?
Occupational therapy plays a significant role in helping clients suffering from anxiety to manage their condition. An occupational therapist will work with you to identify how anxiety is affecting you, teach you valuable coping skills, and help you work towards achieving your future goals.
Can an Occupational Therapist Perform Psychotherapy?
Occupational therapists are authorized to provide psychotherapy services. Furthermore, these psychotherapy services are performed according to the standards of the practice.
What You Can Expect From a Mental Health Occupational Therapist
Many people think of occupational therapy as applicable to pediatric services or physical rehabilitation. So they are often surprised to find occupational therapists working in mental health environments. So if you, a relative, or a friend is seeing a mental health occupational therapist, then keep reading to learn about how they can help you.
An Occupational Therapist’s Contributions to a Mental Health Treatment Team
An occupational therapist undergoes training in holistic approaches that are suitable for work in mental health settings. Their areas of training include:
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Physical wellbeing
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Cognitive assessment
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Sensory strategies
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Therapeutic alliances
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Group activities
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Participation in activities of daily living (ADLs)
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Socio-emotional skills
Occupational therapy assists clients to participate in daily activities as independently as possible.
Mental Health Occupational Therapy Interventions
Some of these interventions include:
Lead Groups
Occupational therapists are trained to create lead groups in areas that focus on:
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Life skills
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Job readiness
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Therapeutic cooking
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Money and time management
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Wellness recovery action plans (WRAPs)
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Therapeutic leisure
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Nutrition
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Sensory groups
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Independent living
Apply Calming Strategies
Occupational therapists use activities of daily living (ADLs) or occupations to aid in optimal mental health and welfare. They may also help you use coping mechanisms like listening to music, playing cards, writing, drawing, cooking, or cleaning.
They are also experts at applying sensory strategies. Your sensory system helps you process information that you gather from your environment. Clients with mental health challenges have a compromised ability to process sensory input, which can lead to them feeling agitated and unsafe.
Sensory strategies activate your basic processing systems like the vestibular, proprioceptive, and deep pressure touch, to help you process information. These strategies help you to feel safe and calm. These sensory strategies may prove very helpful for persons who may not be able to benefit from talk therapies.
Sensory Rooms
Occupational therapists serve as a part of a larger movement to create sensory rooms in mental health facilities. These sensory rooms are safe havens for clients. These rooms also tend to have tools to help them de-escalate and relax.
Evaluate Discharge Preparedness
Occupational therapists use a series of assessments to see if clients are ready to be discharged. These standardized assessments provide valuable information. In turn, this information helps your treatment team understand the level of care that’s required for discharge and to monitor your treatment progress.
Address Physical Wellbeing
Another vital service that an occupational therapist provides is their physical rehabilitation background. Mental health issues are often accompanied by physical health issues.
In a mental health environment, you may find that your occupational therapist:
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Addresses general strengthening
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Adjusts wheelchairs
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Recommends adaptive equipment
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Performs any other activity that’s within the scope of occupational therapy
Advocate for Your Safe Independence
Your occupational therapist will assist you in mastering your daily activities. If your mental health condition compromises your ability to fully complete your daily activities, then speak to your occupational therapist about your concerns. Even if your occupational therapist doesn’t have the tools necessary to address your mental health requirements, they can advocate on your behalf and assist you to get the help you need.
Mental Health Specializations
Many occupational therapists are experts in trauma-informed care and the recovery model. They gain this expertise either through their schooling, workplace training, or independent study. Some occupational therapists will then proceed to earn their Certified Psychiatric Rehabilitation Practitioner (CPRP) certification.
Occupational therapists possess unique knowledge and skills that facilitate effective, holistic mental health interventions. Incorporating occupational therapy skills like sensory approaches and psychosocial techniques help clients to effectively function in their daily lives.
How Long is Rehab After a Mental Health Incident?
After a mental health crisis, hospitalization is often necessary for stabilization and treatment. Some of the reasons for hospitalization include any conversations about suicide or death, self-harm, violence toward others, psychosis symptoms (like hallucinations and delusions), or a complete inability to carry out daily life skills.
The length and severity of a mental health episode vary and so the length of stabilization also varies. However, most individuals stabilize within a few days of staying in a hospital. Studies have shown that the average length of hospitalization is 10 days. Hospital stays may also last longer when placed in psychiatric care than when in a regular hospital.
However, rehabilitation is different as this phase occurs after a patient has been stabilized. The length of rehabilitation will also vary according to the individual, their prognosis, and how quickly they can learn and effectively implement coping skills.
How Do I Find a Rehabilitation Program for Occupational Therapy for Mental Health?
We have shown that occupational therapists and mental health are intertwined. Are you wondering how to find an occupational therapy rehabilitation program for mental health? We have an outstanding option for you at Moving With Hope in Shelton, CT.
We provide the best occupational therapists who effectively assist clients with a variety of mental health challenges. At Moving With Hope, we will also work with your medical team to create an effective treatment plan to suit your needs. We invite you to contact us today to begin your journey to health and wellness, inside and out.
