Emotional

Emotional wellness is the awareness and ability to express feelings and emotions in healthy ways. It is the sense of fulfillment and achievement in life and includes self-acceptance, self-awareness, self-esteem, and optimism.

Emotional
	Wisdom from the Well: Thoughts on the Term “Mental Illness” Wisdom from the Well: Thoughts on the Term “Mental Illness” Dr. Lee Anne Walmsley Categories Blogs Lee Anne Walmsley, Ph.D., EdS, MSN, RN, is an Assistant Professor in the UK College of Nursing. She is also a part of the BH WELL faculty team. Her life's work is about mental health and well-being. In this brief video, she shares her thoughts on the term "mental illness". More blogs like this: Wisdom from the Well: Eating Disorders Wisdom from the Well: Feeling Stuck Wisdom from the Well: Seasonal Affective Disorder Wisdom from the Well: Finding a Health Provider Like You Dimensions of Wellbeing Emotional
	What is the relationship between the experience of trauma and substance use among healthcare workers? Submitted by Anonymous on Fri, 10/15/2021 - 09:37 Healthcare providers (HCPs) are uniquely vulnerable to occupational trauma exposure due to the responsibility of caring for people in diverse settings. File Final APNA 2021 Trauma and Substance Use Healthcare Providers.pdf (1.06 MB) Thumbnail Image Document Category Presentation Dimensions of Wellbeing Emotional Environmental Physical
	A Prescription to Rest A Prescription to Rest Lee Anne Walmsley Categories Blogs We all want to stay healthy, happy, and resilient. So, how can we do this? Health and happiness require checking in with yourself to assess your needs. Think: “Am I eating well? Exercising? Stressed? Needing to say ‘no’ to some things?”. Stay tuned for a prescription to REST. We all want to stay healthy, happy, and resilient. So, how can we do this? Health and happiness require checking in with yourself to assess your needs. Think: “Am I eating well? Exercising? Stressed? Needing to say ‘no’ to some things?”. Stay tuned for a prescription to REST. Why do we fail to take care of ourselves? Haven’t we learned our limits by now? Our lives are impossibly busy. We balance jobs, family, and never-ending daily agendas. But self-care shouldn’t feel like a burdening To-Do list item. It’s a GIFT to yourself and helps you love those around you better. And it doesn’t take a lot of time! Here are 12 tips to beginning your journey of practicing self-care: Sleep well. Your nightly routine can train your body to know it is time for bed. Being aware of what you consume close to bedtime is important. Sugar, caffeine, and distractions like television tend to keep you awake. Checking your email may also awaken stress and a work-mode mindset that can make it hard to fall asleep. Heal your gut. While this includes eating healthy, it is even more. This is being aware of your body’s reaction to certain foods. Stomach aches, digestive troubles, fatigue, brain fog, skin issues, headaches, emotional issues, weight changes, and food intolerance are all examples of gut health issues. There are many important elements to this process but knowing your food triggers is a great place to start. Exercise daily. We don’t want to sound like a broken record, but exercise has physical and mental benefits. It boosts mood, reduces stress and anxiety, and helps you gain muscle and strength. Exercise doesn’t have to take place at the gym. You can go for a walk while listening to a podcast, dance to your favorite playlist, play tennis with a friend, or practice yoga. Eat a clean nourishing diet. The food we eat controls our weight, can cause or prevent disease, and can keep our minds active. The right foods can even prevent memory loss and inflammation which have long term effects on the body. Some of the best foods to eat are fatty fish, blueberries, walnuts, pistachio nuts, green leafy vegetables, and broccoli. Hydration is equally important for your body and brain! Learn to say “NO”. In order for you to function at your peak in your job, with your family, or just in your own mental space, you have to be calm and rested. You cannot be your best self if you continue to say “yes” when your plate is too full. You will be irritably working out of stress or obligation and likely find yourself burnt out. Learn how to say “no” politely but firmly and with conviction, and keep practicing until it comes more naturally. Take a trip. Even if you’re not feeling particularly stressed, getting away can provide space to disconnect, relax, and reset. This doesn’t have to be far or costly. You can visit a friend, explore a nearby town, or go camping. The goal is to get out of your normal routine and do something that sounds fun to you. Go outside. Being outdoors can reduce stress, lower blood pressure, reduce fatigue, and overcome symptoms of depression and burnout. It also helps you sleep better, especially if you do something active such as hiking, walking, or gardening. Nature is one of the best resources for healing. Listen to the birds, notice the trees, feel the wind, and appreciate the changes in the weather. Spend time with a pet. From companionship to unconditional love, pets bring huge benefit to our lives. Dogs, cats, and horses especially can reduce anxiety, stress, and lower blood pressure. Often, pets are empathetic to our moods and can tell when we are not feeling well. They are called our ‘best friend’ for a reason! Prioritize getting organized. Declutter the things in your mind by writing them in a planner or calendar. Keep a running grocery list or to-do list so you never again have to stress about what you may be forgetting. (Just don’t forget the list!). Another quick organizational habit is to prepare keys, purses, backpacks, briefcases, and coats to be ready to go for the next morning. This gives your mind more room to be creative! Prepare your own meals. Make this an event. Cook. Fast food and pre-made meals lack sufficient nutrients and are often more calorie-dense than fresh meals made at home. Even if it’s once a week, try cooking a healthy meal. The recent rise in meal kits and meal delivery services may help you get started. Read a book on self-care. Instead of scrolling a news feed for entertainment, try reading a self-help or self-care book. This can help you slow down, improve your mood, and help you be mindful and present where you are. Listen to a podcast on resilience, self-care, and the science of self-care practices. Schedule daily self-care time like an important appointment. You wouldn’t cancel breakfast with your favorite author, would you? Then why are we so quick to sweep our self-care aside? Self-care can help you stay grounded and keep goals at the forefront of your mind. Start small. Wake up 15 minutes early to have a cup of delicious herbal or green tea and practice deep breathing. Or take a walk around the block on your lunch break. The more you practice incorporating self-care into your schedule, the better you can grow and prioritize the things most important to you. Aim to take 5 minutes 5 times a day to practice self-care. 5 X 5. It’s like rebooting your brain for better health and performance. References Emmons, R. A. (2003). Personal goals, life meaning, and virtue: wellsprings of a positive life. Sheldon, K. M., & Elliot, A. J. (1999). Goal striving, need satisfaction, and longitudinal well-being: the self-concordance model. Journal of personality and social psychology, 76(3), 482. Dimensions of Wellbeing Emotional Intellectual Physical Social
	The prevalence of compassion satisfaction and compassion fatigue among nurses: A systematic review and meta-analysis Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 07/01/2021 - 09:55 Compassion fatigue is a consequence of chronic work-related stress exposure among healthcare providers. Nursing is a high-risk, stressful profession which increases nurses’ vulnerability to compassion fatigue symptoms compared to other healthcare workers. Compassion fatigue has serious consequences for nursing staff, patients and healthcare organizations. Though several studies on the prevalence of compassion fatigue among nurses have been published, the reported data vary considerably across studies; and few meta-analysis have examined the prevalence of compassion satisfaction and compassion fatigue among nurses with large sample sizes. Objectives: To systematically assess the prevalence of compassion satisfaction and compassion fatigue among nurses, and to evaluate the effect of different geographical regions, years and departments on the prevalence of compassion fatigue. Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis DATA SOURCES: The Cochrane Library, PubMed, EMbase, Web of Science, CINAHL, PsyclNFO, China Knowledge Resource Integrated Database (CNKI), Wanfang Database, Weipu Database (VIP), and Chinese Biomedical Database (CBM) were searched in the systematic review. The time frame for the searches included all literature before January 31st, 2020. Review methods: The reviewers independently completed study selection, quality assessments, data extraction and analysis of all included literature. The mean scores and standard deviations of the three subscales of the Professional Quality of Life (ProQOL) scale were pooled using random effects meta-analysis in Stata 16.0 software package. Finally, subgroup analyses were conducted to explore the sources of between-study heterogeneity. Results: A total of 79 studies were included in the systematic review and meta-analysis, consisting of 28,509 nurses worldwide from 11 countries. In our studies, the pooled mean scores of compassion satisfaction, burnout and secondary traumatic stress were 33.12 (95% CI: 32.22-34.03), 26.64 (95% CI: 26.01-27.27) and 25.24 (95% CI: 24.69-25.79), respectively. In addition, the Asian region had the lowest levels of compassion satisfaction but the highest levels of compassion fatigue symptoms, while the Americas and Europe had the lowest levels of compassion fatigue but highest compassion satisfaction. Levels of compassionate fatigue in nurses increased gradually from 2010 to 2019, reaching the highest level in 2019; and nurses from ICU had the highest levels of compassion fatigue symptoms among all nurses. Conclusion: The levels of compassion satisfaction and compassion fatigue among nurses are moderate. Nurses from the Asian region and in ICUs suffer from severe compassion fatigue symptoms, and the prevalence of compassion fatigue has increased over time. These findings may provide hospital administrators with the theoretical basis for the management and treatment of compassion fatigue. External Link https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34102372/ Document Category Manuscript Dimensions of Wellbeing Emotional Occupational Publication Authors Wanqing Xie, Lingmin Chen, Fen Feng, Chizimuzo T C Okoli, Ping Tang, Li Zeng, Man Jin, Yonggang Zhang, and Jialin Wang Published Date Sat, 05/15/2021 - 12:00
	Reasons for tobacco use and perceived tobacco-related health risks in an inpatient psychiatric population Submitted by Anonymous on Mon, 06/14/2021 - 11:33 People with mental illness (MI) have a disproportionate tobacco-related disease burden and mortality. Tobacco-use rates in people with MI are nearly twice that of the general population. Reasons for tobacco-use in this population may be a result of diminished tobacco-related disease risk perceptions. The purpose of this study was to examine the reasons for tobacco-use and perceived tobacco-related health risks among psychiatric inpatients. A correlational design was employed to survey a convenient sample of 137 patients from a psychiatric facility in central Kentucky. Information obtained from participants included demographics, psychiatric diagnoses, tobacco-use and exposure history, medical illness history, reasons for tobacco-use, and tobacco-related illness risk perceptions. The primary reasons participants endorsed for tobacco-use were for stress reduction, followed by addiction, then boredom, psychiatric symptom control, social, and negative mood. In addition, about 72% of participants used tobacco to cope with MI symptoms and 52% to manage the side effects of their medications. Participants were most likely to endorse that tobacco-use caused lung disease (83.2%), heart disease (79.6%), cancer (77.4%), and premature mortality (79.6%) but were less likely to admit that it may cause addiction to other drugs (39.4%) or MI (23.4%). Given the high endorsement of tobacco-use for stress reduction and psychiatric symptom control, it is important for mental health nurses to properly educate consumers on tobacco addiction and evidence of its effects on mental health. Strategies to incorporate our study findings into routine mental health services may address the tobacco-use disparities experienced by people with MI. External Link https://doi.org/10.1080/01612840.2019.1630533 Document Category Manuscript Dimensions of Wellbeing Physical Intellectual Emotional
	A cross-sectional examination of factors associated with compassion satisfaction and compassion fatigue across health care workers in an Academic Medical Center Submitted by Anonymous on Mon, 06/14/2021 - 11:24 Compassion satisfaction (CS) among healthcare professionals is a sense of gratification derived from caring for their suffering patients. In contrast, compassion fatigue, often a consequence of burnout (BO) and secondary traumatic stress (STS), is detrimental to healthcare professionals’ productivity and patient care. While several studies have examined CS, BO, and STS among healthcare professionals, the majority have assessed samples in specific disciplines. However, the comparative differences in these factors by discipline or work setting are not well known. The aims of this study were to examine the differences in CS, BO, and STS by discipline and work setting, and to assess demographic, work-related, and behavioural factors associated with these outcomes. An electronic survey was administered (N = 764) at a large academic medical centre in the southeast United States. Questions elicited demographic variables, work-related factors, behavioural/lifestyle factors, experience with workplace violence, and the Professional Quality of Life Scale. Findings of the study determined that the rates of CS, BO, and STS vary across healthcare disciplines and work settings. Demographic, work-related, behavioural, and work setting (i.e., experience of workplace violence) factors were differentially associated with experiences of CS, BO, and STS. The results of the study suggest two potential areas for research, specifically workplace violence and sleep quality as a means of further understanding reduced CS and increased BO and STS among healthcare workers. These findings have important implications for future research and policy interventions to enhance healthcare workers’ health and safety. External Link https://doi.org/10.1111/inm.12682 Document Category Manuscript Dimensions of Wellbeing Occupational Emotional
	The Relationship Between the Five Facets of Mindfulness and the Dimensions of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder The Relationship Between the Five Facets of Mindfulness and the Dimensions of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Claudia Robertson Categories Blogs Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is characterized by obsessions and recurring compulsions. Obsessions are persisting, uninvited, unwanted, and anxiety-provoking thoughts, impulses, or images. In response to obsessions, compulsions ensue as an attempt to reduce distress. Compulsions are repetitive mental acts or behaviors. Read Transcript OCD symptoms 4 dimensions of OCD Symptoms: Concerns about germs and contamination, Concerns about being responsible for harm, injury, or bad luck, Unacceptable thoughts, and Concerns about symmetry, completeness, and the need for things to be “just right.” It is estimated that 2.3% of adults in the U.S. will experience OCD at some point in their lifetime with females being more likely to experience it. That sounds like a small percentage. So why does this deserve attention? Because over half of people living with OCD have serious impairment in daily functioning. As an example, someone with OCD may have obsessive thoughts that there are germs on their hands. Further impairment would have them fearful of becoming sick because of potential germs on their hands. For those with serious impairment, it moves beyond obsessions to compulsions of washing their hands an excessive number of times per day to reduce their stress about becoming sick. This example portrays the importance of identifying symptoms early and providing effective treatments. Treatment Options Treatments such as cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) and medication can help. Yet over half of the people treated are shown to relapse. However, there is hope because mindfulness has been shown to be effective in reducing residual symptoms that CBT may not address. Mindfulness is a heightened awareness of and attention to an incident or existing reality. In addition, with greater mindfulness comes attitudes of acceptance, openness, and curiosity. These improvements in attitude can help reduce OCD symptoms because it can serve as a coping mechanism and separate the person from their obsessions and compulsions. These positive changes in thought help with “letting go” of obsessions which, in turn, decrease symptoms. Even though mindfulness is consistently shown in studies to reduce OCD symptoms, it is not widely used and is considered a “third wave” treatment after CBT and medication. Part of the reason it is a lesser-used treatment may be because more needs to be understood about which facets of mindfulness may attribute to improved OCD symptoms. Mindfulness The facets of mindfulness include non-react, observe, act aware, describe, and non-judge: Non-react refers to one’s ability to notice but not react to feelings, emotions, and situations. Observe refers to one’s ability to pay attention to or notice their thoughts, feelings, perceptions, and sensations. Act aware refers to one’s ability to be aware, concentrate, not get distracted, and not “run on autopilot.” Describe refers to one’s ability to explain and label their feelings, beliefs, opinions, expectations, and thoughts. And lastly, non-judge refers to one’s ability to view their thoughts, perceptions, feelings, and situations without judgment. One study found that compared to a group of people living without OCD, people living with OCD scored much lower in the mindfulness facets of describe, act aware, and non-judge, but did not differ in the mindfulness facets of observe and non-react. Not only does this allow health professionals insight as to who might be more likely to experience debilitating OCD symptoms but also it narrows down the focus of treatment to the three facets of mindfulness most impacted by OCD. One reason I want to go into occupational therapy is to help advance work in this field so that we can support people living with OCD to live the life they want to live. References Abramowitz J.S., Reuman L. (2020) Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. In: Zeigler-Hill V., Shackelford T.K. (eds) Encyclopedia of Personality and Individual Differences. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-24612-3_919 American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.books.9780890425596 Baer, R. A., Smith, G. T., Hopkins, J., Krietemeyer, J., & Toney, L. (2006). Using Self-Report Assessment Methods to Explore Facets of Mindfulness. Assessment (Odessa, Fla.), 13(1), 27-45. https://doi.org/10.1177/1073191105283504 Bishop, S. R., Lau, M., Shapiro, S., Carlson, L., Anderson, N. D., Carmody, J., . . . Devins, G. (2006). Mindfulness: A Proposed Operational Definition. Clinical Psychology (New York, N.Y.), 11(3), 230-241. https://doi.org/10.1093/clipsy/bph077 Bohlmeijer, E., ten Klooster, P. M., Fledderus, M., Veehof, M., & Baer, R. (2011). Psychometric Properties of the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire in Depressed Adults and Development of a Short Form. Assessment (Odessa, Fla.), 18(3), 308-320. https://doi.org/10.1177/1073191111408231 Brown, K. W., & Ryan, R. M. (2003). The Benefits of Being Present. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 84(4), 822-848. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.84.4.822 Crowe, K., & McKay, D. (2016). Mindfulness, Obsessive-Compulsive Symptoms, and Executive Dysfunction. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 40(5), 627-644. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10608-016-9777-x Hale, L., Strauss, C., & Taylor, B. L. (2013). The effectiveness and acceptability of mindfulness‐based therapy for obsessive compulsive disorder: A review of the literature. Mindfulness, 4(4), 375–382. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-012-0137-y Hanstede, M., Gidron, Y., & Nyklíček, I. (2008). The Effects of a Mindfulness Intervention on Obsessive-Compulsive Symptoms in a Non-Clinical Student Population. The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 196(10), 776-779. https://doi.org/10.1097/NMD.0b013e31818786b8 National Institutes of Mental Health (2017). Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/obsessive-compulsive-disorder-ocd.shtml More blogs like this: A Movie of Glitches: Living Life with OCD Dimensions of Wellbeing Emotional Intellectual
	The Mediational Effect of Sleep Quality on the Relationship Between Traumatic Stress and Burnout Among Nurses Submitted by Anonymous on Wed, 03/31/2021 - 08:42 Purpose: To determine whether sleep quality mediates the relationship between secondary traumatic stress and burnout among registered nurses... File Ohoud_Alosais_SNRS poster.pdf (371.42 KB) Thumbnail Image Document Category Presentation Dimensions of Wellbeing Physical Occupational Emotional
	The Impact of Psychiatric Disorder Diagnosis on Motivation to Quit and Stage of Change Among Patients at a Hospital-Based Outpatient Smoking Cessation Clinic Submitted by Anonymous on Wed, 02/24/2021 - 11:07 Smoking is among the greatest international public health concerns, causing excessive levels of preventable premature death, disability, and economic costs... External Link https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/15504263.2021.1881684 Document Category Manuscript Dimensions of Wellbeing Emotional Physical
	How I Like to BH WELL Series How I Like to BH WELL Series Dr. Lee Anne Walmsley Categories Blogs BH WELL wants to know how YOU like to BH WELL! So we are issuing the #BHWellChallenge! Let us know how you like to BH WELL and it may end up posted on our website or social media. Below are some ways that others like to BH WELL. If you want to be part of the BH WELL Challenge, please complete this form and one of our team members will get back to you with details. How I like to BH WELL Series Dimensions of Wellbeing Emotional