How Telecommuting Impacts Mental Health

 

In theory, the idea of working from home can sound like a dream come true. For one thing, it eliminates the hassle of commuting. It also can lead to increased productivity, as you may be more focused in your personal environment. But, as recent studies have shown, there could be some detriments as well; particularly when it comes to mental health.

 

According to a new article on the Forbes website, remote workers often struggle with anxiety, depression or even social phobias. Loneliness is also a big issue (as many as 19 percent of home workers claim to experience this), along with self-doubt (which covers 22 percent) since you may not receive regular gratification for your output.

 

Therapeutic consultant Dr. Amy Cirbus, PhD spoke to Forbes about this particular phenomenon, emphasizing a host of common mental health symptoms.

 

“Remote workers often experience symptoms of anxiety and depression at a higher rate than people commuting to traditional office spaces,” she explained. “Specifically, they report feelings of isolation and loneliness and high rates of worry about job performance and stability. Insomnia and sleep disturbance are common, along with increased fatigue, irritation, sadness and feelings of disconnection. Remote workers report a lack of concentration and focus that can compound and exacerbate these mental health challenges. It can lead to a loss of self-worth and a questioning of one’s abilities. Combined together, these symptoms can have a significant impact on job performance, job satisfaction and the efficiency of productive work.”

 

Those who freelance often have the added stress of looking for new work to do from home. Job projects can come and go in an instant, so the fear of unemployment and not paying bills is constantly on their minds.

 

There are also physical issues to address. Being on call throughout the night (for many who telecommute for international companies) can interrupt much needed sleep. Sitting in uncomfortable chairs, as opposed to something ergonomic that you would find in an office, can easily create stressors for the body and mind. And let’s not forget the addiction component, as you have much more freedom to drink and use when not in a corporate setting. So, as uncomfortable as it may sound, sometimes cubicles do have their benefits.

 

The keys to successfully staying out of harm’s way (per Forbes) involve building a support network of people you can physically interact with, investing in a functional home office and seeking out therapeutic services if you’re experiencing emotional struggles.

 

Mental Health Struggles Within The African-American Community

 

We’ve talked before about minorities and the various emotional struggles that certain ethnic groups face. But it is worth noting that the African-American community has some particularly high statistics when it comes to depression, anxiety and suicide. This fact was recently brought up by actress and mental health advocate Taraji P. Henson, who has vowed to bring more awareness to the issue.

 

Henson was honored at Variety’s Power of Women luncheon this past month in New York. During her acceptance speech, the Empire star zeroed in on the mental health message and its personal attachment to her life.

 

“The number of black children ages 5-12 who have died by suicide has doubled since the 1990s,” Henson told the reporters in the crowd. “This is a national crisis. My dad fought in the Vietnam War for our country, returned broken, and received little to no physical and emotional support. I stand now in his absence, committed to offering support to African Americans who face trauma daily, simply because they are black.”

 

Indeed, these issues affect African-Americans of all ages. Henson admitted that she too has struggled with mental illness and has now created a foundation (in her father’s name) to help battle stigmas within the black community. The Boris Henson Foundation officially got off the ground in 2018 and offers support, as well as therapy resources for anyone who reaches out.

 

The site also has some alarming facts pertaining to African-Americans and mental health. For example, it reports that one out of five U.S. black citizens suffers from some type of emotional struggle. They have also been singled out as one of the minority groups least likely to seek treatment. There are additional stats on incarcerations and the fact that over 300,000 jailed African-Americans were reported to have some type of mental issue.

 

Henson included an impassioned letter on the Henson Foundation page. As she explains to her followers, she wants to help change the narrative and encourage any African-Americans who are struggling to reach out and get help.

 

“This foundation is breaking the silence by speaking out and encouraging others to share their challenges with mental illness and get the help they need,” she wrote. “African-Americans have regarded such communication as a sign of weakness and our vision is to change that perception. I ask you to join me on this journey. This is our legacy. This is our chance to make a difference. Together, we will break the silence and break the cycle!”

 

Netflix Called Out For Insensitive Mental Health Movies

If you’ve been following our blogs, then you may recall our piece a few weeks back about films that are offering inspiration for addiction survivors. Well for every ying there is a yang, and this week there are a handful of movies being called out for just the opposite. Over on Netflix, two films in particular have been singled out for being insensitive about the topic of mental illness.

Interestingly, the two movies in question happen to be the most popular offerings on the platform right now. Bird Box stars Oscar winner Sandra Bullock and received roughly 45 million views over this holiday month. Black Mirror: Bandersnatch (the other film in question) has been dominating social media as well, but both cover very dark subject matter.

Bird Box has been criticized for “demonizing” mental illness. The plot concerns invisible monsters who encourage victims to take their own lives. That alone is a very touchy subject and it has been said that the way these suicides are handled leave a lot to be desired. What’s worse though, is that people suffering from mental illness become the villains in this movie and actually contribute to the killings.

The website Popbuzz did an admirable job of summarizing the Twitter backlash (posted below).


Black Mirror isn’t faring much better with fans. The website The Mighty focused on that film, saying the plot features insensitive call outs to psychosis, delusions, paranoia and trauma (not to mention lots of blood and gore).

Though the Black Mirror backlash isn’t quite as intense as the Sandra Bullock movie, site writer Elizabeth Cassidy did mention that a warning should be issued before viewers click “Play.” And to her point…Despite the fact that these may be “trendy” films of the moment, you have every right to turn them away and encourage others to do the same.

“It’s OK to skip Bandersnatch if you’re sensitive to these topics,” Cassidy wrote. “Your health and safety are more important than the latest trendy show or movie. If you want to watch the movie but are concerned it might be too much, try watching it with someone you trust.”

The Stress Of Caring For The Elderly

 

Middle age can be a difficult time of life. Many people in this age bracket are carrying the load of a full-time job, hefty bill payments and parenting. One other component that has been proven to create a tremendous amount of stress involves the senior parents of 40 and 50-somethings. Often times, caregiving for them becomes another component to this equation and one that can create an emotional (and financial) toll.

 

CBS News recently covered this growing stressor, highlighting the costs and energy that go into caregiving for an elderly loved one. The article included results from a recent study that illustrates just how drastic a toll this can be.

 

According to research from The National Retirement Institute, 16 percent of women caregivers (and 6 percent of men) have to switch their full-time jobs to manage an ailing parent. An additional 12 percent actually quit work altogether. This can create a lot of anxiety when it comes to finances, leading to an increase in support from governmental programs.

 

“Our study found that only 20 percent of caregivers are able to receive some kind of financial support,” a Retirement Institute rep told the site. “More than half of them spend their own money, which on average can cost about $4,000 a month.”

 

And that just covers the money component. There is also the emotional rollercoaster that accompanies elderly caregiving. Additional survey results showed that 47 percent of grown children assisting their parents suffer from depression and almost 57 percent feel the need for counseling or professional support.

 

A more informal survey on the topic, carried out by Caregiving.com and shared on The Chicago Tribune, showed that caregivers for an ailing loved one rated their average stress level at 4.2 out of 5. In extreme cases, this has led to some tragic consequences. One example given was a recent murder/suicide in Illinois, where a caregiver shot the elderly patient, then pointed the gun on herself.

 

Denise Brown, an expert in the field who was interviewed by The Tribune, shared plenty of insights in the article.

 

“We can sometimes think no one will understand how hard this is or what really goes on during the day,” Brown explained. “The emotional toll of caregiving can be significant; it is isolating and lonely, and we really want people to know that there is support for them and there’s understanding and there is help. They don’t have to go it alone.”

 

We certainly agree with that sentiment and are more than happy to do our part to assist struggling caregivers. If this is an issue you, or someone you are close to, is dealing with, please do not hesitate to reach out.

 

Links Between Stress And Overeating

We have all heard the term comfort food before, as in “I need to eat a certain dish because I’ve had a stressful day.” Well that happens to be an honest reality and for many, indulging in heavy meals to cope with difficult feelings has led to weight gain and an unhealthy lifestyle. This actually is a much more common phenomenon than most people realize. So much so, that Harvard University recently addressed it on their wellness site.

The Harvard article was actually written by people in their medical department and pointed out some very real scientific links between stress and overeating. For starters, people who deal with consistent stressors can have a physical reaction with their adrenal glands. During certain moments, these glands can release a hormone called cortisol, which has been proven to increase a person’s appetite. And if those moments continue, there could be constant cravings at play.

“Once a specific stressful episode is over, cortisol levels do tend to fall,” the article states. “But if the stress doesn’t go away — or if a person’s stress response gets stuck in the ‘on’ position — the cortisol levels may stay elevated.”

Beyond that, the cortisol hormones may actually drive people towards unhealthier food choices. Studies cited by Harvard show that animals who have exhibited symptoms of distress tend to increase their intake of food high in fat or sugar (sometimes both). Once ingested, these “junk foods” have been shown to have a feedback that dampens stress related emotions. As the article emphasizes, these scientific findings actually do add merit to the comfort food theory.

Beyond indulging in ice cream and fast food, stressors do have other links to weight gain. People who are dealing with external pressures tend to exercise less and drink more alcohol, both of which can contribute to increased pounds and an unhealthy lifestyle.

To help curb the habits, the Harvard writers did offer a few tips for people looking to food for support. If there are overwhelming stress factors in your life, the article recommends meditation as a healthier alternative to eating. Jogging and cardio work has been shown to level off cortisol levels as well. Social support is another key avenue for people dealing with heavy stress. Leaning on friends and family can certainly steer a person away from lonely nights of junk food.

Of course if the problem persists and you are seeing noticeable changes in your weight and overall health, our team is more than happy to step in and offer support.

Stress In A World Of Startups

Entrepreneurship is something that has obviously been praised over the past decade. With the Silicon Valley boom and so many new opportunities within the ever-expanding internet, why not take a risk and try to launch an innovative business idea? Well for every Google and Facebook, there are thousands of other companies barely scraping by and creating enormous amounts of stress for their owners. Entrepreneur.com rightly called out this stat in a recent article, highlighting the increasing amount of anxiety factors small business owners have to deal with.

To start, it’s important to outline the universal issues that people in these situations consistently face. Things like rising debt, difficulty keeping employees, operational concerns and an initial lack of profits. These are things ALL new businesses struggle with; but for people who are susceptible to stress and anxiety, they can be especially devastating.

Our advice is to most certainly seek out emotional support whenever it’s needed. There is absolutely no shame in acknowledging the emotional turmoil running a small business can cause. But beyond that, Entrepreneur did nicely lay out daily reminders that can hopefully keep the stress levels down.

1. Remember What’s Going Right

Though there will always be times when it feels like everything is working against you, it’s important to keep a “glass half full” mentality. On a regular basis, try writing down lists of the accomplishments that the company has had thus far. They could be very minimal at first (adding a new email to the database, perhaps), but these victories can help be a positive reminder of why you’re following your passion.

2. Rank Your Goals

Feeling overwhelmed is another major stressor for startup owners. Sometimes when there is so much on your plate, you can feel paralyzed and, ultimately, nothing will get done. The article emphasizes the importance of writing every major deadline down and then ranking them accordingly. Think of it as a priority checklist outlined in front of you. It will all begin to appear much more achievable as you begin crossing specific items out.

3. Take Breaks And Don’t Neglect Your Health

Startups can require endless hours of work (we all know this). But there are always tasks that can be postponed to another day. Try to make self-care a top priority, even if it’s for brief moments throughout the day. Take an afternoon walk. Slow down for a 10-minute coffee break. Even watch a few funny YouTube videos. These don’t have to be all-day things, but they can certainly help keep the stressors down.

And above all (as mentioned above), do not be afraid to reach out for help whenever it is needed.

Can Heavy Stress Hurt Your Immune System?

If you haven’t had the chance to follow the blogs of WebMD, we highly recommend doing so. The famed medical site has a ton of helpful information related to health and wellness. One recent topic that they covered seemed extra poignant to us, primarily because it is something that we have seen firsthand.  According to their scientific data, intense stress can increase a person’s odds of developing an autoimmune disease.

Using research that included over 100,000 case studies, doctors from the site determined that people who face stress on a daily basis have a 35 percent greater risk of contracting issues like rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, Crohn’s disease and celiac disease than those who do not. Even more interesting, was the fact that the likelihood increases among women, particularly those who are African-American, Hispanic or Native-American.

“Patients suffering from severe life stressors should seek medical treatment due to the risk of chronicity of these symptoms and thereby further health decline, such as the increased risk of autoimmune disease,” lead researcher Dr. Huan Song wrote on the site. “This study adds to the evidence of the link between stress conditions and physical well-being, warranting further attention to the reduction of trauma and other causes of stress conditions, as well as improving treatment of these conditions.”

Indeed, trauma was brought up as a major trigger point as well. The research concluded that there was still no definitive reason as to why they increase the immune system risks, but there are several theories. One has to do with the fact that people dealing with these conditions tend to sleep less, which can have physical repercussions on the body. There are also strong associations between stress and substance abuse, which has been proven to do damage to people’s nervous systems.

The good news is, Dr. Song and others believe that these traits can be reversible. The key factor, though, is treatment. Examples used were support groups, certain anti-depressants (particularly for people dealing with PTSD) and ongoing therapy to cope with life’s stressors.

“There are now several treatments, both medications and cognitive behavioral approaches, with documented effectiveness,” she concluded. “It is notable that when people received effective treatment, their risk for autoimmune disorders was lessened.”

At inneractions, we too believe that treatment is essential to reduce theses risks. We offer Stress Management sessions at our facility and welcome anyone impacted by trauma or severe life challenges to reach out and get the help they deserve.