Construction Injuries: 4 Tips to Overcoming Emotional Distress

Being injured on the job can bring a whole host of additional problems with it, particularly when hurt working construction. Not only do you have your injury to recover from, there’s also the additional distress you may feel with financial worries, anxiety about returning to the job and panic about how you will adjust to your new life should your injury become a lifelong problem. Trying to overcome all these obstacles can cause feelings of hopelessness. So where do you start when it’s all happening to you?

 

 

Coping with a Construction Injury

If you’ve ever worked in construction, you know that injuries on the job are a common problem. The Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OHSA) identified the top four common construction injuries as falls, electrocutions, being struck by objects and being caught in or between objects. With all the possible dangers of working on site, it’s little wonder that injuries are commonplace. However, tending to your mind is just as important as healing any external wounds when you’re recovering from a workplace injury. Here are a few ways you can get started.

 

1) Tackle your Financial Worries

Being unable to work, through recovery or an injury that keeps you off the job, can be a frightening prospect. There are mounting hospital and doctor bills and piles of paperwork to fill out, not to mention the ever-present demands of rent, mortgage and creditors. Speaking to a local construction accident lawyer is one of the best things you can do to get yourself back on track by having them handle your workers compensation claim. Whether it is a Dallas or New York construction accident lawyer needed, having a qualified injury lawyer working your case can free you up to focus on dealing with your recovery and your anxiety issues.

 

2) Learn Coping Mechanisms

Though construction workers have a tough image, there is no shame in admitting you need additional help with your recovery in an emotional sense. Speak to your doctor who will be able to suggest the right method of therapy for you to pursue. It can be something as simple as a book on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) all the way to regular sessions with a therapist to teach you new coping mechanisms. Remember, if you are experiencing feelings of hopelessness or depression, it is important that you share this with your doctor, as you may need to look at prescriptions to help you through your difficult time.

 

3) Look to Alternative Therapies

Alternative therapies are a great route to go down if you’re looking to relieve pain and promote relaxation. Acupuncture has been used for centuries for injury recovery, and can also give you time to relax and clear your mind. Yoga is also a great method for stretching muscles and is often recommended by doctors as an effective way to get back into shape post-injury. Try looking into herbal remedies too that can promote calm, such as Valerian root, which can be taken in either tea or pill form. Remember to always check with your doctor before embarking on any new therapy to ensure it doesn’t interfere with what you’re already doing.

 

4) Realize you’re not Alone

When you’ve been injured and are experiencing feelings anxiety or depression, it’s very easy to feel like you’re alone. It’s important to realize you’re not the only one this has ever happened to, and that you have a support system available to you. Though it may seem easier to close yourself off, reaching out to friends and family is particularly important during this time. Social interaction is a great way to help alleviate depression. Never be afraid to ask for help.

 

 

Recovering from a work injury can often mean more than just healing your outside. Many people experience anxiety, worry and even depression following an accident. These are all normal feelings, and by following a few tips and keeping your family and friends close, you can ensure a quick recovery for both your mind and body.

 

 

Lisa Coleman shares some tips about how a person who works in the construction industry might be able to overcome some of the emotional distress that can accompany an on the job injury. She recently read online about how a New York construction accident lawyer firm can legally represent the legalities for such a case.

 

 

Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/90029322@N00/10092757714/

Categories: accident lawyer, alternative therapies, construction accident, Construction Industry, construction injuries, coping mechanisms, Emotional Stress, Employee Wellness

5 Relaxing Ways to Save Your Life

In the hustle-bustle of city life, it seems to be an in-built act that to fit in, you have to be as stressed as the other guy. You may be amused to realise that in fact, the laid-back approach to life is the way to live it longer and happier.

We often hear about the side-effects of stress, ranging from a colourful variety of blood-pressure, heart and brain defects, but we tell ourselves, “I’m not like that. I can handle it.”

Of course you can – but you are not a machine. Take time out for yourself.

Not sure how to?

Have a few tips …

1. Naps – the myth of laying down for an hour and rising like a wide-eyed Snow White is obviously not true, but naps are the definitive way of resetting your body. Take 25 minutes to lie back and unwind.


2. Music – Jazz up your brain with something you love. Whenever you walk into a cafe with good music, don’t you want to just nuzzle up in a comfy seat? You’re allowed to do the same thing – fit those headphones into (or over) your ears, sit back and let yourself breeze along…


3. Books – There is nothing like the woody scent of a good book. Like a good glass of wine, taste the rhythm and pace of an intriguing murder mystery, that heart-stirring nation’s recommended or the thorny shock of a good horror. Whatever your flavour, your brain will be flexed, sharper and relaxed without you even noticing. So, switch off that TV – don’t bombard your brain!


4. Daydream – Remember that awesome moment in that chapter? Imagine if you were in that person’s shoes. You’d totally do it so much better – you’d have seen that knife before it even came near your accomplice! Take a moment to daydream, to stretch out your imagination – as well as being good fun, you can take holidays, go on adventures and think of your ambitions without ever leaving your seat.


5. Take a bath – Soak in that steam and heave a contented sigh with the phone switched off, the internet cut off and just you in your relaxed corner of the world. Switch on some music or just listen to the happy chirp of dripping water – it can be your little secret.

When it comes to relaxation, there are a multitude of ways to get there – just as long as you take it. Make sure that no matter what it is, you can unburden yourself, at least for a while.

Go on – you deserve it.

5 Relaxing Ways to Save Your Life

Categories: destress, Emotional Stress, relaxation, Stress

Divorcing From Stress to Avoid Osteoporosis

Hearing about stress hardly ever seems to calm anyone down. It’s the wearisome, unintended reverse-psychology that works just as effectively as the words “don’t panic!” which, inevitably, you do. It can be something of a killjoy, but you don’t have to make things worse for yourself. Whilst it is certain that stress can affect your bones, there are small, sweet and simple ways of reducing those effects so that the dilemma of thinning bones does not have to be as big and terrifying as it seems.

The case of cortisol shows that stress gradually thins out the bone density – cortisol is the measurement of mineral matter per square centimetre in bones. According to Dr. Pradeep Bhonsle, stressing out is a sure sign that your body will feel the blow, in which osteoblasts – cell regeneration for your bones – will be affected as new bone tissue replaces and breaks down the old.

Dr Bhonsle advises, “Your bone density is determined by the rate at which these cells work. Under stress, our adrenal glands increase the production of cortisol. Cortisol, known as the ‘stress hormone’ as it’s released by the body in response to stress, can decrease bone density by inhibiting the bone-building osteoblasts.” With decreased osteoblast activity, the body ends up with more broken down bone tissue than deposited, causing low bone density and eventually osteoporosis. Interestingly, America which figures among the countries with the highest calcium intake, also has one of the highest rates of osteoporosis. The solution, health experts say, doesn’t lie in getting more calcium, but excreting less of it. When you face stress, you lose calcium through urine. Dr Bhonsle adds, “More cortisol leads to a dip in calcium absorption and a spike in its excretion.”

Acidic foods can also hamper your body’s absorption of calcium. We’re always told that sugary or fizzy foods are bad for our digestive systems, as well as for our teeth. Stress is the fizzy substance for our bones, no matter how nutritious or benefiting our diets are. Erratic timing with diet and junk foods, which, let’s face it, aren’t good for you anyway, as well as multitasking on phones or working, can hinder digestion as you bustle about doing too much at once.

“Stress causes acidity which impedes optimal digestion of food. This acidity also hampers mineral metabolism which is vital for bone health. In fact, without proper absorption of these minerals, even a very nutritious diet is of no use to your bones,” Dr. Bhonsle says.

It almost goes without saying that stress can cause depression. Studies have found that those suffering from depression also had a lower bone density, which meant that bones were thinner and prone to breakages. The condition causes a sympathetic reaction in the nervous system to boost a chemical that stops osteoblasts, which means that your body can’t properly renew the cellular structure of your bones. It’s okay to find help – when it comes to depression, you aren’t alone. It’s all right to ask for guidance.

If this all sounds like a horror story, then the fact of the matter is that it doesn’t have to be. You are only human and stress will affect you at some time or another – but you’re also allowed to sit back and relax every once in a while. The risks of osteoporosis (when the bones become brittle) don’t have to be yours – grab a healthy diet full of vitamin D and calcium and reduce the risks whenever possible.

Have a go – you deserve it.

Divorcing From Stress to Avoid Osteoporosis

Categories: brittle bones, depression, diet, Emotional Stress, osteoporosis, Stress

The Perils Of Overreacting When Your Child Gets Injured

As every parent knows, parenting can be the most beautiful and rewarding job in the world. Watching your little ones as they grow, smiling when they smile and crying when they cry is incomparable to anything else life has to offer. However, is it also a huge responsibility and it can be, to put it mildly, a very stressful affair. There are no breaks, timeouts, or holidays. In fact, you will usually have your hands full during the holidays trying to keep the kids in line. If anything, you will be relieved when the holidays are over.

Kids simply need to be watched over constantly so as to make sure they don’t get hurt. Knowing that, every time we leave them with someone or send them to school, we cannot help but to be worried, which is quite natural for a parent. Also, the fear, although exaggerated, is by no means unfounded, seeing as kids generally are all thumbs, reckless and full of energy. But what, if any, legal actions can be taken against the school in case a child gets seriously injured while under teachers care?

As a parent, you should first determine the extent of real damage.

Children, especially small ones, are emotionally very fragile and their feelings easily get hurt, but actual physical injuries rarely go past little cuts and bruises. Be aware that a little cut on the finger will bleed a lot, but many times tears will be shed because your kid got frightened from the sight of blood, or just needs comfort and a hug. It is very important not to panic and to remain calm and confident. Don’t let yourself be dragged into the same emotional state, as you will only make things worse that way. Also, try not to lose your temper and swear to strike down those responsible with great vengeance and furious anger, at least not before you find out what actually happened.

Talk to your child calmly and confidently.

That way you will, in time, teach him or her to approach problems in similar manner. Always be aware that kids see and feel every little detail, especially when their feelings are hurt. If you lose your temper and swear to punish the culprits and later find out that, for whatever reason, that course of action is simply not appropriate, you will have no choice but to back down on your word. That is the easiest and quickest way to lose your child’s respect.

If, however, you determine that the injury your kid suffered in school is not just child’s play, so to speak, you should determine the exact circumstances. According to Greg Smith from Smith’s Lawyers, it is very important where exactly the accident happened. You can sue the school if it occurred on the school grounds, or under direct supervision of the school staff outside school. The type of activity your child was engaged in is also very important.

If he/she got hurt while being in conscious violation of the school rules, the school legally cannot be blamed. Another factor is the quality of supervision the kids had at the time. If the child got hurt while doing something clearly dangerous, like jumping over tables or sliding down a banister, you may try to argue that he or she should have been supervised. However, your kid, in all fairness, was doing something clearly dangerous, so you probably will not have much success in court.

In addition, school cannot be held responsible for injuries sustained during sports activities, or in case of a schoolyard fight, unless it was undoubtedly a case of bullying, which accounts for an assault. If both kids took equal part, it doesn’t matter who got the short end of a stick. However, some of these general rules may vary, depending on your local laws.

So, if your child storms in through the door crying, stay calm and try to determine whether a trip to the hospital is in order, and then what exactly happened. If, upon getting the facts, you are still not sure what to do, it is best to search legal advice.

Categories: case, Child, Child Wellness, Children, determine, Emotional Stress, Injury, Kids, Safety, School

Corporate Wealth And Corporate Stress: Finding a Balance

In the hustle-bustle of corporate life, wealth and finance are the big structures that hold everything firmly in place. Wherever you turn, corporations do not hesitate to present their monetary pride whilst maintaining its tireless stability.

It seems almost like a dream, with promises kept and burdens seeming to be something of a myth.

Is it the same for the people who made it that way?

With pressures mounting and severe workloads, the life of the average office worker, let alone the financiers and iron fists, is a peculiarly stressful one. With substantial demands putting stress on workers’ shoulders, the question is how one can manage in such environments?

Stress builds on cholesterol and heart as severely as a crowbar to the shin. With lack of attention and indifference towards fellow workers, the lack of motivation and stifling atmosphere can mount on shoulders and make working life unbearable.

In turn, the corporation suffers because its workers are unable to take a breath for themselves. By making the workers feel good about themselves, the corporation can take to finances like a duck to water.

In America, it was noted that the majority of corporate health care when towards workers’ behaviour. By maintaining a positive atmosphere, plenty of breaks and high incentives, the employees’ health improved, they lost weight and any heart or cholesterol issues slunk back into non-existence.

In a frantic workplace, some of the best (and cheapest) methods of mind-maintenance was meditation. In workers taking time out for themselves, their work became focused and there were less complaints about headaches and stress-related illnesses, which would make they – and the corporation – look bad.

The best moments are when people are also at their best. In doing so, everything around them will improve – particularly for the working environment.

It ain’t all hustle-bustle.

Google+
Corporate Wealth And Corporate Stress: Finding a Balance

Categories: Corporate, Emotional Stress, Stress

Returning Soldiers To Have Mental Health Checks

Going away to war can have a profound effect on a soldier’s mental health. Being involved in the sorts of activities found in a warzone is an experience that nothing can prepare you for and for some people it’s simply too much to cope with. That means that a lot of soldiers return home feeling very low with severe depressive symptoms.

Now it has been announced that American troops returning from combat will be required to submit to be interviewed by counsellors to help them with issues of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or other depressive symptoms. Currently there are no laws in place that can force soldiers to expose their feelings, but officials said the program has the potential to save many lives.

The idea was in a bill that was introduced earlier this year by U.S. Representative Harry Teague, D-N.M., and was then signed into law very recently by President Barack Obama. It is estimated that the cost of the program up to 2014 will be around $45 million. It is a perfect way to deal with the so-called ‘unseen wounds’ of soldiers returning from war.

It is hoped that the program will have the ability to remove much of the stigma that surrounds mental health in the military. For too long it has simply been assumed that soldiers coming home from active duty should just deal with their problems on their own terms. Of course, there’s no reason that soldiers shouldn’t deal with mental health issues, but often it’s the soldiers themselves that deny the opportunity for help.

It’s hoped that troops will be able to open up which will help doctors and counsellors to deal with their problems in case they become a danger to themselves or others.

Google+
Returning Soldiers To Have Mental Health Checks

Categories: Emotional Stress, postwar, soldiers