Featuring Dr. Alyson VanAhn from Associated Clinic of Psychology

In senior care, many of us are doubling up on trauma exposure, during the COVID-19 pandemic.

It is one thing to experience a traumatic event personally—and another to do this in addition to watching others cope with trauma daily. This can have negative effects on our well-being. Fortunately, we can experience post-traumatic stress without this becoming a long-term issue. Our resilience strategies can help. 

For managing “secondary” trauma and staying resilient, here are a few things to know:

• It is normal to be emotional: crying, feeling anxious, having more irritability than normal are just a few common reactions to exposure to trauma.
• Labeling yours and your team’s responses as reactions to stress is important in order to avoid taking things personally and fostering further negative feelings or more effects of trauma.
• Acknowledging traumatic experiences is a good way to foster resilience in the workplace and buffer yourself and team members from long term traumatic effects.
• Regular coping strategies like breathing, exercise, adequate sleep and hydration as well as seeking help when reactions to trauma persist are important. 

For more information about stress relief during COVID-19, go to www.leadingagemncoaching.com.

At no charge, you can arrange virtual staff support groups through LeadingAge Minnesota Foundation’s COVID-19 Staff Coping & Support Line project. Contact Terri Foley at tfoley@leadingagemn.org or 651-815-8137.