News - Work/Life Connections

Social media and news coverage of shootings, bombings, protests, sexual assaults, and other events has been graphic and intense. In general, experiencing violence can result in serious psychological distress, including depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). While people may not develop a psychological disorder after hearing first-hand accounts or viewing graphic, real-time images of these events, people do experience strong emotions, such as fear, sadness, grief, and anger.

The Winter Holidays are a time of anticipation and meaning for many. They remind us of our family traditions, our childhoods, and an array of expectations. This year, COVID-19 will also change our holiday celebrations. Vanderbilt Work/Life Connections-EAP shares some ways in which you can navigate the holidays, and manage the negative feelings which this holiday season may bring.

​The Holiday season is usually a time for workplace celebrations, families gathering with hugs and food, and friends connecting at parties. Sadly, this year will be different due to the current pandemic. Jim Kendall, LCSW, CEAP, Manager of Work/Life Connections-EAP, shares some ideas on how to connect with family when social distancing is a necessity.

​The heightened distress of this polarizing political climate combined with the anxiety of the pandemic we have been experiencing since March 2020, has us all riding an emotional roller coaster. It is accelerating and we feel like we can't get off. These environmental stressors impact our daily lives and we have little control over the course of these traumas. Thus, we must find ways to manage our distress and anxiety.

With all of the disasters we have heard about and experienced over the last several months (tornados, derechos, hurricanes, flooding, fires, earthquakes, and now this unprecedented pandemic), we're reminded of how important it is to have a family disaster plan. Nobody likes to think about it and it can feel overwhelming, so start a plan breaking it down into manageable pieces. Pandemic planning