There is something that sunshine does to the body and mind. This has something to do with boosting the formation of vitamin D3 that is responsible for lifting the moods in a person. It’s no wonder people tend to be energetic and cheerful in the summer months.

When the winter sets in, temperatures start falling, and days become shorter; the opposite happens. Moods and energy levels fall, leaving one feeling low, sad, fatigued, and lethargic. People also tend to eat and sleep more than be out and about bubbling and happiness. In addition, people with preexisting conditions such as depression, anxiety, and other mental illnesses find it difficult to cope with them at this time of the year.

We call it winter blues, but it is a form of depression known as seasonal affective disorder (SAD). This is when a change in seasons negatively affects one’s feelings and thoughts.

Thankfully, there is a lot that you can do to ensure that you maintain good mental health during winter. Here are some of them.

1. Get enough natural light exposure

Sunlight is rare during winter, but you can still get some hints of it during the brightest part of the day. Make the most of that time of the day by spending some time outdoors. You can go for a walk or just bask in the backyard. If you can’t go outside, sit near a window any chance that you get.

In addition, let in as much natural light as possible. Make sure you open the curtains/blinds during the day. You can also paint your walls in a bright color to reflect the light.

2. Consume vitamin D rich foods

As said earlier, vitamin D helps in boosting the mood and morale. Most of it comes about after the skin gets exposure to the sun. However, the little sun during winter isn’t strong enough to make enough vitamin D for the body. Thankfully, there are foods that can give the body some vitamin D. Make sure you are consuming vitamin D-rich foods such as fish, liver, red meat, and cereals. In addition, take a daily dose of vitamin D supplements.

3. Grow indoor plants

Being around greenery helps calm the mind and lift the spirits. With winter weather, however, going outdoors can sometimes prove impossible. Create your own greenery indoors by choosing a few of your favorite indoor plants or starting a vegetable and herbs garden indoors. Utilize grow tents to ensure that the plants are getting a good environment to grow.

Besides lifting the spirits, caring for plants keeps you up and moving. You have no time to sulk or harbor negative feelings as your mind is refocused.

4. Exercise the body

With the chilly winter weather, exercise and outdoor activities are the last things to think of for most people. However, physical activity is known to help in the production of feel-good hormones such as endorphins and serotonin.

Even if you feel like hiding yourself under the covers the whole day, push yourself to do a few exercises. You can register for an online workout class to get some guidelines or follow along with some workout videos. Instead of watching the TV curled up on the sofa, get on the treadmill, and enjoy your shows while getting your body moving.

5. Socialize

Winter blues tend to make people hibernate and isolate themselves. However, bottling up the negative feelings is a sure way to get you more stressed out. Socializing, on the other hand, is one way to raise endorphin levels and lighten your mood. That is why you should try to be around friends and family whenever possible during winter. Try doing something fun together, such as cooking or playing indoor games. If you live alone, use video calling to connect with the people that you love.

6. Get enough sleep

The weather is bad enough to get you dull and sad. You can imagine how worse it can get if you have to deal with sleep-related fatigue and irritability. To avoid this, ensure that you are getting enough sleep every night. Keep a regular sleep schedule by sleeping and waking up at the same every day of the week. In addition, try as much as possible to avoid napping during the day.

Conclusion

Winter blues are real, and if you do nothing about them, the negative feelings can get severe and spill over to your work and daily routine. Try the above tips to keep them away. If they persist, it is always wise to seek professional help.

Do you have any tips for fellow travel nurses on maintaining good mental health during the winter? Have you found ways to keep your mental health in check during the winter months? Comment them below.

If you are a new travel nurse or looking into becoming a travel nurse:

START HERE

Travel Nurse Guide: Step-by-Step (now offered in a PDF Downloadable version!)

This article provided by: Jackson Nurse Professionals.

It’s common for nurses to get emotionally invested in their patients. Of all the health care professionals, nurses are the ones providing comfort, condolences, and compassion to patients visiting a doctor’s office, hospital, or other care facilities. Strong and successful nurses have a natural instinct to nurture, and because of this, it can be difficult to deal with the stress and anxiety that comes with caring for a sick patient.

Specifically, travel nurses may find it especially hard to cope with these difficulties because they’re dealing with other personal stressors, like settling into a new assignment and being away from family and friends.

While a challenging situation, there are plenty of ways for traveling nurses to combat the anxiety that comes with caring for a sick patient. Consider the following tips:

Is it something you can control?

Responding emotionally to a patient’s diagnosis or state of health is normal. But, you have to keep working, right? You’re a professional. So, ground yourself before and after these encounters by identifying what you can and cannot solve. For example, if you have a patient who is confrontational or extremely upset after diagnosis, no problem. You can control your reaction, realizing the emotional trauma the patient has just been dealt. But, if a patient finds out he or she is terminal, you can “solve” the shock of the news by providing comfort and encouragement while still being empathetic to the gravity of the situation. Reacting to their emotions in a confrontational manner or focusing on the factors that are out of your control will only increase your anxiety. So, pull back, focus, and choose differently.

You’re a Gypsy Nurse, right?

One of the reasons you became a travel nurse was to explore new places and take on exciting adventures. With a stressful job as a nurse, you have to rely on these opportunities to relax and make time for yourself. Set aside a few hours weekly or daily to do something new. It fuels your soul. In fact, on your days off, when you’re exploring, intentionally meet new people. The only way for you to avoid burnout and the emotional turmoil that can come with being a nurse is by doing the things that make you a #GypsyNurse. Avoiding activity due to anxiety or depression will only accelerate your condition, not alleviate it. So, go outside girl. And, do something.

Why are you a travel nurse?

At the end of the day, it all comes down to why you decided to take on the profession of travel nursing in the first place. It’s not just about exploring different locations; you get to exercise your passion for caring for others. It’s what you were destined to do! Caring for others is a priceless opportunity, and you can’t imagine yourself involved in any other type of career. No matter how overwhelming your job can be, you’re a skilled professional with a selfless and caring nature. That’s who you are

You might have to take steps to ground yourself from patient to patient, but with a little self-analysis and self-care, you’ll be ready to walk into your patient’s room again.

If you are a new travel nurse or looking into becoming a travel nurse:

START HERE

Travel Nurse Guide: Step-by-Step (now offered in a PDF Downloadable version!)

This article provided by Medely.

During a time that may feel out-of-control for many nurses, it’s important to take control of our mental health and try our best to focus on self-care when away from work. You owe it to yourself to intentionally control how you spend time away from work and where you place your thoughts in-between shifts.

After returning home from work, most nurses must quarantine themselves, giving them few outlets to deal with the heavy mental load required of them in the workplace.

“I’m scared. For myself, husband, family, my coworkers. I just take it day by day. I can’t do anything else but that. My husband is great, he’s funny, makes me laugh. But I know in the coming weeks it will be crazier and I’m scared,” said Lein, a registered nurse in Los Angeles.

It is definitely not a reassuring time for nurses. And, many of us might feel as if a tsunami of COVID-19 patients could overwhelm us at any moment. Here are eight ways to manage feelings of anxiety and overwhelm as we tackle the COVID-19 pandemic.

Consider taking a mental break from the COVID-19 pandemic information overload. Even during non-pandemic times, evidence shows the news and social media outlets can make people sadder and more anxious, than if they didn’t watch it at all. Consider finding one or two expert sources for your medical news, instead of mass consuming from several sources, which may or may not be accurate.

2. Video chat with friends and family

While much of the world is hunkering down at home, many nurses are forced to deal with fear and anxiety surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic alone. This leaves our frontline workers vulnerable to depression and anxiety with few outlets for social communication.

“I feel very isolated and alone being a travel nurse hundreds of miles away from family and friends.” – Brittney, RN, Chicago, Il.

Here are some way to video chat,

Zoom can help with that. Try setting up a lunch or dinner date with friends a few times a week to stay socially connected with the outside world.
Facebook messenger has video chatting capabilities.
Facetime on the iPhone is also a great way to video chat.

Studies show that face-to-face contact is more effective at preventing depression and anxiety than using email or even talking on the phone. As many nurses are unable to meet others in person, connecting through Zoom is another option.

3. Get outdoors

While many public areas are temporarily closed to the public, most hiking areas are not. It is possible to hike while keeping within the CDC guidelines of keeping at least 6 feet between yourself and others. If you can, bring someone you already live with along.

A recent study analyzed the impact of a physical activity program on anxiety, depression, occupational stress and burnout syndrome of nursing professions. It found that after the intervention, participants reported improved perceptions of bodily pain and feeling of fatigue at work.

Even though it might feel more natural to want to hide out at home and hibernate, getting entirely out of your element and being in nature may help nurses shake off some work pressure.

4. Watch funny movies

Laughing is no joke when it comes to relieving anxiety and stress. In fact, laughing has many therapeutic benefits for those under extreme duress, including reducing depression, calming the nervous system, and producing oxytocin (aka the feel-good hormone).

If you feel anxiety creeping up, stop it in its tracks by watching something so funny that you can’t help but laugh.

5. Try free online yoga & meditation

One study on yoga’s effect among intensive care unit nurses analyzed the impact of yoga on ICU coping strategies over an 8-week period. The results showed that the nurses who participated in the yoga study had a major reduction in their perceived mental pressure, as well as improved mental focus.

Since we can’t physically go to a class, try these ideas from home:

YouTube – there are lots of free YouTube videos with Yoga classes and guided meditation.
Calm – is a great, free meditation app with sessions lasting 3-5 minutes. It is available on the App Store or Google Play.
Insight Timer – the awesome thing about this app is that it offers customization based on the type of meditation you need – love/kindness, stress or mindfulness, for example. It is available on the App Storeor Google Play.
Online Therapy – several online resources are offering free therapy via phone, text, and video. Check those out here.

6. Eat nutritious, immune-boosting foods

Nurses are great instructors on how to eat a healthy diet, but sometimes taking our own advice during times of extreme stress can be challenging. But what is right for patient-care, also goes for hard-working nurses, many of which are already suffering from severe burnout and exhaustion.

Stress and immune function are interrelated. Eating the right foods can help boost immunity, especially for nurses nerve-wracked about the COVID-19 pandemic.

Some of the best immune-boosting foods include,

Citrus fruits like, oranges, grapefruit, and lemons.
Leafy green vegetables like, broccoli, spinach, and kale.
Garlic
Ginger
Tumeric
Yogurt
Zinc

7. Talk to a therapist or other healthcare staff who can understand you struggle

Often family and friends who do not work on the frontlines of healthcare, though they mean well, have a hard time empathizing with a nurse’s experience in the workplace. Talk with someone who understands the stresses that come with being a nurse. It can help you put a voice to your fear and may help you be more open to exploring helpful ways to manage it.

Can’t make it to a therapist’s office? That’s OK, many therapists offer video and phone sessions. There are also many mobile apps available that focus on therapy and mental health to work with your schedule.

Here are a few online therapy apps that have great reviews,

8. Practice gratitude

A little gratitude can go a long way for our mental health. Try starting every day simply saying 3 things that you are grateful for. It can be as simple as feeling grateful for your warm bed, food in the pantry and a roof over your head. The more you practice gratitude, the more you’ll find things to be grateful for, even in challenging times.

Here’s an exercise you can do right now,

Take a deep breath in through your nose and out through your mouth.
Ask yourself, “what am I grateful for today?”
Say 3 things that you’re grateful for – say it out loud.
Smile

9. Ask for what you need

As nurses, we often try to be the superheroes – packing on the weight of the world. Yes, we are nurses but, we are also spouses, parents, bread-winners, and we play so many other roles in society. Here’s a warm reminder that it’s OK to ask for help. Our friends and family certainly mean well when they say, “let me know if you need anything.” Which, of course, we don’t.

Here’s a tip, make a list of things that your loved one can help you with – and, ask for help. Here’s a list of things your friends and family can help with,

Drop off pre-packaged meals
Donate masks and PPE
Stop by the store while you’re at work to pick up things you need
Babysit your children
Send words of encouragement and support

10. Remind yourself, and others, that we will get through this

“I’ve seen so much negativity. Even from myself,” says Marcus Figueroa, RN from San Diego. “I want to think about the positives. I want to have a beer at the beach this summer, hopefully, without fear of getting close to people. In the meantime, have dance parties in the front room, drink that wine, paint, and play. And let’s hope the experts get this under control soon.”

Self-care for nurses is more important than ever. Especially for nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic who have no choice but to focus on what is happening today, at this moment.

If you would like more information on the COVID-19 pandemic click here. If you are looking for a COVID-19 job click here.

Original post located here: Nurse.org

Finished the travel nursing guide and are ready to look for an assignment?

Check out our travel nurse jobs!

This article was provided by TNAA.

It’s only been a little over three months since COVID-19 started its sweep of the United States of America and just two weeks of protesting for racial justice. And while coping mentally and emotionally with the combination of current events is difficult for most, there’s a palpable, tangible layer of trauma added for nurses. Nurses expose themselves to trauma daily that often hides behind dark humor and a packed schedule of adventure.

But this is different.

In just a few short months, nurses and frontline workers shouldered the burden of caring for an unknown. Bringing on an onslaught of fear, stress, anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder. This stress can be particularly isolating for travel nurses who answered the call that took them away from their support systems.

3 Mental Health Resources for Travel Nurses

Whether it’s a fear of infecting loved ones with the coronavirus or the trauma of racial injustice. It’s clear a crucial part of nursing the country back to health lies in promoting mental health resources. Below we’ll share options for travel nurses. While availability may vary, we believe it’s essential to find an option that works for you.

1. Mental Health Apps for On-The-Go Therapy

Picture this, you’ve finished a long shift and feel drawn to talk to a mental health professional, but you’re in a city you don’t know. So, you’ll search for a therapist, and potentially wear another mask to be in a physical office. Thankfully, it’s 2020, and we can do almost everything from our phones.

Talkspace: From a dedicated COVID-19 Instagram channel to therapist-led Facebook groups, the industry-leading app has an option for just about everyone. More than that, they have a special offer for nurses and frontline workers. Learn more here.
Headspace: This mindfulness app promotes tools and meditations to relieve stress and help you feel more resilient. And now, they’re offering free services to those affected by unemployment. Learn more here.
Youper: This AI platform uses anonymous data to discover trends and short conversations to engage users in healthier moods. It incorporates techniques from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), mindfulness, and meditation. Learn more here.

2. Support Groups & Webinars

Storytelling and sharing can generate empathy. For nurses, talking about the hard stuff to non-nurses can sometimes turn into comforting listeners, rather than releasing trauma. Many nurses find comfort in sharing with people who understand the emotional toll your job can expose you to daily.

The Compassion Caravan: The American Holistic Nurses Association started this project as 2020 is their 40th anniversary and Florence Nightingale’s 200th birthday. Their website states this is a “national project led by holistic nurses for all of nursing to offer compassion through heart-centered presence, holistic communication, networking and focused experiences in self-reflection and healing.” They will hold virtual workshops and listening circles through October 2020. Learn more here and scroll down to see event dates.
Frontline Nurses WikiWisdom: This collaboration between John Hopkins School of Nursing and the American Journal of Nursing provides a space where nurses fighting the Covid-19 pandemic can share their experiences. It allows the sharing of your knowledge, experience, and challenges about working on a pandemic front line. And they’re committed to keeping this space available 24/7 until this pandemic exits. Learn more and register here.

3. Resources From Your Agency

Many travel nurse agencies have expanded their benefits programs to better fit the needs of their nurses — including mental health and emotional well-being resources. Whether you’re currently on assignment or considering a new assignment, now is a great time to ask your recruiter what programs are available to you. While you may also see additional programs, like webinars and meet-ups surrounding the clinical aspects of nursing during a pandemic, look at what your agency offers regardless of a crisis. Below are a few offerings your agency may provide.

Employee Assistance Programs: EAPs provide a range of different services and/or resources to address personal issues that may interfere with an employee’s well-being. These programs offer assessment and resources that may help employees with emotional issues, interpersonal relationships, legal problems, and financial difficulties. Some top agencies are adding EAPs as a benefit so their nurses can show up for their patients. Oh, and they’re typically at no additional cost.
Chaplain Programs: It’s easier for staff nurses to feel comfortable with their hospital Chaplain. Many travel nurses might not even meet the Chaplain at their facility before moving to a new assignment. That’s why select agencies have their own non-denominational Chaplain. With travelers, a Chaplain primarily communicates over the phone, but having someone you can quickly contact in times of spiritual or emotional support can be a relief.
Benefits Specialists: Does your insurance cover mental health counseling? How do you find out? A great travel nurse agency should have someone who can speak with you to explain your benefits and how they work with your current situation. Your benefits specialist can answer questions about your insurance, guide you through selecting the right coverage for you, and send you important info regarding your mental health options.

While it’s easy to say that 2020 has proven tumultuous thus far. There will be a time when we’re on the other side. To prepare for what’s next, it’s paramount for you to prioritize investing in your emotional well-being as a travel nurse. Because elective surgeries will return, assignments will open, and bucket-list adventures will be back on.

Finished the travel nursing guide and are ready to look for an assignment?

Check out our travel nurse jobs!

To my fellow Nurses,

You are working harder than anyone in the world right now, and you are working on behalf of the greater collective. Thank you for your compassion, for your ability to do 15 things at once, for your clinical skills, expertise, and warm heart. Thank you for sacrificing so much from your life to provide care and to advocate for those most in need. I want to thank you for showing up shift after shift. Thank you for being the cornerstone of medicine and now for being the cornerstone of our global fight against COVID-19.

I am here to advocate for you and remind you that your needs are equally as important of the patients and family members that you care for. To encourage you to take good care of yourself because now more than ever we need you to be working at your best. I am here to offer six recommendations and ways you can prioritize your needs during this global pandemic.

1. Gratitude

Make time for gratitude. Give thanks for all you have. Make your gratitude practice your own. You could practice before you go to bed and state five things you are grateful for out loud, or you could start your day by giving thanks and writing down them in a journal, or in your note app on your phone. Try to incorporate gratitude into your shift and give thanks while you wash your hands/ or sanitize them throughout the day. Practicing gratitude will increase your mindfulness, and practicing mindfulness will increase your gratitude. The two are directly linked.

2. Practice Mindfulness and Meditation

Mindfulness is being fully present in this moment. Being present in the moment and accepting what it is rather than trying to change or resist. Mindfulness is learning to observe your thoughts, acknowledging them and then letting them go. Seeing your thoughts and emotions like clouds in the sky, you see them and then they pass by. There are many different ways to practice mindfulness.

A Mindfulness practice you could try is taking a walk outside, and completely submerging yourself in the area you are walking through. Take your time to notice each step, engage all of your senses; hear the birds, feel the breeze, smell the grass, taste the spring air and see everything that you pass by. Another way to practice mindfulness is to connect to the breath. Find a comfortable seat, and begin to notice your inhale and exhale. Without judging the breath, just begin to become aware of it. Where do you feel the breath the most? Maybe you feel it in your chest, or maybe you feel it more in the belly. Not trying to change anything, simply become aware. Connecting to the breath is a tool that is always available to you, no matter where you are, your breath is life.

Meditation is another way to practice mindfulness.

Meditation is concentrating on one point without effort for an extended period of time. Learn to sit in silence with yourself. Different types of meditations will be better for different people. One example of a meditation is Metta Meditation or Loving Kindness meditation.

The meditation has three parts, first, you focus on cultivating feelings of love and kindness for yourself, then for someone you deeply care for and lastly for all of humanity, for all beings.

Find a quiet place and take a comfortable seat. Relax the face, the neck, and shoulders. Let your spine grow long. Silently to yourself say “May I be filled with loving-kindness. May I be well, peaceful and at ease, and be truly happy.”

Now think of someone you love and adore. Picture their image in your mind now. Silently to yourself say to this person… “May you be filled with loving-kindness. May you be well, peaceful and at ease and be truly happy.”

Now imagine your community, country and all of humanity. Visualize the entire human race in your mind. Silently in your mind send love and kindness to all of humanity by stating “May we be filled with loving-kindness. May we be well, peaceful and at ease and be truly happy.”

Feel love and kindness radiating from your heart center. Take a deep breath in and a deep breath out. When you feel ready begin to bring your attention back into the room.

Different meditations serve different purposes and will be beneficial depending on your needs. Explore the different types of meditations, play around using different apps, study with different teachers and see what works for you! Once you find a style or school you like, stick with it and become an expert!

3. Movement

On the days you are at work your body is in constant motion and working hard. When you get home, the thought of moving your body any more can seem daunting, almost laughable. Help your body recover from the strenuous day by stretching for five minutes. You could do simple yoga movements or Tai Chi. Or if you prefer, invest in a small massage tool or roller to help release areas of tightness and increase circulation to muscles that have been overworked.

On your days off use more vigorous types of exercise to help bring clarity to a busy mind, to flush out toxins from the body, and to increase mood and immunity. You might also find that you crave movement after working an overwhelming shift. Going for a run or doing 30 minutes of cardio may be what your body needs to get the adrenal from the shift out of the body.

4. Journal

If you find you are unable to let go of a conversation you had with a family member of a dying patient, or you are playing a scene or repeat in your head, grab a pen a journal and write it down. Start at the top of a new page and set a timer for 5 minutes. Write down the phrase…“I feel…” and then start writing, don’t stop until the timer goes off. Write whatever comes into your mind, even if it doesn’t make perfect sense or sound correct, write it down. This is called stream of consciousness journaling. Journaling can be very therapeutic and is another way to process the events and emotions of the shift. As nurses we are constantly assessing, caring for and looking after others’ needs. Make time to connect to your needs and feelings.

5. Nutrition and Hydration.

Don’t forget to drink water! Hydrate yourself. Create a new habit, drink water every time you sit down to chart or every time you turn a patient. Link the behavior of drinking water to something you do on your shift to make it second nature. For the love of God don’t go an entire shift without using the bathroom. If you are, you are not well hydrated. When we are dehydrated we are more likely to crave salty food and become lethargic. Staying well hydrated will encourage you to pick nutritious foods. Nutrition is what fuels the body and makes it work. Your body is a temple, treat it as such. Food can prevent or promote disease and infection. The choice is yours. Make your health a priority by focusing on your nutrition and hydration.

6. Create a Morning and Nightime Routine/ Ritual

Routines act as anchors in times of crisis. During this time of great uncertainty and increased pressure, rituals can help you feel grounded, and create a sense of stability and support.

To develop a morning ritual think of something that brings you joy or inner peace. Something that you can do for yourself, that you will be able to do every morning before you start your day, or your shift. Pick something that is healing and healthful for you. How do you want to start your morning/day/shift?

You will know best what morning ritual will be most beneficial for you.

Here are some examples though for you to get an idea.

lighting a candle and drinking a cup of hot water, set an intention for the day while watching the candle burn
Read one quote from a book of inspirational quotes and then reflect on it in a notebook
Play music and dance
Play a guided meditation and rub an essential oil blend on your neck

Once you decide what your morning ritual will be, commit to it and make it a top priority! Your morning ritual is sacred and special. Remember this is something that you are doing for yourself.

How you end your day is just as important as how you start it.

Unwind from your shift and develop a sleep ritual that will help your body get out of your sympathetic nervous system and help it transition into your parasympathetic nervous system. Give yourself time to transition from work to home, from home to sleep. Involve the senses, get rid of harsh, overhead lighting. Use smells and sounds to help elicit a sense of calm and relaxation. Connect to your body and get out of your head through movement or the breath.

Here is one example of a nighttime ritual you could use.

Stop using electronics 2 hours before you go to bed. Turn off your notifications and alarms. Set your electronics outside of the bedroom.

Dim the lights, and draw the curtains shut. If you don’t have curtains look into easy DIY blackout curtains or use an eye mask.
Make a sleep time playlist of your favorite songs or play calming music
Boil water and make a cup of hot tea or hot water.
Light a relaxing candle or turn on a diffuser with calming essential oils in your bedroom, so when you get into bed the room smells beautifully
Stretch/roll out on a foam roller
Get into bed and read a book
Practice a mindfulness technique: breath in for 4 seconds, hold the breath for 2 seconds, exhale for 8 seconds. Repeat. Continue this breath pattern for several cycles of breath.

Whatever your sleep routine becomes, be consistent, perform your ritual every night. Aim to get 8-9 hours of sleep each night. Try your best to keep your sleep routine and times of waking and going to bed consistent.

These are my recommendations. This is my gift to you, an invitation to make time for yourself and to prioritize your needs. It will not come easy, it will take intention and repetition. The hospital environment and temperament of nurses will lead you to believe you are being selfish. Making time for yourself is not being selfish, this is filling your cup up before you fill someone else’s. Don’t let yourself hit empty. Take care of yourself, take good care of yourself first, and then you can continue on and save the world.

All my love,

Abby Morrissey Riordan

Additional Resources:

Meditation and Mindfulness Apps

Headspace
Insight Timer
Calm

Connect with me on www.setonshine.com

If you are a new travel nurse or looking into becoming a travel nurse:

START HERE

Travel Nurse Guide: Step-by-Step (now offered in a PDF Downloadable version!)

The effects of mental illness and suicide on its sufferers and their love is all too familiar to me.

I had a cousin named Stefan

Whom I grew up with and was like a brother. He has had a huge influence on my life. He had tons of friends, was good looking, smart, funny, and the life of the party. Stefan had it all. Little did any of us know what was truly brewing below the surface.

He suffered with severe depression and masked it with drugs and alcohol. He portrayed he was happy and had it all together while remaining too proud to ask for help or acknowledge he even had a problem. Perhaps he viewed that as a sign of weakness.

I was on my first travel nurse assignment in Fresno, California when I woke up to the news that Stefan had committed suicide at age 32 years old and was found on the bedroom floor by my aunt and cousins with a rope around his neck. He had suffered in silence.

It has been 3 years since his death,

..yet the wound is still fresh. There are so many unanswered questions I have including what demons he faced and where he is now. It is incredibly painful to have someone you love leave you in such a drastic way. How could you choose to take your life? Isn’t life all we have?

My message from this horrific experience is this

No one is better than anyone else. At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter what your job is, what you look like, how much money you have, etc. As drastically blunt this is, we are ALL going to die, so therefore we’re all the same. You would think given that logic, we’d make existing a little more pleasant for one another.

Growing up and living in the world, and this country could be very tough. Especially today. Society sets a bar of what people feel they should look like, be, or have. They are constantly bombarded with images of this on social media and the internet. If they fall short, they feel like they don’t measure up and are a failure. They feel they shouldn’t exist.

My message to you is that is so wrong

Success could be defined in so many different ways even if it includes just being a good freakin’ person to someone else and performing random acts of kindness for people even when no one is looking. If you’re going to be anything in this life, be kind. Many are facing daily battles that you absolutely know nothing about. Being kind could go a long way even if you don’t realize it. It could even potentially save a life.

The Center for Disease Control (CDC)

The CDC reported that in 2014, there were more than 40,000 deaths by suicide in the United States. Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death among all ages.

There is no one cause for suicide. Risk factors include social isolation, substance use, mental illness, and situational crises.

If someone you know is considering suicide, talk to them. Listen to them. Let them know that you are there with them and that they are not alone.

1. Get enough natural light exposure

2. Consume vitamin D rich foods

3. Grow indoor plants

4. Exercise the body

5. Socialize

6. Get enough sleep

Conclusion

If you are a new travel nurse or looking into becoming a travel nurse:

Travel Nurse Guide: Step-by-Step (now offered in a PDF Downloadable version!)

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1. Take a break from COVID-19 by not watching the news or social media

2. Video chat with friends and family

3. Get outdoors

4. Watch funny movies

5. Try free online yoga & meditation

6. Eat nutritious, immune-boosting foods

7. Talk to a therapist or other healthcare staff who can understand you struggle

8. Practice gratitude

9. Ask for what you need

10. Remind yourself, and others, that we will get through this

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3 Mental Health Resources for Travel Nurses

1. Mental Health Apps for On-The-Go Therapy

2. Support Groups & Webinars

3. Resources From Your Agency

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To my fellow Nurses,

1. Gratitude

2. Practice Mindfulness and Meditation

Meditation is another way to practice mindfulness.

3. Movement

4. Journal

5. Nutrition and Hydration.

6. Create a Morning and Nightime Routine/ Ritual

You will know best what morning ritual will be most beneficial for you.

How you end your day is just as important as how you start it.

Here is one example of a nighttime ritual you could use.

Additional Resources:

Meditation and Mindfulness Apps

If you are a new travel nurse or looking into becoming a travel nurse:

Travel Nurse Guide: Step-by-Step (now offered in a PDF Downloadable version!)

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I had a cousin named Stefan