Vol 1

Seasonal Affective Disorder: Weathering the Storm in the PNW

Seasonal Affective Disorder

It’s that time of year again – Daylight Saving Time has ended and winter is a stone’s throw away, prompting the skies to gray and darken earlier. Along with the seasonal and time shifts, tend to come bleaker moods.

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a form of depression also known as seasonal depression or winter depression. The Diagnostic Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) identifies SAD as “Major Depressive Disorder with Seasonal Pattern.”[1] This disorder is particularly commonplace in the Pacific NorthWest, with its relentless rain and gray skies so famous that paint manufactured dubbed one hue “Seattle Gray.” If you’re curious what it looks like – just glance to the sky most days in winter in the PNW and you’ll know. Notably, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) finds Seattle has some of the cloudiest weather in the country, with an annual average of 71 clear days, 93 partly cloudy and 201 cloudy.[2]

SAD is more than just “dreary winter blues.” Symptoms can be distressing and overwhelming to the point that they interfere with daily functioning. Roughly five percent of adults in the U.S. experience SAD, with durations lasting typically 40 percent of the year; symptoms tend to peak in January and February.[3]

Research has found shorter daylight hours and less sunlight in winter is linked to a biochemical imbalance in the brain. People can experience a shift in their biological internal clock/circadian rhythm that can cause them to be out of sync with their daily schedule.[4] The sleep-related hormone, melatonin, also has been linked to SAD as one’s body naturally increases melatonin production when it's dark; as days become shorter and darker, people have comparatively high levels of melatonin during normal wake-hours.[5] But for our sleep-wake cycle, it's important to pay attention to the fundamentals to those processes that regulate sleep. We have a circadian system that under normal circumstances, is very effective in promoting sleep at nighttime and wakefulness during the daytime.[6] In areas of higher latitudes (note: the PNW) where daylight hours wane in the winter, this disorder is more prevalent.[7] 

SYMPTOMS AND DIAGNOSIS

According to the American Psychiatric Association[8], the two main/common symptoms of SAD include:

Additional symptoms of SAD are similar to those of major depression and can vary from mild to severe, such as:

  • Feeling sad or having a depressed mood

  • Loss of interest or pleasure in activities once enjoyed

  • Changes in appetite; usually eating more, craving carbohydrates

  • Change in sleep; usually sleeping too much

  • Loss of energy or increased fatigue despite increased sleep hours

  • Increase in purposeless physical activity (e.g., inability to sit still, pacing, handwringing) or slowed movements or speech (these actions must be severe enough to be observable to others)

  • Feeling worthless or guilty

  • Difficulty thinking, concentrating, or making decisions

  • Thoughts of death or suicide

SAD may begin at any age, but it typically starts when a person is between ages 18 and 30, with risk increasing with age.[9] Further, demographically, this condition is more common among women than men.[10,11]

A diagnosis of SAD may be made after a careful mental health exam and medical history is conducted by a psychiatrist or other mental health professional.

TREATMENT

SAD can be effectively treated in several ways, including: light therapy, antidepressant medications, talk therapy or a combination of these methods. While symptoms will generally improve on their own with the change of seasons, symptoms can improve more quickly utilizing treatment.

Light therapy - This involves sitting in front of a light therapy box that emits a very bright light (and filters out harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays). According to the American Psychiatric Association, this method usually requires 20 minutes or more per day, typically first thing in the morning, during the winter months. Most people see some improvements from light therapy within one or two weeks of beginning treatment. To maintain the benefits and prevent relapse, treatment is usually continued through the winter. Anticipating the return of symptoms in late autumn, some people may begin light therapy in early autumn to prevent symptoms from arising.[12] 

Those wishing to try light therapy, should speak to a specialist about which type of light is most effective. Dr. Lorin Boynton, a psychiatrist practicing at the University of Washington Medical Center-Roosevelt, notes, “You need 10,000 lux, so talk to a provider about what to get. Some people who have sensitive eyes shouldn’t use white light. They now make bright light therapy with green light that’s friendlier for the eyes.”[13]

Spending time outdoors - For some people, increased exposure to sunlight can help improve symptoms of SAD. Boynton suggests, “If you’re working out indoors, at home or at a gym, try to be in a brightly lit area, exercising outside whenever you can.” Further, research has shown that being in nature has a positive impact on health. “Natural daylight, even when it’s cloudy like it often is here, is much better for your brain and for all your hormones that control mood than artificial light.”[14]

Talk therapy, particularly cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) – Talk therapy has been shown to effectively treat SAD. Cognitive-behavioral or interpersonal therapy can help change distorted views one may have of themselves and the environment around them. Further, it can help improve interpersonal relationship skills, and identify things that cause stress as well as how to manage them[15.16]; this is particularly important as SAD leads to depressive symptoms.

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) – This type of antidepressant is most commonly prescribed to treat SAD. SSRIs can help correct chemical imbalances that may lead to SAD.[17,18]

Maintain Health & Wellness – Ensuring your general health and wellness is optimized can also help. This includes: regular exercise, healthy eating, getting enough sleep, and staying active and connected (such as volunteering, participating in group activities and getting together with friends and family).[19]

Maintain your sleep routine - Dr. Ramanpreet Toor, a UW Medicine psychiatrist, notes that “Getting out of bed in the morning when it’s still dark out may be difficult, but maintaining a sense of normalcy by sticking to a regular sleep schedule will help your body better adjust to the lack of daylight.” Toor adds, “I wouldn’t recommend slowing down more or sleeping more; if someone is at risk of depression, that’s going to worsen symptoms.”[20]

The practice of good sleep hygiene is essential, including: keeping the bedroom cool and dark, avoiding caffeine near bedtime and putting blue light-emitting devices like smartphones and laptops away.[21] David Neubauer, of Johns Hopkins Medicine discussed sleep hygiene in an interview with Seattle Anxiety Specialists, PLLC: “We should be active in the daytime outside if possible. Sunlight is a good thing to help with the robustness of our circadian system, exercise, other physical activity.” Adding, “For our sleep-wake cycle, it's important to pay attention to the fundamentals to those processes that regulate sleep. We have a circadian system that under normal circumstances, is very effective in promoting sleep at nighttime and wakefulness during the daytime.”[22]

Keep variety in your diet - Once winter sets in, people tend to crave carb-rich and sugary foods become less inclined to cook. Boynton notes this is normal but should try to be avoided. Opt for healthy “comfort food” options like homemade soups or stews full of veggies and lean meats. Further, try to make meals colorful as possible by using different fruits and veggies to counter the dreariness of the weather. Aim to eat a diet which focuses on fruits, vegetables and whole grains.[23]

Johns Hopkins Medicine notes the following methods can further help relieve symptoms of SAD:[24]

  • Get help. If you think you may be depressed, see a healthcare provider as soon as possible.

  • Set realistic goals in light of the depression. Don't take on too much. Break large tasks into small ones, set priorities, and do what you can as you can.

  • Try to be with other people and confide in someone. It is usually better than being alone and secretive.

  • Do things that make you feel better. Going to a movie, gardening, or taking part in religious, social, or other activities may help. Doing something nice for someone else can also help you feel better.

  • Get regular exercise.

  • Expect your mood to get better slowly, not right away. Feeling better takes time.

  • Eat healthy, well-balanced meals.

  • Stay away from alcohol and drugs. These can make depression worse.

  • Delay big decisions until the depression has lifted. Before deciding to make a significant transition—change jobs, get married or divorced—discuss it with others who know you well and have a more objective view of your situation.

  • Remember: People rarely "snap out of" a depression. But they can feel a little better day-by-day.

  • Try to be patient and focus on the positives. This may help replace the negative thinking that is part of the depression. The negative thoughts will disappear as your depression responds to treatment.

  • Let your family and friends help you.

If you feel you have symptoms of SAD, seek the help of a trained medical professional. Just as with other forms of depression, it is important to make sure there is no other medical condition causing symptoms. SAD can be misdiagnosed in the presence of hypothyroidism, hypoglycemia, infectious mononucleosis, and other viral infections, so proper evaluation is key. A mental health professional can diagnose the condition and discuss therapy options. With the right treatment, SAD can be a manageable condition.[25]

If you feel your depression is severe or are having suicidal thoughts, consult a doctor immediately, seek help at the closest emergency room or dial 911.

For more information, click here to access an interview with Psychiatrist David Neubauer on insomnia & anxiety.

 Contributed by: Jennifer (Ghahari) Smith, Ph.D.

Editor: Jennifer (Ghahari) Smith, Ph.D.

References

1 “Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD),” American Psychiatric Association. (accessed 11-6-21) www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/depression/seasonal-affective-disorder

2 NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI). (accessed 11-6-21)

www1.ncdc.noaa.gov/pub/data/ccd-data/clpcdy18.dat  

3 “Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD),” American Psychiatric Association.

4 Ibid.

5 “Seasonal Affective Disorder,” Johns Hopkins Medicine. (accessed 11-5-21)

www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/seasonal-affective-disorder

6 Naubauer, D., & Ghahari, J. (2021, August 24). Psychiatrist David Neubauer on Insomnia & Anxiety. Seattle Psychiatrist Magazine. (accessed 11-8-21) seattleanxiety.com/psychology-psychiatry-interview-series/2021/8/24/anxiety-and-insomnia

7 “Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD),” American Psychiatric Association.

8 Ibid.

9 “Seasonal Affective Disorder,” Johns Hopkins Medicine.

10 Ibid.

11 “Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD),” American Psychiatric Association.

12 Ibid.

13 “How to Survive - and Thrive - in the Pacific Northwest's Cold, Dark Months,” Right as Rain by UW Medicine. (accessed 11-5-21) rightasrain.uwmedicine.org/mind/mental-health/winter-motivation-tips    

14 Ibid.

15 “Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD),” American Psychiatric Association.

16 “Seasonal Affective Disorder,” Johns Hopkins Medicine.

17 Ibid.

18 “Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD),” American Psychiatric Association.

19 Ibid.

20 “How to Survive - and Thrive - in the Pacific Northwest's Cold, Dark Months,” Right as Rain by UW Medicine.

21 Ibid.

22 Psychiatrist David Neubauer on Insomnia & Anxiety.

23 “How to Survive - and Thrive - in the Pacific Northwest's Cold, Dark Months,” Right as Rain by UW Medicine.

24 “Seasonal Affective Disorder,” Johns Hopkins Medicine.

25 “Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD),” American Psychiatric Association.

Demystifying Psychiatry: Q&A with Dr. Misty Tu

Defining Psychiatry

Psychiatry is the science and practice of diagnosing, treating, and preventing mental, emotional and behavioral disorders. 

The term psychiatry is derived from the Greek words psyche, meaning “mind” or “soul,” and iatreia, meaning “healing.” Modern psychiatry was developed due to the efforts of French physician, Philippe Pinel, in the late 1700s. Arguably the most significant contributions to the foundation of psychiatry occurred in the late 19th century; German psychiatrist Emil Kraepelin emphasized a systematic approach to psychiatric diagnosis and classification and Austrian neurologist, Sigmund Freud, founded the theory and practice of psychoanalysis. [1,2]

A psychiatrist is a medical doctor (M.D. or D.O.) specializing in mental health, including substance use disorders. The path to becoming a psychiatrist includes: completion of medical school, passing a written examination for a state license to practice medicine, followed by four years of specialized psychiatry residency.[3] In addition to overall competency to deal with psychiatric disorders, some psychiatrists pursue subspecialty training and associated certification (e.g., addiction psychiatry, forensic psychiatry, geriatric psychiatry, and psychosomatic psychiatry.)[4] Following residency training, a psychiatrist may take a voluntary written and oral examination given by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology to become Board Certified in their field; re-certification must occur every 10 years.[5] According to The American Board of Physician Specialties, those who are Board Certified have passed a rigorous process signifying the physician has obtained exemplary knowledge and mastery within their field in their field of medicine.[6]

Qualified to assess both the mental and physical aspects of psychological problems, psychiatrists can order or perform a full range of medical laboratory and psychological tests which, combined with discussions with patients, assess a patient's physical and mental state. This assessment is utilized in forming a diagnosis and subsequent treatment plan.[7] Such plans may include: drug therapy, electroconvulsive therapy, biofeedback and apply different forms of psychotherapy. Most mental and emotional disorders require a pluralistic treatment approach; thus, psychiatrists frequently work as part of a multidisciplinary treatment team with psychologists, social work professionals, occupational therapists, and psychiatric nurses.[8]

Patients on long-term medication treatment will need to meet with their psychiatrist periodically to monitor the effectiveness of the medication and any potential side effects to ensure both specialized and optimized outcomes. Dependent on condition, psychiatrists may utilize any of the following class of medications within a treatment plan:[9]

Psychiatrists work in a variety of settings, including private practices, clinics, general and psychiatric hospitals, university medical centers, community agencies, courts and prisons, nursing homes, industry, government, military settings, rehabilitation programs, emergency rooms, hospice programs, among other locations. Roughly half of psychiatrists in the U.S. maintain private practices while others work across multiple settings. There are currently around 45,000 psychiatrists in the U.S.,[10] with the field experiencing rapid growth due to the development of technology that allows measurement and observation of brain function. Neuroimaging techniques, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), positron emission tomography (PET), and single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), have begun to provide insights about psychopathologic disorders as well as normal development and function,[11] providing psychiatrists with superior grounding in crafting one’s treatment plan.

Q&A

SAS’ Medical Director, Dr. Misty Tu, Discusses the Nuances of Psychiatry

1. To begin, how does someone determine if they should contact a psychiatrist for an appointment, as opposed to a therapist or primary care physician?

Every individual is different, but there are some general things to consider when deciding where to get care. If you are feeling a mild to moderate sensation of discomfort and decreased in function then seeing a therapist first might be a good choice. Primary care physicians have some training in behavioral health and are a good first step for issues of depression and anxiety. If you are having more dramatic mood swings such as “highs and lows” or having any thoughts that don’t seem real, it is probably best to see a psychiatrist.

2. What types of conditions/issues can a psychiatrist treat?

A psychiatrist can treat many conditions such as depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, substance use disorder, and several others. Most psychiatrist specialize in the medication management of these illnesses.

3. People are generally familiar with filling out paperwork prior to seeing a medical care provider, whether it’s a dentist, chiropractor, optometrist or primary care physician.  What types of information does a psychiatrist ask in their intake paperwork?

The intake paperwork gives any physician a starting point of general information. When prescribing medications, it is important to understand your medical history, medications that you are on, and allergies. The psychiatrist may also ask you these questions again during the intake to verify the information. Sometimes there will also be questionnaires about your mood or anxiety. This helps the psychiatrists establish a baseline of illness.

4. What can someone expect to happen in their initial (intake) session with a psychiatrist?

The psychiatrist should have gone over the intake paperwork that you filled out. They will get a medical as well as a psychiatric history. They will ask you about different symptoms that you may or may not have had. Gathering a good history can lead to more accurate diagnoses.

5. How often would a person generally have follow-up appointments with their psychiatrist?  If someone is prescribed psychiatric medications, would they need to be on them for the rest of their life or is it dependent on the type and severity of condition?

Follow-up sessions should be based on several determining factors including the severity of your current illness, if there are side effects that need to be monitored for, what is the timeline for the medication to have reached maximum benefit at this dose, overall agreement between the patient and psychiatrist.

Psychiatric medications need to be thought of like all other medications. There are certain times when diseases, like high blood pressure, could improve and you no longer need medication. Most individuals will need these medications long-term. This is always something that should be discussed with your psychiatrist with a consideration of your specific condition.

6. Some psychiatric medications have been associated with a stigma; how do you think that has changed over time?

Unfortunately, it is changing very slowly. Sometimes there are cultural challenges, but there is continued stigma about mental illness and psychiatric medications. We need to conceptualize psychiatric illness as we do all other medical illnesses.

7. In addition to psychiatric care, what recommendations would you offer for someone to achieve greater psychological and mental health?

The social determinants of health such as shelter, food access, safety and access to healthcare are all things that can benefit overall health. This is especially true with mental health. Once these issues are not a significant factor, individuals may want to focus on a healthy diet, regular exercise, social supports. We all face challenges in life and our “mental resiliency” is tested during these times. Individuals should understand and focus on what makes them more resilient- such as being able to call a friend or family member when you were feeling badly.

If you suspect you may benefit from the treatment of a psychiatric provider, please reach out to your primary care physician to discuss your concerns and referral options, or request an appointment with a Board Certified psychiatrist in your state.

  Contributed by: Jennifer (Ghahari) Smith, Ph.D.

& Misty Tu, M.D.

Editor: Jennifer (Ghahari) Smith, Ph.D.

References

1 “Psychiatry,” Britannica. (accessed 10-8-2021). www.britannica.com/science/psychiatry

2 Miller, N. S., & Katz, J. L. (1989). The neurological legacy of psychoanalysis: Freud as a neurologist. Comprehensive psychiatry30(2), 128–134.

3 “What is Psychiatry?” American Psychiatric Association. (accessed 10-6-2021). www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/what-is-psychiatry-menu   

4 “Psychiatry,” Britannica.

5 “What is Psychiatry?” American Psychiatric Association.

6 “Physician Certification,” American Board of Physician Specialties (ABPS). (accessed 10-8-2021). www.abpsus.org/physician-board-certified-specialties/ 

7 “What is Psychiatry?” American Psychiatric Association.

8 “Psychiatry,” Britannica.

9 “What is Psychiatry?” American Psychiatric Association.

10 Ibid.

11 “Psychiatry,” Britannica.

Reappraising Pre-Therapy Nervousness

unsplash-image-MytyF_UrcE0.jpg

Reappraising Anxiety

It is extremely common and normal to feel anxious before therapy. Whether it’s the first session ever, first session with a new therapist, or 50th session, people can feel apprehensive for any number of reasons. Jennifer Yeh, a therapist at Seattle Anxiety Specialists, PLLC, notes that “prior relational traumas, shame, and general fears of being judged” may all contribute to worry about upcoming sessions. Yeh also recommends offering oneself compassion about the process, validating that “the work of therapy is intensely vulnerable” and therefore it is natural that the mind might be vigilant in defending against the possibility of threat. 

Reappraising anxiety as excitement can be immensely helpful for calming down one’s nervous system. Alison Brooks, a psychology researcher at Harvard Business school, investigated the efficacy of reappraising pre-performance anxiety as excitement across situations like karaoke singing, public speaking, and math performances. She found that saying “I am excited” can quickly and easily prime the mind toward searching for opportunity and then in turn, improve performance.[1] Brooks (2014) notes that people “tend to adopt threat mindsets when they are in negative affective states,” so the replacement of anxiety with a positive emotion like excitement can prime an opportunity mindset.[2] In the case of therapy, one may benefit from this reappraisal of anxiety if they are able to replace fear-based thoughts (e.g., “I’m nervous I’ll break down and be judged by my therapist”) with more opportunistic and positive ones (e.g., “I’m excited to see how my therapist will react when I share something vulnerable. Their response will be super helpful for figuring out if we’re a good match.”)

Brooks’ self-talk strategy has been shown to be more effective at calming the mind and body than simply telling oneself to calm down, due to arousal congruency (see Figure 1). The logic of this effect is that “reappraising one high-arousal emotion (anxiety) as another high-arousal emotion (excitement) is easier and more effective than trying to shift from high arousal (anxiety) to low arousal (calmness).” One caveat is that Brooks found significant reappraisal when her participants stated “I am excited” out loud. Thus, it might be most helpful and successful if this technique is practiced aloud, perhaps in the car or somewhere private before therapy.[3] 

Figure 1

Secondary Emotions Categorized by Arousal and Valence Levels

Maya 2 pic.png

Note: This model was produced by Walinga in 2010, summarizing secondary emotions.[4]

Rumination can be one of the most distressing harbingers of anguish before a stressful situation, as the repetitive nature tends to only exacerbate symptoms. The coupling of reappraisal with mindfulness holds even more powerful potential at relieving anxiety and ruminative thoughts than reappraisal alone.[5] In 2007, Jain et al. conducted a randomized controlled trial demonstrating that mindfulness meditation (compared to other types of relaxation training) “may be specific in its ability to reduce distractive and ruminative thoughts and behaviors, and this ability may provide a unique mechanism by which mindfulness meditation reduces distress.”[6] If one is in their car before therapy, fretting about how the session will go, paying mindful attention to thoughts and bodily sensations can be useful for breaking off a cycle of repetitive thought. 

As the level and fervor of one’s pre-therapy anxiety increases, a greater variety of techniques might be necessary for relief. Research has found that cycling through the aforementioned methods of 1) self-compassion, 2) positive, excitement-based self-talk, and 3) mindfulness tend to be effective at reducing cyclical worries. The usefulness of these strategies lies beyond simply mitigating momentary distress. According to findings by Fredrickson and Joiner (2002), positive affect and positive coping mutually build on each other, creating an upward cycle of enhanced emotional well-being and positive emotions.[7] Theoretically, the more one can switch into a positive affective state, the more likely they will be able to cope, and the more one can cope positively, the more easily they will be able to switch into a positive affective state. Over time, this self-reinforcement may lead to a significant reduction in anxiety before a potentially stressful situation, such as therapy.

Q&A

SAS Therapists Discuss Pre-Therapy Anxiety

1. How would you describe a first therapy session?

“First sessions can be exciting and overwhelming. Clients often feel like they have to justify their needs, and often resort to explaining every step leading up to the session. They may also want reassurance or a prognosis. From the therapist's perspective, there is the clinical pressure to conceptualize, diagnose, and develop a treatment plan. I try to defuse these pressures by explicitly designating initial sessions as conversations, and enlisting clients' help in structuring them. I invite clients to ask questions of me, and show my interest in them as people. This doesn't mean that we avoid the urgent themes above, but that they can surface organically rather than being overt frameworks. This is also my way of showing, rather than telling, what my overall therapeutic approach is. Thus, clients hopefully get a sense of what it means to be present together in a session.” (Jerome Veith, Ph.D., LMHCA)

“A first session is often about getting to know each other, with therapists' task being to try to understand their new client and what is holding them back, and the clients' task being to see if there is a good personality/ style fit with this clinician. Fit is important, and having a good working relationship is one of the most important foundational pieces for good clinical work, so paying attention to that is important. If you're nervous going into a first session, seeing it this way (therapists are working to understand and not judge, the power of judgment is in your hands) may be reassuring.” (Case Lovell, LMHC)

“A lot is happening in a short period of time.  The therapist is likely working to listen deeply to understand how they can most be of support to the person in front of them. The therapist may already have a helpful clinical blurb from intake paperwork, but nothing can replace the power of spending time hearing (and vicariously experiencing) the client's story, in their own voice. On the client's end, the first therapy session is a window into whether they might be able to be fully themselves with this particular therapist. This is not necessarily a simple thing to feel through. It can take time within the session itself, and possibly even the week(s) after to reflect on how the connection resonates for them.” (Jennifer Yeh, LMHC)

2. What tips do you have for people who are anxious about beginning therapy for the first time?

“It's totally normal to feel nervous before a first session. I certainly do! It might be helpful for clients to remind themselves that there is no way a session has to go, regardless of whether it's the first or fiftieth. Therapists are generally so eager to be there for the client that they will meet them however they show up.” (Jerome Veith, Ph.D., LMHCA)

“There is no need to worry about being 'a mess' or 'too anxious:' seeing how your anxiety manifests in the here-and-now of an interpersonal interaction is a valuable source of clinical information. Like an auto-mechanic getting to hear the weird engine noise in the shop and not just hearing the driver's description of it, they can get a clearer sense of what might be going wrong to make things not run smoothly.” (Case Lovell, LMHC)

“I really want to normalize experiencing anxiety when beginning therapy for the first time. It's such a brave thing to be authentic and dig into the vulnerable parts of your story. It can be so healing to begin sifting through and communicating these emotional pain points with another person, but it's not something that we've necessarily been socialized to do. Remember that it’s okay to go slow and take the time you need.” (Jennifer Yeh, LMHC)

3. What do you recommend for people who feel like they have nothing important to discuss before a therapy session?

“I know it's difficult, but I would say ‘trust in the process.’ That feeling, of not having important material to discuss, is itself worthy of discussion. The only justification one needs in showing up to therapy is a desire or need to connect.” (Jerome Veith, Ph.D., LMHCA)

“In terms of not having important things to talk about going into a session, some sessions are more exploratory than others, and that is OK. Having the space to connect with the feelings and concerns that are coming up in the moment (vs. needing to have premeditated topics) can lead to some very powerful and productive sessions. It can be helpful sometimes to show up with an agenda, but as long as you're showing up and being present in that session, there is a space to move forward.” (Case Lovell, LMHC)

“Know this can be a completely natural part of the therapeutic process, and it's completely fine, because topic content is actually only one part of the therapy session.  The client showing up-- just as they are-- sharing the thoughts or emotions they're experiencing in the moment and seeing what emerges from there, can also be very healing.  Remember that if the dynamic is a fit, you can also trust the therapist to guide you towards uncovering what emotional needs might be unmet or need tending to.” (Jennifer Yeh, LMHC).

Cognitive reappraisal is defined by Gross & John (2003) as “a form of cognitive change that involves construing a potentially emotion-eliciting situation in a way that changes its emotional impact.” Across several studies, their research found that “reappraisal was related positively to sharing emotions, both positive and negative.” In the context of therapy, an outcome of increased transparency should only improve the effectiveness and productivity of a session. Additionally, Gross & John (2003) found that people who regularly reappraise their emotions show fewer depressive symptoms, contrasted with people who habitually suppress their emotions and exhibit increased symptoms of depression.[8] The evidence supporting not only the efficacy of the reappraisal technique itself, but also the positive impact on social and interpersonal openness and general depression, has direct applicability to pre-therapy nervousness. Even if the anxiety is minor, it serves one to reappraise anyway and prime oneself toward increased communication, rather than risk engaging in suppression of the anxiety and building a habit which is correlated with elevated depressive symptoms.

Contributed by: Maya Hsu

Jerome Veith, Ph.D., LMHC, Case Lovell, LMHC & Jennifer Yeh, LMHC

Editor: Jennifer (Ghahari) Smith, Ph.D.

References

1 Brooks, A. W. (2014). Get excited: Reappraising pre-performance anxiety as excitement with minimal cues. Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, 143(3). https://doi.org/10.1037/e578192014-321

2 Ibid.

3 Ibid.

4 Walinga, J. (2010). The Experience of Emotion. In Introduction to psychology: 1st Canadian edition. essay, BCcampus.

5 Garland et al., (2011). Positive Reappraisal Mediates the Stress-Reductive Effects of Mindfulness: An Upward Spiral Process. Mindfulness 2, 59–67. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-011-0043-8  

6 Jain et al., (2007). A randomized controlled trial of mindfulness meditation versus relaxation training: Effects on distress, positive states of mind, rumination, and distraction. Annals of Behavioral Medicine, 33(1), 11–21. https://doi.org/10.1207/s15324796abm3301_2

7 Fredrickson, B. L., & Joiner, T. (2002). Positive emotions trigger upward spirals toward emotional well-being. Psychological Science, 13(2), 172–175. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-9280.00431

8 Gross, J. J., & John, O. P. (2003). Individual differences in two emotion regulation processes: Implications for affect, relationships, and well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 85(2), 348–362. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.85.2.348

The Myths of Self-Compassion and How to Build it Into One’s Life

unsplash-image-ktPKyUs3Qjs.jpg

Understanding Self-Compassion

Research has found that increased self-compassion is linked to increased feelings of social connectedness, as well as decreased feelings of self-criticism, depression, rumination, thought suppression, and anxiety.[1] Those who are self-compassionate tend to possess psychological strengths such as happiness, optimism, wisdom, curiosity, initiative, and positive affect.[2] Additionally, self-compassion can improve emotional resilience when facing challenges or personal flaws, such as failing a test or social situation. 

Self-compassion is not “positive thinking,” but rather the ability “to hold difficult negative emotions in non-judgmental awareness without having to suppress or deny negative aspects of one’s experience”.[3] This type of non-judgmental awareness has a multitude of potential applications, and studies have found that self-compassion can reduce harmful effects of disordered eating, improve interpersonal relationships, and promote healing in clinical settings.[4,5] In an interview with Dr. Mark Leary, a professor emeritus of psychology and neuroscience at Duke University, he notes that self-compassion is not only the effort of “reducing meanness toward oneself,” but also involves “the addition of kindness.”[6] Self-compassion also must not be confused with self-esteem, which instead of kindness, is a system of hierarchical ranking in which one derives pride from a sense of superiority.

While the benefits of self-compassion correlate with those of self-esteem, the two are distinct, as self-esteem rests on external evaluations and outcomes. Self-esteem is vulnerable to fluctuations and can be associated with perfectionism, anxiety, and self-judgment, since the elevated esteem toward oneself is conditional upon success. Research by Gilbert and Irons (2005) explores the divergence of these two qualities, finding that self-compassion deactivates the threat system and activates feelings of security, safety, and relaxation, whereas self-esteem alerts and energizes the body through dopamine when one perceives the self to be “better” in some way than others.[7]

SE.png

Certain myths hold people back from letting go of judgmental self-talk and embracing a stance of warmth and understanding. Some don’t believe they are worthy of gentle affection, while others are afraid to let go of self-criticism out of fear that all their motivation for success will disappear along with it. Self-criticism is a habit that people can come to depend on as a galvanizer for change and progress. In conversation with Leary he explains how negative self-assessment is absolutely important and necessary for accurate and honest self-awareness and reflection. However, the reality that people occasionally fall short of their goals is not mutually exclusive with self-compassion. One can acknowledge failure while making sure not to add unnecessary cruelty and subjective, global judgments of themselves. Furthermore, research conducted by Leary et al., (2007) suggests that “highly self-compassionate [people] have more accurate perceptions of themselves than less self-compassionate participants.”[8] Maintaining a factual account of one’s shortcomings helps prevent self-talk that may be based in extrapolative, subjective, and global judgments such as “I am a failure.” By abstaining from derision and overwhelming self-criticism, the self remains in a state of safety, which is essential for growth to occur.

Learning to incorporate self-compassion into one’s life is no small feat. As Sonya Jendoubi, a therapist at Seattle Anxiety Specialists believes, “it’s a continuous process that involves commitment to the self through a willingness to face, explore, and understand the current way in which one relates to oneself.” Jendoubi finds self-compassion integral to her work with clients, and unremittingly relevant to the work that occurs in therapy. If one notices a dearth of self-compassion and wishes to change this, beginning therapy might be the next step. One can also begin to implement the components on their own. Kristin Neff, a pioneer in the field of self-compassion, has proposed three main components to achieving well-being via self-compassion: 1) self-kindness, 2) a sense of common humanity, and 3) mindfulness.[9] 

Self-kindness - Flaws are noticed and treated gently, and the overall emotional tone when talking to the self is soft and supportive, like one would use to talk to a small child. When life proves challenging and painful, self-kindness looks like taking the time to turn inward and offer oneself soothing and comfort.

Common humanity - A shared sense of humanity involves recognizing that all humans are imperfect, fail, make mistakes, and engage in unhealthy behaviors. Life’s difficulties are framed in the light of commonality, inclusivity, and universality, such that one feels connected to others through their personal pain. When considering one’s flaws it is important to not cut oneself off from others, in the misbelief that one has failed unforgivably. Shaming oneself is the antithesis of self-compassion. 

Mindfulness - Mindfulness includes awareness of the present moment in a clear manner. The first step to mindful self-compassion is recognizing the fact that one is suffering. Pausing to acknowledge one’s pain may seem rudimentary and overly-simple, but it can also be an immense challenge; it is crucial to pull oneself away from their current process of self-judgment or rumination to validate one’s own suffering. Neither ignoring nor ruminating is mindful. 


Examples of what self-compassion can sound like:

  • “My date told me she ‘just wasn’t feeling it,’ and left early. I’m sad and feel insecure about a joke I said. Even though she didn’t particularly like me, I’m not defined by her opinion of me. Plenty of people appreciate my humor and find me attractive, and no one is liked by everyone. I will just let myself feel this sadness tonight though, because it always hurts to experience a form of rejection.”

  • “The job I wanted turned me down. This is extremely disappointing and I’m scared that no one will ever hire me. I have to remember that timing and other random external circumstances are always at play, and that I just wasn’t the best fit. Thinking about remaining unemployed is making my stomach and jaw tense. I am sending awareness to these areas in my body and taking a few deep breaths. This is not personal and I am still a hard-working, disciplined, and focused individual with lots of potential. Everything will be ok.”

  • “Everybody is awkward at one time or another. Just because I froze during that meeting and didn’t know what to say does not mean that I am exceptionally awkward or socially inept. I felt some shame and embarrassment afterward, but that is completely normal. I may have even reassured someone else who froze up during their last meeting that it is not the end of the world to not know what to say all the time.”


The biggest barrier to implementing more self-compassion into one’s life may be the challenge of just remembering to spend time focusing on self-kindness, common humanity, and mindfulness. Therefore, setting aside a few minutes each day or week to journal self-compassionately may jumpstart the routine of this mental response, moving oneself and closer to automatic self-compassion. For specific journaling prompts and other exercises targeting self-compassion, Neff provides several of these on her website

As with all things healing, lasting, and good, this process of reworking your internal self-talk will take time. One should expect countless moments of recognizing the need for self-compassion only after the fact. Additionally, there will always be a part of the self that offers some criticism or judgment, so it’s important not to become defeated when perfection isn’t attained. And, one should remember to celebrate the moments in which they can smile at themselves, where they previously might have criticized. 

For more information, click here to access an interview with Psychologist Milla Titova on happiness & well-being.

Additionally, you may click here to access an interview with Psychologist Mark Leary on self-compassion.

Contributed by: Maya Hsu

Editor: Jennifer (Ghahari) Smith, Ph.D.

References

1 Neff, K. D. (2009). Self-Compassion. In M. R. Leary & R. H. Hoyle (Eds.), Handbook of Individual Differences in Social Behavior (pp. 561-573). New York: Guilford Press.

2 Neff, K. D., Kirkpatrick, K. L., & Rude, S. S. (2007). Self-compassion and adaptive psychological functioning. Journal of Research in Personality, 41(1), 139–154. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrp.2006.03.004

3 Neff, K.D. (2009).

4 Adams, C. E., & Leary, M. R. (2007). Promoting self–compassionate attitudes toward eating among restrictive and Guilty Eaters. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 26(10), 1120–1144. https://doi.org/10.1521/jscp.2007.26.10.1120

5 Williamson, J.R.  (2014), Addressing Self-Reported Depression, Anxiety, and Stress in College Students via Web-Based Self-Compassionate Journaling

6 Leary, M., & Hsu, M. (2021, October 4). Psychologist Mark Leary on Self-Compassion. Seattle Psychiatrist Magazine. Retrieved October 5, 2021, from https://seattleanxiety.com/psychology-psychiatry-interview-series/2021/10/4/psychologist-mark-leary-on-self-compassion

7 Gilbert, P. & Irons, C. (2005). Therapies for shame and self-attacking, using cognitive, behavioural, emotional imagery and compassionate mind training. In P Gilbert (Ed.) Compassion: Conceptualisations, research and use in psychotherapy (pp. 263 – 325). London: Routledge. 

8 Leary, M. R. et al., (2007). Self-compassion and reactions to unpleasant self-relevant events: The implications of treating oneself kindly. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 92(5), 887–904. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.92.5.887

9 Neff, K.D. (2009).

Denying Fate: Envisioning an Answer to Burnout in Play

unsplash-image-FtZL0r4DZYk.jpg

“Working 9 to 5, what a way to make a living

Barely getting by, it's all taking and no giving

They just use your mind, and they never give you credit

It's enough to drive you crazy if you let it”[1]

Introduction

“9-5” by Dolly Parton, a hit that has remained popular to this day, is upbeat, bouncy, and extremely easy to dance to. However, the content of the song itself is not quite so lighthearted. For many working adults in this country, a 9-5 job indeed has the potential to be crazy-making despite barely getting one from bill to bill. Parton, in her more recent song based on the 1980 classic, sings that she staves off the craziness with her passions after work, from 5-9, by doing “somethin’ that gives life its meanin,’”[2]. For many, however, that is not an easy feat: If the “crazy” in question is one of burnout, one is precisely incapable of doing more. We may associate the “crazy” Parton mentions in this song with burnout, a truly maddening condition that can be extremely debilitating if not treated.

The symptoms of burnout can include utter physical and emotional exhaustion, a lack of motivation or general desire, or an incapacity to empathize or care about things as one once did. These effects can take over every part of one’s life. To address this intensity and immense scope, there is no shortage of self-help books and blog posts devoted to burnout, written by everyone from psychologists to mommy-bloggers. Some jobs offer vacation benefits or required sabbaticals to force people to take a break and deal with their symptoms of burnout. Despite widespread efforts to teach people how to recognize the signs of burnout and what to do about it, it seems to continue unabated.

One reason may be burnout itself: Who has the bandwidth to work on their overwork? Another reason could be a culture of fatalism/cynicism. In conversations about burnout, both clinically and colloquially, there is the tendency to talk about the condition as a seemingly inevitable state we all should expect in our adult and working lives. I aim to combat that trend. In what follows, I propose framing burnout as something that is not inevitable. Thus, rather than merely asking how to mitigate or manage it, I inquire how one might go about preventing it. Play, with its immersive qualities, will become a main focus. First, however, I will track the origins of burnout in our economic and social history to point out that burnout has an origin before which it was not commonplace. This can teach us what contributes to the condition and help counteract the narrative of inevitability. Another narrative deserving our scrutiny is the framing of burnout as an inconvenience, another hurdle to getting work done, as opposed to a severe health hazard. Within this narrative, burnout poses as a mere distraction from our productivity, and its insidious effects on our health goes unrecognized. Understanding why burnout occurs is essential as the condition has legitimate and long-lasting effects on people’s well-being. Research focused on trying to understand the experience of burnout shows us that, if not attended to and dealt with soon, people’s physical and mental health may be at permanent risk. The concern, then, is not that we are simply neglecting our health, which we could easily take care of if only we made the time to do so. Rather, our concern should be about whether we even have the time and capacity to attend to the symptoms of our burnout amidst our overworked schedules. As we track the origins of burnout in American society, our concern crystallizes: we have reached an alarming unconscious consensus that our health is no longer an actual priority that necessitates time, especially not when that time could be used for work. As burnout is a matter of health outcomes and not simply work habits, we need to look at solutions to burnout as life-saving treatments, not further optimizing practices.

If the debilitating aspects of burnout come from an overworked, industrialized work-life balance, perhaps an answer to burnout necessitates a total restructuring of the schedule itself. I argue that play is one such way in which we can protect against burnout, which makes it a healthy activity and not a mere frivolity. Playing is not always regarded as a legitimate activity for adults, especially for working adults with careers and/or families to maintain, yet this perspective may directly stem from and feed into the unhealthy pursuit of optimization that makes burnout flourish. If we manage to convince ourselves that work must always come first and therefore convince ourselves that play is, by definition, superfluous, we are also managing to remove from our lives a major way to prevent and relieve stress. Play is not only fun but restorative, with results that directly combat the negative effects of burnout in both the mind and body. Where burnout exhausts the body and depletes its resources, leaving a person sicker and potentially permanently weakened, play reinvigorates; where burnout darkens hope and motivation, leaving a person feeling unmoored and pointless, play holds them and reopens the door to their future. Additionally, when we examine what play affords us both physically and psychologically, there can be no denying that play is inherently healthy alongside delightful. Where burnout depletes and destroys a person’s will, play has the potential to reinvigorate and rebuild a person’s mind and body. Whereas burnout is unhealthy and a byproduct of a dangerous work ethic, play is healthy and a surprisingly accessible and preventative treatment to burnout’s pains.

Conditions Contributing to a Burnt-out Community: A Playless Society

At some point in this country’s history, we began prioritizing work over play and leisure, to the point that our social fabric, our physical health, and mental well-being have suffered. The history of burnout is a surprisingly long one, and it is inextricably tied to U.S. economic history. At the tail-end of the Great Depression, the American Dream offered hope to an impoverished workforce by promising that with just enough work, with just enough time and struggle and grit, any man could make it big. Coming from the mouths of the wealthy, this message seemed to have reliable endorsement It does not matter if you have a higher education (drop out of Harvard, even), and it does not matter if you have an office space or social standing (as long as you have a garage) – if you have a dream and a will, you can have it all. For people so far from having it all, this was an incredible message, and it was a message that made the pain they felt at the end of each day mean something. Buying into the American Dream, devoting any and all of one’s time to working, giving up thought of anything else was easy when the promise of leisure and luxury lay on the horizon. However, people working towards their American Dreams did not foresee another world war that put massive strain on fighting- or working-aged people, nor could they foresee the onset of the Vietnam War a generation later. While World War II severely impacted psyches in its own way, the Vietnam War is directly linked to burnout in that this war-ravaged people both overseas and at home.

In 1973, Dr. Herbert J. Freudenberger coined the term “burnout” to attempt to describe his own experiences of working in multiple therapeutic positions and feeling utterly exhausted after working with traumatized soldiers for over twelve hours a day. Dr. Freudenberger, who sometimes worked 14-15 hours a day and who devoted his time to trying to help traumatized soldiers at the height and end of the war, could only describe the fatigue and futility he was feeling as utterly burning out. Drawing from the experience of chronic drug users, he associated his own symptoms with those of someone addicted to drugs: higher impulsivity, increased risk taking, a looser grasp on the reality currently at hand, etc.[3] Dr. Freudenberger worked with soldiers dependent on medication/heroin to survive the atrocities they faced in the war and who “burned out” on these drugs. The efforts to transition these men back into working society only compounded the effects of the war, generating even greater stress and panic. Beyond Freudenberger’s own experience of burnout, society was facing a widespread risk of its own burnout due to the social climate of the time. Other people who had never even experienced the war, but who had experienced other traumas, reported similar symptoms to the veterans of the war. The more traumatized communities became, the more they burned out, for they were trying to work and engage in a society from a much more precarious position than a non-traumatized peer.

Despite the decades separating us now from the economic and social instability of the 70s, we are still burning out at an alarming high rate. In 2019, Anne Helen Petersen published a book called The Burnout Generation based on her article in Buzzfeed, in which she used this term to characterize her own and other millennials' experience in the workforce. Seen as lazy, spoiled, and childish by older generations, millennial adults struggled to gain their footing in an entirely different economic world than that of their parents. Petersen, although her job did not necessarily suffer much, felt drained, frozen, and unable to do much of anything in other aspects of her life. Petersen realized that she and her peers were too exhausted to do anything because they were working all the time, a message that Petersen saw implicitly and explicitly urged on her since she was young.[4] Now, decades after the war and following multiple economic recessions, many people work so much because not only are they paying for the material goods they may like to possess, the government services they contribute to for the theoretical betterment of every person, but they are also paying the cost of merely living. It is expensive to live, especially when one is not born into any wealth, so this conundrum of why we forsake play for work cannot be put on the shoulders of the individual. While that complicates the question immensely, it does not stop us from asking it. Rather, we must redirect our question towards someone – or something – else. How we pose such a question and when is a matter for an entirely different discussion, so we must return to the main point at hand: we spend so much time working because we must live. When play does not put food on the table, it must take a backseat to the “real” work that can. But this distinction is inherently where our interests lie: What does play provide, since it does not give us the immediate ability to pay the cost of living? Alongside the move towards emphasizing work over everything leisurely, relegating play to a more frivolous position has stripped play of its therapeutic and health-related qualities. In the face of economic utility that seeks to optimize life to the highest financial benefit, even health takes a place on the back burner. For the people struggling to find their footing after the Depression at the expense of their own time and breath, for the veterans of traumatic wars, for the twenty-something-year-olds today who have to choose working an extra shift to make rent over taking a day to rest, health has always come behind profit and productivity. Living in such a way has physical and psychological consequences on a person that need to be proactively addressed.

Research on the Hazard of Burnout in Different Aspects of Adult Life

Conversations about burnout in clinical studies often look at healthcare workers and physicians to ascertain the effects of the condition, because this is a population that consistently works extremely long hours and is almost always understaffed or under-supported. If the conditions leading to burnout include an extremely imbalanced work/play life and a debilitating lack of support, real and perceived, then physicians may be textbook cases for burnout in American society. Now, more than ever, the examination of physician burnout has significant weight as physicians continue to work amidst the global COVID-19 pandemic. The rise of burnout has increased seemingly exponentially since the pandemic began for all workers, even those working from home, but healthcare workers have had to take on a major brunt of the effort in keeping communities afloat. For people working on frontlines during the ongoing pandemic, especially those working in intensive care and specifically COVID-19 units, working has become a legitimately traumatic event. Physicians work day after day in 80-hour weeks to fight off the disastrous effects of the virus in sick patients, but the never-ending influx of critical patients and the steady death rate has started taking its toll on healthcare workers. In September 2020, a study conducted by the American Psychiatric Association concluded that nearly 36% of front-line physicians had symptoms akin to those of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, including but not limited to nightmares, flashbacks, and constant panic attacks.[5] Research on the long-term effects of physician burnout prior to the pandemic have been eye-opening, but these results may hold even more weight now as we continue to move through more unprecedented times. 

Previous Research

Burnout has increasingly become the focus of clinical research recently due to the sharp increase of reported cases in working-class adults. Just as Petersen noted in her book and article, more working-class adults entering the workforce have reported experiencing exhaustion, mental health issues, and an alarming decrease in their energy and motivation. With the previous generation starting to retire out of the workforce, burnout sweeping through the remaining and incoming employees is a huge risk to optimal productivity. However, research around burnout has not only focused on studying this experience for the aid of maintaining the workforce but also out of deep concern for people’s long-term well-being. Recently, researchers have observed and tracked multiple health conditions related to burnout, and these conditions may have permanent and severe impacts on people’s lives. The risk of harm necessitates immediate attention and action as these studies reveal a credible risk to people’s physical, psychological, and social health.

Studies have shown that being burnt-out for extended periods of time is associated with cardiovascular diseases, increased pain, a lowered immune system, sleep disorders, and generally poor health habits.[6] A systematic review of 31 studies focused on burnout specifically in physicians found that burnout was a “recognized workplace hazard”[7] that necessitates ongoing proactive measures on both administrative and individual levels. This review compiled a list of symptoms and outcomes of burnout from the 31 studies, most of which reported emotional exhaustion or depersonalization as a major symptom. The outcomes of these studies seem to indicate that “hazard” is describing burnout lightly, as studies reported a range of outcomes from “decline in job satisfaction” and the “intention to leave job” to “body pain” and “daily alcohol consumption”, a “decline of empathy towards patients,” and “medical mistakes” (in which patients were harmed).[8] The words cardiovascular diseases and sleep disorders already carry a fearful weight, but the possibility of decreasing empathy in physicians who people depend on to care for their health and safety is especially frightening. With a reported difference in empathy levels, we can see that burnout not only affects the body but also our psychosocial capacity to be in relation to each other. As many pop-psychology blogs about burnout say, maintaining social connections is extremely important for mediating the effects of burnout – with decreased empathy, though, these relationships may possibly be at risk.

Outside the healthcare field, burnout in the workplace is correlated with workplace conflicts or bullying, which compound other outcomes of burnout in a potentially vicious cycle.[9] Research has also shown that burnout has adverse effects on teachers and students in various disciplines, so much so that the outcomes of burnout in teachers compounds the outcome of burnout in their students.[10] Parental burnout is also prevalent, the outcome of which includes possible addiction and sleep disorders, relational/social conflicts between family members, and an increased risk of neglect and abuse of the child.[11]

Current Implications

There has been a tremendous amount of research on the outcomes of burnout and their potentially devastating effects on our lives, but the startling results and conclusions of these studies still raise the question: What do we need to do to stop people from burning out? Out of all the previously mentioned studies and reviews looking at varying fields and aspects of adult life, burnout has been shown to reduce people’s ability to connect with or even care for each other, as well as diminish people’s capacity for satisfaction in their own lives and potential futures. While the possible physical effects of burnout need to be seriously considered, the potential for burnout to disrupt or damage our ability to see each other as people, to care for each other and help each other, needs to be given more weight in our consideration of burnout’s place in adult life. Most of these studies conclude by calling for precautions to be built into the organization of the workplace: preventative measures that try to ensure people are not working for too long at once, to safeguard against interpersonal conflicts, and to hold administration accountable. All these solutions, however, still act within a theoretical framework in which burnout is localized in the workplace or classroom itself. When the answer to burnout lies in better staffing and scheduling, or better workplace benefits and support networks, or even better accountability measures for when all else fails, we seem to be missing a crucial part of the picture: hat makes people susceptible to burnout prior to working at all?

As not every physician, teacher, student, employee, parent, etc. experience symptoms of burnout, we can most likely say that burnout is not a universal inevitability of being an adult, although it may feel otherwise when the effects of burnout affect so many of us. If it’s not universal, what essentially inoculates someone from developing burnout or at least lessens the symptoms of burnout? A Harvard study asked similar questions in 2016, concluding that practices that foster empathy, compassion, and that work towards shifting one’s perspective away from a hypercritical, over-productive mindset help stave off the effects of burnout.[12] Better empathy, compassion, and an improved mindset are ideal but listing these and having these are two different things, which brings us to consider what tangible actions we can take to bring us closer to our goal of preventing burnout. It is with this question that we turn now to discuss play, which is presented here as a tangible and feasible option for preventing burnout.

Playing Again: Play as a Potentially Life-Saving Option

The Surprising Benefits of Play

The health outcomes of chronic and seemingly normalized burnout should push us to look into what we can do to mediate the health risks posed by burnout or, better yet, focus on addressing the deeper conditions contributing to a workforce/lifestyle that continuously burns people out. The previous studies listed various ways of mediating the effects of burnout to help employees feel more able to work or continue in their roles without any more hiccups, but these solutions act more as retroactive remedies for burnout than plans to avoid burnout in the first place. For a solution to our larger burnout problem, and not the problems posed by burnout, we need to explicitly call into question the optimization-based mindset that has, for decades now, deemed it normal and even necessary to have a life built solely around work at the expense of leisure or play (specifically work that contributes, produces, and culminates in some aid for the larger community). Many articles that propose an answer to burnout, some quick and easy fix at little to no cost, that is not inherently accessible, calling people to leave work or simply add one simple task to their day. Taking breaks, building in time for breathing exercises or mindfulness practices, planning after-hour destress events with friends are all actions that a) force us to try and further stretch ourselves to make time for more tasks in our already over-scheduled agendas and b) do nothing to address the fact that we are overscheduled at all. It is not natural, nor should it be considered natural, for people to live their adult lives with chronic pain, stress, and health issues — the very existence of these health risks should tell us that there is nothing natural about working the way we do. What we need to start doing instead, then, is move towards a new framework that disrupts our impulse to optimize our lives to a detrimental point — we need to sort out our priorities and give weight back to play. It is much easier to say this than do this, and it’s worth noting that such a solution requires a massive collective effort, but every large and organized change has to start somewhere, even if that origin seems small.

We can start reprioritizing play in our lives by reconsidering the way we conceive of play’s role in our lives as we age. Play is often thought of as mostly something from children’s lives, such that a child plays while an adult does not. Most definitions or explanations of the word “playful” include some sentiment along the lines that being playful is not being very serious or being in some way childish. Relegating play to just our earlier stages of development cuts us off from the continued and long-lasting benefits play offers for our emotional and physical health. Rather than viewing play as something we grow out of, it may be more beneficial to conceive of play as something that grows with us — play does not have to nor should it look the same to a person when they are two and when they are twenty-two, and that is because the goal of play has to change according to our lives in the playful moment. As a toddler, my goal is to learn how to walk, so I may play by rolling around and toddling from place to place. At twenty-two, I am almost proficient in walking, to say the least, so my play will not look like rolling around on the ground — instead, it may look like reading fantasy novels to better equip my imagination. Just because my play now does not involve full-body activity, nor does it involve toys like blocks or dolls or tea parties, does not make my play any less playful. After all, I am still inherently engaging in a game through which I learn something for and about myself that I will then take with me into future moments.

Play & Health, Physical and Mental

As an adult, play is not only a form of developing skills or learning about my own capabilities as play also has tangible and necessary healing effects that make playing an inherently healthy act. When we play, our minds and bodies take up activities that have beneficial effects on many of our internal systems. Play has been shown to physically reduce the effects of stress in children’s bodies, and considering the physical outcomes of burnout that call our attention and research to the experience in the first place, we should inquire more about play’s possible benefits to physical health. Playing directly affects a child’s neurological development; the same brain regions essential for learning, engaging, and acting as agents in their environments are involved in play: the prefrontal cortex (responsible for most of our executive function such as planning, thinking/working memory, processing, etc.), the amygdala (the center of fear-processing and memory as well as risk assessment), as well as many other regions of the brain.[13] During childhood development, when these brain regions are in their initial stages of growth, play helps the brain develop at a faster rate and with more complexity than brains of children who play less. With such complexity, skills like creativity and critical thinking may come quickly and with more dimension.

For adults whose brains may be nearing or already reached the end of their development, play does not lose its neurobiological importance. With the brain, especially as we age and our neural pathways start to deteriorate, it is a matter of “use it or lose it.” Play acts as a way of practicing and maintaining brain function so that our cognitive functions deteriorate at much slower rates, and we may continue to be creative or imaginative for longer and with barely less dimension. Play is not only a neurological stress reliever, but also a psychological and social relief. In children, play is often a stress-relieving activity in which they are able to have a sense of control or predictability, especially when the rules of the game come from their own minds.[14] For adults, play can also function as a psychological stress reliever by giving us the ability to create a stage on which we write the scripts and control the movement of the players, whether those players be our own person or crochet hooks or soccer balls. Control and predictability both offer a sense of relief, especially when the stressor is an apparent or felt powerlessness and futility that we often see in working. 

Play is similar to mindfulness or gratitude exercises that both call for continued practice and ultimately lead to positive habit-forming outcomes. Playing is a self-revitalizing act that makes future playing easier and more accessible. It may seem arduous to try and plan a life fuller of play, especially considering how packed our schedules already seem without this added task. Play, however, resists scheduling and demands spontaneity or else our playful actions become yet another added obligation we have to fill before we have completed our day. How then, does play become part of our lives? At first, we may have to plan in times to play, just as specialists and blog posts call for scheduled breaks into long workdays, but with play, this planning will soon fall away.

One need only look to children for a sense of this. Children, for whom play is routine, the world is not simply the world as we see it; the living room is not just a room, chairs not simply chairs, but instead a fortress, or perhaps a ballroom, or something equally as fantastical. When children play, and especially when they do so with their whole mind and body, every coming moment is a moment of massive potential for playful activity, and the world itself holds more space for play than before. Left in any sort of room, a playful child can make anything out of the space, and it is because they have learned to see the world around them as an inherently playful place. In such a place, possibilities of emotions, actions, and lives are endless, so if children can see the world like this, what is stopping adults? When we play — when we fully let ourselves play and give ourselves up to the possibilities held within play — we fundamentally change. These shifts may be imperceptible yet impactful, for these changes reposition us within our lives to become more capable of play. That stressful day, those piling-up work assignments, the ache in the back that you just cannot shake: these will all still be there after we finish playing, but we ourselves have been able to reposition ourselves to experience these frustrations and pains differently. Play is self-sustaining and self-revitalizing, so while it may be a chore to start playing, it will not take much to keep the ball rolling at fantastical speeds.

Making (and Taking) Time for Play

Scheduling play into our lives sounds easy in practice and yet is rarely so simple. One place in which we may have already created the possible space for play is the therapy session. Play is a valid therapeutic method, and it is especially favored in the therapeutic care of children, so why could it not benefit adults needing therapy as well? Play is a way of practicing using our imagination, a way of letting the boundaries of reality fall away without making ourselves tumble as well. From this creative, unlimited space, we are able to have a level of distance from daily life stressors that allows us to reimagine our lives and imagine a way to get there. While the constraints of our society and environments may have something to say in contention with what we imagine in therapeutic play, the inherent use of imagination and creativity blows open our lives to the option of getting through life’s stressors. What “therapeutic play” looks like may be vague, but not necessarily unattainable — in fact, many therapeutic conversations could be considered a form of play. Oftentimes, playing is easier or more enjoyable when we have someone to play with, either as some kind of companion within the game or a model for the game. Dialogic therapeutic conversations, in which both client and therapist actively take part in and open themselves up to whatever the session’s conversation may be, can be a form of play that embodies this inclination towards playing with as well. Drawing from previous conceptions of play, philosopher Hans-Georg Gadamer discusses play in his work, Truth and Method, as an event of suspension and immersion.[15] To Gadamer, play is an active moment which, in order to enter into successfully, requires the player to let themselves become part of the game. In this moment, the hard delineations of the self blur with the play itself. These delineations, although important for the most part, may make people more susceptible to burning out by profoundly isolating them from any inoculative experiences. The merging that occurs in play brings the players to a space in which all of their external ties (the obligations, anxieties, and all that cause the player to build such rigid walls in the first place) are temporarily suspended. This suspension may lead to a much-needed point of catharsis for the players. This play is dynamic and marked by an exchange, either between the player and the play or between players themselves, and this can be found in mutual dialogue. When therapeutic sessions center dialogue between client and therapist, a conversation that asks both people to make themselves open to giving up their firm positions distinct from each other, the healing effects of play may be found.

In creating a clinical environment in which the goal is true dialogue, in which both parties are equally immersed and reciprocating of the other, both client and therapist are able to play around with life stressors while supporting each other in a mutually beneficial event. Therapeutic dialogue can yield more self-understanding and healing because it does not depend on the constraints of diagnostic analyses or protocol-driven techniques. Rather, what makes therapeutic play and dialogue effective is the suspended distance it provides both client and therapist from which both parties may come to a better understanding. As opposed to a more sterile or clinical session, in a playful session, there is the potential for something more to happen other than conversation, and it is this potentiality that may hold a deeper healing quality than the label of mere “talk therapy” can capture. Additionally, incorporating and acknowledging play within therapy helps to bolster the fact that play is a necessary action for someone’s health. Just as medical doctors prescribe medications for illnesses in the body, prescribing or practicing play from a therapeutic perspective emphasizes play as a legitimate treatment for burnout and stress-related illnesses. It may seem arbitrary to prescribe a “dosage” of play because the notion of a daily prescribed amount of play may seem to detract from the spontaneity that makes play playful, but just as mentioned before, this prescription could be the needed push towards self-sustaining treatment. A “prescription” of play for burnout also signifies to us that burnout is something that can be treated, and those who are burnt out are not doomed to a prognosis of feeling apathetic and lost for the remainder of their lives. Although the underlying social and economic organization of our lives work hard to remove any capacity for play from our lives in favor of productive work, we do not have to be fated to be cogs in a machine that will eventually break. Rather, attending to and making time for our needs to play breaks us out of the sharply limited spaces given to us as adults and blows our futures wide open. Instead of living lives defined by work and the fatigue it brings onto our shoulders, we are meant for something more, something fun.

Contributed by: Neha Hazra

Editors: Jennifer (Ghahari) Smith, Ph.D. & Jerome Veith, Ph.D.


References

[1] Parton, D. (1980). 9 to 5. On 9 to 5 and odd jobs [MP3 file]. Nashville, Tennessee: RCA Studios. 00:30.

[2] Parton, D. (2021). 5 to 9. On 5 to 9 [MP3 file]. Los Angeles, California: Butterfly Records. 00:58.

[3] Lepore, J. (2021, May 17). Burnout: Modern affliction or human condition? The New Yorker. https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2021/05/24/burnout-modern-affliction-or-human-condition

[4] Petersen, A. H. (2019, January 5). How millennials became the burnout generation. Buzzfeed. https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/annehelenpetersen/millennials-burnout-generation-debt-work

[5] Weiner, S. (2021, June 29). For providers with PTSD, the trauma of COVID-19 isn’t over. AAMC. https://www.aamc.org/news-insights/providers-ptsd-trauma-covid-19-isn-t-over

[6] Salvagioni, D.A.J., Melanda, F.N., Mesas, A.E., González, A.D., Gabani, F.L., & Maffei de Andrade, S. (2017) Physical, psychological and occupational consequences of job burnout: A systematic review of prospective studies. PLOS ONE, 12(10): e0185781. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0185781

[7] Azam, K., Khan, A., & Alam, M. T. (2017). Causes and adverse impact of physician burnout: A systematic review. Journal of the College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan, 27(7). p. 7.

[8] Azam, 2017, p. 6.

[9] Srivastava, S., & Dey, B. (2020). Workplace bullying and job burnout: A moderated mediation model of emotional intelligence and hardiness. International Journal of Organizational Analysis, 28(1), 183-204.

[10] Madigan, D. J., & Kim. L. E. (2021). Does teacher burnout affect students? A systematic review of its association with academic achievement and student-reported outcomes. International Journal of Educational Research, 105. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijer.2020.101714

[11] Mikolajczak, M., Brianda, M. E., Avalosse, H., & Roskam, I. (2018). Consequences of parental burnout: Its specific effect on child neglect and violence. Child Abuse & Neglect, 30, 134-145. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2018.03.025

[12] Wiens, K., & McKee, A. (2016, November 23). Why some people get burned out and others don’t. Harvard Business Review. https://hbr.org/2016/11/why-some-people-get-burned-out-and-others-dont

[13] Siviy, S.M. (2016). A brain motivated to play: Insights into the neurobiology of playfulness. Behaviour. 153: 819-844. PMID 29056751 DOI: 10.1163/1568539X-00003349

[14] Gunnar, M. (2020, September 23). Play helps reduce stress. Minnesota Children’s Museum. https://mcm.org/reducing-the-effects-of-stress-on-your-child/

[15] Gadamer, H. (2013). Truth and method. Bloomsbury Academic. 

Introducing The Seattle Psychiatrist Magazine

Seattle-Psychiatrist.jpg

Announcing our new MAGAZINE!

The Seattle Psychiatrist Magazine is our new online publication focusing on the analysis and discussion of research and practice in psychiatry and clinical psychology.

We are excited to provide this free resource to the public, in our commitment to improving community-wide mental health while increasing the access to high-quality educational information.

* New articles published monthly!

If there is a topic of interest to you that we have not yet published, please let us know by emailing info@seattleanxiety.com.