You may drive by a hospital or see a sign on someone’s lawn that proudly exclaims, “Heroes work here!” or “Thank you to our healthcare workers!” These are wonderful sentiments and ones we certainly echo and appreciate. This is why we need to ask ourselves, “Who will care for the caregivers?”

Being the person who cares for others, who explains and mitigate risks, manages supply needs, and provides the emotional support during this pandemic for others, all while managing our pre-pandemic tasks can sure take a toll. As a result, caregivers, by choice or profession, are facing a higher likelihood of experiencing symptoms of trauma and burnout during the global pandemic.

Experiencing such increased stress over an extended period of time will have a remarkable short-term and long-term impact on the caregiver community. It can affect us both professionally and personally at a time when we need to be on the top of our game as we attempt to keep the pandemic at bay.

“Burnout” is defined by World Health Organization as:

• Feelings of energy depletion or exhaustion
• Increased mental distance from one’s job, or feelings of negativism or cynicism related to one’s job
• Reduced professional efficacy

Honestly, it is fair to guess you or frontline staff you know are experiencing some of the above. The question is, are these feelings impacting our daily lives and is burnout morphing into something more like trauma?

Which May Look More Like:

• Difficulty sleeping
• Increase anxiety
• Hypervigilance
• Psychical symptoms

Being able to take preventative measures as well as recognize the symptoms and respond can help us all feel our best.

Many of us have built a little COVID-19 toolkit we tote around to help keep us safe, a mask and some hand sanitizer perhaps. Maybe it is swimming around the bottom of your purse or neatly tucked away in your glove box – but have you prepared a toolkit for your emotional health during the pandemic?

Here are some quick ideas to help you fill up that toolbox and prepare for the tough times to come:

• Take care of your basic needs – eat well, hydrate, and sleep – we all know how a healthy body facilitates a healthy mind. You may be busy, but you can’t do your job unless you take time to fuel up for the task ahead.
• Laugh – share some memes with your friends, read a good “dad joke,” or just laugh at nothing at all if you’ve got the time.
• Safely stay engaged with friends – we know we’re socially distant, but don’t be socially negligent – reach out, call someone on facetime, play an online game together
• Seek support from supervisors and peers alike – sometimes all we need is to speak candidly with someone who knows what we’re going through. Shared empathy is a wonderful virtue that helps ease stress.
• Use time off wisely, really unwind and disconnect – Turn off notifications, shut down your computer, drive to your local park and leave your phone at home – anything to take some time for yourself.
• Find a few moments each day to de-stress – This one might seem the most impossible, but you need to find a way. Take out some headphones and listen to your favorite song, download an app for five-minute meditation, or just go for a walk around the neighborhood. These small breaks add up to a lot of positive vibes.
• Get professional help – if you are overwhelmed reach out to a professional – there is no shame in this. You may be a hero, but you are not a SUPER hero. We’re all still vulnerable to the effects of stress.

And don’t forget to take care of your colleagues. Keep an eye out for the signs of burnout or trauma as listed above in this article. If you see someone you are close to experiencing these symptoms, don’t be afraid to reach out.

Resources:

(Facing Burnout As A Healthcare Worker, 2020)

(How To Build Your Emotional Personal Protective Equipment, 2020)

(Burn-out an “occupational phenomenon”, 2019)

The post Who Will Care for the Caregivers? appeared first on Easterseals New Jersey Blog.

Telehealth for Your Mental Health

Let’s face it – 2020 has been a bad year for mental health. Not only have our lives been upended by a deadly pandemic, one of the best ways to cope with the mental backlash has been affected as well. Attending therapy can be beneficial in many ways; however, during these challenging times therapy can provide additional support. Thankfully, telehealth is quickly becoming the new and accepted alternative to traditional as opposed to in-person therapy.

With the rise of secure streaming technologies, we can meet with our therapist while staying safe in the comfort of our own homes. Still, this can be different and sometimes require us to make adjustments if we’re going to get the most out of our telehealth sessions. Here are some tips to help make this transition a little easier:

1. Check to see if you have access to the right technology for your appointment. Different providers have different platforms they’re using to administer telehealth sessions. Do you need a computer? A microphone? A broadband internet connection? Speak with your provider beforehand and ensure you have the equipment you need to speak with your therapist.
   
2. If you don’t live alone, finding a private place for your appointment can be difficult. You want to make sure others in your home cannot overhear your conversations. Ensure those you live with know you are having an appointment and ask them to respect your privacy by staying away from the room where you are having your session. Utilizing earbuds or headphones with a microphone attachment can be helpful for this as well. You won’t have to speak as loudly and you’ll be the only one who can hear your therapist. You can ask your housemates to put on headphones during this time as well (ask them to catch up on their latest podcast or listen to some music)
   
3. Try to minimize distractions during your session. Turn off your phone, email, and any other notifications that could pop up during your appointment. Maximize the chat window so you don’t see anything on your desktop that could catch your attention. Also, remember to clear your physical space as well. Maybe leave yourself one thing to fidget with if that keeps you focused, but otherwise try to keep your space clear and clean so you can focus on your session.
   
4. Since you are not “commuting” to and from your therapist’s office, allow time to decompress after your session. Sometimes that commute allows for a recovery time we don’t often consider, with that buffer removed from your therapy routine, you need to make time for a transition. Allow yourself 10 minutes after your session to listen to music, stretch, or do some yoga prior to return to normal household activities.
   
5. Not commuting to therapy also allows individuals a greater chance of keeping therapy appointments because there are fewer obstacles to overcome. However, don’t allow these appointments to catch you off-guard just because of their convenience. There are still often penalties for missing an appointment. Set a reminder on your phone for a few minutes before the appointment to ensure you’re on time and prepared. The more you do this, the more of a habit it will become.

Remote Counseling Works!

We hope you are able to use these tips to make the most of your next telehealth therapy appointment. It’s incredibly important to take some time to nurture your mental health during this time of isolation and uncertainty. We hope you’ll take advantage of telehealth counseling, but there are also steps you can take to provide self-care. We encourage you to read up on our tips on how to stay “mental healthy” during the pandemic. Easterseals offers telehealth accommodations for some services so if you’re interested, please visit our website and let us know how we can help.

Do you have any other advice on how to make the most of telehealth appointments? Please leave your thoughts in the comments below.

The post 5 Ways to Make the Most of Your Next Telehealth Therapy Appointment appeared first on Easterseals New Jersey Blog.

Know Your Voting Rights

The election is right around the corner, taking place on Tuesday, November 3. At Easterseals New Jersey, we want voting to be as easy and accessible an experience as possible. That’s why we have put together a list of five things voters with disabilities need to know about their voting rights, how they can vote, and where to turn should they have any questions.

1. The upcoming election will be a vote-by-mail election. However, if you are unable to vote by mail, in-person voting will be available in at least one polling place per municipality. Please contact your local County Clerk for more information on available locations and accommodations.
   
2. Voting is your right as a citizen and no one should tell you otherwise. If you are experiencing challenges voting, please call 1-866-OUR-VOTE (1-866-687-8683). You can also request assistance in voting by filling out our 2020 Voting Pledge!
   
3. Polling places MUST be accessible to disabled voters. Do not be afraid to speak up if you feel your rights are being violated. To learn more about voting rights in New Jersey, please check out the State Division of Elections Voter Rights and Accessibility webpage here.
   
4. You are allowed to, but not required to have someone help you vote. For in-person voting, this can be a poll-worker or someone you bring with you. Any person may assist you in completing a vote-by-mail ballot.
   
5. You have the right to vote privately and independently. If someone is violating your right to vote privately and independently, please call 1-866-OUR-VOTE (1-866-687-8683) to report your situation and receive assistance.

This only a shortlist of important items, so please let us know if you have any additional questions about how to ensure you can vote in 2020. You can also check out our Voting Information Center website for more detailed information and helpful voting tools.

Happy voting!

The post Five Things People with Disabilities Should Know About Voting appeared first on Easterseals New Jersey Blog.

At the moment, most of us are stuck inside trying to keep ourselves entertained until this period of quarantine concludes. A great way to pass the time is by immersing yourself in a new show or movie. When looking for something to watch, most of us like to pick a story we can see ourselves in. If that’s the case, why do we rarely see movies or tv shows that portray characters with disabilities, especially in main roles? Furthermore, how often are these characters played by actors with the disability they are portraying? 

In a 2018 study by the Ruderman Foundation, out of 284 shows across 37 networks and 4 streaming services, 21.6% of characters with a disability were portrayed authentically. That means that nearly 80% of stories told about the disability population were told inaccurately. How can you accurately portray the experiences of someone with a disability if you are not casting someone who has lived through those experiences? The media often confuses presence with representation, but the two are not the same. Not only do we need to see more stories of individuals who have disabilities, we need to see more stories FROM individuals with disabilities.  

So how about we spend less time talking about content with authentic disability representation and more time watching. Below is a collection of shows and movies you can stream right now! Some are documentaries, some are fictional stories, but all of them include a story of an individual/individuals with a disability played by someone who can tell the story best.  

Asperger’s Are Us (2016) – Netflix 
Documentary 
Rating: TV-14 

“A comedy troupe of four friends on the autism spectrum prepares for a final show before its members go their separate ways”- Netflix 

This documentary does a great job of reminding us how important friendship is. Whether it’s, taking the next step in life, dealing with family, or preparing for a big performance, these four comics show us the power in our relationships with those close to us. 

If you like this documentary, be sure to check out the sequel, On Tour With Asperger’s Are Us, on HBO or Amazon Prime!  

Best and Most Beautiful Things (2016) – Amazon Prime 
Documentary 
Not Rated 
Warning: Intended for mature audiences only, contains themes of a sexual nature. 

 “In a celebration of outcasts, a precocious young blind woman vanishes into quirky obsessions and isolation. With humor and bold curiosity, she chases love and freedom in the most unexpected of places: a provocative fringe community.”- IMDb 

This film stands out because it dares to go places the media typically doesn’t. When we see individuals with disabilities on our screens, we are usually given a surface-level look into their lives. Very rarely are topics such as sexuality and relationships among individuals with disabilities given much screen time. This film portrays these subjects in a refreshing and unique way, bringing light to conversations and ideas that for long have been considered taboo.   

Crip Camp (2020) – Netflix 
Documentary 
Rated: R 

“A groundbreaking summer camp galvanizes a group of teens with disabilities to help build a movement, forging a new path toward greater equality.”- Netflix 

This new documentary tells the story of dozens of unsung heroes of the disability rights movement, many of which met at a camp for children with disabilities in the 1960s. The combination of camp footage, shot by the campers themselves, coverage of their historic demonstrations, and present-day interviews with the campers/activists telling their first-hand accounts offer a groundbreaking look at the disability rights movement and the individuals behind it.   

Dealt (2017) – Hulu, Amazon Prime 
Documentary 
Not Rated 

This is the story of a man obsessed with his craft. Richard Turner, one of the world’s most impressive card magicians, is also blind, but he does not want that to be the takeaway. Hear from Richard and his family how his ambition and passion for card magic has impacted all of their lives.  

The Healing Powers of Dude (2020) – Netflix 
TV Show (Comedy) 
Rating: TV-Y  

Noah, an 11-year old boy with social anxiety disorder, navigates middle school with the help of his emotional support dog.  

Representation in children’s shows is especially important because the audience is learning about themselves and others by what they see on television. Every child likes to feel like they are being seen and heard. Finding characters that they can relate to in their favorite shows helps validate their experiences and makes them feel like they are not alone. Shows like The Healing Power of Dude offer that sense of validation for children with disabilities that is otherwise hard to find in today’s media. 

My Beautiful Broken Brain (2016) – Netflix 
Documentary 
Rating: TV-14 

“After suffering a stroke at age 34, a woman documents her struggles, setbacks and eventual breakthrough as she relearns to speak, read and write.”-Netflix 

This film does not hold back on exposing the difficulties and obstacles that came with Lotje’s recovery after experiencing a stroke. With much of the footage recorded by Lotje herself, viewers are able to follow her journey step by step as she learns to adapt to her new circumstances.  

Roll With Me (2017) – Netflix 
Documentary 
TV-MA 

“Backed by a crew of unlikely allies, newly sober paraplegic Gabriel Cordell teams up with his nephew for a grueling wheelchair trek across America” – Netflix 

The audience gets a day by day viewing of Gabriel’s journey from California to New York by wheelchair. On his mission he encounters dozens of strangers who have their own stories to tell, inspiring Gabriel to complete his journey for not only himself but for the hundreds of supporters he’s gained along the way. At the same time, the multidimensional story covers Gabriel’s experience with drug use and how addiction is also affecting his nephew, who has joined him on his journey.  

Speechless (2016) – Hulu 
TV Sitcom 
Rating: TV-PG 

“Maya DiMeo (Minnie Driver) is a mother who is willing to do anything for her family. Her son, JJ (Micah Fowler) has cerebral palsy and she will fight for justice in order to give him what he deserves.” – Freeform 

Creator, Scott Silveri based the show on the real-life experiences of his family and his brother, who has cerebral palsy. Being that cerebral palsy exits in various forms, and not everyone shares in the same experience of his family, Silveri consulted with the chief executive of the cerebral palsy foundation, Richard Ellenson, to assure that the show upheld a multifaceted approach to portraying the character’s experience with CP. The show also stars Micah Fowler, a young actor who like his character has cerebral palsy. In regards to his role and disability representation, Fowler told Forbes “A person living with that disability can draw from real-life experiences and bring depth, perspective, and an essence to the role that a person not having lived with a disability could not.” This show made our list because not only is it entertaining, but the people behind it have a genuine concern for telling the story the right way. 

Before you stream consider this… 

Hollywood is changing, and (very) slowly, but surely we are seeing a stronger presence of the disability community on our screens. Unfortunately, presence does not always mean accurate representation. The above are examples of stories told by the people who can tell them best. Whether documented, or scripted, the stories of those with disabilities matter, and the way they are presented on our screens matter just as much. We must demand more from the content we watch. There are disability stories to be told and plenty of individuals with those disabilities that can tell the stories best. We cannot settle for presence, we must demand authenticity.

With authenticity comes inclusion.  

With authenticity comes more opportunities for actors with disabilities.  

With authenticity comes more individuals seeing themselves on screen.  

With authenticity comes real progress. 

To stay up-to-date on cool content like this or find new resources for people with disabilities, follow us on social media.

Any other programs you want to recommend? Tell us about them in the comments below.

The post Enrich Your Quarantine Watchlist With Disability Content Worth Watching appeared first on Easterseals New Jersey Blog.

Here’s What You’re Probably Not Hearing Enough of…

If you check the news or head to social media, you will surely be met with endless headlines of COVID-19 related news and health warnings. You will probably be given tons of virus-related advice and instructions on how to stay physically healthy. What you are less likely to hear, however, is a reminder to check in on your mental health.  

When you’re feeling overwhelmed by all that is around you, here are some reminders you probably aren’t hearing enough. 

Take It Easy on Yourself

Many may see this period of quarantine as a time to explore new hobbies, get work done around the house, or learn a new skill. While you can absolutely partake in these activities it’s important to remember that it is perfectly OKAY if you feel like you aren’t being as productive as you typically are. The world is experiencing an unprecedented period of time, you cannot expect to function as if everything is normal.  

At this moment, you and those around you are learning to adapt to circumstances many have never experienced before. Adjusting to an entirely new way of life can be exhausting and can take a significant toll on your mind and body. That’s why it is so important to give yourself a break. Understand that being able to accomplish anything right now is a success that you should take pride in. You are surviving each day of a global pandemic. You are facing the uncertainty and fear head-on, and that is enough.  

It’s Okay to Be Disappointed

Have you ever had someone tell you “there’s always someone who has it worse”? I bet it didn’t make you feel any better. That’s because while it’s important to be grateful for what you have, whether that be your health, your loved ones, or a safe place to quarantine, you’re still going to feel a little sad about what you’re missing out on. Guess what? That’s okay! You may feel grief for aspects of your life that may never be the same, or you may feel anger over missing a celebration or milestone that was canceled because of COVID-19. Whatever it is, feel it! You can be disappointed about your situation while still having compassion for those who have it worse. The two are not mutually exclusive.  

Don’t Feel Bad About Setting Boundaries

While you’re adjusting to life under these circumstances, you may need to reevaluate your relationships with others. This may mean having difficult conversations with people you care about. For example, are you doing your best to avoid too many COVID-19 related updates? You may need to tell your friends and family to limit their virus-related conversations when you are around.  

Quarantine can make setting boundaries extra difficult, especially if you are quarantining with others. Since you’re home all day, you may be losing out on the alone time you typically look forward to as part of your daily routine. A solution may be to designate some time to be alone and asking those around you to refrain from interacting with you during this period. While setting boundaries can be uncomfortable, it can ultimately help keep your mind and body healthy. 

Mind Your Media

With the status of the virus changing by the hour, staying informed is critical and can even be lifesaving. However, the way in which you consume and share the constant flow of updates should be closely evaluated. You may have been advised to limit your news consumption. Doing so may prevent you from becoming overwhelmed by the influx of new information, limiting your stress level. Furthermore, paying attention to exactly what you’re consuming is just as crucial to your mental health.  

False news stories can spread rapidly on the internet, especially in times of panic and uncertainty. When you come across a piece of information that worries or alarms you, take the time to make sure it is factually true before you allow yourself to become stressed over it. You owe it to your mental wellbeing to protect yourself from unnecessary worry. This is also true for the sharing of information you find. Do not contribute to the spread of unwarranted fear by sharing false news stories. Not only is it harmful to your mental health, but it is dangerous to the mental wellbeing of others. Furthermore, before sharing news, remember to respect the boundaries of others who may be trying to limit their intake of updates.  

What’s Most Important?

While you’re trying to do all you can to keep yourself and your loved ones safe, remember… 

Many of us are so consumed with the health and wellbeing of our loved ones that we forget to check in with ourselves. You cannot be of great help to those you love if you are not taking proper care of your own mind and body. This period of fear and uncertainty may be taking a significant toll on your mental health, but it will not last forever. We will see an end to the uncertainty and the chaos will subside. In the meantime, just hang on. Be kind to yourself and take the necessary steps to maintain your mental wellbeing. Everything will be okay. 

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