Mental Health and Emotional Health as a Building Professional part 2
Where is your head at right now?
On our last issue we touched on Mental and Emotional Health. Let’s continue our conversation and get a little bit more in depth and understand what the difference between the both are, and what the possible similarities can be. As I was doing research on this very important subject I realized, I knew very little about mental and emotional health and, what I did know equated to the foam on top of the ocean waves at the beach. What I want to do is just to bring attention to what you may be feeling when it is associated to your profession as a Building professional. How you react to issues, your team, residents, tenants, and supervisors is very important not only to you, but to the people around you. It is important to show those around you, that as a leader you have things under control even when the world around you seems to be falling apart. This immense responsibility can and does cause a lot of mental and emotional stress on you even if you don’t feel it at the time. Take the time to reflect on what is going on around you and inside you and make those positive corrections for a well balanced work life and personal life.
Home owners: I am sure you have come to feel some anxiety when it comes to owning and maintaining your home as well, it may not be to the same degree as a person running a Hi-Rise building or multi family building with anywhere from 100 to 600 residents is experiencing. I can and do completely relate to home owners as I am one and have also invested in rental property and know the ins and outs of maintaining and upkeeping that investment. Please feel free to read on.
Here is where I put in Disclosure: (I am in no way a professional Therapist, Counselor, or Psychiatrist.) What I have written has come from my experiences and fellow RM’s in the industry. If you feel that you need mental or emotional help please contact a professional.
Your Mental Health:
What Is Mental Health?
Mental health refers to your cognitive and psychological functioning — the way your brain processes information, handles stress, makes decisions, and perceives reality. It’s your internal operating system.
What are some Components of Mental Health?
Cognition – Is all about how you think, learn, remember, and problem-solve
Perception – how you interpret the world around you (Understand that two people can witness the same car accident, and when asked about the details can come up with two very different versions.
Neurochemistry – brain chemistry, neurotransmitters, and hormone regulation
Mental disorders – conditions that disrupt mental processes (e.g., anxiety, depression, PTSD, bipolar disorder)
What are some signs of Mental Health Struggles?
Difficulty concentrating or making decisions (Has this happened to you? Were you trying to figure out a cause of a problem, but your mind is everywhere but where it needs to be)
Excessive worry or intrusive thoughts ( I know I have felt dread sometimes. Thinking that I am not going to being able to figure something out in a timely manner and I start thinking of a bunch of crazy thoughts that really have nothing to do with the task at hand)
Feeling detached from reality (derealization) ( I will have to say that I have had those thoughts that this can’t be real, and no-one else can possibly be going through what I am going through.) Maybe I am in the Matrix, NEO where are you?
Sleep or appetite changes not tied to emotions ( The mind is racing from the days events and you just can’t shake it off, and that great meal you are about to sit down and enjoy, ain’t going to happen. Then you can’t get that good nights rest either. That really sucks! )
Persistent sadness, hopelessness, or fatigue ( We all feel sadness, hopelessness, and fatigue at times, but If you are experiencing any of these continuously. Please seek some professional help before you sink any deeper )
I think that most of us have struggled with one or more of the signs above. I know, I sure have.
What are possible Root Causes?
Genetics (family history of mental illness)
Brain chemistry imbalances (e.g., serotonin, dopamine)
Trauma (especially early childhood trauma)
Substance abuse
Chronic medical conditions (e.g., thyroid issues, chronic pain)
What are some steps to take for Care and Support?
Psychiatric care (medication management, diagnosis) Doesn’t mean you are off your rocker you are just looking for that balance.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) (To many Big words for me)
Mindfulness and meditation (to improve brain function) ( As I have stated in my other articles, meditation has been a great help for me, give it a try. )
Sleep, nutrition, and exercise (all affect brain health) (I was definitely a victim to all of these. After finally listening to my number one therapist (my wife, you were right dear) eating better , getting the extra sleep, and exercising has been a great help)
Your Emotional Health:
What Is Emotional Health?
Emotional health refers to your ability to understand, express, and regulate your emotions. It’s how you deal with feelings like anger, sadness, joy, frustration, and love — and how you interact with others. Finding your balance.
What are some of the Core Components of Emotional Health?
Self-awareness – recognizing your emotions (This is something you can do throughout the day. Be aware of how you are feeling at different times during the day, examine what may have triggered that specific feeling at that moment. Write it down some where so that you can refer to it later.)
Emotional regulation – managing how you express feelings (That old saying fits right here. “Think before you speak” Look at ways to control that feeling, take a 5 second pause and then react accordingly without flying off the handle.)
Empathy – understanding others’ feelings (Very important to try and put yourself “In the other persons shoes” if just for a minute. You may be able to understand where they are coming from and address appropriately. This is something that we as building professionals have to do almost on a daily basis.) Home Owners who have rental properties put yourself in your tenants position in the moment if you can, and try to understand where they are coming from as well.
Resilience – bouncing back from emotional setbacks (How you react to those set backs will help you understand and react better next time. As you practice bouncing back you become more aware of your emotions and are able to adjust.)
What are some signs of Emotional Health Issues?
Below are some signs of emotional issues that you may not have recognized before. By looking deep within yourself and being honest with your self you can begin to see the difference and start making the change you may need.
Frequent emotional outbursts or mood swings
Suppressing or avoiding emotions (e.g., never crying, always “fine”)
Difficulty forming or maintaining relationships
Low self-worth or feeling emotionally “numb”
Using unhealthy coping mechanisms (e.g., overworking, addictions)
What are some possible Root Causes?
Below is a list of some of the root causes of emotional feelings. I will just let these speak for them selves. If you feel that any of these might be something that are accurate then by all means seek professional help.
Unresolved trauma or grief
Lack of emotional support growing up
Cultural or societal norms that discourage emotional expression
Negative thought patterns learned over time
Poor self-esteem or body image
Care and Support
Talk therapy (is especially a good way for processing emotions)
Journaling and reflection ( Jotting down how you feel in the moment will help you reflect later on what was going on and how you handled the issue.)
Building emotional vocabulary (naming your feelings, as you are writing down your days events can help you identify some possible deeper issues))
Mind-body practices (yoga, breathing exercises, going to the gym, walking, sitting in silence for a little while can all help in the healing process.) Try some breathing exercises right now, they are simple and easy to do and don’t cost you anything! Try this simple exercise every morning. It just takes five (5) minutes to do. Inhale through your nose while counting to 4 and exhale out of your mouth while counting to 4. Studies have shown that this simple exercise can help lower stress and blood pressure and calm the body down. There are many different breathing exercises you can try, find the one that best works for you. (Google here I come!)
Healthy relationships and communication skills (communication, communication, communication, we have all heard this over and over again. It’s time to put into practice.)
I hope I didn’t get to technical, or clinical with you guys. I am reflecting on the experiences that I have gone through in my long history of being a Building Professional. Many times I have wanted to run out of my buildings like my hair was on fire screaming like a wounded animal, but I didn’t. I’ve learned that I can’t really take everything so seriously. It was just eating me up inside and affecting my health, my family and my relationship with friends. Problems will always arise in any industry and in our personal lives, it is how we go about solving them in a healthy, productive, concise way that matters. When you have a mental plan in your head as to how you will react to a situation, life won’t look so challenging.
There are many good books out there that you can read to give you guidance and support on your journey. I have read books by Wayne Dyer such as “Pulling your on strings” and “The sky is the limit” also check out “ How to stay Calm and Not Give a F*ck” by Anna Milton. Find the book that speaks to you and read it, or get it on audio and as you are walking around listen to i and put into practice immediately.
Info-Bit:
Have you cleaned your Ice-Maker - water dispenser lately? If you haven’t, now is a good time to do so. It really isn’t that difficult to do. You can get on YouTube and find some really good how to videos that will take you step by step. ( It is amazing what a little vinegar, hot water, and dish soap will do!) RM’s if you have a commercial ice machine in your building have you taken a look at them lately? Get your Handy person to empty them out, give them a good scrub down and clean those water lines to get rid of that lime and scale that builds up after time it will also get rid of that funky smell and taste. I recommend having your machine cleaned at least once (1) every six months. It also depends on how hard your water and how much scale builds up and how quickly it builds up. If you don’t feel comfortable having your team do the cleaning call a professional in to do it. (Don’t forget to budget this in for next year as well!)
Later!