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Employee Assistance Program (EAP):
EAP ARTICLES
Socially Isolated and Sick
Loneliness kills, according
to research dating back to
the 1970s, In one classic
study, published in the
American Journal of
Epidemiology, socially
isolated people were between
two and three times more
likely to die during the
ten-year study than those
who had many friends.
“The
increase in morbidity with
social isolation is equal to
that of cigarette smoking,”
notes Martha McClintock,
PhD, a University of Chicago
psychology professor who
researches social isolation
and stress.
There
is a path from loneliness
and other forms of chronic
stress to many health
consequences-including
increased risk for cancer,
cardiovascular illness and
Alzheimer’s disease. In
humans, some of these
effects may be due to the
practical benefits of having
a social network, according
to Gretchen Hermes, MD, PhD,
at the University of
Chicago. For instance,
people with many friends are
more likely to brush their
teeth, practice good
hygiene, and exercise more
frequently. And outgoing
people may have more friends
to care for them, and bring
them food or medicine when
they are sick.
But new
animal studies suggest that
there are direct,
psychological pathways from
loneliness and other chronic
stressors to illness. And
those pathways may differ
depending on gender and
temperament, with male and
behaviorally inhibited
animals being particularly
susceptible, researchers are
finding.
Hermes
and her colleagues found
that, overall, social
isolation suppressed wound
healing, and further
suppression in immune system
response.
Men and
women who are lonely,
bereaved, or who lose their
partners are known to be
more vulnerable to disease
and death.
In the
animal studies, those who
were group housed, rather
than living in individual
environments, with richer
social contexts and
sexualities, lived longer
lived longer and healthier
lives with happier
dispositions, less anxiety
and depression and fewer
periods of illness. This
same effect has been shown
in the human studies.
Social
interaction, partnerships,
and sexual intimacy are
known to promote good health
and long lives. Humans need
to be together.
As
flight attendants we are
around people all the time
but may experience feelings
of loneliness even in a
crowd. Let’s make an effort
to reach out to each other
and to connect with one
another. We already have a
vital support system in
place.
Let’s
keep one another healthy!
Take care of each other and
be well!
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
By Jeffrey Myles - MEC EAP Chairperson
Are You Okay? Please remember:
After any critical incident, you are not okay, It is just like having accident in your car and the person and or people ask you are you okay? It is a common human response.
You may be okay the first time. But the second time or third time may cause you to suffer post dramatic stress disorder.
Post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, affects some people after a traumatic experience. People
with PTSD usually continue to show acute trauma symptoms at least three months after a traumatic experience. In some cases, there may be a delay of six months, a year, or even several years
before symptoms appear.
Common Examples of PTSD:
1. Inability to feel any emotional connection to the event.
2. Frequent sleep disturbances.
3. Acute anxiety, irritability, or outburst of anger.
Treating PTSD
Treatment of PTSD can include individual or group counseling or group behavior techniques such as
relaxation exercises. Although talking about symptoms may be painful and confusing, disclosing them in a safe, can bring relief. Medication can sometimes be recommended.
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, you might be suffering from PTSD. If you feel like you are suffering from any of these symptoms please contact the following:
Jeffrey Myles,
713-447-2164
MEC Employee Assistance Program Chairperson
EAGLEEAP@aol.com
Debt Counseling and Repayment Programs:
The National Foundation for Credit Counseling sponsors a nationwide network of local non-profit
organizations that provides consumer credit education, confidential budget and debt counseling, and debt repayment programs to families and individuals debt free. Find a local consumer credit
counselor at http://www.debtadvice.org or call 1-800-388-2227.
Emergency Financial Assistance and Other Resources
Pegasus
: This not-for-profit charitable organization was created to assist AFA members coping with
a critical, life-threatening or disabling illness or injury. Pegasus offers short-term emergency grants
for members who have been qualified through an application process. The application and eligibility criteria can be downloaded at www.afanet.org/pegasusproject
AFL-CIO Community Services: AFA’s affiliation with the AFL-CIO affords members access to a nationwide network of 200 full-time labor liaisons skilled in providing union members and their
families with referrals to local community resources and services when individual and/or family resources are slim. Find your local community service liaison at www.aflcio.org/communitypartners/peoplehelp under the People Who Help Handbook or call 703-683-7833.
Union Community Fund
: Many local union communities have created charitable funds to assist members when times get tough. Find out if your area has one by linking to http://www.unioncommunityfund.org/contacts.asp
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