EAPWorks

EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

 

Winter 2000

A Newsletter to Promote Employee Health in the Workplace

 

( WHAT DOES ALLEN EAP OFFER?

Allen Employee Assistance Program (EAP) services are a free benefit provided by your employer to help you and your family deal with life's problems and the stress caused by these problems.

You can talk to an EAP counselor about:

Ÿ Relationship difficulties

Ÿ Alcohol or drug abuse

Ÿ Family or marital conflicts

Ÿ Financial problems

Ÿ Job stress

Ÿ Grief & loss issues

Ÿ Depression or anxiety

Ÿ Parenting issues

Ÿ Gambling concerns

( When should I call Allen EAP?

Does a problem occupy a lot of your time? Does it interfere with your normal activities at work or at home? Have symptoms persisted for more than two weeks? If the answer to any of these questions is yes, it's time to get help.

( How do I make an appointment with Allen EAP?

To schedule a confidential appointment, call (319) 235-3550 or toll-free at 1-800-303-9996, Monday - Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Identify yourself as part of your company's Employee Assistance Program. We'll schedule an appointment to meet your needs, and evening appointments are available.

( What if it's an Emergency?

If a personal crisis occurs when our office is closed, call (319)

235-HELP or toll-free at 1-800-303-9996. An EAP counselor will contact you within one hour of your call to help you stabilize the situation.

Setting New Year's Resolutions

Most people think of things in their lives they would like to change or goals they would like to accomplish year round. But January 1, the beginning of a new year, seems the logical time to begin working toward a goal. Here are some tips for setting yourself up for success.

· Keep it simple:

Try to narrow your goal down to something specific and attainable. Often times we think of very big, vague goals. This often sets us up for failure.

· Break it into small steps:

If you structure your goal so that you can attain several small victories, you will be more motivated to stick with it until the end. For example: if you want to stop drinking coffee you could say, "After week one I will cut my consumption down by one cup per day. The next week I will cut out two cups, until I don’t drink any."

· Choose a starting point:

Figure out when you will start. You don’t necessarily have to start on January 1. Maybe the month of January is a stressful time, so vow to start in February. But don’t beat yourself up for starting late.

· Redefine the goal:

After a while you may find that the goal was too ambitious. But don’t completely give up on it. Just scale it down a bit. Maybe say that you will drink only one cup of coffee every day and not cut it out completely.

· Act on your plan.

No matter what your goal is, do something about it.

   

                                                            - Source: Angie Pierce

 

HOW DO I HELP MY CO-WORKER?

e holiday season brings stress. This time of year brings financial worry and family tension, among other things. People often sense that a co-worker is having a problem before managers do. The first step in helping is taking note of observable changes in the co-worker.

Some observable signs of stress are:

· Noticeable changes in mood and personality.

Examples are: crying, moodiness, irritability, defensiveness, or hostility.

· Performance deficits.

Increased mistakes, inconsistent work quality.

· Attendance problems.

Tardiness or absences.

· Decreased concern with safety.

Careless handling of equipment is an example of this.

· Domestic complaints.

About family or partner.

 

One simple way of helping your co-worker is to just listen to them. Sometimes people just need to express what they are going through, so they want a good listener. If this form of support does not seem to help, encourage them to contact the Allen Employee Assistance Program.

 

You can be a quitter . . . . .

Anyone who wants to stop using tobacco can choose from a variety of strategies. Options include nicotine replacement to reduce the desire to smoke (via nicotine patches, gum, nasal spray), a medication called bupropion (Zyban), plus a new education program to become smoke-free called Breath Savours. Which strategy will work for you? Here are some guidelines to help you.

z Make a list of what you like and dislike about smoking. Add to it and read it daily. Answer the question: "Which do I want to do most - quit smoking or continue smoking?" Remember, there are very few decisions in life that can be made on the basis of 100% preference. The important point is to decide which you want most and to act on that decision.

z Pay attention to your smoking. Note what you're doing and whom you're with when you light up.

z Make small changes. List the specific times you smoke each day. To start, just avoid smoking at one of those times.

z Change daily habits which remind you of smoking - lunch in a new place, avoid your "smoking chair."

z Cleanse your body of nicotine - drink lots of liquids. Avoid coffee, caffeinated soft drinks, and alcohol, which increase the urge to smoke.

z Talk to ex-smokers. Find out what has worked for others.

z Seek help - the more, the better. Start with your doctor. Also consider taking part in a program, such as Breath Savours, to stop smoking. Doing so increases your odds of success by up to eight times.

z Evaluate what went wrong if you've tried to stop unsuccessfully. Were the physical symptoms of withdrawal too great? If so, nicotine replacement or bupropion may help. Were there other reasons? If so, other approaches to correct these problems may be needed.

z Hang in there! Many successful ex-smokers have made multiple attempts before they succeeded.

Successful Smoking Cessation-Breath Savours

A new three-hour class, Breath Savours, offers support and information to help you create an individual action plan to quit smoking. Class registration for this one-evening class includes take-home materials for each participant and support person.

"People go through various stages in their readiness to stop smoking," explains smoking cessation facilitator Marty Colwell. "The class format gives participants practical strategies to change smoking behaviors so they can become smoke-free."

Breath Savours class is taught by health professionals from several backgrounds. They will help you identify your personal barriers in quitting. These health professionals have broad experience in knowing what type of information and support is most beneficial in helping you reach your goal to quit smoking.

The one time fee of $30 allows participants to return to a later class offering at any time for ongoing support. Nicotine patches may be available through participation in the class.

 

The Surgeon General reports:

"Smoking cessation represents the single most important step that smokers can take to enhance the length and quality of their lives."

- Quitting smoking decreases the risk of lung cancer, many other cancers, heart disease, stroke, chronic lung diseases, and respiratory illnesses.

- Male smokers who quit smoking between ages 35 and 39 add an average of five years to their lives.

- After one year off cigarettes, the excess risk of heart disease caused by smoking is reduced by half.

- Ex-smokers have better health status than current smokers. Ex-smokers have fewer days of illness, fewer health complaints, better self-reported health status, and reduced rates of bronchitis and pneumonia.

                                                                - Source: Surgeon General's Report

The Black Hawk County Health Department and Allen Hospital are collaborating to offer Breath Savours several times throughout 2001.

Classes are 6:00 - 9:00 p.m. on:

January 11          March 8

May 10              July 12

September 13        November 8

 

For more information on Breath Savours: Call 235-3550 or 291-2413

 

EAPWorks is published quarterly by Allen Memorial Hospital for Allen EAP clients to provide reliable information on health-related topics. It is not intended to provide medical advice on personal health matters, which should be obtained directly from a physician.