Stepping Back to Move Forward: A Mental Health Customer Story
In a world where the pressures of life can often outweigh our capacity to cope, mental health issues like anxiety, depression, and burnout have sadly become increasingly common. It's not unusual for us to meet individuals who've had to step back from work due to these challenges.
In these moments, we're grateful to offer a helping hand, guiding them toward long-term wellbeing. That's exactly what happened with 'John,' a dedicated tech whiz who we had the privilege of working with.
Meet ‘John’
Let us introduce you to 'John' (name changed for privacy), a skilled IT professional. As the demands of his job escalated and the hours grew longer, the toll on his mental well-being became all too evident. Battling valiantly to balance his mental health concerns alongside his work, John found himself facing an uphill struggle that eventually prompted a crucial decision – to step away from his job indefinitely to prioritise his overall wellbeing.
During this juncture, John grappled with a myriad of symptoms. Cognitive fatigue, persistent anxiety, sleep disturbances, wavering self-esteem, and a disrupted daily routine became his constant companions. Despite his regular sessions with a psychologist, the practical implementation of steps to enhance his mental health remained a challenge he found difficult to navigate alone.
John meets Exercise Physiology
In the midst of this challenging time, John was referred to us by his case manager. She was thankfully familiar with our services and thought of them to be a good option alongside psychology services. John and one of our EP’s teamed up over the next few months, on a step by step journey to improve John’s wellbeing.
First off, they tackled the basics to lay a solid foundation. They focused on getting John into a regular routine, moving his body more, and getting better sleep. It was clear that John's fatigue was dragging him down, so they made that their priority, and it really made a difference. Slowly but surely, John started feeling a bit more like himself.
Once the basics were sorted, they added some structured exercise to John's routine. Our EP got him started with some high-intensity interval training (HIIT) at his local gym. It might sound intense, but John had always wanted to get into HIIT and hadn't been able to up until this point. And guess what? HIIT became his weapon for handling anxiety and feeling more confident in himself.
Consolidating Work Readiness
By this point, John had undergone a remarkable transformation in his overall well-being. However, the idea of reentering the workforce still loomed as a daunting challenge. Despite the newfound control and confidence he had cultivated in his personal life, John grappled with uncertainty about stepping back into the professional arena – mindful of the significant strides he had taken.
In response to this pivotal juncture, our Exercise Physiologist (EP) proposed a practical solution: let's give it a trial run! Not a full-fledged return to his actual job, but rather an innovative approach involving a mock project that would simulate the demands of work. This phase saw John collaborating with his EP to craft a mock project, complete with authentic components such as work hours, deadlines, and key performance indicators (KPIs), all with a touch less pressure.
As the mock project reached its conclusion, John found himself standing before our very own director, presenting his work in an ultimate attempt to prove to himself that he was work ready. While he was very nervous, the experience was invaluable in regard to his confidence. With our guidance, John embarked on a gradual return-to-work plan, resuming his professional responsibilities at a manageable pace commencing at 10 hours per week and then building from there.
Step by step
This story serves as a reminder that progress is often achieved by taking it one step at a time, with a mix of collaboration and expert guidance. John's story exemplifies the real-world complexities of managing mental health while preparing for a return to the professional arena, emphasising the importance of a gradual, personalised approach.
Author: Tessa NielsenClinical Exercise Physiologist and Content Creator at Specialised Health
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