No Christmas Stress: Featured on Channel 10’s The Circle

Road Rage and the Grand Final Draw

I was asked to talk to Grubby and DD on Radio this morning about how people might be feeling about the Grand Final draw. It’s important that we recognize how stressful it might be for many devoted football fans. They would have been flooded by a potent chemical cocktail of natural stimulants like adrenalin and cortisol and they have not been able to release them. This could make for some very disgruntled and tense drivers on our roads this week, so watch out!

We need closure in order to come to terms with major conflicts in our life. This Grand Final Draw puts us into a week of suspense and tension which we didn’t need. Everyone probably feels disappointed and frustrated with the drawn result. Collingwood fans might feel betrayed by their team who failed to win despite a great start in the match. St Kilda fans might be bewildered that their team didn’t snatch the win after their valiant fight back. In the great Australian vernacular the best description of feelings is “Gutted!”

So apart from being careful on the roads, what’s the best action to cope with stress this week? Exercise!

I’ve just come back from a morning run and am patting myself on the back. (Actually I must admit my run is really a “Jagger” – it’s a cross between a jog and a stagger).

Dr Jan on TV Ch 10 7pm Project re Navy and Harassment

http://7pmproject.com.au/video.htm?channel=7PM+Catch+Up&clipid=2689_7pm-300410-sg1&bitrate=300&format=flash

They called it “Hanky Panky On the High Seas”. I was asked what the Navy could do to stop harassment of staff.
Train them seriously to respect each other regardless of gender or rank.
Have immediate and stringent punishments which apply to all with no cover-up.

Fighting for Trauma Claim Unfair

 

The impact of witnessing the aftermath of a trauma is certainly stressful.Ask the police who were first at the scene of the 2003 Waterfall train disaster. These men received bravery awards for their rescue efforts but are not eligible to receive compensation for being so tramatized that they medically discharged from the police force.

 

It is just not fair that they have to fight for compensation because they are not direct witnesses of the actual train crash! I was a bank hold-up psychologist and learned that it was traumatic even for the girl who was having her lunch upstairs. She panicked thinking that it could have been she who had a gun pointed at her!