The News You Need for Feb. 13

What to do about stress, moving a friend's washing machine, and going to the mat over fast food.

Stress: Navigating Its Role in Recovery?

Dr. Claire C. Muselman

Stress is one of the most pervasive emotions experienced during recovery. It emerges as the body and mind respond to the challenges of healing, often amplifying feelings of uncertainty and vulnerability. While stress can motivate individuals to take action and focus, it can become overwhelming when it persists unchecked. Understanding the nature of stress and learning to manage it is essential for fostering emotional and physical resilience during recovery.?

Defining Stress?

Stress is a physiological and emotional reaction to external or internal pressures that demand attention or action. It often manifests as tension or strain, coupled with heightened alertness. While some stress is beneficial, known as eustress, chronic or excessive stress, known as distress, can have detrimental effects on both mental and physical health. Stress can stem from managing medical appointments, adjusting to physical limitations, or navigating financial uncertainties during recovery. Recognizing stress as a natural but manageable response is the first step toward addressing its impact effectively.?

Physiological Foundations of Stress?

Stress activates the body's fight-or-flight response, orchestrated by the autonomic nervous system. This response involves a cascade of physiological changes designed to help individuals respond to perceived threats. These physiological responses are adaptive in short bursts. Still, they can become harmful if the stress response remains active for extended periods.?

Cortisol and Adrenaline Release. These stress hormones prepare the body for immediate action by increasing heart rate, enhancing alertness, and redirecting energy to essential systems.?

Heightened Sensory Awareness. Stress sharpens focus and perception, helping individuals quickly detect and respond to challenges. However, prolonged activation can lead to mental fatigue.?

Physical Symptoms. Muscle tension, rapid breathing, and changes in digestion are common physical manifestations of stress, reflecting the body’s efforts to adapt to pressure.?

How Stress Happens?

Stress during recovery arises when individuals face the dual pressures of physical healing and managing life's ongoing demands. It often stems from a perceived imbalance between what is required and the resources available to meet those needs. This imbalance can create a sense of urgency or inadequacy, intensifying the emotional strain. The lack of control or clarity about recovery outcomes can further amplify stress as individuals struggle to adapt to new limitations while maintaining their responsibilities. Common triggers include:?

Medical Pressures. The need to attend appointments, follow treatment plans, or undergo procedures can create a constant undercurrent of stress. This additional pressure is often compounded by the complexity of navigating healthcare systems and the emotional toll of waiting for results.?

Financial Concerns. Navigating treatment costs and potential income loss adds additional strain, mainly when recovery timelines are uncertain. These financial worries can spill over into other areas of life, increasing overall emotional and relational stress.?

Unrealistic Expectations. Feeling pressure to recover quickly or meet others' expectations can exacerbate stress, leading to feelings of inadequacy. These feelings can cause individuals to push themselves too hard, potentially delaying progress and increasing frustration.?

Social Dynamics. Changes in relationships or needing to rely on others for support can create emotional tension and stress. These dynamics may lead to feelings of guilt or resentment, further complicating the emotional landscape of recovery.?

Example in Action?

Mark, a small business owner recovering from a back injury, is overwhelmed by stress. He juggles medical appointments, worries about keeping his business afloat, and feels guilty about not meeting his family's needs. The weight of these responsibilities often leaves him feeling trapped, unsure how to balance his recovery with his obligations. Over time, Mark learns to delegate tasks, trusting his team to handle daily operations while he focuses on healing. By setting realistic goals and practicing mindfulness, Mark gradually reduces his stress levels and finds a healthier balance in his recovery journey.?

What to Do When Stress Happens to You?

Managing stress effectively requires both proactive and reactive strategies. Here are steps to navigate stress during recovery:?

1. Identify Triggers. Note the specific situations or thoughts that heighten your stress. Understanding your triggers allows you to develop targeted strategies to address them.?

2. Practice Relaxation Techniques. To calm your nervous system, engage in deep breathing, meditation, or progressive muscle relaxation. These practices can help reset your stress response and promote emotional equilibrium.?

3. Prioritize and Plan. Break down tasks into smaller, manageable steps, and focus on one thing at a time. Creating a realistic plan can reduce chaos and provide a more straightforward path forward.?

4. Seek Social Support. Share your feelings and concerns with trusted friends, family, or support groups. Talking through stressors can provide emotional relief and valuable perspective.?

5. Engage in Physical Activity. Within the limits of your recovery, incorporate gentle exercises such as walking or stretching. Physical activity helps reduce stress hormones and boosts endorphins, improving overall well-being.?

6. Limit Overcommitments. Learn to avoid additional responsibilities or expectations that may add unnecessary stress. Setting boundaries is a crucial part of self-care during recovery.?

How to Support Someone Experiencing Stress?

Supporting someone under stress requires empathy, patience, and practical assistance. Here are ways to help:?

1. Listen Without Judgment. Allow them to express their concerns freely without offering immediate solutions. Active listening validates their experience and shows that you care.?

2. Offer Reassurance. Remind injured humans of their strengths and ability to overcome challenges. Positive affirmations can help counter feelings of doubt or helplessness.?

3. Help With Organization. Provide help creating schedules, prioritizing tasks, or managing logistics. Practical help can alleviate the burden of planning and decision-making.?

4. Encourage Breaks. Suggest taking time for rest, relaxation, or enjoyable activities. Encouraging balance helps prevent stress from becoming overwhelming.?

5. Provide Tangible Support. Offer help with specific tasks, such as running errands or attending appointments. Tangible assistance can reduce immediate stressors and show your support.?

6. Be Patient and Understanding. Stress can make people more irritable or withdrawn. Offering consistent support without taking their reactions personally fosters a safe and supportive environment.?

Looking Ahead to Balance?

Stress is a natural response to the demands of recovery, but it doesn't have to dominate the journey. Individuals can navigate stress with resilience and grace by recognizing its triggers and implementing effective strategies. For caregivers and supporters, providing understanding and practical assistance can make a meaningful difference in easing stress and fostering recovery.?

In the following article, we will explore Worry, an emotion closely tied to stress that often revolves around concerns about the future. As we shine a light on the emotional landscape of recovery, we create a space where everyone feels seen, heard, and supported. And that is the type of workers’ compensation landscape I am here to support, educate, and encourage. Join me!?

Could Injured Worker get Benefits for Reinjury Helping Buddy Move Washing Machine?

Chris Parker

What Do You Think?

An injury that does not occur in the course of employment can be compensable in Louisiana depending on how closely related it is to a prior work-related injury.

A case involving an employee who injured his hamstring when a beam fell on him illustrates how Louisiana courts might assess such a claim.?

In August 2022, a beam fell from an overhead crane and struck the employee’s leg. He received workers’ compensation benefits and underwent surgery for damage to his right hamstring muscle.

The employee’s doctor released him to work without restriction in April 2023. In May, the worker injured his right leg outside of work. At the time, he was not at work and was helping a friend move a washing machine.?

He saw a doctor, and said he had a pulling sensation where he had had the surgery, as well as increased pain. A doctor later testified that the employee’s work accident predisposed him to further injury.?

He filed a claim for the new injury, which the employer refused to pay.?

The court explained that when determining whether an employee is entitled to workers' compensation benefits for an injury suffered after a work-related injury, the key question is the relationship between the second injury and the initial, work-related injury.

Was the employee entitled to benefits for his out-of-work injury?

A. Yes. The doctor’s statement and the location of the new pain and pulling sensation suggested the two injuries were closely related.?

B. No. Moving a washing machine for a friend while not at work has no relationship to the workplace.

If you selected A, you agreed with the court in Brunner v.?NAES Corp., 24-294 (La. Ct. App. 01/29/25), which found that the new injury was compensable.

The court pointed to the doctor’s testimony that the employee’s work accident predisposed him to injury. It also pointed to the employee feeling pain and pulling in the area of his leg that he previously injured.

“Though a nonwork-related accident, [the doctor] testified that he considered the hamstring strain and resulting pain Mr. Brunner suffered while helping a friend move a washing machine to be a natural or expected consequence of his original work-related injury,” the court wrote.

Attacks on Workers Continue, Now Over Burgers and Roast Beef Sandwiches

Liz Carey

Memphis, TN (WorkersCompensation.com) – Customers are still taking their frustrations out on workers for the littlest things.

In Memphis, a woman has been arrested after jumping through a drive-thru window to attack a customer over her order

Officials said Kaitlin Brantley drove through the drive-thru lane of a Memphis McDonald’s to complain about her order. When the manager said the store would remake her order, but when things didn’t go her way, she chose violence instead.

Police said that despite the manager trying to give Brantley a new order, she got angry and started cursing the manager. Because of her behaviour, the manager refused to give her the remade order. In response, Brantley allegedly opened and climbed through the drive-thru window and started fighting with the manager. Police said the manager defended herself by hitting Brantley with a coffee pot at least 9 times.

Brantley went back out the drive-thru window, but not before throwing items at the manager as she left.

Police said Brantley was one of four people who attacked employees at a Cheddar’s restaurant in Memphis in 2023. In that incident, Brantley was one of four people charged with attacking a Cheddar’s worker. In that incident, Brantley and three others were having dinner at Cheddars on July 23, 2023, and got upset over not being seated quickly enough.

Witnesses told police two of the suspects turned their attention on Omarion Ford, an employee of Cheddar’s. Ford, who was 17 at the time, said Darius Brantley and Kaitlin Brantley then started to punch him in the face and head. According to the police report, Ford was knocked to the ground and hit his head on a brick wall, knocking him unconscious. Ford suffered a concussion, as well as injuries to his face, lungs, and eyes.

Kaitlin Brantley, Darius Brantley, along with two other family members, Carol Brantley, and Brittany Brantley were each indicted for aggravated assault – acting in concert.

Latisha Ford, Omarion Ford’s mother, said she feels that Kaitlin Brantley’s action should put her in jail.

“I hope that pot knocks some sense into her,” Latisha Ford said. “She is out here attacking people. Probation for what? I want justice for what she did to people in McDonald’s, and I want justice for my son.”

?Brantley is out on bond awaiting trial. Officials said her actions could result in her bond revoked.

Also in Memphis, an Arby’s employee was fired after facing a racist attack from a customer.

Kendra Irvin said she was attacked by a customer in a Jan. 20 incident. The customer had ordered a roast beef sandwich and later complained that he wasn’t satisfied with his meal.

“I was trying to explain to him like, ‘Sir, we can remake the sandwich if you want.’ He started cursing, and he threw something at me,” Irvin said.

When she threw something back at him, the customer jumped over the counter to confront her and called her racial slurs. Irvin, who is 5-foot 1, said she was afraid he would hurt her.

“He went and pushed me down. Not by my chest but by my face. He pushed me down by my face. I fell to the ground. As you can see, I had the knife and fry basket in my hand because I was defending myself,” Irvin said.

She said the customer threw other items at other employees before leaving the store.

“This is the first incident ever. I’ve never had a problem with a customer. Never,” Irvin said.

Irvin said that within a week of the incident, she was fired from the store.

“They said I violated a policy. I guess I wasn't supposed to protect myself. What would you have done if someone did that to you?” Irvin said.

Police said no arrests have been made in the incident.

In Kalamazoo, Mich., a worker at a McDonald’s was stabbed, police said.

Around 11 a.m. on Feb. 7, the worker was on his shift when he was stabbed by a suspect who fled the scene immediately after the attack. Police were able to locate the suspect within about 20 minutes and arrest him without incident. Police said the attacker and the worker knew each other and that the attack did not appear to be random violence.

The victim was given medical care at the scene, officials said.

And in Portland, Or., a bookstore employee and a police officer were attacked with an umbrella and a soft drink can.

Officials said the employee was working at Powell’s Books on Feb. 5 when they were assaulted on the sidewalk. The suspect fled immediately after the attack. Police searched the neighborhood and found the suspect. When officers attempted to talk to her, she hit one officer with an umbrella. ?

"The suspect then threw a full can of soda at the officer, striking him in the head and causing a laceration," police said.

The suspect later exited the building, and officers gave chase on foot. She was apprehended and taken into custody. The police officer was taken to a hospital for evaluation and treatment.?