In life’s harder moments, help is available. All of us have moments in our lives when things can seem too big and overwhelming. We may be confronted with a problem we have never had to face before and not know what to do about it. We may experience a trauma or loss that overwhelms our current coping skills and leaves us with intense feelings of stress.
If we have moments like this and try to ignore them, stress tends to build up. Emotionally turbulent times take a toll on our physical bodies as well. Sometimes we deal with emotional and physical upset by behaving in ways we believe will reduce our stress (isolating ourselves, drinking more alcohol, eating, smoking, gambling, etc.), but these behaviors can further complicate the situation.
For employees of MSU and their family members, another option exists. There is no need to go through moments like this alone and without support. The MSU Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is available to you as part of your employment benefits. The EAP offers free, confidential, short-term counseling for MSU employees and their immediate family members. Sometimes people use their sessions to work through a specific issue in their work or personal life. Others use their sessions to get a sense of what is happening in their emotional world.
Occasionally, people are concerned about depression, anxiety attacks, or may wonder if they have a drinking problem. The EAP staff will work with you on these issues during your sessions, and may also refer you to a counselor or other resources in the community so you can continue to obtain any needed help or support.
Don’t wait for a crisis. People sometimes experience low moods or high levels of stress, and in those moments, it is hard to find your own way, make healthy decisions or determine the next best step.
If you find yourself in this position, please feel free to utilize your contracted EAP benefit. If you notice a coworker having a tough time in their life, encourage them to take advantage of the MSU EAP. Effort is made to hold sessions at times that are convenient for employees and/or family members.
To locate and contact EAP, please visit their website at http://eap.msu.edu