Weather Phobia Signs and Symptoms

Weather Phobia Signs and Symptoms Do you jump at every flash of lightning and rumble of thunder?  Or monitor the TV whenever theres a severe weather threat near your home or workplace? If you do, its very possible you have a weather phobia- a marked fear of or anxiety about a specific weather type or event.   Weather phobias are included in the natural environment family of phobias- fears triggered by objects or situations found in nature.   Why Am I Afraid?   Phobias are sometimes described as irrational fears, but they dont always develop out of nowhere. If youve ever experienced a natural disaster such as a hurricane, tornado, or  wildfire- even if you didnt suffer any physical injury or trauma- its possible that the unexpected, sudden, or overwhelming nature of the event could have taken an emotional toll on you.    You Might Have a Weather Phobia If... If you feel any of the following in certain weather situations, you may suffer, to some degree, from a weather phobia:   Anxiety and panic (heart palpitations, shortness of breath, sweating, and nausea)A desire to be around others when unfavorable weather is forecast or occurringAn inability to sleep or eat during sever weatherHelplessness when certain weather is occurringYou change your schedule so that you can  plan  around ill weatherYou obsessively monitor the TV, weather forecasts, or your weather radio One in 10 Americans Are Afraid of Weather   While you might feel ashamed to be afraid of something like weather, which most other people consider to be routine, please know that youre not alone. According to the American Psychiatric Association, approximately 9-12% of Americans have natural environment phobias, of which 3% of that number are afraid of storms. Whats more, some meteorologists can trace their interest in learning about weather back to a fear of weather. Let this encourage you that your weather phobias can be overcome! Coping with Weather Fears When your weather fear strikes, you may feel helpless. But there are a number of things you can do, both before and during attacks, to help manage anxiety and stress. Learn how weather works. If youre afraid of something, the last thing you may want to do is willingly subject yourself to it. But sometimes, fear of something is rooted in a lack of knowledge of it. If you understand the reality of how weather works, you can better differentiate between threats that are real and those that are perceived in your mind. Read weather books, visit science museum exhibits, and learn about weather basics from your favorite weather company and links. (Your presence here on About  Weather means youre already off to a good start!) Practice weather safety. Having an emergency plan in place may help put your mind at ease should bad weather actually strike. It can also make you feel like you have more control of the situation, and are not just a passive victim. Relax. While its easier said than done, relaxing is one of your best defenses. To help keep calm, try engaging in activities that keep your mind occupied and off of the weather happening outside your do or. Practice a favorite hobby or start up a conversation with friends or family. Meditation, prayer, music, and aromatherapy are other good options. (Lavender, chamomile, bergamot, and almond are scents frequently used to ease anxiety.) To find out more, including what the most common weather phobias experienced among Americans are, read Afraid of the Atmosphere. Sources: Jill S. M. Coleman,  Kaylee D. Newby,  Karen D. Multon, and  Cynthia L. Taylor.  Weathering the Storm: Revisiting Severe-Weather Phobia.  Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society (2014).

Top 4 CHALLENGES for Executives and Assistants

Top 4 CHALLENGES for Executives and Assistants According to founder and CEO of Office Dynamics International, Joan Burge, There is no greater relationship in the workplace than that of an executive and an assistant. This may seem like hyperbole if you havent had a really terrific working relationship with an executive or an assistant who gets it. If youre at the top of the food chain, try to see your assistant as a strategic partner; if youre in a support role, take advantage of these tips to improve your standing and the dynamics at work!1. BandwidthNobody has enough time in the day. Executives may have more than one assistant, or assistants may be supporting more than one executive (every one of which wants to feel like your Top Priority). Between the two of you, you may be fielding as many as 400 emails a day- have systems in place and revise them as necessary!  Be aware of the speed and intensity of the information flowing across your executives desk, and let that inform the pace of your interruptions, meetings, and indepen dent work.2. Digital DependencyTheyre working from multiple devices and may ask you do to the same. While that may make them feel independent and tech savvy, its important (for them and for you!) to realize that an empowered executive assistant is as valuable as the Cloud in terms of coordinating information and monitoring plans.3. DelegatingWith all the self sufficiency of scheduling software and remote access, its easy for executives to forget how to use their assistants most effectively. Companies lose time and money when execs underutilize support staff. Know your role, advocate for appropriate ways to expand it, and always be a reliable asset.4. Frustration in CommunicationWith complaints ranging from I dont have time to teach my assistant to do this job to I have no idea what this executive wants from me, some of the hardest aspects of the relationship to master are the simplest- how you perceive one another and what you expect from one another. Be verbal, follow-up, and be wi lling to disagree and resolve it! Dont be so wrapped up in status you forget to think like a team.Tips  for AssistantsInitiate ConversationTalk about your relationship as a teamGet clarification on likes and dislikesPut yourself on the execs calendar and leave it, unless theres an emergencyThink like an executive- anticipate needs and prioritize accordinglyGo the extra mileAttend meetingsRead everythingUnderstand the scope of their wordTips  for ExecutivesHave clear assignments and deliverablesDemonstrate the qualities you want to seeBe comfortable with disagreementRely on your assistant; dont micromanageBe appreciative- post-mistake shouldnt be the only time you give feedbackRecognize that your assistants job requires skillExecutives and Assistants are Struggling TodayRead More at officedynamics.com