Recovery from Whistleblowing Michael Cole Whistleblowers Australia Conference 2014

Recovery from WhistleblowingRecovery from Whistleblowing

Michael ColeMichael Cole

Whistleblowers Australia Conference 2014Whistleblowers Australia Conference 2014


• Basically it is recovery from PTSDBasically it is recovery from PTSD


Feeling Overloaded?Feeling Overloaded?

PTSDPTSD

Common Symptoms Common Symptoms –Suffering from bad dreamsSuffering from bad dreams–Experiencing uncontrollable thoughtsExperiencing uncontrollable thoughts–Avoiding places that remind one of the eventAvoiding places that remind one of the event–Feeling worried, guilty, or sadFeeling worried, guilty, or sad–Sleeping too little or too much Sleeping too little or too much –Feeling on edgeFeeling on edge–Fighting with loved ones Fighting with loved ones –Feeling aloneFeeling alone

Recovery from WhistleblowingRecovery from Whistleblowing• Four Wheels on the Rolls Royce of RecoveryFour Wheels on the Rolls Royce of Recovery

– PhysicalPhysical

– Psychological healthPsychological health

– Purpose and TrajectoryPurpose and Trajectory

– MedicationMedication


– PhysicalPhysical

• ExerciseExercise

• Sleep HygieneSleep Hygiene

• EatingEating


– Psychological healthPsychological health• Thought patternsThought patterns• Thinking timeThinking time• FamilyFamily• Support systemsSupport systems• SpiritualSpiritual• ForgivenessForgiveness


– Purpose and TrajectoryPurpose and Trajectory

• Find a purposeFind a purpose

• Set life on a trajectorySet life on a trajectory

• Leave the old ‘purpose’ or ‘no purpose’ Leave the old ‘purpose’ or ‘no purpose’ behindbehind


• MedicationMedication

–16.6% of Australians will suffer anxiety 16.6% of Australians will suffer anxiety disorder sometime in their livesdisorder sometime in their lives

– If you had diabetes you would treat it If you had diabetes you would treat it (for life if necessary) wouldn’t you?(for life if necessary) wouldn’t you?

–Find the right dose of the right drugFind the right dose of the right drug


Just because you’re paranoidJust because you’re paranoid

doesn’t mean they’redoesn’t mean they’re

not out to get you.not out to get you.


Whistleblowers: Whistleblowers:

• are driven by altruism. are driven by altruism.

• are generally moralistic, becoming committed and are generally moralistic, becoming committed and even obsessed. even obsessed.

• emphasize rights. emphasize rights.

• are stubbornly committed and uncompromising.are stubbornly committed and uncompromising.

• are willing to go against social conventions. are willing to go against social conventions.

Recovery from WhistleblowingRecovery from WhistleblowingSkills for Psychological Recovery TrainingSkills for Psychological Recovery Training


http://www.ptsd.va.gov/professional/materials/manuals/skills_psych_recovery_manual.asphttp://www.ptsd.va.gov/professional/materials/manuals/skills_psych_recovery_manual.asp

PRTPRT



• Strengthens family relationships Strengthens family relationships

• Emphasizes family needsEmphasizes family needs

• Focuses on problem-solvingFocuses on problem-solving

• Relationship building Relationship building

• Old vs. new values Old vs. new values

• Establishes a meaning for the event Establishes a meaning for the event


Where there is life there is hopeWhere there is life there is hope


WestmeadhospitalwhistleblowersWestmeadhospitalwhistleblowers

resources-and-helpresources-and-help

Documents

Recovery from Whistleblowing Michael Cole Whistleblowers Australia Conference 2014