I am not a doctor. I don’t even play one on TV. I am a social scientist. Most of you probably know or expect that since I’m a professor. What you may not know is that I study emotional trauma. Here’s the ugly truth. We’re all exposed to a lot of traumatic events, those which result in at least one person's death or a near-death experience. … [Read more...]
Reporting on Trauma Victims
The smell was the first thing I noticed when I sat down next to him on the wooden bench, which seemed formerly to have been a church pew. He smelled like grease from the factory where he worked, sweat, cigarettes, and something I can only describe as "dirt." He greeted me, and I responded with a "how are you doing?" A stupid question, given that we … [Read more...]
How to Find Your Motivation When You ‘Just Don’t Want To’
We all have days when we just don't want to. I'm having one of those days today. It started with a text before 6 a.m. from my son, who was staying the night with a friend. He had a stomach ache and soon started vomiting. I got him home and in bed just in time to wake my daughter up for basketball camp. If you have a teenager, you understand … [Read more...]
Coping with Emotional Trauma in the Newsroom
I'll never forget the first rape I covered. I was a 21-year-old cub reporter at a five-day-a-week community newspaper. I received the affidavit on a Friday afternoon during a regular visit to the county courthouse. The district attorney offered it up as something he knew would interest the paper. I thanked him and took the papers without looking at … [Read more...]
Helping Students Cope with Trauma
My master's degree in higher education taught me all of the pedagogical basics necessary to be an effective professor. Upon graduation, I could write a syllabus, plan and implement a course, generate and lead a lively and intelligent course discussion, and even deal with student disciplinary issues and problem administrators. Overall, despite my … [Read more...]
It’s Normal to Feel Sad. Yes, Even for You.
Note: I decided to rerun this post because of this week's fatal storms in my home state. Please keep the residents, emergency workers and journalists in your thoughts and prayers. Take care of yourselves and each other. I am not a doctor. I don't even play one on TV. I am a social scientist. Most of you probably know or expect that since I'm a … [Read more...]
The Work-Life Balance Myth
A couple of students in one of my classes have become interested in the concept of work-life balance. I find their interest intriguing because I think the idea that you can somehow create a zen-like proportion between the things you must do professionally and the things you want to do is a load of crap. Work has become the normal state, with … [Read more...]
