#018: Operator Syndrome - Dr. Chris Frueh

The Jedburgh Podcast

What happens when we push ourselves too hard - over too long a period of time? What happens to our mental, physical and emotional states? Even the most elite performers reach a point when they can't go any further. We are not talking about a single event, or a single day. We are talking about years, or decades, of driving to the limit, pushing through, and winning; only to wake up one day with nothing left in the tank.

This is called Operator Syndrome - and it affects the most successful champions in the world, first responders, doctors, lawyers, restaurateurs, and the rest of us driving to make it in the world. Dr. Chris Frueh is a Professor of Psychology at the University of Hawaii and a leader in the research and clinical evaluation of Operator Syndrome.

He joins host Fran Racioppi on this episode to show us that even as we push ourselves to the limit every day, we must be conscious of the cumulative effect of stress over long periods of time; and how sleep, nutrition and mindfulness are the "survival skills" we need to combat Operator Syndrome and its negative effects on our performance.

Read the full episode transcription here and learn more on The Jedburgh Podcast Website.

Highlights:

-Chris and Fran define “Operator Syndrome” and list the “impairments” that are associated with it’s evaluation.

-Evaluation can be as easy as self-evaluation, but also may involve a team of specialists that can assess a person's holistic health across mental, physical and emotional contexts.

-Operator Syndrome affects all types of high performers in a variety of industries such as emergency services, first responders, law enforcement, financial services, lawyers & the military, among others.

-Chris explains how sleep, nutrition and mindfulness are the “survival skills” needed to combat Operator Syndrome, aid recovery and increase a balanced perspective on life.

-Most high performers are unable to identify they suffer from Operator Syndrome, postponing needed medical treatment, or even conversations about the stress they consistently live under.

Quotes:

-”The natural consequences of an extraordinarily high allostatic load; the accumulation of physiological, neural, and neuroendocrine responses resulting from prolonged chronic stress; and physical demands.”

-”What I recommend is a framework that takes the whole person and all of the systems into account as simultaneously as possible.”

-”These things are all connected and causative. We can have vicious cycles and virtuous cycles.”

-”If you are not sleeping, it is really hard to heal your brain. It’s not just about getting enough sleep. It is about getting the right sleep.”

-”We don’t need sugar. We don’t need soda. We don’t need fast food. Junk food. Processed food.”

-”Find the ability to sit, be quiet, and notice what’s going on.”

-”We have some agency. We have some control over our lives.”

-"You are not crazy because you have some of these symptoms, but you can learn to deal with those symptoms with a multi-tiered approach."

This episode is sponsored by Analytix Solutions; improving the efficiency of your business across people, process and technology through multi-divisional outsourcing solutions.