Aspiria

What our clients say

Living with a critical illness

I had been battling cancer for the past several years. Ever since I was a little girl, I always felt I had the willpower to beat anything but as my illness progressed, even I began to realize that I was losing the fight. I didn’t have much time left. I was still working and even though my immediate supervisor knew about my situation, I was proud and did not want everyone in the office to know what I was going through. This would be tough since I worked in a small office and it was difficult to hide anything from anyone. It was hard to concentrate on my job.

I had my family to support me, but even then I felt alone as I had so much to say but didn’t want to burden anyone with my problem. I had heard from my friend that she had a counselling service offered through her work called EAP and that she used it to receive help during a difficult time in her life.

I asked my supervisor if our company had such a program. She acknowledged that we did and encouraged me to use it. She mentioned that the service was confidential and free. One evening at home, I was very irritable and couldn’t sleep. I was feeling sorry for myself and thought about my children that I would be leaving behind when I died. I cried. I called the EAP hotline and spoke to a counsellor for the next hour. The counsellor didn’t say much, but gave me an opportunity to vent my feelings in a way that was being heard and not criticized. I felt better after speaking with a counsellor and agreed to a series of telephone counselling sessions with the EAP as I battled this disease.

I am so grateful to my counsellor and especially my employer for helping me through my illness. As hesitant as I was to ask for help, having someone to talk to helped me regain some control over my life that I would not have had otherwise. Thank you.

Dealing with addiction in the family

I know that my husband has an alcohol problem even though he will never admit it. I’ve tried in so many ways to get him to see what he is doing to his life, and mine, but we just end up arguing and not talking to each other for days. It wouldn’t bother me except that the kids can see that something is wrong and although they are still young, I’m afraid that they’ll find out. I don’t want them to know that their daddy is a drunk.

I noticed a letter came in the mail from my husband’s employee assistance program. I wasn’t sure if I could use the service myself, but when my husband went to work one day, I dialled the number. The EAP told me that an employee’s family member is eligible to use the service. I wanted to make sure that if I was going to receive help, that the service was completely confidential. I didn’t want my husband or his boss to find out that I was using the service and that he had a drinking problem. I was assured that no one would find out that I was using the EAP, so I made an appointment to see a counsellor the next day in a private office close to my home.

When I got there, I noticed that the counsellor was very welcoming and that his office was warm and professional. I found myself going through many emotions during the next hour as I shared my story of living with a problem-drinker who was getting worse by the day. I found myself talking a lot at times, then pausing in silence for stretches at a time. I cried, became angry, sad, and even laughed out loud as the hour sped by. The counsellor made me feel totally comfortable talking to him.

I felt better that day after speaking with the counsellor. We agreed that I would continue to go for counselling to develop coping strategies for me and my kids, as well as ways to help my husband with his problem. As well, I began to explore issues that were personal to me that had surfaced in the counselling.

I had felt an awesome sense of responsibility to my kids and my husband, and I didn’t have a place to go to for an hour just to be me. I finally found it and was glad that I was able to make use of this valuable service offered through my husband’s work.

Taking control

I hold a responsible job at my company and work long hours. I am doing well but the more results I achieve, the more my employer expects of me. Hard work doesn’t scare me but these expectations are affecting my family life. I hear so much about maintaining a healthy worklife balance, but is this possible these days? My manager doesn’t understand. It’s not that I don’t get along with him, it’s just that I find myself more and more overwhelmed at work. One more deadline…ugh! When I get home, all I want to do is eat and sleep. I’m so tired and miserable. I enjoy spending time with my wife and children, I always have. I don’t have the time or the energy anymore. This is not me.

One day, an announcement came out at work about a new employee assistance program that was being implemented in the company. The program was confidential and it helped employees resolve their problems by having a number of counselling sessions with a professional counsellor. Was this for me? I’m not going crazy. Only crazy people go to counselling. What if my manager finds out? It’s too risky.

Things got so bad for me at work that I got desperate and made an appointment to see a counsellor. I was skeptical and expected the counsellor to give me all the answers to my problem. Make it go away! I learned that in order to resolve my problem, I needed to take control and responsibility over my life. No one else was going to do it for me. It was clear that I was losing control over my life at work, at home and, in me! Counselling would be but my first step in regaining some of that control back, regain my strength, and clarity to make the decisions I needed to make to change. Thanks to the EAP, I am able to breath a little easier these days and I feel happier as a result!