Finding Stability After “Whiplash” Moments

This blog post was written for the AIHA SynergistNow blog and the original posting can be found at Finding Stability After “Whiplash” Moments | AIHA.

During spring break this year, my eight-year-old son was finally tall enough to drive a go-kart on his own. I’m not usually a fan of go-karting. Like many seasonal attractions, the safety standards of the go-kart track left much to be desired, which gave me pause as a parent and a professional who thinks about health, safety, and risk. But I joined my son on the track to share this much-anticipated moment.

A few laps in, I noticed my son’s kart had fallen behind—which was unusual, given his typical pedal-to-the-metal approach. His motor had stalled. I watched helplessly as two other karts slammed into him at full speed and a third pinned his kart briefly against the guardrail, so quickly that staff on the track couldn’t intervene. My son’s head bobbled with each hit, and I won’t soon forget the pain I saw in his face. It was a traumatic moment for an eight-year-old to experience and for a parent to witness.

Thankfully, he was physically fine—by the end of the day, his confidence had recovered, and he was ready to use the rest of his go-karting pass at another track. Afterward, a chiropractor confirmed he had no injuries from the collision. Nonetheless, the emotional “whiplash” of the experience left a mark on me. I recall the mental image of my son taking the hits, and I fear that he could be injured in a similar incident on a future outing. But despite my lingering doubts about the safety of go-karting, I believe my son’s resilience also sets an example for adults facing fear and uncertainty in their professional lives: although the stress may be serious, we can persevere.

The Resilience of OEHS Professionals

I recalled my son's resilience at the go-kart track when I attended AIHA Connect 2025 in Kansas City—my first time participating in the event. Back in September 2024, before NIOSH, CDC, and other institutions critical to occupational and environmental health and safety underwent sweeping federal cuts, I had proposed a professional development course and educational session on mental health first aid. Mental health first aid programs enable people who aren’t trained psychologists to support people experiencing mental health or substance abuse challenges, just as traditional first aid enables those without medical training to make potentially lifesaving interventions until emergency medical services arrive. I had no idea that my course might become relevant to many impacted federal workers and OEHS professionals who were struggling with the shock of job loss and uncertainty.

On my first day at the conference, I had expected to encounter pain, confusion, and grief, given the magnitude of the job cuts, sudden rehirings, and uncertainty swirling throughout the profession. I had anticipated that the people attending my presentations might be experiencing a shock like the one my son experienced on the track: an abrupt stop leading to a shaken system and emotional fallout.

But that’s not what I saw. Instead, I found resilience. Determination. Grit. Optimism. Perhaps it was the power of gathering with kindred spirits—people who understood each other’s work, mission, and the weight of what they carried—that made AIHA Connect attendees seem strong in the face of difficulty. The sense of community and resolve at AIHA Connect was both energizing and deeply hopeful. Like my son getting back in the kart, the message was: “This has been rough, but we’re not giving up.”

In the coming months, I want to use my skills as a mental health advocate and workplace training professional to support the OEHS professionals who show up during unpredictable times. Whether you’ve been directly impacted by changes at the agencies or are simply navigating a heavier emotional burden or workload than usual, I want to offer encouragement, validation, and practical tools to help you keep going.

Stress Is Real, But So Is Our Capacity to Recover

Stress and ambiguity drain the energy and focus OEHS professionals need to lead projects, support teams, ensure compliance, and protect worker well-being. But small acts of self-care and reflection can help you stay grounded. Moments of uncertainty offer not just challenges but invitations to pause, reassess, and reconnect with what matters most.

Whether you have 10 minutes or 10 days, the strategies below may help you steady yourself and find direction. If you lead a team, you may also consider sharing these strategies through small reminders.

• Make space for quiet check-ins. Take a walk, journal, or simply sit without a screen. Let your thoughts rise to the surface without judgment.
• Adopt a mindset of growth. Replace “I don’t know how to move forward” with “I don’t know how to move forward yet.” Uncertainty isn’t permanent.
• Lean into your support system. Mentors, colleagues, friends, and family can offer clarity when your own vision is clouded.
• Check your alignment. Does your current role reflect your values and goals? If not, what small shift could move you closer?
• Stay open to possibility. Reach out to other professionals in roles that interest you. Seek to learn from them, not to add pressure on yourself or others, but to move forward with purpose.
• Connect with your sense of purpose or spirituality. Grounding yourself in something larger, such as by connecting with nature or faith through meditation or prayer, can bring clarity.

And most importantly: recognize when you need support. You don’t have to navigate this alone. If you’re overwhelmed, uncertain, or supporting someone in emotional distress, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is available 24/7. You can call, text, or chat with a counselor by dialing 988.

These are not easy times, but you’re not facing them alone. In the meantime, use strategies to protect your mental health and strengthen your professional well-being—because we need you, and we need you well.