Compassion Fatigue Robin Brown-Haithco Director of Spiritual Health and Staff Support What is Compassion Fatigue? Compassion fatigue is the natural consequence of stress resulting from caring and helping traumatized or suffering people...compassion fatigue is a secondary stress disorder It is a set of symptoms, not a disease. (Figley, 1995) 1
The Goal: From This To This Stress and Compassion Fatigue How stressed are you? Is your stress leading to compassion fatigue? Let s take a few moments to take the Life Stress Test 2
Warning! Warning! Danger! Danger! Using drugs/alcohol/food to manage your stress Uncontrollable Anger/Emotional Outbursts Difficulty getting to work on time Sadness or Depression Feeling Unfulfilled Physically and emotionally tired all the time How Often Do You Feel Like This? 3
Warning! Danger! Changes in physical health: frequent headaches, hypertension, digestive issues Inability to maintain balance of empathy and objectivity Feeling isolated Nightmares and flashbacks Danger! Danger! Inattention to self-care (hygiene, exercise) Mistakes and accidents happening more frequently You find yourself complaining all the time 4
Warning! Warning Increased irritability You ve lost your joy Low self-esteem Sleep disturbances: trouble falling to sleep/troubling staying asleep Workaholism 5
Exercise/Discussion Recognize any of these warning signs in yourself? Recognize any of these warning signs in your colleagues/co-workers? Compassion Fatigue Self-Test Let s take a moment to see where you are on the Compassion Fatigue Self-Test. 6
Causes of Compassion Fatigue Placing the needs of others before your own Unresolved past trauma and pain Lack of healthy professional and personal life coping skills Causes continued Lack of self-awareness Giving care to others under stress or burnout Lack of personal boundaries Inability to communicate needs 7
Preventing or Managing Compassion Fatigue Establish support systems Talk about your feelings debrief after a particularly difficult case or clinical event Seek counseling Staff Support or FSAP Make self-care a priority exercising, meditating, support groups, massage therapy, yoga, breathing exercises, schedule fun activities (movie, dinner, etc.) There s Always Help Available 8
Managing Compassion Fatigue Take frequent breaks from what you are doing. Learn the word no. Use it whenever necessary. Share the load with others There is humor in every situation. Find it and laugh. 9
Managing Compassion Fatigue Recognize when you need help. Ask for it. Give yourself credit when credit is due. Give others credit when credit is due. Breathe deeply as often as possible. 10
Validate yourself Validate others Practice Self Care Tend to your mental, physical and emotional needs in order to give care from a place of abundance, not scarcity Practice self-goodwill Honor past trauma and hurt Be happy 11
Healthy Caregiving Nurture your compassion. Retain healthy skepticism. Learn to let go. Remain optimistic. Be the solution. Embrace discernment. Practice sustainable self care. Acknowledge your successes. Be A Good Steward of Your Boundaries And Emotional Currency 12
Organizational Compassion Fatigue Symptoms The workplace can effect our vulnerability to Compassion Fatigue High absenteeism Changes in co-worker relationships them vs. us environment Inability for teams to work well together Staff challenges organization rules and regulations Aggressive behavior between staff/clients, staff/staff Organizational symptoms continued Inability of staff to complete assigned tasks Staff display lack of flexibility Rampant rumors and gossip Unhealthy competition between staff members 13
A Healthy Workplace Provides a respite for staff following any traumatic event Provides continuing education for staff Provides acceptable benefits to aid staff in practicing beneficial self-care Provides management and staff with tools to accomplish their tasks 14
A Healthy Workplace Monitors workloads Provides positive, team-building activities to promote strong social relationships between colleagues Encourages Open door policies to promote good communication between workers Has grief processes available when traumatic events occur onsite. 15
People are like stained glass windows They sparkle and shine when the sun is out But when the darkness sets in Their true beauty is revealed Only if there is light from within Elizabeth Kubler-Ross Questions for Reflection What will you take away from this session? What do you need to do to better manage your stress? What do you need from Emory in order to assist you in caring for yourself? 16
Resource Healthy Caregiving: A Guide to Recognizing and Managing Compassion Fatigue Author, Patricia Smith, Founder of Compassion Fatigue Awareness Project Credits I want to offer thanks to Greg Pocock, a spiritual health colleague, for his assistance with the graphics in this presentation. 17