Finding Your Resilience When dealing with Burnout, Compassion Fatigue and Vicarious Trauma

Burnout Over stressed Exhaustion and loss of energy Anxiety and depression Physical illnesses Loss of motivation, ideals and hope Primary damage is physical

Compassion Fatigue Feeling helpless Emotions are blunted Disengagement Detachment and Depression Loss of self esteem Primary damage is emotional

Vicarious Trauma Bearing Witness to atrocities Absorbing Clients Pain Symptoms of PTSD Intrusive thoughts about specific clients Feeling guilty Primary damage both physical and emotional

How and Why We Burnout Over engaged in our work Over stressed Lack of work/life balance Lack of support Lack of resources Expending energy without replenishing it

How We Develop Compassion Fatigue Develops over time Burnout symptoms have been ignored Too overwhelmed to be present Have to detach to protect self Loss of sense of ability to make change Feeling Depleted Apathy develops

How We Develop Vicarious Trauma Vulnerability in need to empathize with traumatized clients Triggers from own trauma history Absorbing pain of clients Physical reaction to disturbing story Loss of sense of just world Survivor guilt Expending more energy than getting back

Why Elder Abuse Practitioners are Vulnerable Desire to fix situations Dealing with people under acute stress Addressing worst behaviors towards elders Required to fill multiple roles Self expectation to “do job well” no matter what’s happening personally Own issues may be activated

Why Elder Abuse Practitioners are Vulnerable (continued) Elder Abuse work requires personal commitment and passion System is difficult to navigate to help clients Blaming self if intervention falls through Feeling unappreciated No matter how much done, it’s never enough

Qualities of Resilient People Power to cope with adversity Ability to adapt to challenges and change Have self-knowledge Personal meaning and perspective Optimistic Ability to foster relationships Compassionate and self compassionate

Healthy Coping Ability to draw on personal strengths Balance between stressors and positives Focused actions Paying attention to physical, emotional, mental and spiritual needs Self awareness when confronting problems Creative in meeting challenges

How to Build Resilience Resilience can be learned and strengthened Self care must be a priority Develop yourself Set specific goals and work towards them Keep things in perspective Practice problem solving Strengthen relationships

Self Care Strategies Clear work and personal life boundaries Regular breaks throughout work day Honesty about what can be accomplished Self awareness around feeling pressured Obtain family and peer support Eating, sleeping and exercising properly Maintaining external interests

Recovery and Prevention Plan Review current self care and functioning Commit to self care and right to wellness Generate strategies for balancing work/life Learn time management skills Learn and use stress reduction techniques Maintain personal & professional boundaries Ask for help and support

Practical Solutions Breathing techniques Mindfulness exercises Grounding exercises Guided imagery Reminding ourselves: “Life is not what it’s supposed to be. It’s what it is. The way you cope with it is what makes the difference.”- Virginia Satir