1. Compassion Fatigue

2. Overview Caregivers vulnerability to secondary trauma.
Factors that cause VT and burnout
How to become resilient in the face of overwhelming and emotionally intense demands
New ways for caregivers to care for themselves
Being accountable to someone who will support you and help you say “no”
Planned intentional strategies for “self care”

3. What is Compassion Fatigue
AKA Vicarious or secondary Trauma
A syndrome which consists of various symptoms that mirror Post Trauma Stress Disorder(PTSD)
PTSD is a disorder that affects people who have experienced extreme traumatic or violent events in their lives. People who have expereienced natural or man made disasters; victims of violent crimes, domestic violence, child sexual or physical abuse.
People who develop the disorder report episodes of fear, depression, confusion, helplessness, hopelessness, feeling out of control, extreme mood swings, avoidance, behaviors, etc.

4. What is Compassion Fatigue Cont’d
It is a natural occurrence as the result of pyschic injury and/or life threatening event for most people.
People wh develop Compassion Fatigue have not been direct victims of trauma, but have associated with people who have.

5. Who can get Compassion Fatigue?
People who provide care assistance and support to others in pain, either physical or emotional, tend to be empathetic and compassionate. These necessary qualities that help them do their jobs, place them in the direct path of experiencing Compassion Fatigue
Many helping parents and professionals as a result of listening to stories or witnessing the aftermath of traumatic events could develop many of the same symptoms associated with PTSD

6. Burn Out Stems from overwhelming demands of tasks
Does not come close to the impact of Vicarious Trauma
The distinction is the sympathy/empathy caregivers experience from the suffering of others
Where children are concerned, this is often outside of the realm of what we expect as caring human beings

7. Burn Out Cont' Burn out has a better prognosis for recovery
Beware the combination of both Compassion Fatigue and Burn Out
Burn out is more about functionality, too much paperwork or over amount of duty.
Compassion Fatigue is human suffering

8. Causes and Triggers of Compassion Fatigue
Working with adults and particularly children who are victims of trauma or violence
Lack of training in dealing with issues of trauma or violence and it’s subsequent outcomes
High ideals of making a difference in the lives of children and adults

9. Cont’d Personality traits of compassion and empathy
Past histories of trauma or victimization in the worker
Lack of consistent self-care behaviors and habits.
Working with large numbers of traumatized and or victimized people

10. The Professional Impact of Compassion Fatigue
Low Morale & Motivation
Avoiding tasks & poor work commitments
Obsessions about details
Apathy
Negativity
Lack of Appreciation
Detachment
Staff conflicts

11. Cont’d Absenteeism Exhaustion Irritability Withdrawal from colleagues
Loss of confidence

12. Cognitive Confusion Spaciness Trauma Imagery Rigitdity Apathy
Self-doubt
Thoughts of self harm

13. Emotional Anxiety Emtional Rollercoaster Anger/rage Numbness
Overwhelmed
Fear
Depression

14. Cont’d
Depleted
Sadness
Survivors guilt

15. Behavioral
Clingy
Moody
Nightmares
Impatient
Appetite changes

16. Behavioral Use of negative coping Sleep disturbances Hyper vigilance
Elevated startle response

17. Spiritual Loss of purpose Anger at God Questions
Prior religious beliefs
Pervasive hopelessness

18. Inter-Personal Withdrawn Over protective Mistrust
Decrease in intimacy/sex
Isolation
Projection of anger/blame
Intolerance
Loneliness

19. Physical Aches/pains Shock Dizziness Breathing difficulty
Somatic complaints
Impaired immune system
Rapid Heartbeat

20. Cognitive Restructuring
1st line of defense:stress inoculation; a process to build up positive thoughts when negative events are encountered.
The aim is to modify the internal dialog
Focus on yourselves: where am I in the moment

21. Cont’d Label your feelings and link to physiological response.
Regulate self with positive spin; block toxic thinking
Look beyond the immediate and move to general themes and patterns

22. Cognitive Restructuring
Phase 1: INPUT (sight or sound)
Phase 2 : PROCSSING INPUT
Conscious interpretation
Reasoning
Analyzing
Memory

23. Phase 3: OUTPUT(action or behavior)
You are making a conscious appraisal of the stimuli while blocking toxic thoughts
Meichenbaum

24. Cognitive Restructuring
What we say to ourselves creates an internal environmental in which we either flourish of flounder.
We must challenge our internal dialong of create a peaceful inner world.

25. Developing a Therapuetic Community
Reaching out to others who will:
Lift us and validate our self care habits
Hold us accountable for our self care
Support our sense of resilience
Not allow us to isolate
Who nurture us
Who delightfully immerse us in humor

26. Stress Reduction, Creating Your Own Sanctuary
Creating your own private sanctuary to heal everyday
Through structured self care, design your space

27. Structured Self Care Plan and develop a template to keep
List things you will pay attention to when you have time to your self
List what you need when the kids are home
List things you will do at the end of each day or the end of each evening
List things you will do daily, weekly,and bi-monthly

28. Everyday Strategies for Self Care
Realize the mind-body connection
Talk it out/process with someone
Discharge and recharge
Self-sooth and pamper(Sanctuary Time)
Breathing Techniques
Spiritual feeding and lifting
Being accountable to someone who cares

29. Tools for the Road
Cognitive Negative Awareness (Shoulda,Coulda, Woulda)
Relaxation
Mindfulness
Journaling
Creating Narratives
Exercise

30. Cont’d Dance Therapy Music The Arts Reading Feeding your Spirit
Thera-Play
Nutrition

31. What are your plans for self care?
Conclusion
What are your plans for self care?