Take Care of Yourself: Identifying and Responding to Caregiver Compassion Fatigue. February 18, :00-3:30 p.m. ET

Transcription

1 Take Care of Yourself: Identifying and Responding to Caregiver Compassion Fatigue February 18, :00-3:30 p.m. ET

2 Moderator Pam Clark Program Associate National Center for Youth in Custody

3 Webinar Learning Objectives By the end of this program, the participant will be able to: 1. Identify the signs and symptoms of Compassion Fatigue 2. Discuss strategies for preventing or recovering from Compassion Fatigue 3. Understand how a worker s individual trauma influences Compassion Fatigue when working with youth

4 Presenter Christina Clarke, MS, HS-BCP Coordinator of Continuing Medical Education and Faculty Wake Forest School of Medicine and Northwest Area Health Education Center of the UNC School of Medicine AHEC Program

5 The expectation that we can be immersed in suffering and loss daily and not be touched by it is as unrealistic as expecting to be able to walk through water without getting wet. (Remen, 1996)

6 Compassion Fatigue A condition resulting specifically from empathizing with people who are experiencing pain and suffering. The emotional residue or strain of exposure to working with those suffering from the consequences of traumatic events.

7 Compassion Fatigue Compassion fatigue describes the emotional, physical, social and spiritual exhaustion that overtakes a person and causes a pervasive decline in his or her desire, ability and energy to feel and care for others. Such fatigue causes the sufferer to lose the ability to experience satisfaction or joy professionally or personally. Compassion fatigue is not pathological in the sense of mental illness, but is considered a natural behavioral and emotional response that results from helping or desiring to help another person suffering trauma or pain. Rx for Compassion Fatigue by Fran Mcholm

8 Compassion Fatigue Symptoms Physical Headaches Upset stomach, digestive problems Muscle tension Insomnia, too much sleep Fatigue Chest pain/pressure, palpitations, tachycardia (elevated heart rate)

9 Compassion Fatigue Symptoms Emotional Mood swings Restlessness Irritability Oversensitivity Anxiety Excessive use of nicotine, alcohol, illicit drugs Depression Anger and resentment Loss of objectivity Memory issues Poor concentration, focus and judgment

10 Compassion Fatigue Symptoms Work: Absenteeism Avoidance of intense client situations Desire to quit Diminished performance ability Stereotypical/impersonal communications Tardiness

11 Warning Signs of Compassion Fatigue in Staff Exhaustion Heightened anxiety or irrational fears Reduced ability to feel sympathy and empathy Anger and irritability Increased use of alcohol and drugs Intrusive imagery or dissociation Hypersensitivity or insensitivity to emotional material Difficulty separating work life from personal life Dread of working with certain clients Diminished sense of enjoyment of career Disruption to world view Absenteeism Impaired ability to make decisions and care for clients Problems with intimacy and in personal relationships Developed by Christina Clarke, MS, HS-BCP, Coordinator of Continuing Medical Education and faculty, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Northwest AHEC

12 Prevention Strategies Boundary maintenance Maintain appropriate boundaries Watch out for excessive empathy

13 Prevention/Recovery Strategies Practice Self-Care Live a healthy, satisfying, and well-balanced life Engage in aerobic exercise regularly Pursue a creative interest, hobby, or sport Eat a well-balanced diet Get plenty of rest Practice anxiety and stress management techniques Establish and maintain balance and boundaries between your personal and professional lives

14 Prevention/Recovery Strategies Practice Self-Care, cont. Make time for relaxation, fun and recreation Reserve time for yourself (allow for alone time) Develop/attend to your spiritual self Be kind to yourself Spend time in nature Adhere to a commitment for regularly scheduled time off from work

15 Prevention/Recovery Strategies Practice Self-Management Develop anxiety reduction and self-regulatory skills. Practice relaxation and deep breathing exercises. Adopt positive self-talk and cognitive restructuring. Maintain a positive attitude. Maintain a non-anxious presence.

16 Prevention/Recovery Strategies Connect With Others Establish/maintain connection Seek/receive support from others Teach others how to support you Join or establish a peer support or study group Join a traumatic stress support or study group Engage in regular, meaningful conversation Take a class Be social Volunteer

17 Prevention/Recovery Strategies Seek professional help A brief treatment using accelerated trauma techniques can be very effective. These treatment modalities include: Traumatic Incident Reduction (TIR) Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) Systematic Desensitization (SD) Visual-Kinesthetic Dissociation Neurolinguistic Reprocessing (V/KDNLP) Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)

18 Presenter ToriShana Johnson Training Specialist Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center

19 Workers Awareness Compassion Fatigue Complex Trauma Vicarious Trauma Burnout

20 Adverse Childhood Experiences Almost 2/3 of adults have experienced some traumatic event in their childhood U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

21 Compassion Fatigue in a Detention Setting

22 Portrait of Trauma for Youth. Anger Hostility and coldness Inability to trust other people Perceiving danger everywhere Problems with change and transitions Acting guarded and anxious Difficulty being redirected Physical and emotional reactivity Regressive behaviors Rejecting support from peers and adults Difficulty calming down after outbursts Difficulty letting go, holding onto grudges Similar for Adults

23 Hurt People, Hurt People BECAUSE THEY ARE HURT, PEOPLE!

24 Common Mistakes Among Helping Professionals

25 R.E.R.

26 Q & A Christina Clarke ToriShana Johnson

27 For more information, please contact: Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) OJJDP s National Training and Technical Assistance Center (NTTAC) OJJDP s National Center for Youth in Custody (NCYC)

28 Points of view or opinions expressed in this webinar are those of the presenter(s) and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention or the U.S. Department of Justice.