Compassion Fatigue in the Caretaking Community Presented by: Lauren Glickman Principal Consultant of FORAY Consulting & Associates April 30, 2013

Introductions

Joy and Pain

Locus of Control External – you attribute the state of your life to the actions of powerful others, or to chance or luck (life happens to you and you have no control over how it affects you) Internal – you attribute the state of your life to your own actions, decisions and behaviors (You can control your reactions to life which influences life)

I Believe You can influence yourself You co-create every interaction Your buttons are yours and yours alone Your choices are responsible for your current state Your family of origin and early experiences affect your current perspective You often project onto others your greatest criticisms about yourself

Compassion Fatigue Also known as:  Secondary traumatic stress disorder, vicarious traumatization, empathic strain and secondary trauma A holistic way of thinking about it:  Trauma Stewardship – “refers to the entire conversation about how we come to do this work, how we are affected by it, and how we make sense of and learn from our experiences.” - Laura van Dernoot Lipsky

Compassion Satisfaction Compassion satisfaction refers to  the pleasure you derive from being able to do your work well.  positive feelings about your colleagues and their efforts  your ability to contribute to the work setting or even the greater good of society.  your feelings about your ability to be an effective caregiver.

Levels of Trauma Stewardship Individual The most profound influence on our ability to cope Think about –  Your own history of hardship.  The resources available to you in the past.  What led you to this work? Consider your journey to the seat you're in now.  Do you identify with the trauma you see? Is this personal?

Levels of Trauma Stewardship Organizational Make better Make worse Societal Systemic isolation

High-Risk Factors Exposure to:  Limited financial resources—organization and client  Administrative policies  Poverty distress  The constant stream of demands  Uncertainty/Ambiguity  Volumes of distressed people in a short amount of time  Conflict within the workplace  Conflict in personal life  Distressed and dysfunctional students  Stressed-out peers  Attrition  Constant change  Physical danger

Symptoms Experiencing:  Increased negative arousal (irritability, frustration, upset)  Preoccupation/intrusive thoughts  Social isolation/withdrawal  Sleeping/eating patterns disrupted – nightmares/intrusive images  Self-medicating – alcohol, sugar, nicotine, television, food, caffeine  Pessimism/despair/loss of hope  Depression  Increased anxiety  Diminished capacity and/or desire for intimacy  Difficulty separating work and personal life  Dread (of working with certain people)  Diminished sense of purpose/enjoyment of career

Your Nervous System Sympathetic nervous system  Reactive  Fight, flight or freeze  Less articulate  High negative arousal Parasympathetic nervous system  Receptive  Calm, creative, and chill  More articulate

Stress-Related Hormones Increased susceptibility to illness and disease

Complaining

Triangulation

Being a Non-Anxious Presence You influencing you Have thoughts on purpose Unclenching Engage cyclical breathing Recognize your stress cue Be careful about sharing anxiety

Let’s Talk

Note to self

Closing the Day Share impressions  One or two concepts from today that were particularly resonant  A commitment/declaration about your intention  A request for support  An acknowledgment  Something else?

Thank you for making a difference in the lives of others! Lauren Glickman