Compassion Fatigue and Burnout Out How and why

Compassion Fatigue and Burnout Out: How and why to fill your cup. Alison Downs PLMHP

“Fill up your own cup so that you can overflow into the lives of others”

Goals for today: 1. Define Compassion fatigue and burnout. 2. Identify warning signs and create a list of your own personal symptoms of burnout. 3. Learn strategies to combat and prevent compassion fatigue and burnout. 4. Practice two or more exercises to carry with me throughout the day.

Common progression ● Burnout ● Compassion Fatigue ● Emotional Exhaustion

Burnout Emotional fatigue and lack of self-efficacy “Exhaustion of physical or emotional strength or motivation, usually as a result of prolonged stress or frustration. ”

Stages of Burnout ● ● Enthusiasm Stagnation Frustration Apathy

Compassion Fatigue ● Secondary trauma, vicarious trauma. ● Dwells in anxiety and fear. ● A state of tension and preoccupation with the suffering of those being helped to the degree that it is traumatising for the helper ● Incorporates symptoms of intrusion, avoidance, and hyperarousal

Emotional Exhaustion ● Depersonalization and reduction of feelings of personal and professional accomplishment

Research One study found the best predictors of therapist distress are workrelated stressors.

Extenuating factors: ● Lack of support ● Role conflict ● Unreasonable workload ● Unclear expectations ● Satisfaction of mental health work ● Perceived interpersonal support

Other considerations: Personal home situation Coping style Work history Personal trauma history

Misconceptions: ● ● ● It is not simply being tired I can fix it You can will your clients to improve I know what the job entails I just need to care more, work harder, read one more article. . . If I ask for help I am weak

Who is impacted? Everyone.

What does it look like?

Symptoms: ● ● ● ● ● Physical ailments Poor concentration Irrational fears Reduced sympathy Isolation Problems connecting with others Dread of seeing patients Excessive drinking, spending (insert numbing behavior of choice) Difficulty separating home and work Absenteeism “I am not as emotionally responsive” “Sometimes for me forgetfulness is also a sign when I am trying to do too much. ” “I wake up in the middle of the night… because my head is going through everything that happened that day” “I am more agitated” “Okay, I’ll confess! There have been times after a really challenging day where I have blow the horn or vented out the window in traffic”

What are your signs? Self-awareness is key

Self-assessment Tools: Copenhagen Burnout Inventory: CBI Secondary Traumatic Stress Scale: SCSS TSI Belief Scale-Revision L: TSI-BSL Interpersonal Reactivity Index: IRI Compassion Fatigue/Satisfaction Self-Test: CFS Good old fashioned journaling

Self-care it is our ethical responsibility: “Counselors engage in self-care activities to maintain and promote their own emotional, physical, mental, and spiritual well-being to best meet their professional responsibilities. ” In the ACA code of ethics, Section C

Questions to ask yourself: ● What do you want to be like? ● How do you want to live? ● What do you want people to remember? ● What are your values? ● What are your goals?

Creating a personal mission statement

“If you want others to be happy, practise compassion. If you want to be happy, practice compassion. ” -HH The Dalai Lama

Maintaining Compassion ● Internal Factors Mindfulness- become very popular in its various forms. So we can go from autopilot to aware. ● External factors Coaching, mentoring, and supervision

Compassion and resilience: Closely linked to compassion is resilience. Resilience enables people to thrive in challenging situations.

Resilience: Skills: Factors: Self-efficacy Optimism Self-control Solution orientation Ability to engage support Individual accountability persistence Openness and flexibility Managing stress

Healthy Boundaries ● ● ● Manage Technology: personally and professionally. Set limits Keep up on paperwork/bills Communicate with friends/coworkers Are you following ethical guidelines? Including practicing self-care!

Creating a healthy work environment ● ● ● ● ● Set the tone Be honest with leadership Normalize healthy boundary discussions Offer support Create rituals to transition from home to work Create rituals when seeing difficult clients Seek out supervision Use vacation Set up safety measures when necessary

Have no fear of perfection- you’ll never reach it. Salvador Dali

Wellness Wheel Take a few minutes to fill out your wheel

Goal setting: Progress over perfection Looking at your wellness wheel what is one area you want to make progress in? Set Goals around that area: Develop a plan, identify steps, have an accountability system. Example: 15 minutes of yoga Get yoga mat, place in area will most likely practice, find time that works for your schedule, create an instagram account, jot progress in bullet journal, text a friend

More strategies

Tending to the four areas of self Social Emotional Wear a few hats Set boundaries Say yes Practice gratitude What lights you up? Take a class, watch a youtube video, start a bookclub Journal Practice openness and flexibility

Tending to the four areas of self Mental Physical Mindfulness Move What’s the story you're telling yourself Massage Reconnect with your why Pampering Get out of your head; find flow Use vacation time Have a counselor Start a movement group at work; walk around the block Is there color on your plate?

Mindfullness

Mindfulness “Paying attention in a particular way; on purpose, in the present moment, and nonjudgementally. ” -Jon Kabat-Zinn

Mindfulness Benefits • Develop skills to manage stress. • Decreased anxiety and depression symptoms. • Reduced self reported mental fatigue. • Reduction in blood pressure. • Improved quality of life.

How to incorporate MBP in your day • Candle Practice • Mindful eating • Guided Meditation • Mindful walking • Mindful reading • Mindful cooking • Mindful tooth brushing. • Mindful cleaning

Resources: Burnout and Compassion Fatigue: A Guide for Mental Health Professionals and Caregivers by Christine Florio Vicarious trauma, secondary traumatic Stress or simply burnout? Effects of trauma therapy on mental health professionals by Grant J Devilly, Renee Wright, and Tracey Varker Maintain compassion and preventing compassion fatigue: a practical guide by Anna Charlotte Baverstock, Fiona Olwen Finlay Running on empty: compassion fatigue in health professionals by Francoise Mathieu, Helping till it hurts? A multimethod study of compassion fatigue, burnout, and self-care for clinicians working with trauma survivors by Kyle Killian Wherever you go there you are by Jon Kabbat Zinn