Compassion Fatigue Killing Yourself with Kindness EmilyIone Kinney

Compassion Fatigue: Killing Yourself with Kindness Emily-Ione Kinney AAS, CVT, VTS(ECC) Advanced Veterinary Care Salt Lake City, Utah

We Hurt Because We Care “We have not been directly exposed to the trauma scene, but we hear the story told with such intensity, or we hear similar stories so often, or we have the gift and curse of extreme empathy and we suffer. We feel the feelings of our clients. We experience their fears. We dream their dreams. Eventually, we lose a certain spark of optimism, humor and hope. We tire. We aren’t sick, but we aren’t ourselves. ” • Charles Figley, 1995

Veterinary Specifics • 1/3 of veterinarians are at risk for CF • Difficult/non compliant clients, not enough time, disputing fees, staff performance • ½ of veterinary technicians and assistants are risk for CF • Difficult/non compliant clients, problems with coworkers, not enough time, euthanasia • 1/5 th of veterinary receptionists and office personnel are at risk for CF • Difficult/non compliant clients, not enough time, billing disputes, office stressors

Definitions • Empathy – The experience of understanding another’s position from their perspective. • Sympathy – feeling for someone else’s misfortune. • Compassion – what one feels in response to another’s suffering, that motivates a desire to help; considered to have an emotional aspect.

Compassion Fatigue • Stress – the mental, physical or emotional strain that results from too many pressures or demands on one’s life • Burn-Out – what occurs in response to external stressors and demands often when one demands too much of themselves. • Compassion Fatigue: The spiritual, physical and emotional exhaustion from exposure to working with those that have suffered a trauma.

Compassion Fatigue • Who is at Risk? • Occupational Hazard! • Psychologists, social workers, lawyers, disaster relief workers, nurses, psychiatrists, medical doctors, emergency service professionals, police, crisis phone-line attendants and shelter workers • Veterinary Staff! • People who provide care and put themselves in positions of helping

Internal factors • Guardian Protector • often try to do everything themselves. Protectors have a very strong work ethic and this can lead them to be overworked. • Perfectionist • High expectations of themselves, commonly tie their sense of self to their profession, tend to be compassionate toward everyone except themselves

Internal Factors • Lack of assertiveness • Inherent difficulty saying no to others, believe the needs of others take precedence over their own, have issues setting boundaries • Sensitivity to Suffering • Highly sensitive to their surrounding, able to pick up on the feelings of others

External Factors • Time Constraints • Not enough hours in the day • Over scheduled • Exposure to death and grief • In the veterinary field we are exposed to death and the grief of others on a daily basis

External Factors • Unresolved personal trauma • Family drama • Health • Work related stress • • Busy days Unpleasant clients Coworkers Hours

SIGNS

What to look for • Work Signs • • • Avoidance of certain clients or patients Hyper-vigilant response to certain cases Loss of meaning or enjoyment in work Intrusive thoughts or images related to work Fear or guilt about letting client/patients/coworkers down

Compassion Fatigue “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. • Dr. Naomi Rachel Remen

Well…. • Do you wake up exhausted ? • Does work feel thankless? • Has your job performance diminished? • Do you ever feel numb? • Are you having problems in your relationships? • Do you seem to have no interest in activities you once enjoyed? • Do you forget to take time to nurture yourself? • Do you have changes in your appetite? • You no longer spend time socializing? • You feel overwhelmed? • You anger more easily than you used to? • You find yourself turning to substances ? • You have frequent trouble sleeping?

So. Did you answer YES to the a lot of these questions?

What to Do? ? • There are no set rules!! • Everyone gets better differently and at a different pace don’t rush it. • Be open to working on YOU. • Only you can help you get better. • Learn to be flexible • Only through trial and error will things change • Accept that there is something wrong • Acknowledging that something has gone wrong is a HUGE step to getting back to normal

What to Do? • Learning your triggers • Some may be predictable, things that remind us of past traumas • Some are going to be unexpected • Learn some short term techniques • • Deep Breathing Visualization Meditation Positive Affirmations

YOU • Completely individual experience • No two people have the same experience • You will NOT do what I did or feel what I felt! • Be proactive • Don’t wait to take care of yourself. • Learn to process and recognize your emotions in a safe place • Listen to your body • Your body doesn’t care where stress comes from.

Self care • Rest • Play • Vacation • Be kind to yourself • Change your focus • Examine your coping mechanisms

Tools • Avoid making big decisions • Feel your feelings • Stay in the moment • Journaling • Simplify • Set limits

Someone else • Let them know that their feelings are valid • Encourage them to get help • Offer them support • Be willing to listen • Don’t judge!

Discuss • When did YOU feel like you made a difference last at work?

Discuss • What do you feel is the number one stressor in your workplace?

Discuss • What are some things you can do at work to promote self care?

Discuss • What coping mechanisms do you employ?

Discuss • How can we help ourselves and those around us?

• Can you identify your potential triggers?

• Do you think your training prepared you for what we see daily in vet med?

Resources • Compassion Fatigue in the Animal-Care Community - Figley & Roop • When Helping Hurts – Ayl • www. compassionfatigue. org