Respect aging Respect Aging Preventing Violence against Older

Respect aging Respect Aging: Preventing Violence against Older Persons Section 2: PREVENTION Module 12: Self-care for violence prevention helpers Violence Prevention Initiative

Respect aging Agenda • Welcome • Learning • • Small together: Self-care for violence-prevention helpers group activity • Reporting • Wrap-up back to whole group / Evaluation

Respect aging Why self-care?

Respect aging Stress • The body’s reaction to a change that requires a physical, mental or emotional adjustment or response.

Respect aging Burnout • A state of emotional, mental and physical exhaustion caused by extreme and prolonged stress.

Respect aging Vicarious trauma • The negative changes that happen to helping professionals, volunteers and others over time that result from empathetic dealings with clients and victims and hearing or seeing their traumatic experiences.

Respect aging Vicarious trauma • Happens when a helper "catches" the trauma of those being helped • Repeated • Desire exposure to suffering to help/change the situation • Happens because you care

Respect aging Self-care • Be aware of our own thoughts and behaviours • Reflect • Share us on our beliefs, values and assumptions our vulnerability with people who support

Respect aging Stress, burnout and vicarious trauma • Everyone • Warning responds differently signs: • Physical/emotional/spiritual • Changes • Consider in relationships seeking help changes

Respect aging Recognizing stress, burnout and/or vicarious trauma You may experience changes in: 1. How you see yourself and the world 2. Your emotional beliefs and needs 3. Self-care and behaviour 4. Relationships 5. Beliefs about spirituality, meaning, purpose

Respect aging Changes in how you see yourself and the world • Not a good or safe place • Questioning • Feel effectiveness little satisfaction • Survivor guilt • Preoccupied with troubling questions

Respect aging Changes in emotional needs • Safety • Trust • Boundaries • Making decisions • Obsessive thoughts

Respect aging Psychological and physiological changes • Sleep difficulties • Not bathing or washing clothes • Difficulty concentrating • No sense of humour • No appetite / eating too much • Irritable, intolerant, moody • Addictions, substance abuse

Respect aging Changes in relationships • Disconnected • Conflicts • Less • No social contact upsetting stories! • Intimacy issues

Respect aging Changes in beliefs about spirituality, meaning, purpose • Loss of meaning, purpose • Loss of hope • Despair • No wonder, gratitude, joy • Troubling questions

Respect aging ABCs of positive self-care A – Awareness B - Balance C - Connection

Respect aging Awareness • Take time to self-reflect • Journal-writing • Therapy • Talking to friend • What else?

Respect aging Balance • Balance awareness with action • How much time do you spend working? playing? resting? • Balance work with rest of life

Respect aging Connection • Connecting with meaning • Connect to others • Connecting to that “something more” beyond ourselves: • Nature • Faith • Poetry • Humanity • What else?

Respect aging Coping strategies for self-care • Find your own path to renewal • Revisit your path • Your path will be unique • Your plan will change

Respect aging Wellness Toolbox Awareness Physical Emotional Mental/ Intellectual Spiritual Balance Connection

Respect aging Wellness Toolbox Awareness Balance Connection Avoid sugar; Physical No caffeine In bed by 10: 00 pm Salsa dance class Call daughter Emotional Crossword puzzle at lunch Mental/ Intellectual Spiritual Meditation Yoga Attend book club at library