Transcript Compassion Fatigue - Office of Superintendent of Public

Self-Care:
An Ethical
Obligation for
Those
Who Care
Important Definitions:
Empathy – The intellectual identification with, or
vicarious experiencing of, the feelings, thoughts, and
attitudes of others. It involves deeply engaging our
minds and our hearts.
Compassion Satisfaction – The positive feelings we
get when we realize that the compassion we put into
working with others is resulting in some relief,
growth, or healing.
Important Definitions: (continued)
Compassion Fatigue – Fatigue, emotional distress, or
apathy resulting from constant demands of caring for
others. The weariness that comes from caring.
Burnout – Physical and emotional exhaustion that
may include a negative self-concept and job
attitudes, a loss of concern and feeling for others.
High levels of compassion fatigue may lead to
burnout.
Important Definitions: (continued)
Vicarious (Secondary) Trauma – Post Traumatic
Stress Disorder behaviors & emotions resulting
from internalizing events experienced by another.
Vicarious: To feel through the experience of
others; a secondary rather than primary
experience with significant impact.
The Ripple
Effect:
Traumatic events
are like rocks
thrown into our
pond.
Each rock causes a
series of ripples.
Personal Impact of Vicarious Trauma:
Physical – Sleep disturbances, change in appetite, increased
alcohol consumption, impaired immune system, low energy, fatigue,
aches & pains.
Emotional – Anxiety, guilt, irritability, anger, sadness, loss of
empathy, emotional shutdown, hopelessness, depression.
Behavioral – Impatience, irritability, routine changes,
absentmindedness, accident prone, elevated startle response,
moodiness, self-destructive behaviors.
Personal Impact of Vicarious Trauma:
Cognitive – Diminished concentration, loss of focus, rigidity, selfdoubt, perfectionism, difficulty with decisions, hyper-vigilance.
Relational (Interpersonal) – Withdrawal, mistrust, intolerance,
loneliness, changes in intimacy, emotionally unavailable.
World View (Spiritual) – Feel sense of unfairness, lack of support,
anger at Higher Power, questioning beliefs, loss of purpose.
Professional Impact of Vicarious Trauma
Job Tasks – Decrease in quality & quantity, lower
motivation, increased mistakes, perfectionistic standards.
Morale – Loss of interest, dissatisfaction with work,
negative attitude, apathy, decrease in confidence,
demoralization, feelings of incompleteness.
Professional Impact of Vicarious Trauma
Interpersonal – Withdrawal from colleagues, poor
communication, staff conflicts, impatience, blaming,
cliquish behavior, decreased quality of relationships.
Behavioral – Absenteeism, exhaustion, irritability,
overworking, irresponsibility, tardiness, poor judgment,
frequent threats to resign or quit.
The Silencing Response:
One Other Sign of Compassion Fatigue
Shutting down our
empathy & demanding
trauma survivors keep
problems to themselves.
Consciously or
unconsciously finding
ways to silence those
manifesting trauma
symptoms.
Self-Care:
“You Can’t Teach What You
Don’t Know.
You Can’t Lead Where You
Won’t Go.”
Prevention & Self-Care
The Professional Quality of Life Scale (ProQOL
R-IV).
http://www.proqol.org/ProQol_Test.html
Also available in many other languages.
ProQOL Scores:
Neither your name nor any other self-identifying information is to be written on
this form.
This information is being requested anonymously. All individual information is to
be kept confidential.
My Compassionate Satisfaction Score ________.
My Compassion Fatigue/Secondary Trauma Score _________.
My Burnout Score ____________.
Comments: (Optional, however, avoid disclosing information that may lead to
your identification).
Self-Care Planning:
Physical – The things I do to take care of my body in
a healthy way.
Emotional – Things I do to take care of my feelings
in healthy way.
Cognitive – Things I do to improve my mind and
understand myself better.
Self-Care Planning:
Social – The things I do in relation to others and the
world around me.
Financial – The things I do to spend and save
responsibly.
Spiritual – Things I do to gain perspective on my life.
The Heart of Learning and Teaching:
Compassion, Resiliency, and
Academic Success
Contact
Ron Hertel, Program Supervisor
Office Superintendent of Public Instruction
Phone: 360-725-4968
Email: [email protected]