What is the emotional price of caring?

Vicarious trauma is the process through which one’s inner experience is negatively transformed through empathetic engagement with the client’s trauma.

Compassion fatigue is the combination of emotional, physical, psychological, and spiritual exhaustion and depletion that can result when we are repeatedly exposed to another’s pain and suffering.

They are the negative aspect of veterinary medicine and a normal consequence of working in a helping profession.

Signs of Compassion Fatigue & Vicarious Trauma

·        Hyper-vigilance

·        Difficulty sleeping, nightmares

·        Intrusive images

·        Anxiety

·        Numbness and inability to experience pleasure

·        Excessive care-giving (on & off the job)

·        Cynicism

·        Anger & irritability often due to fatigue

·        Reduced tolerance for what are perceived as others petty problems

·        Depression

·        Exhaustion

·        Increased self-criticism

·        Feeling estranged from others

·        Challenges to one’s cognitive schema’s (how one makes sense of the world)

Addressing Vicarious Trauma

·        Awareness (of own needs, limits, emotions & resources)

·        Balance (of work & play; taking care of others & taking care of yourself)

·        Connection (to oneself, others & to something larger)

·        Develop cognitive schema’s which recognize the miraculous that stands next to the tragic

·        Focus on positives and strengths

·        Ask for help when you need it

·        Create an organizational climate that encourages self

·        Make self-care a routine

Strategies for Refueling

Psychologically

·        Journal writing

·        Sharing your feelings

·        Vent emotions in safe ways

·        Visualize a safe & nurturing place and visit it regularly

·        Use affirmations to counter negative thinking:

My needs and feelings count too.

I will treat myself as kindly as I treat others.

I will respond to myself with compassion.

Physically

·        Exercise (walking, playing)

·        Massage (simple or full body)

·        Ask for comforting touch (a hug)

·        Develop a healing/sacred space in your office & at home

·        Create simple pleasures

Socially

·        Make time for pleasing social activities

·        Get out and try new things

·        Ask a friend to “just listen” for 15 minutes

·        Gather with “kindred spirits” (church, support groups, clubs & other organizations)

·        Get involved with social activism & community

·        Join a support group

·        See if others at work would like to start a self-care support group

Spiritually

·        Pause, Breathe and Proceed

·        Attend church or engage in a spiritual practice that is meaningful to you

·        Create rituals that speak to you

·        Walk in nature

·        Do whatever brings you closer to something bigger than yourself

·        Put inspirational materials, quotes, pictures or images around you

·        Develop a self-care plan for yourself

Other things that help

·        Develop realistic expectations for self & employees

·        If possible set aside some time in staff meetings to allow people to share their feelings

·        Don’t expect quick fixes

·        Share coping strategies

·        Confirm the positive experiences and ways in which work enriches your life

If your compassion does not include yourself, it is incomplete. -The Buddha

(Adapted from: “Vicarious Trauma & Self Care” Dr. Judith E. Pierson, retrieved from: https://dhss.delaware.gov/dsamh/files/si09_1314_vicarioustrauma_selfcare.pdf, and from: “The Antidote to Compassion Fatigue,” Julie Squires, retrieved from https://todaysveterinarynurse.com/articles/the-antidote-to-compassion-fatigue/)