caring fatigue

Therapists and rights activists are exposed to horrifying scenarios and injustices. Many have experienced childhood trauma that has sensitised them and motivates them to help others but leaves them more vulnerable to burnout.

Helping others is sometimes a way to work on ones own suffering or avoid facing it. Black indigenous activists are sometimes heard asking their white urban sisters not to come and help them in their struggle against oppression but inviting them to work together on both of their oppression.

vicarious trauma
Healers tune into the people they are helping and risk absorbing the distressed thinking habits they are there to resolve. Some people with complex distressed feelings try to shield helpers. Others may practice eliciting distressing feelings in others. Either way, disturbing life histories come to life in therapists and carers as they connect and share the stories and emotions.

Organisations often mimic the same problems they are there to solve. This shows up especially in informal structures and procedures and in relationships between colleagues, clients and other agencies.

Viewing horrifying images or written accounts of abuse or attending traumatic incidents are traumatising and are also re-traumatising when they bring back memories of personal trauma.

Being aware of the discomfort is the antidote. Pretending to be OK digs the hole deeper.

crisis work
The world begins to feel unsafe to most workers who only see people and families at their lowest point in crisis situations like child protection, crime, psychiatric emergency or critical incident debriefing. Most of their encounters are complex and traumatic.

People in conflict and crisis one week may be reconciled and back working and playing games the next. But therapists who only see the point of extreme conflict and despair and don't see the healing or recovery eventually come to expect the worst everywhere. They are at risk of viewing all situations and people as hopeless and missing possibilities for recovery. A danger to themselves and others.

burnout
Feelings of hatred or dislike of clients can be a first sign of compassion fatigue after prolonged exposure to stressful situations. Deriding clients provides a little short term relief but puts off recovery.

If this is not addressed, alcoholism, drug abuse, nightmares, preoccupations, lack of sleep, episodes of rage or depression, disintegration of health or close relationships might be a first sign of burnout.

prevention
In my experience therapists and activists do not burn out if enjoy their role, are supported and debriefed and are operating with clear non-contradictory objectives.

Disturbing videos or photos could be watched far enough away on small screens to reduce their impact while still understanding the content while keeping exposure to the minimum necessary to achieve goals.

Supportive relationships and positive experiences of success and recovery help keep horrifying events and situations in perspective.

Regular discussion and debriefing put traumatic material into a broader context so it is less able to run away and develop a life of its own in nightmares and subconscious fantasies. The awareness therapy pages show ways to do this.

The relaxation and awareness exercises in the mind body and stress pages can be used as reminders to de-stress and maintain physical, mental and emotional well-being.

copyright (C) John Brasted 2008
updated 11/06/11

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