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Section 2: PREVENTION

Module 12: Self-care

for violence prevention helpersViolence Prevention Initiative

Respect Aging:Preventing Violence against Older Persons

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Agenda• Welcome

• Learning together:

• Self-care for violence-prevention helpers

• Small group activity

• Reporting back to whole group

• Wrap-up / Evaluation

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Why self-care?

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

Stress

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• A state of emotional, mental and physical exhaustion caused by extreme and prolonged

stress.

Burnout

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• 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.

Vicarious trauma

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Vicarious trauma

• Happens when a helper "catches" the trauma of those being helped

• Repeated exposure to suffering

• Desire to help/change the situation

• Happens because you care

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Self-care

• Be aware of our own thoughts and behaviours

• Reflect on our beliefs, values and assumptions

• Share our vulnerability with people who support us

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Stress, burnout and vicarious trauma

• Everyone responds differently

• Warning signs:

• Physical/emotional/spiritual changes

• Changes in relationships

• Consider seeking help

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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

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Changes in how you see yourself and the world

• Not a good or safe place

• Questioning effectiveness

• Feel little satisfaction

• Survivor guilt

• Preoccupied with troubling questions

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Changes in emotional needs

• Safety

• Trust

• Boundaries

• Making decisions

• Obsessive thoughts

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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

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Changes in relationships

• Disconnected

• Conflicts

• Less social contact

• No upsetting stories!

• Intimacy issues

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Changes in beliefs about spirituality, meaning, purpose

• Loss of meaning, purpose

• Loss of hope

• Despair

• No wonder, gratitude, joy

• Troubling questions

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ABCs of positive self-care

A – Awareness

B - Balance

C - Connection

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Awareness

• Take time to self-reflect

• Journal-writing

• Therapy

• Talking to friend

• What else?

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Balance

• Balance awareness with action

• How much time do you spend working? playing? resting?

• Balance work with rest of life

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Connection• Connecting with meaning

• Connect to others

• Connecting to that “something more” beyond ourselves:

• Nature

• Faith

• Poetry

• Humanity

• What else?

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Coping strategies for self-care

• Find your own path to renewal

• Revisit your path

• Your path will be unique

• Your plan will change

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Wellness Toolbox

Awareness Balance Connection

Physical

Emotional

Mental/

Intellectual

Spiritual

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Wellness Toolbox

Awareness Balance Connection

PhysicalAvoid sugar;

No caffeine

In bed by 10:00 pm

Salsa dance class

EmotionalCall

daughter

Mental/Intellectual

Crossword puzzle at

lunch

Attend book club at library

Spiritual Meditation Yoga