“Burnout Isn’t Just in Your Head. It’s in Your Circumstances….We can fight emotional exhaustion by decreasing demands, increasing support and enhancing control.”
In recent days, weeks, and months, healthcare professionals are increasingly finding themselves in moments of overwhelming emotional stress. As the coronavirus pandemic expands, it is stretching the infrastructure of healthcare systems as well simultaneously stressing and overwhelming the psychological and emotional well being of those healthcare professionals who are on the front lines of treatment and patient care. As a therapist, I have begun to worry about burnout, vicarious traumitization, compassion fatigue, and how to best support those on the front lines caring for others.
“Professionals who work in mental health settings are at risk of developing psychological distress themselves. The term “compassion fatigue” has been used to describe the negative effects of working in a psychologically distressing environment on a person’s ability to feel compassion for others. (Turgoose, D., & Maddox, L. (2017).” Turgoose and Maddox offer two potential protective factors to compassion fatigue:
certain behavioral and cognitive coping styles
mindfulness
Mindfulness and CBT are key components of the supportive counseling sessions I conduct at Ma Zen Space. Through a blend of cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness, and art therapy, I work with individuals to provide a space for expression and healing.
In a recent article in the New York Times, burnout and compassion fatigue are explored as ever increasing reactions to the stress placed upon medical providers. However, there are ways of increasing support for emotional exhaustion.
Together we can help support those professionals who are might be experiencing these signs of burnout and compassion fatigue. One of the first ways to increase support is to understand the signs of emotional stress and look for them in our colleagues, family, colleagues, and friends, and loved ones.
Some signs of Burnout
chronic fatigue
emotional exhaustion
feeling drained
sleep problems
memory problems
anxiety
depressed mood
apathy
anger /irritability
hopelessness
detachment
isolation
loss of enjoyment
a feeling of giving up / like you can’t keep going anymore.
If you or someone you know is a professional on the front lines of fighting the coronavirus, reach out today to find support. Ma Zen Space is offering reduced fee therapy for these healthcare professionals.
In Philadelphia or throughout Pennsylvania, find support by reaching out today by emailing Megan Bousquet at info@mazenspace.com
www.mazenspace.com
For a nationwide search of providers offering reduced rate therapy for healthcare providers, visit: https://www.coronavirusonlinetherapy.com
Citations
Turgoose, D., & Maddox, L. (2017). Predictors of compassion fatigue in mental health professionals: A narrative review. Traumatology, 23(2), 172–185. https://doi.org/10.1037/trm0000116https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2017-09426-001
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/19/smarter-living/coronavirus-emotional-support.html
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/burnout-is-everyones-problem/id1346314086?i=1000468645838
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/high-octane-women/201311/the-tell-tale-signs-burnout-do-you-have-them