Health care professionals are just starting to understand the challenge that faces humans when we’re exposed to ongoing exposure to suffering. In response to the Corona Virus, the demands on medical workers, therapists, care providers, healers and non-profit leaders is unlike anything we’ve ever experienced before. In part it’s more challenging because we’re exposed to more suffering: the daily onslaught of news about illness and death. But it’s also difficult because so many of our normal ways of discharging stress are off limits to us.
We can’t just stop off at the gym, hug a friend or go to a movie after work. Humanity is running a collective marathon when it comes to our stress response systems. And healers are on the front lines. Therapists have full case loads. Clients still need more support. Non-profits have waiting lists. Health care providers are overworked. And most of us are suffering from exhaustion, zoom fatigue and compassion fatigue.
In her book “Trauma Stewardship,” Laura van Dernoot Lipsky says that over time experiencing trauma (even when it’s in other people) as a helping professional can impact the way we see the world, ourselves and other people. For those of us who are required to ground the energy around us and play the role of the loving adult all day, it’s easy to start to feel numb to suffering after repeated exposure to human suffering. Even with the best access to deep wisdom about self care, we can become jaded. We were NEVER supposed to care for ourselves alone. Humans are wired for connection and community.
Now more than ever, it takes work to stay present and loving… it also takes support. If we’re overwhelmed and exhausted, we can’t stay present or connected, we run the risk of harming ourselves or our clients. When our bodies are in a stress response, it’s impossible to really control our reactions. We have a s ethic of doing no harm, and if you are numb, you will not be able to gauge if you are doing harm. Ultimately the expectation that as care providers and ethical humans, we can fully transform suffering all day by ourselves is not realistic. We need help. We need rest. We need each other.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed and overworked, we want to connect and support you. Check out our community & groups for healing pros and our stress reduction & integrative health coaching/self care offerings. This world needs people who are committed to doing good work. And we need you healthy, safe & present.
