Hope for Health Wellness Serves Those Who Serve Others

I am a Trauma Informed Wellness Educator, who worked with at risk youth and families for over fifteen years. I am also the wife and sister of previous law enforcement officers.

As a previous victim advocate and program director for a child advocacy center, I found that many of my co-workers and collaborative partners struggled with burn out and compassion fatigue not only in the work environment, but at home as well.

Education and support for those who serve others can be hard to find.

In fact, while my husband attended the Police Academy in 2009, he was given a booklet that contained information about the common symptoms for on the job burn out and compassion fatigue.

*difficulty managing emotions.

*feeling emotionally numb or shut down.

*fatigue, sleepiness, or difficulty falling asleep.

*physical problems or complaints, such as aches, pains, and *decreased resistance to illness.

*being easily distracted, which can increase one’s risk of accidents.

loss of a sense of meaning in life and/or feeling hopeless about the future.

*relationship problems (e.g., withdrawing from friends and family, increased interpersonal conflicts, avoiding intimacy).

or extra marital affairs.

*substance abuse issues.

*suicide.

In the back of the booklet, there was an 1800 number for employees to call if they needed help. Sadly, there are many, many individuals who need help that never call that number.

That is when the million-dollar question left my mouth.

"Why isn't anyone equipping those who selflessly give of themselves day after day with tools of support before they hit the burn out phase and struggle with the symptoms listed above?"