92
5.6 What helpers can do to help themselves
“ Fortunately , what works for survivors can also work for helpers . If symptoms of secondary traumatisation or compassion fatigue occur , the tools that help survivors can often assist helpers . Helpers should try to recognise their own reactions and understand what has caused them .”
Fortunately , what works for survivors can also work for helpers . If symptoms of secondary traumatisation or compassion fatigue occur , the tools that help survivors can often assist helpers . Helpers should try to recognise their own reactions and understand what has caused them . If helpers are haunted by stories they have heard , or feelings of fear and insecurity , they can use grounding exercises to remind themselves they are safe . Helpers need to discover their strengths and sources of resilience . What helps you to put your work-related thoughts aside ? What helps you to rest your body and mind ? What activities inspire you and put you in a good mood ? In addition , it is important to take care of yourself : to eat well , sleep sufficiently , see friends and family , exercise , etc .
TRAINER ADVICE
Advice to helpers . Handling warning signs :
• Acknowledge that you are reacting in normal and predictable ways .
• Consciously try to relax .
• Talk to someone with whom you feel comfortable .
• Express your feelings in other ways than talking : draw , paint , play music , pray .
• Listen to people you love and reflect on what they tell you .
• Exercise , do yoga , meditate .
• Go for walks , preferably in nature .
• Do grounding exercises .
HELPING THE HELPER
5.7 Building resilience
“ Supporting yourself as a helper is also about building resilience and mapping a course of action .”
Supporting yourself as a helper is also about building resilience and mapping a course of action . Coping skills can be understood as resources that are available and that the helper is capable of using in challenging situations .
In the book ‘ BASIC-Ph ’, a team from the Community Stress
Prevention Center in Tel Aviv tried to combine studies of coping and resilience in one holistic model . BASIC Ph stands for Belief and value systems , Affects , Social support , Imagery , Cognition and Physical interventions . Below is a brief account of each of these dimensions :
Belief and value systems . The theory often refers to Victor Frankl , a psychiatrist who lost his entire family in captivity during World War II and was himself interned in a concentration camp . 1