Pastor Jennifer's Corner - Why I'm Worried

Today I want you to know that I am concerned for our well-being, but not for the reasons being broadly discussed.   A few years ago I worked as a data person for child services in Idaho.   Part of my job was helping leaders and social workers watch for two things - Compassion Fatigue and Secondary Trauma.  I share this with you today because both are a risk right now for all of us and I want us to be aware of how to watch for, avoid and alleviate them. 

Compassion Fatigue - The quick summary of this is that when someone pours out a lot of care for others, even just thinking about or praying for others, that it becomes overwhelming.  Symptoms can be irritability, sleeplessness, a desire to isolate (or hide), or emotional numbness.  It is a form of emotional or spiritual exhaustion. 

Secondary Trauma - This is indirect exposure to a traumatic event, usually through a firsthand account of the event.  The person who experiences secondary trauma did not directly experience the event, but feels effects as if they did.  With videos of scary and horrible events being blasted over the internet and television, then replayed for days or weeks, many more people risk this.   

I am by no means a qualified mental health professional.  If you believe you are experiencing either of these to a degree that it is impacting your quality of life, please reach out to me so we can look together for resources at the level of help that's needed.   

For all of us though, here are some things that can help.
 
Compassion fatigue connects with our personal feeling of how what we do helps others and the strength it takes from us.  If you are a caregiver for others, caring for yourself is equally important.   Little things like tracking how much water you drink and then celebrating if you drink enough in a day can help your brain know that YOU are okay.  What you do in the hour before you go to sleep has a large impact. 

Prayers:
If you pray for others in the evening, consider moving your prayers to the morning. 
If you have a lengthy list of prayers, consider writing them down, then praying over the list.  God knows the details. 
Offer prayers of thanks for things big and small.  Notice things to pray for that you never considered before. Maybe you have a throw pillow you haven't appreciated in awhile or you see a fun-shaped leaf. 
Before bed, do breath prayers.   You can learn more about those here:  https://sarahbessey.substack.com/p/breath-prayers-for-anxious-times

Limiting Exposure:
When a traumatic event is unfolding, turn off all media.   I know this is difficult, and you may feel like you "need" to watch to know what is happening.  You do not need to know in real time.  In fact, by tuning in you are allowing the event to also hurt you, making the negative impact of the event even broader.  If all of us tune in and all are hurt, we are left with very few people to help with the healing.  This applies to all types of natural and man-made disasters.  

Instead, if something is happening and you are physically safe and distant from the event, when the first mutterings begin to flood the news or internet, turn it off. Turn all of it off. Say a prayer for God's presence and protection over all of those involved.  Then, take some time to do something you enjoy.  Pull out a puzzle, listen to music, pet a creature, read the Bible, watch a movie, breathe.  Protect your mental and spiritual health.   You can check in the next morning and see what happened.   It will still have happened.   You will be healthier.

These things are not easy to do if you are a loving, compassionate person.   The next two weeks for us are going to be a storm of two major things happening in our news at the same time.  Like setting out sandbags before rivers rise, we can think now about our strategies to protect our own mental and spiritual states together.  

And, of course, I am here as are the multiple deacons of the church and all the other really great people.  We will know a time where deep breaths come easier and hugs flow abundantly. 

Blessings, dear ones, 
Pastor Jennifer