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7. Taking care of yourself

Things to Consider

By now, you have probably noticed that these are not our average day-to-day calls. You may be surprised at the emotional toll this could take on you, so we want to make sure you take care of yourself. Here are some things to consider:

  • As a helper, you are vulnerable anytime you listen and try to assist a person in crisis.
  • Working with people in crisis challenges our beliefs about safety, control, predictability, and protection.
  • It is up to you to take care of yourself and watch for signs that you, too, are experiencing distress when working with callers during a crisis.

Suggestions for Reducing Stress

Here are some suggestions to help with some of the stress you may feel after you have performed this important task:

  • Make sure you get proper rest and exercise during a stressful work assignment.
  • Eat healthy food and drink plenty of water-all the time, but especially during difficult assignments.
  • Try journaling or other artistic expressions of feelings.
  • Ask for emotional support from family and friends.
  • Contact your supervisor or Aviem staff if stress experienced from providing this support interferes with any part of personal, family or work life.

We can also recommend materials for reading and gaining additional insight into an understanding of vicarious trauma. Vicarious trauma refers to experiencing distress from a traumatic event, even whey you or your family are not personally involved. It is also referred to as secondary trauma.

A Rewarding Experience

While this will be a challenging task, please know that most employees who have performed this role in past disasters have indicated that it was one of the most rewarding experience of their lives. 

We know that the most effective action we can do to take care of you is to provide you with proper training and support. Aviem is committed to providing you the best support possible while you perform this valuable service to our clients.

THANK YOU!

THANK YOU for being willing to be part of this special team to help the world become a more compassionate place when people are affected by unfortunate events.

You are making a difference!