I gave my first official presentation on Compassion Fatigue and Burnout last week for 22 case managers, counselors, correction officers, support staff, and managers at the Heartland Center for Behavioral Change. I could not have imagined a better reception.
These folks deal with individuals who are severely impacted by substance use disorder, some of whom are there voluntarily and some whom are court-ordered. The level of compassion satisfaction displayed by the staff, both in the compassion fatigue assessment survey they took during my presentation and demonstrated by the attentive, compassionate, concerned body language they displayed, was remarkable. At the end of the presentation (round of applause) I felt validated in a way that harkened me back to the day I got my acceptance letter in the mail from Kansas State's College of Veterinary Medicine. That day I was so jazzed up that I crumpled that letter in my hand and ran down the street whooping and hollering.
Instead of being so effusive and gushing I sat alone quietly, felt the oneness, and wept with joy. What a beautiful thing to feel so appreciated by the world, convinced that the direction I've been taking, the path I've been on since November, is the correct one. I loved helping those folks continue to keep doing the jobs they love, giving of themselves every day.
I helped them learn to fill their own well of compassion so that they can keep sharing with and giving to those who need them so desperately. It can be crushing to have someone you are working with go down the tubes. I hope they will find the tools we discussed and the information I shared useful enough that they can keep helping others.
