The Trauma of Diversity Work...And Getting Caught in the Crossfire - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

The Trauma of Diversity Work...And Getting Caught in the Crossfire

Who are we? Who are you?

Guiding Questions

1. What has been the impact of doing diversity, equity and inclusion work in your respective spheres in your institution? 2. What are some strategies for addressing the challenges you might encounter as advocates for diversity, equity and inclusion? 3. What are some of the self-care practices that you can employ to rejuvenate and persist in the field?

Community Guidelines

1. Speak from your own perspective 2. Monitor your own participation 3. Be open to hearing different opinions and perspectives 4. Maintain confidentiality 5. Share your feelings and thoughts with care and respect 6. Be open to changing your mind or position

How are you feeling about diversity work at this moment?

The Impact of Activism Work

Studies that show post-traumatic stress is linked to genetic factors, and only around one in five people have a genetic predisposition to developing PTSD. But when someone's identities are impacted by the issues they’re fighting, their risk for developing PTSD or related suicidal ideation increases.

~ Dr. April Foreman, a psychologist and board member of American Association of Suicidology

“Activists often become caricatures to people, for some even super-human. Many don’t realize the deep depression and anxiety we experience. The work is overwhelming and [it’s] compounded by not feeling safe and worrying about your life and the lives of your children.”

~ Linda Sarsour, co-founder of the Women’s March & Muslim Palestinian-American activist

Source: Burton, N. “The Impact Of Activism On Mental Health Can Be Devastating, But Here’s How Experts Say We Can Close The Gap.” Bustle.com

The Impact of Activism Work

Source: Burton, N. “The Impact Of Activism On Mental Health Can Be Devastating, But Here’s How Experts Say We Can Close The Gap.” Bustle.com

Constant activism becomes dangerous “when you get to a breaking point where […] you’re overwhelmed, overworked, angry, stressed. And because you’re not paying attention to it, you end up snapping. It may seem like it happened overnight. But for the mind and the body, it’s not overnight, it’s been a long time coming.”

~ Celeste Viciere, LMHC and the host of the podcast Celeste the Therapist

The world of social justice activism and advocacy work can be deeply fulfilling. But it can also leave people who do this work feeling empty and powerless, and harassment and violence can leave activists feeling isolated.

~ Nyla Burton, author of “The Impact of Activism on Mental Health”

The Impact on Your Body

Source: Doggett, J. “This is what activism does to your body.” Huffington Post.

Brain: Migraines, stroke, foggy/inability to concentrate, flashbacks, nightmares dementia Emotions: Depression, anxiety, anger, sadness, fear, guilt/blame, hopelessness, suicidal thoughts, changed perception of humanity/future Heart: Cardiovascular disease, heart attack, high blood pressure Lungs: Asthma, chest tightening from panic attacks, difficult breathing Hormones: Sleeplessness, increased cortisol, backaches, diabetes, accelerated aging, compromised immune system Stomach: Weight loss, weight gain, disrupted eating schedule, vomiting from fear

Some important definitions

Vicarious Trauma: An ongoing process of change over time that results from witnessing or hearing about other people’s suffering and need. When you identify with the pain of people who have endured terrible things, you bring their grief, fear, anger, and despair into your own awareness and

• experience. Your commitment and sense of responsibility can lead to high expectations and eventually

contribute to your feeling burdened, overwhelmed, and perhaps hopeless. Vicarious trauma, like experiencing trauma directly, can deeply impact the way you see the world and your deepest sense of meaning and hope.

Source: Jefferson Center

Compassion Fatigue: The emotional residue or strain of exposure to working with those suffering from the consequences of traumatic events. It differs from burn-out, but can co-exist. Compassion Fatigue can occur due to exposure on one case or can be due to a “cumulative” level of trauma.

Source: The American Institute of Stress

Defining Burn-Out

A state of emotional and often physical exhaustion; often resembles acute stress disorder, depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder. Burn-out does not refer to spending too much time on a task, but rather to an activist’s stress response resulting from the perception that the energy being invested into a task is yielding insufficient returns.

Source: New Tactics in Human Rights. “Self-Care for Activists: Sustaining Your Most Valuable Resource

Burnout Cont’d

Burnout: Cumulative process marked by emotional exhaustion and withdrawal associated with increased workload and institutional stress, NOT trauma-related. Commonalities of Burnout & Compassion Fatigue 1. Enthusiasm 2. Stagnation 3. Frustration 4. Apathy

Source: The American Institute of Stress

STORY SHARING

The Need for Self Care

Source: Doggett, J. “This is what activism does to your body.” Huffington Post.

“This is a very long fight that we’re getting into. You have to pace yourself, take some time off, take a little vacation if you need, if you’re in this for a very long time. It’s just like a marathon. You’ve got to take your time, take care of your body, your health and all of that.”

~ Antonio French, Ferguson Protester

“You need to make sure that you put your own oxygen mask on first. If you’re not being good to yourself, you’re certainly not good to the community because we still need you. We need you in our families, we need you at work, we need you in relationships. If you die [from trauma and stress], where is the justice in that?”

~Tammy Lewis Wilborn, a board-certified professional counselor

Defining Self-Care

Source: New Tactics in Human Rights. “Self-Care for Activists: Sustaining Your Most Valuable Resource

The ability to engage in human rights work without sacrificing other important parts of one life. The ability to maintain a positive attitude towards the work despite challenges. A practitioner’s right to be well, safe, and fulfilled.

Creating a Self-Care Plan

Source: Jackson, K. “Social Worker Self-Care — The Overlooked Core Competency.” Social Work Today: May/June 2014

• No one size fits all
• Recognize that you are worthy of help
• Addresses basic physical, mental, and emotional

needs

• First, focus is to heal
• Second, focus to energize

Elements of a Self-Care Plan

• Taking care of physical health
• Managing and reducing stress
• Honoring emotional and spiritual needs
• Nurturing relationships
• Finding balance in personal and work life

Source: Jackson, K. “Social Worker Self-Care — The Overlooked Core Competency.” Social Work Today: May/June 2014

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