working on this care plan and stick to it. Like an
exercise routine, the more you practice it, the
easier it becomes.”
The next strategy is to create a trauma filter.
“You hear trauma stories all day long but you
don't have to immerse yourself in their story,”
she said. “You can create a trauma filter so
their energy doesn't stick to you like Velcro.”
When someone tells a story, she explained,
“We visualize ourselves it on our head like
we’re there, so part of creating a trauma filter
is to listen to the story without visualizing it,”
she said. If you need a little visual distraction,
Cheldelin Fell suggested placing a bouquet of
flowers between yourself and the speaker. It
gives you a reminder to stay in your bubble,”
she said.
Handling a case in which someone suffered an
adverse childhood experience that you have
also experienced, such as physical abuse or an
alcoholic parent, can also trigger your trauma
response and land you in their bubble. “If you
have trauma in your own childhood, just be
mindful of that,” she said.
Also, maintain awareness of your own body.
“Are you leaning in, are you in their bubble, and
before you know it you are right next to them,”
Cheldelin Fell said. “You can listen to the story,
without taking it on as yours.”
Debriefing is utilized by firefighters and law
enforcement.
After
they’ve
been
through
a traumatic call, they come together as a
team. Cheldelin Fell explained that debriefing
involves a logical sequence of events to
help those involved begin to process what
they’ve experienced. The goal is to help them
mitigate their emotional stress and let some
of that steam off before they go home. “This
is something that can be done with your staff
when you have a traumatic call,” she advised.
“A staff that undergoes debriefing will be better
in the long run.”
Next, Cheldelin Fell discussed the Valsalva
maneuver, what that does is the vagus nerve
releases an anti-anxiety chemical that slows
down the heartbeat and calms breathing.
Self havening is a relatively new modality – it
is a psychosensory action involving touch to
create delta brainwaves. The exercise involves
the downward stroking of the upper arm in a
soothing way. Stroking your head and face is
also effective in creating delta waves, which
have been shown to help relax the mind.
Tapping is another psychosensory modality.
It has to do with tapping certain areas of your
body 15 times, which introduces the same delta
brainwaves.
Imagery is an effective strategy as well. “Imagery
activates the senses and induces a peaceful
state of mind,” said Cheldelin Fell. “Find a happy
place for yourself – a place that creates peace
for you. And when you create it, think of how
it smells, how it tastes, what is there to touch.”
Engage your senses and try to visit that spot at
least once a day – a peaceful, calm and inviting
place that you want to go to.”
Another modality is called a Zen zone, which
could be a room within the funeral home
that serves as a place where staff can go to
decompress. “It doesn't have to be a brand new
room that you add on. It could be an existing
room that you just designate,” she said. “It could
be the break room where a staff member could
go to collect themselves.”
Color can also help you deal with stress. “Colors
influence how we feel and we can use colors to
our advantage,” Cheldelin Fell said. The study
of chromotherapy has been around since
ancient Egypt, and Western culture is just now
beginning to study its efficacy. “There are many
ways you can engage with chromotherapy,”
The 2017 study showed
that 87% of emergency
responders reported
symptoms of compassion and
fatigue. Furthermore, 70%
of mental health workers
reported symptoms of
compassion fatigue.
The same was reported to
be true among 50% of child
welfare workers.
No one has studied
compassion fatigue among
funeral directors.
14
No. 107 – AUTUMN 2024 | THANOS MAGAZINE
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