Positive Self Care

Stressed, overwhelmed, depressed, anxious, busy, exhausted, experiencing compassion fatigue or burnout? These symptoms are very common and if not treated properly, will impact ones overall mental, emotional, psychological, and physical health. Therefore, engaging in positive self-care, including awareness, balance, flexibility, physical health, having a support system, and spiritual connection (Posluns & Gall, 2020) are all ways to practice wellness.

Positive self-care is essential for everyone; however this blog is going to address mental health practitioners, care workers, and first responders. It is by no surprise that the past year has been challenging to say the least.

It is the expectation and understanding that one would provide empathy, have good healthy boundaries, compassion, and patience with their consumers (Barnett et al. 2007). Although it is often recommended from the practitioners to his or her consumers of the importance of healthy habits, this is often overlooked by the practitioners themselves.

If you are experiencing emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, increased work stress, then you may be experiencing burnout (Clark et al. 2009) or compassion fa