Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
loss, unwanted memories, self-blame, easily
frustrated with others, and repeated annoying
thoughts
.
to see children have a full and long life, but illness
and physical abnormalities can take the life of a
child before the child has ever really had a chance
to experience life. Providers and parents must live
with the feeling of deep regret, helplessness, dread,
and confusion about why this has to happen to an
innocent child they care for.
However, it is important to not become so
used to children's suffering and death that you
begin to feel indifferent or numb.
The challenge
is to find a balance of not caring too little or too
much—to not lose track of your feelings while also
not letting your feelings dominate your life and
impair your ability to work effectively and derive
satisfaction from your life.
If you have experi-
enced, or are experiencing, other draining stressors,
worries, losses, or even life-threatening traumas,
the suffering or death of a child for whom you
are caring is particularly likely to intensify the
stress and grief you are dealing with. This is only
normal—everyone has a limit to how much they
can cope with. It may be important to privately seek
help from psychological or spiritual counselors,
friends, or family members, to get support and
assistance in coping with these other life concerns.
It may also be helpful
•
Physical reactions: Tension, fatigue, edginess,
difficulty sleeping, bodily aches or pain, star-
tled easily, racing heartbeat, nausea, change in
appetite, change in sex drive, high blood pres-
sure, headaches, inability to relax, problems
with sleep
.
•
Interpersonal reactions: In relationships at
school, work, in friendships, in marriage, or as
a parent, such as: distrust, irritability, conflict,
withdrawal, isolation, feeling rejected or aban-
doned, being distant, judgmental, or overcon-
trolling
.
These normal reactions are a signal that
your body, emotions, and relationships are being
strained by repeated exposure to trauma. More
severe stress problems may develop if these early
warnings are not dealt with, such as PTSD, anxiety
disorders, depression, or problems with eating,
sleep, or substance use:
•
Dissociation (feeling completely unreal or like
you do not know yourself; having “blank”
periods of time)
to reach out help your
co-workers.
Here are some ways that healthcare providers
reach out to get and give support for dealing with
trauma and grief:
•
Intrusive reexperiencing (terrifying memories,
nightmares, or flashbacks)
•
Extreme attempts to avoid disturbing memories
(such as through substance use)
•
Develop a “buddy” system with a co-worker
and informally stay in touch with your buddy
every day.
•
Extreme emotional numbing (completely unable
to feel emotion, as if utterly empty)
•
Hyperarousal (panic attacks; rage; extreme
irritability; intense agitation)
•
Encourage and support your co-workers in
small ways that show that you respect, care for,
and value them.
•
Severe anxiety (paralyzing worry, extreme help-
lessness, compulsions or obsessions)
•
Take care of yourself physically, with a
regular regimen of good exercise, rest, and
nutrition.
•
Severe depression (complete loss of hope, self-
worth, motivation, or purpose in life)
•
Take a break when you feel your stamina,
coordination, or tolerance for irritation dimin-
ishing.
The suffering, disability, or untimely death of
a child, especially a very young infant, places a
special physical and emotional strain on health-
care providers. We all instinctively want to protect
vulnerable little ones, but necessary medical proce-
dures often unavoidably cause pain. We all want
•
Talk informally to trusted colleagues about the
personal impact of troubling incidents during
or after each work shift.
