Healthcare Workers & The Importance of Emotional Coaching
Posted on October 24, 2024 by Rachel Jackson, One of Thousands of Relationship Coaches on Noomii.
Healthcare workers deal with their emotions being "unwelcomed" as they help their patient's survive. It is crucial they can process the trauma after..
Emotional hygiene for healthcare workers is a journey that requires continuous self-awareness, emotional care, and professional support to manage the intense experiences they face daily. Healthcare systems need to prioritize their workers’ mental health just as much as the physical well-being of their patients, fostering an environment where trauma is addressed, not ignored. When providers go into fight-or-flight mode alongside their patients’ trauma, their mental functioning begins to shut down to keep their body safe. In doing so, they often numb themselves to continue working effectively, but the body still knows it’s processing trauma. This dynamic is a red flag in our healthcare system, signaling a critical need to support physicians’ mental health and emotional well-being by providing tangible tools for regulation and coping.
Healthcare workers dealing with trauma can find relief by focusing on four key practices: finding people who understand, creating post-shift rituals, moving the body, and nurturing themselves with love and self-care. These strategies help alleviate the emotional burden and create a foundation of healing and resilience, enabling healthcare professionals to maintain their mental and emotional well-being while working in a field of constant exposure to suffering.
The first step is finding people who understand. Healthcare workers often feel isolated in their experiences, especially after long, demanding shifts. Building a network of peers, mentors, or therapists who offer empathy and insight is crucial. These individuals provide a safe space for sharing stories, venting frustrations, and reflecting on difficult emotions. Having people who “get it” fosters a sense of belonging and validation, which is essential for healing from trauma.
The second step is creating a ritual to honor patient experiences after every shift. Rituals can be simple yet profound: lighting a candle, journaling, or practicing mindfulness. These intentional acts help workers acknowledge the emotional weight of their day, preventing them from suppressing their feelings. Such rituals create emotional closure, releasing tension and reducing the buildup of unresolved trauma over time.
The third step involves moving the body to release emotions and down-regulate the nervous system. Physical movement, whether through yoga, running, or simple stretching, allows healthcare workers to process trauma stored in their bodies. Techniques like tapping, shaking, and breathwork (such as boxed breathing or 4-7-8 breathing) are powerful ways to regulate emotions and bring calmness to the body. Integrating these tools during a workday, such as shaking hands after leaving a patient’s room or tapping the chest while walking down the hall, helps healthcare professionals process their experiences in real-time.
Lastly, healthcare workers must nurture themselves with love and self-care. Constantly giving care to others can lead to self-neglect, but nurturing practices are vital for long-term well-being. Self-care can include simple actions like taking a bath, setting boundaries, getting enough rest, or seeking therapy. More importantly, healthcare professionals need to engage in “feminine” energy—allowing themselves to be supported and cared for by others—since they spend much of their time in a “masculine” state of protecting and providing for their patients. By offering themselves the same love they give others, healthcare workers can replenish their energy and maintain emotional balance.
In conclusion, these four steps—finding understanding, creating rituals, moving the body, and nurturing with love—are essential for healthcare workers to manage trauma effectively. By embracing these practices, they can safeguard their mental health, avoid burnout, and continue to provide compassionate care without sacrificing their own well-being.
For more support in managing your healthcare stress and the trauma you face, schedule your free 30-minute session to see if we would be a good fit. I offer a holistic approach in managing emotions to regulate the nervous system and honor your experiences through self-compassion and a reclamation of power.
Listen to the full episode on Health Care workers and emotional management on the Unboxed Podcast here!
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