When you have a job that requires you to communicate with many people per day, this can be draining, exhausting and truly tiresome. What we know to be fatigue in this situation is actually a concept known as emotional capacity and its depletion.
Being a physiotherapist I come into contact with many people, daily. Our primary goal is to be there for them by not only resolving their pain but also to hear their story. The story they disclose may be ingrained with pain, trauma or tragedy. We may hear such stories repetitively depending on your client list. I listen to their story because it gives me a clearer picture of their presenting problem.
A little History on My "why"
I began my journey as a physiotherapist with a love and passion to cure pain as I (among many) have suffered formats of pain growing up whether it was either psychological or physical pain. Specifically psychological pain was a major interest for me as i had gone through many layers of it. I was so fascinated with how the mind and physical pain are intertwined. Although the format of physiotherapy that was taught to me is very manual orientated, I knew there was more to just physical pain to aid ones physical pain. We must also look at the psychological aspects of ones story when they present into the clinic. I digress.
How Emotional Capacity Is Depleted
When I made this connection it would mean that I will have to truly dive into the lives of those in front of me. I enjoy this as I learn so much from peoples stories and it really helps me dissect their physical pain. However this would mean I am utilizing sympathy and empathy in more recurrent levels which would often lead me to be immensely drained at the end of the day.
I would often go home after work feeling very tired. Although I was not physically tired I was mentally drained. I would go through this pattern daily as my patients possess a myriad of life experiences leading to their presenting pain (as we also treat many patients with various disabilities). This would be no different for nurses, doctors, consultants and other professionals that go the extra mile to truly understand the person in front of them.
However this is something that can be dealt with and refined so that one feels more emotionally available even at the end of the working day, rather than dull and fatigued. We craft our emotional capacity to be more resilient. By harnessing resilience we become immune to the emotional impact certain stories can have while maintaining the utmost level of care towards the patient or person you are communicating with.
Solutions
This is what I do to maintain my emotional capacity at the end of the day so I can spend time with my family and loved ones and give them 100%.
Meditation
I go through meditations every morning for 20-30 minutes. This balances me for the day and keeps my soul calm.
Balanced Lifestyle
Breathing Techniques
Diary Planning
Acceptance & Understanding
Simple Breathing Technique
Breath in for 5 seconds (slowly) by filling both your belly and your lungs entirely, hold your breath at the level of deep inhalation for 3 seconds, then release the breath for 5 seconds(slowly- 5 seconds means actual 5 seconds like watching the clock tick)
Breathing is performed only through the nose. I repeat only through the nose.
Perform this for a total of 10 breaths - 3 Sets. See you how you feel. The exhalation and its slow speed is very important.
You can perform this midday or throughout the day.
Fin