I’ve been off work for six weeks due to having surgery. I return to work in a few days. A friend of mine asked if me if I was ready to return to the office. My quick and instinctive reply was “hell no!” In some ways, my six-week recovery felt like a mental health vacation. A vacation from the day to day grind of helping others. “Helping others sounds like so much fun” is what non-social workers and non-counselors often say. Try helping people in poverty, addiction and a mental health crisis several times during your day and you will understand how emotionally draining “helping” can be. It’s no wonder that we have a nationwide social worker shortage.
Social workers and counselors are continuously faced with crisis situations which call on us to be calm, cool, in charge and yet passionate about helping. It can be tough some days to help individuals who often resist help or fear change. I know personally I have to check myself daily – to make sure I am not being judgmental, making unreasonable demands or making life worse instead of better for my client. Like any true professional we must say to ourselves- first do no harm.
I’ve asked God to help me to be grateful for my blessings, my good health, my family and my job. I’ve asked God to give me the strength to be the advocate he needs me to be. To fight when I need to fight. To retreat when I need to retreat. To stand strong in the corner of those who might not have anyone else standing for them. To speak only words that are helpful and soothing. To protect me from my enemies (seen and unseen). To forgive me for my faults and flaws. To help me to be the kind of social worker I would want if fate had given me a different life, a different outcome and more challenging life circumstances.
Yep, I had surgery and a six-week recovery but I feel like my mind and soul healed up better than my stomach. Don’t wait for surgery to take a break. Take the long vacation, take a personal day, read a book, drink some tea, soak up the sunshine, take a walk, pet a dog, pet a cat, visit a farm, ride a boat, go fishing or take a weekend trip. Remember that your clients are important but so are you, and they deserve a social worker on her A game. Go social work the hell out of your day and take care YOU while you’re at it!
By Teresa McIntosh-Hall
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Teresa McIntosh-Hall is a writer, blogger, social worker and political activist who loves being a social worker and helping others to find their voice and power.
That’s why teachers need some break time in the summer, although many have to work (me) or attend professional development classes. Without some breaks, I think most teachers would just drop off the face of the earth. By the way, social work is even more stressful than teaching, I believe. The day to day dealing with all the issues that kids come to school with is totally what you have to deal with in your job.