Thread by @IvaCheung

In @H_E_Saunders and @nabetafish's session on distressing content and trauma resiliency. #Editors19

@H_E_Saunders @nabetafish How do we take care of ourselves when we encounter distressing content? Because it does have to be looked at and edited. #Editors19

@H_E_Saunders @nabetafish .@nabetafish has worked in search and rescue and teaches trauma resiliency for first responders. #Editors19

@H_E_Saunders @nabetafish Session will cover how to identify, prepare for, review, cope with, refuse distressing content.

Recognize symptoms associated with trauma and get a sense of the physiology of distress. #Editors19

@H_E_Saunders @nabetafish Trauma defined in DSM-5 as being exposed to actual or threat of:
•death
•serious injury
•sexual violence #Editors19 #DistressingContent

Exposed means:
•it happened to you
•you saw it happen
•you learned about it happening to someone close to you
•you heard or read disturbing details, usually in the course of professional duties. #Editors19 #DistressingContent

That last point added in DSM-5. #Editors19 #DistressingContent

Definitions:
•Distress: pain or suffering
•Burnout: cumulative, work related exhaustion or stress
•Compassion stress: stress of supporting a trauma survivor
•Compassion fatigue: prolonged exposure to compassion stress #Editors19 #DistressingContent

•Vicarious/secondary trauma: negative reaction to trauma exposure #Editors19 #DistressingContent

•Burnout: emerges over time and is fairly easily resolved
•Compassion fatigue: more rapid onset and occurs when we're unable to restore ourselves
•Vicarious trauma: fundamental beliefs about the world are changed. #Editors19 #DistressingContent

"Lizard brain" responsible for keeping us alive. Responses—fight, flight, freeze, going floppy—are involuntary, and there are different levels of activation. #DistressingContent #Editors19

Hormone dump during trauma. Coming down afterward takes time, and up to 30 days is normal. #DistressingContent #Editors19

Trauma can manifest itself in your body and in your behaviour: pounding heart, muscle tension, numbing, hypervigilance, avoiding reminders, hyperplanning. #DistressingContent #Editors19

…in emotions: negativity, numbness, feeling unsafe, isolated, helpless.
…in unwanted thoughts, nightmares
…in relationships: isolation, irritability, aggression, codependency
#Editors19 #DistressingContent

Trauma formula: exposure to a traumatic event + not completing the limbic response or not fully *digesting* the experience + exposure to negative social responses. #Editors19 #DistressingContent

Plan a self-reflection session:
•List all possibly distressing topics
•Rank issues by level of discomfort
•Do this before beginning work

Your reaction is specific to you.
#Editors19 #DistressingContent

Define and name your boundaries. Some topics will have case by case conditions and others will be a hard no. Keep this list up to date. #Editors19 #DistressingContent

.@H_E_Saunders created a boundaries table with topic, length of project, anticipated emotional reaction, anticipated resilience, notes about the project (e.g., Are there visuals? Video?), and decision on whether to take the work. #Editors19 #DistressingContent

Once you know what your difficult topics are, prepare yourself. Sometimes taking on these topics can build resilience if you take care of yourself and are working in a safe environment. #Editors19 #DistressingContent

Get ready:
-Build support systems
-Create templates
•for turning down or stopping work
•for notifying clients of boundaries
-Gather resources
-Set expectations #Editors19 #DistressingContent

Editing the content
•Is the content incorrect, hurtful, disrespectful?
•Content should be accurate, purposeful, considerate #Editors19 #DistressingContent

Content shouldn't be deeply shocking and sensationalized, insensitive to human dignity.
#Editors19 #DistressingContent

How is the distressing content moving the story forward? If it doesn't, take it off the page. #Editors19 #DistressingContent

Review in multiple passes to maintain progress, focus, and distance. Focus on just one aspect of the document at each pass. #Editors19 #DistressingContent

Automate steps using text expanders, consistency checkers, and macros wherever possible, to reduce stress.

Using templates means you can write responses to distressing content once, adjusting only details with subsequent uses.

#Editors19 #DistressingContent

3 psychological attributes at the heart of resilience:
•strength: how well equipped you feel to handle daily life and challenging moments
•meaning/purpose: allows you to manage stress and trauma
•pleasure: what brings you deep joy? Plan for those #Editors19 #DistressingContent

Relationships provide emotional and cognitive opportunities to develop strength, meaning, and pleasure. #Editors19 #DistressingContent

•Focus on family and friend relationships in times of stress
•Build, find, and lean on professional peers. #Editors19 #DistressingContent

Build a relationship with a therapist before you need it. Look at it like getting a physical, says @H_E_Saunders #Editors19 #DistressingContent

@H_E_Saunders Be honest with yourself about the reality of completing the work and how much time you'll need. Buffer your deadlines. #Editors19 #DistressingContent

Build an escape plan, including self-care and resiliency checks, before you need it. #Editors19 #DistressingContent

It's easy to confuse self-care with procrastination, avoidance, and indulgence. Self-care should have a positive effect.

Schedule in breaks.

#Editors19 #DistressingContent

How do you communicate with traumatized people?
•Don't take it personally
•Set boundaries: you can say no; you're not a therapist
•Get familiar with available resources before you need them. #Editors19 #DistressingContent

For your client:
•listen to understand
•give them time
•shift from "what's wrong with you?" to "what happened to you?"
•be clear with your boundaries #Editors19 #DistressingContent