I think what you described happens to many people. So… I guess there are already standard solutions to this problem, so you should ask an expert.
As an uneducated opinion, I’d ask: (a) does this “becoming numb” influence your professional output negatively, or (b) does it have a negative influence of your personal life? Depending on the answer, solve the specific subproblem. If it is a professional problem, surely many other people in your profession have it, and your profession already has standard solutions. If it is a personal problem, either find a therapist, or take a break.
You have seen parts of reality that most people don’t see, don’t want to see, and they would probably argue with you if you tried to explain. That happens, and it creates a communication problem. You will probably need to find a place where you talk about these things, and accept that most of the world is not such place.
Yes there are...such as self care, understanding compassion fatigue, always use supervision to keep yourself in check, and I always encourage all mental health staff to have a therapist.
After pondering on this thought and then going to bed and waking up to revisit it, I think it is more useful than bad:
You cannot bring other people’s troubles home with you. This is a recipe for disaster if you were in everyone’s lives 24⁄7.
“We are trained to respond not to react” type of trainings. “crisis prevention intervention” CPI...might be an example of this.
I have not lost empathy though. I just no longer find things disturbing.
I agree with you, such topics you cannot speak to the general public because it is inappropriate, graphic, gore etc.
Heh, I do spend here much more time than would be optimal, but the Friday was like this: First I got drunk at a company party. Then I received a call from a customer; they found a bug that was threatening something they needed to do on Monday. So, being at the company building, I went to fix the bug, and while compiling I read some LW. Had to type shortly, because these days computers compile pretty fast. :D
Don’t worry, I don’t “drink and browse LW” as a way to cope with my problems.
I think what you described happens to many people. So… I guess there are already standard solutions to this problem, so you should ask an expert.
As an uneducated opinion, I’d ask: (a) does this “becoming numb” influence your professional output negatively, or (b) does it have a negative influence of your personal life? Depending on the answer, solve the specific subproblem. If it is a professional problem, surely many other people in your profession have it, and your profession already has standard solutions. If it is a personal problem, either find a therapist, or take a break.
You have seen parts of reality that most people don’t see, don’t want to see, and they would probably argue with you if you tried to explain. That happens, and it creates a communication problem. You will probably need to find a place where you talk about these things, and accept that most of the world is not such place.
Yes there are...such as self care, understanding compassion fatigue, always use supervision to keep yourself in check, and I always encourage all mental health staff to have a therapist. After pondering on this thought and then going to bed and waking up to revisit it, I think it is more useful than bad:
You cannot bring other people’s troubles home with you. This is a recipe for disaster if you were in everyone’s lives 24⁄7.
“We are trained to respond not to react” type of trainings. “crisis prevention intervention” CPI...might be an example of this.
I have not lost empathy though. I just no longer find things disturbing. I agree with you, such topics you cannot speak to the general public because it is inappropriate, graphic, gore etc.
Most people have horrible lives, completely needlessly, full of suffering. Not your fault. Blame god. But there is no god.
Sorry, I’m drunk. (Still perceive reality better than 99% of people.)
Oh yeah most people do, no doubt about that. Eventually I will take a break from this field perhaps in the next few years.
Also it makes me wonder if you are drunk and on lesswrong you must read a lot on here?
Heh, I do spend here much more time than would be optimal, but the Friday was like this: First I got drunk at a company party. Then I received a call from a customer; they found a bug that was threatening something they needed to do on Monday. So, being at the company building, I went to fix the bug, and while compiling I read some LW. Had to type shortly, because these days computers compile pretty fast. :D
Don’t worry, I don’t “drink and browse LW” as a way to cope with my problems.
Haha! Seemed like a grand ol time.