Avoiding Burnout and Severe Stress:

Guidelines for the Helping

Professionals

Workshop Presented at HSC

“Sacred-Heart Hospital”
Beirut, Lebanon
March 08, 2017

Naji Abi-Hashem, MDiv, MA, PHD, IABMCP, DAATS

[email protected]

Beirut Phone 70–353566

USA Phone 206-230-4972

Webpage:
Independent.Academia.edu/NajiAbiHashem

This Material is for Personal and Professional Use Only.

Please No Reproduction!
Make Sure to Cite the Source When Quoting from this Material:

Abi-Hashem, N. (2017 March 8). Avoiding Severe Stress and Burnout:

Guidelines for the Helping Professionals. Power Point Slides Presentation at
the Meeting of the Sacred-Heart Hospital (HSC). Beirut, Lebanon.
How are your skills for Soul Care?
Both for yourself and for others!?
Why is it hard for us
as professionals to practice what we preach
and do what we recommend to others people?

Who is the most difficult person to manage?

And most difficult Soul or Self to Care for?

Perhaps Ourselves ~ YOU and ME !

© 2017 Naji Abi-Hashem, PhD

Summary of the Effects of Acute
Stress
Source: http://www.hoyespharmacy.com/stress-affects-can-help/
© 2017 Naji Abi-Hashem, PhD
A small amount of Stress is Normal and Natural.
So, when does Stress become Damaging, Hurtful, or Diagnostic?

© 2017 Naji Abi-Hashem, PhD

What is Stress ?
• Stress can have a variety of definitions and it
comes in different shapes, forms, types, kinds,
frequencies, and intensities.
• Like any other technical concept, Stress can be
conceptualize in simple terms or in complex
definitions, dynamics, and functions.
• Burnout is a psychological term to describe the
long-term experience of exhaustion, weariness,
and diminished interest in daily life and activities.
© 2017 Naji Abi-Hashem, PhD
Definitions:

• Stress is a State of Mental and Physical Tension, and

Pressured Demand, Caused by Adverse Situations, and
Resulting in Disturbing Emotions and Symptoms.

• In the world of physics and materials, a certain object

becomes strained and stressed out when it is subjected
to an extended pressure, uncontrolled use, job
malfunction, or composition fatigue.

• That is true of any organism or operational system,

when it becomes overworked, overwhelmed, and over-
saturated. [that is true of us humans for we are not machines]
© 2017 Naji Abi-Hashem, PhD
== STRESS ==
Is a force, tension, or pressure, caused by a set of
unpleasant events and unmanageable situations.
Stress Can Be:
• External or Internal Based.
• Single or Multiple Episode.
• Real or Perceived (mentally).
• Occasional or Chronic.
• Light or Intense in Nature.
• Benign or Life-threatening.
• Self– or Others- Generated.
• Mild, Moderate, or Acute .
• Positive or Negative in Kind.
© 2017 Naji Abi-Hashem, PhD
Two Types of Stresses:

Distress (negative stress)

e.g., Accident, Terminal Illness, Job Loss, Divorce, Disaster, Financial
Break, Death of Loved-Ones, etc.

versus
Eustress (positive stress)
e.g., Moving Home, Graduation, Starting New Job, Preparing for
Marriage, Traveling to New Location, etc.

Naji Abi-Hashem, PhD, © 2017

Source: Dreamstime.com
Sample of
There are 3 main Areas or Sources that cause stress:

Lifestyle Habits and Practices

Work Load & Work Environment
Personality Types and Innate Traits

So, what are your Personal Characteristics?

Strengths vs Weaknesses
Positive vs Negative Qualities
What could be your very strengths,
may also become your vulnerability and work against you!

© 2017 Naji Abi-Hashem, PhD

The Over Investment will certainly lead to

Defusion & Depletion

The Under Investment will certainly lead to

Low Impact & Ineffectiveness

© 2017 Naji Abi-Hashem, PhD

The Over Empathy approach will certainly
lead to Fusion
results: no clear separation of minds or passions
and no clear perspective or objectivity

The Under Empathy approach will certainly

lead to Alienation
results: no passionate connection but rather
mechanical & impersonal relations

Naji Abi-Hashem, PhD, © 2017

Perhaps, at times, totally avoiding

Burnout, is not possible.

Some of us have natural tendency and ability for

High Tolerance & Low Irritation
and others simply have tendency for
High Irritation & Low Tolerance

So, Know Yourself & Keep Training Yourself.

Naji Abi-Hashem, PhD, © 2017

Self-Awareness

Thinking

The
Professional

Feeling Doing

Naji Abi-Hashem, PhD, © 2017

SOURCE: https://dpalank.wordpress.com/2015/02/28/burnout-its-that-time-of-the-year/
Burnout
Burnout is a state of emotional and physical exhaustion
caused by excessive and prolonged exposure to stress. It
can occur when you feel overwhelmed and unable to
meet constant demands. As the stress continues, we
begin to lose interest and motivation, which led us to
take on that particular role in the first place. Therefore,
Burnout reduces our productivity, disturbs our inner
harmony, and drains our energy, leaving us feeling
increasingly depleted, helpless, resentful, pessimistic,
and at times cynical.
Eventually, you feel that do not have anything more of
value to offer or to give.
© 2017 Naji Abi-Hashem, PhD
Stress Burnout
• Emotions are over reactive • Emotions are blunted, Flat

• Produces urgency and • Produces helplessness and

hyperactivity hopelessness

• Loss of energy • Loss of motivation, ideals, and

hope

• Leads to anxiety disorders • Leads to detachment and

depression

• Primary damage is physical • Primary damage is emotional

• May kill you prematurely • May make life seem not worth
living
Burnout
Syndrom
Acute Clinical
Stress Depression

Anxiety
Disorders

Naji Abi-Hashem, PhD, © 2017

All Helping Professionals are at Risk of
Stress Related Conditions,
Compassion Fatigue,
Secondary Trauma,
and Burnout Symptoms,

Which may interfere with their daily functioning,

performance, inner harmony, competency, and
relationships with colleagues and family.
If unattended or untreated,
these symptoms may develop into more serious
diagnoses, like some form of Clinical Depression
and Anxiety Disorder.
© 2017 Naji Abi-Hashem, PhD
Response System to Stressful Situations
Fight or Flight Reaction
Stress Hormone “Cortisol”

Cortisol alters your immune system and suppresses the digestive

function, reproductive system, and growth processes. This
natural alarm is complex, and it communicates with regions of
your brain, that control mood, motivation, and fear.
Through a combination of nerve and hormonal signals, your
adrenal glands (which are located atop your kidneys) begin
releasing a surge of hormones, including adrenaline and cortisol.
The long-term activation of this stress-response system —
and the overexposure to cortisol and other stress hormones —
can disrupt almost all of your body's functions.
© 2017 Naji Abi-Hashem, PhD
http://www.vibrantagain.com/burnout-adrenal-fatigue-what-you-should-know/
Source: https://www.slideshare.net/shwetasagar02/preventing-burnout-ppt
Burnout can cause significant physical, emotional,
psychological, and spiritual damage to people.

Emotional signs and symptoms of burnout

Sense of failure and self-doubt
Becoming helpless, trapped, and defeated
Detachment, feeling alone in the world
Increasing attitude of cynicism and negative outlook
Sense of apathy & Decreased satisfaction and fulfillment in life …

Spiritual signs and symptoms of burnout

Sense of Hopelessness
Loss of Purpose and Meaning in Life
Inability to meditate or worship or practice spirituality
Crisis of Faith and Distance oneself from the Divine and God …
© 2017 Naji Abi-Hashem, PhD
Some Behavioral Signs of Burnout
Withdrawing from responsibilities
Isolating yourself from others
Taking longer to get things done
Using food, drugs, or alcohol to cope
Taking out your frustrations on others
Skipping work or coming in late and leaving early
Experiencing irritability and over-reactions
Developing unhealthy habits and coping styles
Etc…

© 2017 Naji Abi-Hashem, PhD

Burnout prevention tips
Start the day with a relaxing ritual. Rather jumping out of bed as soon as you
wake up, spend at least fifteen minutes meditating, writing in your journal, doing
gentle stretches, or reading something that inspires you.

Adopt healthy eating, exercising, and sleeping habits.  When you eat right,
engage in regular physical activity, and get plenty of rest, you have the energy and
resilience to deal with life’s hassles and demands. 

Set boundaries. Don’t overextend yourself. Learn how to say “no” to requests on

your time. If you find this difficult, remind yourself that saying “no” allows you to say
“yes” to the things that you truly want to do.

Take a daily break from technology. Set a time each day when you completely
disconnect. Put away your laptop, turn off your phone, and stop checking email.

Nourish your creative side. Creativity is a powerful antidote to burnout. Try

something new, start a fun project, or resume a favorite hobby. Choose activities that
have nothing to do with work.

Learn how to manage stress. When you’re on the road to burnout, you may feel
helpless. But you have a lot more control over stress than you may think. Learning how
to manage stress can help you regain your balance.

https://www.slideshare.net/drasimrana/burnout-syndrome-among-critical-care-physicians
DECLARATIO from the Former Pope Benedict

Dear Brothers, Vatican, 2013

I have ... to communicate to you a decision of great importance for the life of the
Church. After having repeatedly examined my conscience before God, I
have come to the certainty that my strengths, due to an advanced age, are
no longer suited to an adequate exercise of the Petrine ministry.
I am well aware that this ministry... must be carried out not only with words
and deeds, but no less with prayer and suffering.
However... in order to govern ... and proclaim the Gospel, both strength of
mind and body are necessary, strength which in the last few months, has
deteriorated in me to the extent that I have had to recognize my incapacity
to adequately fulfill the ministry entrusted to me.
For this reason... with full freedom I declare that I renounce the ministry of and
the See (or the Seat) ... will be vacant ...
Dear Brothers, I thank you most sincerely for all the love and work with
which you have supported me in my ministry and I ask pardon for all my
defects … With regard to myself, I wish to also devotedly serve … in the future
through a life dedicated to prayers.
https://w2.vatican.va/content/benedict-xvi/en/speeches/2013/february/documents/hf_ben-xvi_spe_20130211_declaratio.html
Source: https://www.slideshare.net/pinkiinsan/burnout-11538098
More Suggestions
• Deep & Slow Breathing.
• Watch your posture when sitting or standing.
• Eat Healthy, drink lots of fluids.
• Stay active, Keep moving, even short brisk
walks, & basic stretching several times a day.
• Good Time Management.
• Letting go of small irritations.
• Mindfulness Practices: Acceptance, Compassion,
Forgiveness, Humility, Meditation, Peaceful attitude, …

© 2017 Naji Abi-Hashem, PhD

“Compassion Fatigue”

Compassion Fatigue is a new emerging term in the

scholarly literature. It is the condition of emotional
and physical tiredness that results when helpers are
caring and giving so much of themselves and keep
showing extended MERCY !

It is similar to Secondary Trauma Effect but is

different in that Compassion Fatigue does not
display any serious trauma-related symptoms.

© 2017 Naji Abi-Hashem, PhD

Secondary Trauma (or) Vicarious Trauma

It can be described as indirect exposure to a traumatic event

or after working with traumatized people (victims of trauma)
for an extended period of time.
 Helping professionals — like counselors, nurses,
therapists, physicians, rescue workers, police officers, social
workers, lawyers, pastors, teachers, etc.— may experience
vicarious trauma, when witnessing a trauma event, or
when helping and showing empathy to others, the survivors
of tragedies, suffering, disasters, and pain. So, the helpers
themselves become overwhelmed with some traumatic
stress symptoms and mental agonies.
© 2017 Naji Abi-Hashem, PhD
• Stop your Track, Step Back, and See your Trajectory.
• Try to Keep things into Perspective and always Look for the big Picture.
• Watch your Movements, unconscious Reactions, and Breathing patterns.
• Acknowledge the challenges, and the Negatives, yet try to Focus on the Positives.
• Watch what runs into your Head and what you often Tell Yourself.
• Develop Healthy Self-Talk & Beneficial Inner Dialogue. Replace defeating scripts.
• Work on having Reasonable and Realistic Expectations (always review them).
• Remember where your Strengths Lie and where your Good Abilities Are!
https://www.heartmath.org/resources/solutions-for-stress/easing-fatigue-and-burnout/
Becoming Healthier & More Efficient

Prevention is better than Intervention ‫د ّرهم( وقاية‬

• Time Management
• Health Management
• Relationship Management
• Temptation Management
• Details Management (money, demands, etc.)
• Distractions Management (including digital, etc.)
• Serenity Management (existential concerns, spirituality,
inner peace, prayer life, etc.)

Naji Abi-Hashem, PhD, © 2017

Additional Tips for Soul Care: (See also Handouts)

• Avoid the Stress-Distress Cycle of Impairment.

• Realize that it is both moral and ethical to properly monitor
and care for yourself as you care for others.
• Adopt Positive Strategies and make slow gradual changes, one
at a time. Be Focused and Intentional at each change.
• Differentiate between Denial and Endurance (do not mix them)
• Memorize Proverbs, Wisdom Sayings, and Scriptures.
• Constantly check with your intimate small group and
supportive friends for honest feedback (that takes Humility).
• Invest time in appreciating arts, beauty, nature, and music.
• Find yourself small sanctuaries along the way of every day
work and journey.
• And develop a Grateful Attitude [an attitude of gratitude]

Naji Abi-Hashem, PhD, © 2017

~ Perspectives from the Biblical Wisdom ~

• “In Quietness and Confidence Shall be Your

Strength.” Isaiah 30

• “A Tranquil or Peaceful Heart Leads to a

Healthy Body. But Jealousy is Like Cancer
to the Bones.” Book of Proverbs 14

• “Come to a Quiet Place and Rest for a While.”

Gospel of Mark 6
© 2017 Naji Abi-Hashem, PhD
The American Philosopher and Theologian Reinhold Niebuhr 1892–1971
By Naji Abi-Hashem, PhD

Beirut Phone 70–353566

USA Phone 206-230-4972

[email protected]
Webpage:
Independent.Academia.edu/NajiAbiHashem

This Material is for Personal and Professional Use Only.

Please No Reproduction!
Make Sure to Cite the Source When Quoting from this Material:

Abi-Hashem, N. (2017 March 8). Avoiding Severe Stress and Burnout:

Guidelines for the Helping Professionals. Power Point Slides Presentation
at the Meeting of the Sacred-Heart Hospital (HSC). Beirut, Lebanon.