When passengers on an airplane prepare for takeoff, flight attendants go through the initial safety briefing that shows passengers how to use the seat belt, where flotation devices are located should a water landing be necessary, and what to expect should the cabin lose air pressure.  Flight attendants routinely advise that should the cabin lose pressure, oxygen masks will drop from the ceiling.  They then instruct passengers that if this should happen, begin by placing the oxygen mask over your own nose and mouth first, then help others near you, including children.
This is an important reminder about self-care.  If I cannot breath and pass out while on an airplane, I will be unable to assist my children and will myself become a liability to the flight attendants and other passengers.  If I have oxygen, then I can help my own children with their masks, as well as reduce the burden to the flight attendants and other passengers.  The same is true in human services work.  If I do not take time for self-care and managing stress, then I will likely experience vicarious trauma and burnout.  Too many human services professionals have left the profession because of the inherent emotional burdens that accompany this stressful work of working with challenging people.

• Read Chapters 9-10 in the textbook by Southwick & Charney.

• Write a 1-page double spaced assignment addressing the following points:

• • Consider self-care strategies that you currently use to “de-stress” and relax when you are feeling stressed.
  • What self-care strategies would you enjoy that you have not yet experimented with?
  • Even knowing that renewal and self-care is important, why do Christians sometimes avoid or feel “guilty” about self-care?

Support your work with scholarly academic resources, textbooks, or other sources provided.  Use of APA format is required.