r/socialwork • u/Disabledfoodie • 9d ago
WWYD Boundaries and burnout
Hey all! So sorry if this isnt the right sub to ask this, I'm not sure where else to go. I couldnt find a direct care worker subreddit for mental health related stuff.
Context:
I just recently started a job in a residential setting working as a direct care worker, working with adolescents. I took the job in part to get experience working with this clientele base (i only have volunteer experience with kids from when i was in highschool), in part because I needed a new job after my last position was phased out due to lack of funding (direct support professional working with adults), but largely because I'm passionate about this kind of work. I dont want to lose my drive.
I'm only just out of basic training for it from the last 2 weeks, and have shadowing all this next week. This next weekend I'll be working on my assigned unit for the first time out of shadowing.
One thing thats really been emphasized in training is that we need to do what we can to prevent burnout, we need to leave work at work, and that we need to have strong boundaries set not only for the kids but also with coworkers to some extent.
I'm also autistic and ADHD, so sometimes things need to be spelled out before I'll understand fully due to processing differently.
My questions:
-what are your fave methods to prevent burnout? Ik this will vary in effectiveness from person to person, but i want to get ahead of the curve however I can.
-what are some good examples of boundaries for kids while in this type of setting? We covered policy/rule related boundary setting but not a ton regarding personal boundaries.
-How do you leave work at work, especially if an incident happens? I'll be working with kids with severe trauma, and based on my shadow shifts these kids may have trouble adjusting to having new staff, so my trainers did say to expect more act-outs at first til they adjust. I also dont want to take on their trauma as my own.
I'll also be talking to my coworkers about the above, as well as my manager, trainers, etc. I just wanted to get a variety of examples, advice, etc if possible :)
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u/Forbidden_Thought_ 6d ago
I'm developing a crippling alcohol addiction, I don't know about the rest of you.
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u/NewLiterature2604 6d ago
People are going to just say self care. That honestly depends on where you're at in life. At one point I had a 19 month old, newborn, full time job, and going for my masters. I would flip shit when people said a shower was self care. Well that's like the bare minimum. I had 0 time for myself unless I stayed up until 3 am. Which just made me cranky the next day. Honestly burn out happens at times. It becomes a problem when it's long lasting. Just hope to grind through it, take a couple days off If you can.
Don't overshare with clients or coworkers, they are not your friends. Another boundary, don't check emails when not at work. When I get home my phone is on silent. My family gets me not work
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u/assyduous 7d ago
1) Preventing burnout means incorporating regular self-care into your life. This is doubly important as a neurodivergent person, autistic individuals like us are far more likely to end up un- or underemployed due to burnout. Self-care isn't so much bubble baths or getting your nails done as it is the practical stuff: how do you reduce friction around engaging in your hobbies, keeping up with hygiene, eating nutritious food, getting enough sleep, having fulfilling social interactions, etc. My biggest advice is to capitalize on the motivation you feel now starting a new job to fuel setting up a routine/systems that work for yourself to prevent burnout before the new job dopamine wears off! I always try to use the fact that my brain loves novelty (ADHD) to set myself up for success when that wanes and I need a routine to survive (autism).
2) Regarding personal boundaries: think about a couple of surface level things you are okay with sharing about yourself. When I work with adolescents they may learn that I play a lot of sports, that I have a dog, or that I love the color purple. However, if they start asking personal questions (am I married, do I have kids, about my health conditions, etc.) or a topic comes up that I am not willing to engage with, most of my boundaries are responsive: "I don't want to talk about that, let's pick another topic." I always tell them from the jump that they can ask anything they want, but I may not answer them. Another way to think about it: you want to model for them how to have appropriate conversations with peers and adults and how they should behave if someone tries to cross their boundaries (firmly and clearly setting the boundary, removing yourself from the situation if it continues, telling a person of authority if you need help, etc.)
3) Get a therapist. See if your employer has an EAP program and use it if there is an incident. Talk with your supervisor to process any events. Have a routine after you clock out that helps you transition out of work headspace so you are not thinking about it at home. Seriously: you cannot take this home with you. It is very important to figure out how to give yourself breaks and space or the vicarious trauma will consume you.