I have a job that I used to enjoy, but it has become very emotionally challenging due to a change in the role. What can I do to cope?

When I worked for someone else (self employed now), one of my favorite jobs was in victim advocacy, criminal justice advocacy for victims (or their surviving family members) of violent crimes, including drunk driving deaths, rape, child molestation... doesn't get much more depressing than that. The turnover in the field was high, as with most jobs of this nature. We knew when a new advocate came on the job which ones would make it and which ones wouldn't.It's impossible to tell you in words exactly what makes it so easy to know, but you just 'know'.

It's a mindset, a special way of dealing with things, and some people can do it long term and some can't. Some people can handle it for a time, then that one really bad case comes along, or a serious of a bunch of 'smaller' cases build up on the psyche. The mindset is where it all is.

Here's the thing: everyone is going to die. When people die, their families and loved ones have to deal with the issues that you help them deal with.It's hard, but if you keep the mindset about you that you have the ability to make this hard time for them easier by doing what you do well and professionally, it's sad for them, but you are making a tough situation better. You didn't kill anyone.

You didn't disable anyone.It would have happened whether you worked in the line of work you do or not. The only thing in your power is how you help these people now. Do it to the best of your ability, always knowing that you make that 'silent' difference, the 'unobservable' difference that when they remember back without the pain, they will remember you--maybe not your name, maybe not anything you said--but just that you somehow made a difference.

You can and do, you know. And it's that difference you cling to when it gets tough to take. Besides all that, you do the ordinary rest, relaxation, eat a good, balanced diet, take care of your health, vent and blow off steam, physical exercise, counseling if necessary, and all the other staples.

But mostly, just constantly remind yourself of the difference and the power you have to make a difference in someone's life at a time when they really need it.

Here are some potential options for you to consider. 1. Discuss the recent change with your supervisor and see if you can concentrate on disability claims most of the time.2.

Seek out opportunities in your company for training in other areas you're interested in. The training itself may offer emotional reward as you improve and expand your expertise. You'll also be able to go after tasks and roles in the new areas you train in, which may remove you from handling the type of calls you find draining.3.

Find some folks who work with you and seem to be handling these types of calls well. Then ask them to share how they do it.4. If all else fails and you can't abide the current situation, find another job.As for what you can do to empathize rather than sympathize, stay present to the fact that you did not cause the misery these callers are going through.

You are there to try and help them within the limits of the policy they're calling about. As such, you can be of help to them in their difficult time. If these callers become abusive, gently remind them that you're trying to help them, and yelling at you just makes it more difficult for you to do that.

When I worked for someone else (self employed now), one of my favorite jobs was in victim advocacy, criminal justice advocacy for victims (or their surviving family members) of violent crimes, including drunk driving deaths, rape, child molestation... doesn't get much more depressing than that. The turnover in the field was high, as with most jobs of this nature. We knew when a new advocate came on the job which ones would make it and which ones wouldn't.

It's impossible to tell you in words exactly what makes it so easy to know, but you just 'know'. It's a mindset, a special way of dealing with things, and some people can do it long term and some can't. Some people can handle it for a time, then that one really bad case comes along, or a serious of a bunch of 'smaller' cases build up on the psyche.

The mindset is where it all is. Here's the thing: everyone is going to die. When people die, their families and loved ones have to deal with the issues that you help them deal with.

It's hard, but if you keep the mindset about you that you have the ability to make this hard time for them easier by doing what you do well and professionally, it's sad for them, but you are making a tough situation better. You didn't kill anyone. You didn't disable anyone.

It would have happened whether you worked in the line of work you do or not. The only thing in your power is how you help these people now. Do it to the best of your ability, always knowing that you make that 'silent' difference, the 'unobservable' difference that when they remember back without the pain, they will remember you--maybe not your name, maybe not anything you said--but just that you somehow made a difference.

You can and do, you know. And it's that difference you cling to when it gets tough to take. Besides all that, you do the ordinary rest, relaxation, eat a good, balanced diet, take care of your health, vent and blow off steam, physical exercise, counseling if necessary, and all the other staples.

But mostly, just constantly remind yourself of the difference and the power you have to make a difference in someone's life at a time when they really need it.

Here are some potential options for you to consider. 1. Discuss the recent change with your supervisor and see if you can concentrate on disability claims most of the time.

2. Seek out opportunities in your company for training in other areas you're interested in. The training itself may offer emotional reward as you improve and expand your expertise.

You'll also be able to go after tasks and roles in the new areas you train in, which may remove you from handling the type of calls you find draining. 3. Find some folks who work with you and seem to be handling these types of calls well.

Then ask them to share how they do it. 4. If all else fails and you can't abide the current situation, find another job.

As for what you can do to empathize rather than sympathize, stay present to the fact that you did not cause the misery these callers are going through. You are there to try and help them within the limits of the policy they're calling about. As such, you can be of help to them in their difficult time.

If these callers become abusive, gently remind them that you're trying to help them, and yelling at you just makes it more difficult for you to do that.

I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.