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Personal Reflection Paper

Personal Reflection Paper In this paper, I am going to identify a point of time in which I experienced invidious comparison and vicarious traumatization. While identifying theses to aspects, I am also going to address how to stop invidious comparison. As well as identifying strategies that I use to avoid vicarious traumatization in my own personal life. I will also go in to depth to show how to avoid vicarious traumatization as a human service worker. Lastly, I am going to address the strategies that can be considered or developed to avoid vicarious traumatization. What is invidious comparison? Invidious comparison is the comparing yourself to others. It can be through race, sexual orientation, and religion. Invidious comparison can make a person feel that their self-worth is not wanted and even take its toll on the person doing the comparison themselves. It can send you into a depressive state where you develop levels of stress. To stop invidious comparison, we must first get an understanding on others and accept the different views that other may possess. Everyone is different in their own way. There will also be an individual that may excel in different things that you may have thought you were good in. Some may be incapable of abilities that one may have. By understanding these aspects we must acknowledge the strengths that we have and do not have without dwelling on the weaknesses of others. Everywhere we go there are comparisons, it is important to get caught up in a situation where you start to become judgmental. “The principle of natural selection is based on competition within a species. It is usually presumed that each member of the species is looking to his own well-being and reproduces in proportion to his fitness. Competition between different members is de facto induced by the fact that resources are scarce in any given environment, and survival is assured only for the fittest.”(Eaton, B. C., & Eswaran, M., 2003). We must accept qualities that we deem lesser than ourselves in order to improve upon in our own life. In my own personal experience, to avoid invidious comparison I tend to veer away from views and situations that causes me to judge others. I separate my personal life and my business life because there is a place and a time to bring up certain situations and work would not be appropriate for things concerning home matters. Whenever there is a situation at work, I stay clear of it to avoid any involvement. In any workplace there is drama, it is your choice on whether you want to be a part of it or not. I work in a foster agency and everywhere around there is some sort of drama. Sometimes this is hard to avoid because there are coworkers coming up to me trying to telling different things about others but I simply choose not to elaborate on the situations. Some strategies that I use to avoid invidious comparison is avoid, understanding, and accept. Human service workers deal with many type individuals on a daily basis. Some case may be more severe than the next. In the sense of vicarious trauma, it is the process in which change happens because you feel some type of remorse for others that they may have been hurt. It is more of an instinct for you to be able to feel responsible for that individual. Some of the situations that cause this is stories of trauma, the feeling of wanting to help change a situation of an individual. Service workers can also feel committed and powerless when they do not see a positive change within the situation that they are involved in. In due time, this particular process can lead to a physical, psychological, spiritual change within oneself. Some strategies that service workers can adapt consist of escaping, resting, and enjoying one’s own time. When you escape places such as work it can help you mentally and physically. Going out to with friends to places of enjoyment can definitely help. Resting is also important. It can ease a lot of stress and tension that is build up. Sometimes just a good days of rest can do the trick. Lastly, enjoying yourself and engaging in certain activities can boost your energy as well. Putting you in a much happier state of being. I have encountered many individuals that have been through trauma and I encourage them to keep thinking positive and rewards will come in the end. I personally believe that every human service should adopt these strategies it can help in the long run. There are many other strategies that one can develop to help with vicarious traumatization and trying to help prevent it. Some strategies that can also be used is realizing your strengths and being able to play of them, sharpening your skills by seeking training or having a mentor, observe how others are and act accordingly towards them. You must know your limits and where you are able to go. Knowing how much you can take is an important aspect as well. You have to find time to relax. You must also have an understanding on the policies that are within an agency and practice staying calm when dealing with situations. These steps and strategies can help you relieve tension that is associated with working. In some situations, helper do not seek out the appropriate help when they are faced with vicarious traumatization. Human service workers sometimes view having personal problems as being a failure and that they should have them to begin with. As human service workers, they need to be aware of the resources that are available in order to get the specific help that is needed. In some instances, some human service workers feel that it is an embarrassment to get help simply because they are the professional and they should not need help. Human service workers should not wait to seek help because it can take a great toll on their lives as well. “As psychiatric professionals treat victims of trauma and abuse more frequently, the impact of close, prolonged therapeutic work with these patients has been recognized as having serious mental health hazards for professionals themselves.” (Blair, D. T., & Ramones, Valerie A, RN,C., M.S., 1996) In conclusion, being acceptable and understanding the different views that others may possess can help you avoid invidious comparisons. You must set aside all judgmental views that one has in order to accept others. There are many strategies that are available to help human service workers along the way, it is there job to choose accordingly to the situations that they are in.

References
Blair, D. T., & Ramones, Valerie A, RN,C., M.S. (1996). Understanding vicarious traumatization. Journal of Psychosocial Nursing & Mental Health Services, 34(11), 24-30. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/1024301513?accountid=458

Eaton, B. C., & Eswaran, M. (2003). The Evolution of Preferences and Competition: A Rationalization of Veblen's Theory of Invidious Comparisons. Canadian Journal Of Economics, 36(4), 832-859.

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