Worried about 'protection'

I've been working in hospices and with palliative patients in their homes for more than 30 years, and quite frankly, cannot get my head round what these therapists have told you.

Hello Cat Lady

If you still feel that inner compassion and love towards doing this work that you had in the beginning, until the fears of others made you pause for a moment,..... then do it!.
Of course its your decision and you cannot be told what to do, but go with what YOU feel inside.

In my opinion I have nothing but admiration and compassion for those who care for others out of a desire to so without a thought of getting something back.

What such love that people who desire to help others emanates is your automatic protection, if you still desire to believe so, then believe your protection is the love you give.!.

You are as everyone is,perfect in everyway, in life we can...... forget this !.

There is nothing to fear, there is nothing to protect yourself from, for you and the person(s) you help are both brighter lights than the illusionary one you are told to place upon yourself.

You will find the rewards come from your experience, from what you feel drawn to do will release you of any fears that come upon you.

Blessings to you

Sacrel

However, I've had a couple of therapists tell me that this can be very risky as my solar plexus will be open to receiving illness from terminal patients.

This is a couple of therapists trying to fighten you - probably they don't want you practicing on "their" patch.

I would, in this sequence:
Seek further immediate advice (you've done that already via this forum).
Seek clarification, in writing, from your own professional body.

I've worked, on and off, with terminal patients over the last 35 years, and I'm still here:D.

David:)

One's energies may be generally weak or weakened or the idea of getting illnesss can make one vulnerable.
There are many overwelmed by compassion to help others at expence of thier own health.
When I dealt with cancer, by Su-jok "time energies", it was hitting back like you're being bitten by a pack of dogs.

There's acupuncture version of 4 points on joint to boost the protection.

Frankly I have never heard anything quite as ridiculous in all my life.

What does that say for nurses and doctors who work in hospices?

As someone who has had cancer myself and have treated countless clients who have/had cancer I would have thought that if anyone was going to get unwell it would be me.:rolleyes:

In fact imo I feel that treating very ill or terminally ill people has only served to make me stronger.;)

Patchouli

Sounds ridiculous to me.

Learning how to ground and protect yourself is worthwhile though - I quite enjoy doing it and there are so many ways of doing it. You need to find the way which works for you best and that you feel has actually worked. Not many college-based courses teach this unless you have a particularly spiritual or energy-aware teacher.

Some complementary therapists find themselves drained after treating clients - healthy or otherwise and protecting themselves beforehand would be beneficial but it isn't essential and you certainly won't get ill if you don't. Since learning Reiki, i haven't found the need to protect myself and don't feel drained after treating clients now although I still get a few aches and pains if I've been stood up for too long but that's just normal and is by no way linked to me treating an unhealthy client.

Do what you think is best and what you feel comfortable with. My advice would be to ignore what those therapists said but if you feel like you would feel better to protect yourself before working with clients (not just those with an illness) then do so.

Worried about protection

Hi

I do a weekly shift at my local hospice. I'm empathic but have found the hospice one of the most wonderful places to work, due to the love which radiates throughout.

Enjoy your work, if you undertake it. It's a wonderful opportunity to learn about life, and love.

serendipity x

Thank you all for your replies. I think being relatively new and not really having any sort of professional network yet (thank goodness for Healthy Pages) it is difficult to sometimes know where to answer these questions when they come up.
It's good to hear from so many who do work in hospices and I think my next step must be to check with my local hospice whether, with my limited experience, they would accept my help.
Thanks to all

cat lady

hi catlady,
i work in a hospital, i also do reiki
i tend to visualise a bubble of white light surrounding me before i go to work as sometimes it is an energy drain psychically from mainly co workers not the patients,
xx

Some people do pick up energies from people, cause they are 'open' and nmot protecting myself. Personally, I believe if you believe you are suceptible, you will be, if it's not happened yet, you are implicitly doing what you need to protect yourself.

As long as you are working with empathy and not sympathy for these people you wil be strong and capable of supporting them through their ilness.

Having worked in cancer and palliative care for the last year, I can say that some of the patients I have worked with, despite the most horrendous and difficult challenges you can imagine, are amongst the most positive and uplifting people I have encountered. Just because someone ill, it doesn't mean they suddenly become toxic.. some are quite simply inspirational.

it will make you stronger.

although this being said by someone who isnt a therapist!

but I am strongly convinced that as Sacrel wonderfully explained it before me, it is the love and vocation that will protect you.

Of course I understand that stepping in a hospital or hospice usually frightens many people because of the "tragedies" one finds there (sorry for my wording, it doesnt quite translate my thinking); but IF YOU MAKE JUST ONE PERSON FEEL BETTER than no job will ever be more reawarding.

All my best.