By Christine Fewell, Chair, NASW Peer Consultation Committee

(October 2002)

In this year since the September 11th terrorist attacks, we as social workers in the New York area have been challenged to help our clients with their experiences and reactions to the event and its resulting rekindling of unresolved trauma. At the same time, we have been challenged to attend to our own self-care. Without realizing it, our ability to take care of ourselves may have begun to break down. We like many others may have found ourselves using alcohol or drugs to numb our feelings and cope with burnout, or may have found other behaviors, such as overeating or overspending were temporarily soothing. For those of us who grew up with addictive problems in the family, old patterns of being helpful at the expense of ignoring our own needs may have surfaced and caused resentment.

Burnout is often manifested as feelings of physical, emotional and mental exhaustion, which can result in compulsive overwork, feelings of helplessness or hopelessness, resentment of people, irritability and disillusionment. The residue of feelings left from the job may be soothed by the overuse of alcohol or drugs, food, overspending, or involvement in destructive relationships, instead of being processed.

The shame that often accompanies substance abuse and other addictive behaviors may make it especially difficult for social workers to know where to go to discuss their concerns. Members of the Peer Consultation Committee, a confidential subcommittee of the NASW Addictions Committee, are available to speak to you about these concerns in a free telephone consultation. We can also help you think through how you could approach or assist a social work colleague, friend or family member who has a problem with an addictive behavior. Our confidential telephone number is (212) 747-1777.

The Peer Consultation Committee is facilitating the formation of a New York area meeting of Social Workers Helping Social Workers (SWHSW), an unaffiliated national network of MSWs and MSW students who have a personal experience with alcohol or chemical dependence, either their own or that of a significant other, or who are seeking assistance in recovery from the effects of any other addiction. The primary purpose of SWHSW is to facilitate the mutual support of its members. The first meeting will take place in early November. For further information, visit the chapter's website at www.naswnyc.org (click on Peer Consultation Committee), email SWHSWIL@aol.com or call (212) 747-1777.