Episode 3: Who Takes Care of the Helpers?

Helping others is rewarding, but it can also be exhausting.

Many counselors, healthcare professionals, educators, clergy, caregivers, and other helping professionals spend their days supporting everyone around them while neglecting their own needs. Over time, that can lead to stress, burnout, and the belief that asking for help is something other people do—not us.

In this episode of Helping from the Inside Out, Rosa Jones explores an important question: Who takes care of the helpers?

You'll be reminded that no matter how skilled, compassionate, or dependable you are, you are still human. Humans need rest. Humans need support. Humans need people.

If you've been carrying more than your share, this short episode offers a simple but powerful reminder: being a helper does not exempt you from your humanity.

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Episode Transcript

Welcome to Helping from the Inside Out, a weekly moment of encouragement for human services and healthcare professionals. If your work is to care for others, this space is for you. Each week, we offer a short reminder to protect your well-being so you can keep serving with strength. This podcast is brought to you by Freedom Support Services, where our vision is to heal people who heal the world. If I miss work,

Because I'm sick, exhausted, or dealing with some type of emergency, I usually feel really guilty at first. I think about every person I was supposed to help that day and how my absence might impact them. And honestly, that does something to my nervous system. Because I know what it feels like to need support and not have it show up. But eventually I tend to settle down. Why?

Because helpers need help too. That's a lesson it took me a long time to learn. But the truth is, no matter how gifted, skilled, compassionate, or dependable you are, you are still a human. You are just as human as your students, your patients, your coworkers, or your church members. Human. And humans get tired. Humans need support.

Humans need rest. Humans need people. So when you are overwhelmed, stressed, discouraged, or running on empty, who helps you? When you think about your support system, hopefully a few people come to mind. And if they do, take a moment to appreciate them. People who truly support helpers are a gift to the world.

But if no one comes to mind, or maybe only one in person, that's something you need to pay attention to. Not with shame, just honesty. Because a lot of helpers are great at serving people and terrible at letting people serve them. Ask me how I know. Do yourself a favor. The next time you feel overwhelmed or under-supported, ask yourself: are there people trying to help me that I keep pushing away?

Is there someone I can be honest with right now? Is there someone I can ask for help? Listen, being an amazing helper does not exempt you from your humanity. Helpers need help too. This blessed your life. Share it with another helper or healer. Thank you so much for listening today. If this has helped you, be sure to hit the subscribe button wherever you're watching or listening.

Share this with another healer or helper who gives so much to others. Visit us at www.myfreedomss.com/podcast for more resources. Until next time, keep helping from the inside out.

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New episodes of Helping from the Inside Out are released every Monday to encourage and support the professionals, caregivers, and helpers who spend their lives serving others.

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