Breath of Relief: Transforming Compassion Fatigue into Flow

By Karl LaRowe, LCSW, MA

Compassion Fatigue, also known as Secondary Traumatic Stress, is pervasive among care giving professionals and family members who are caring for a loved one who is suffering. It increasingly affects the rest of society as our political systems become less stable and rife with conflict and threatening circumstances. Constant exposure to the sounds of suffering, the images of trauma, or the threats of war and terrorism cause the brain to release adrenaline and other hormones and chemicals that prepare the body for action. If the threats are not immediate but only secondary, seen on television or experienced through other media, the body absorbs the energy, causing tension to develop in the muscles and making the body remain on active alert as it exhausts itself by expending more chemicals, more hormones. The body and mind become simultaneously wired and tired. Breath of Relief Transforming Compassion Fatigue into Flow contains detailed descriptions of the FlowMotionTM exercises, helpful visualizations activities that calm the mind, and vibrant illustrations to guide you through the movements. The companion DVD shows Karl demonstrating the different aspects of the basic stress relieving movements so that you can experience the joy of FlowMotionTM and the Breath of Relief that comes with mastery of this technique. This book is authorized by the National Association of Social Workers Credentialing Center for 6 hours of continuing education.