2.1 Explain how supporting an individual who is distressed may impact on own well-being

This guide will help you answer 2.1 Explain how supporting an individual who is distressed may impact on own well-being.

Working in health and social care often means spending time with people who are upset, anxious, or in distress. People might be emotional for many reasons. Sometimes it is due to pain, loss, fear, serious illness, loneliness, or other personal circumstances. When you support someone in distress, you do much more than offer comfort. You listen, empathise, and give reassurance.

Supporting people who are feeling low is a core duty in many roles, but it can affect your own well-being. This effect can show in physical, emotional, and mental areas of your life. Recognising this impact can help you manage your own health.

Emotional Impact

Caring for someone who is distressed may stir up strong emotions. You might feel sadness, frustration, guilt, or helplessness. These feelings can linger during and after your shift.

You might notice:

• Worry about the person’s situation
• Anger about things out of your control
• Guilt if you think you did not help enough
• Feeling overwhelmed if many people need support

Constant exposure to other people’s pain can sometimes lead to “emotional exhaustion”. Emotional exhaustion is when you feel drained and unable to offer any more help. Over time, this can lead to “compassion fatigue”.

Compassion fatigue is a term for the emotional strain felt by people who support others who are suffering. Symptoms may include:

• Feeling numb or detached
• Difficulty caring about others’ problems
• Irritability
• Lack of motivation
• Trouble sleeping

This happens when you have given too much of yourself emotionally without enough opportunity to recover.

Mental and Psychological Effects

Supporting distressed people can take up your mental energy. You might find it hard to switch off at the end of your shift. Thoughts about work can intrude on your home life and affect your ability to relax.

Possible effects on mental health include:

• Anxiety
• Low mood or depression
• Intrusive thoughts about the person’s distress
• Difficulty concentrating
• Restlessness or agitation

You may also experience burnout. Burnout is a state of chronic stress linked to your job. It can lead to reduced personal achievement and feeling disconnected from your work.

Signs of burnout include:

• Constant tiredness
• Cynicism or negative feelings towards your job
• Feeling hopeless or powerless
• Distancing yourself emotionally from the people you support

Physical Impact on Well-being

Supporting a distressed person can have physical effects on your body. Emotional stress often leads to physical symptoms because of a link between mind and body.

Common physical effects include:

• Tiredness or fatigue
• Headaches
• Muscle aches
• Changes in appetite
• Stomach problems
• Trouble sleeping or disturbing dreams

Long-term stress can weaken your immune system. This means you might catch colds or other illnesses more often. You may also notice aches and pains even if you have not injured yourself.

Effects on Work-Life Balance

When supporting someone who is distressed, you might feel pressure to give extra time and effort. You may find yourself thinking about their needs at home or during your time off. This can blur the boundaries between work and personal life.

Possible outcomes include:

• Not taking proper breaks at work
• Missing meals or neglecting self-care
• Staying late or working extra shifts
• Not spending enough time on hobbies or with family
• Feeling isolated from friends outside of work

It is easy to forget your own needs when you focus on others. This can lower your enjoyment of activities that once brought you pleasure.

Impact on Relationships

Supporting people in emotional pain can affect how you relate to others. If you are drained, you may become irritable, withdrawn, or emotionally unavailable at home. Relationships may suffer if you do not have energy left for loved ones.

You may notice:

• Snap at family members or friends
• Avoid social events
• Find it hard to talk about your day
• Struggle to ask for help

Sometimes, you might feel that people outside health and social care cannot understand what you go through. This can lead to feelings of loneliness or isolation.

Impact on Professional Performance

If you do not manage stress, your ability to care for others can be affected. You may:

• Lose focus or make errors
• Become less patient
• Find it harder to communicate with empathy
• Avoid spending time with distressed individuals
• Struggle to maintain professional boundaries

This can impact the support you offer, the safety of the people you care for, and your own job satisfaction.

Emotional Boundaries

Maintaining clear emotional boundaries is important. Boundaries mean recognising your own limits and not letting another person’s distress overwhelm you. Lack of boundaries can lead to “emotional overload”.

You are not expected to solve every problem or carry all of someone’s pain. If you take on too much, you risk burnout and may not be able to do your job properly.

Learning where to draw the line helps protect your own health. Good boundaries allow you to care with compassion but without losing your sense of self.

Coping Strategies and Self-Care

Recognising your feelings is the first step. It is healthy to admit when supporting someone is affecting you. Being honest about your emotions helps you look after yourself.

Self-care is any activity that helps you maintain your physical, emotional, or mental health. Common self-care practices include:

• Taking breaks and using your annual leave
• Eating balanced meals
• Getting enough sleep
• Talking to someone you trust about your feelings
• Practising mindfulness or relaxation
• Doing things you enjoy outside work
• Exercising regularly

Some people find creative activities, walks in nature, or reading a good book help them recharge.

The Role of Supervision and Peer Support

Staff supervision is a regular meeting between you and your manager or supervisor. You can talk openly about how work affects you, discuss feelings, and get help with problems.

Supervision may help you:

• Reflect on your emotional responses
• Identify early signs of stress
• Develop strategies to stay healthy
• Access further support if needed

Peer support, or talking to colleagues, is valuable. Others in your role might have similar feelings. Sharing experiences normalises your emotional responses and helps you learn ways to cope.

Organisational Support and Training

Your organisation should have systems to support your well-being. Policies might cover:

• Access to counselling or support services
• Training in managing stress
• Guidance on setting healthy boundaries
• Debriefing after difficult events

Some workplaces offer mindfulness sessions, staff support groups, or access to mental health champions. Regular training helps build resilience—the ability to cope with difficult situations and bounce back.

Legal Duty of Care

You have a duty to care for yourself to provide a safe service to the people you support. Employers must make reasonable adjustments to protect staff well-being under health and safety law.

This duty means:

• Reporting when you feel overwhelmed
• Using offered support services
• Speaking up about workloads that are too high
• Taking allocated breaks

It is your employer’s job to minimise the risk to your health wherever possible.

Recognising When to Seek Help

Sometimes, the impact of supporting distressed people becomes too much to manage alone. Warning signs that you need extra help include:

• Constant low mood
• Panic attacks
• Regular absence from work
• Relying on alcohol or food for comfort
• Withdrawing from others
• Losing interest in things you used to enjoy

If you notice any of these signs, you should seek support early. Talk to your manager, occupational health, GP, or a trusted colleague.

Final Thoughts

Supporting a person in distress is intense and sometimes challenging. The impact on your well-being can be emotional, mental, physical, and social. Without good self-care, clear boundaries, and support from others, these effects may build up and harm your health.

Recognising the impact on your own well-being is not a weakness. It is a sign of awareness and professionalism. By taking care of your own needs, you are better equipped to support people who are distressed and promote positive outcomes for everyone in health and social care.