Salute…Healthcare workers!!!
Took one day off…Stayed at home and watched 10 episodes of Grey’s Anatomy…It feels so good after recharging cos it was really too much to bear on the second day.
I actually went to Kota Tinggi on the second day of my volunteering work. Tagged along 4 pro counsellors. Felt so enthu along the journey cos this time we’ll be going to Hospital Kota Tinggi to visit the staffs.
When we finally arrived Kota Tinggi town, I was shocked by the condition of the shop houses and their surroundings. The water level mark were still visible on the wall, wall glasses smashed, electrical appliances at the corridor, spoilt computers covered by mud and lots of dirty furnitures. I can’t define or imagine the real impact of the flood. It had caused tremendous destruction to them.
We were greeted warmly by the staffs of hospital while we arrived. A ccounsellor from Hospital Seremban, Mr. Raju was giving a briefing. All the staffs look OK.They chatted and laughed among themselves. Next up was group counselling. They were divided into smaller groups (around 8 in each group) and leaded by one of the 4 counsellor that i mentioned just now. I followed Ms.See’s group. Thinking that i could be her Co(helper) but i was wrong. Things started out ok when Ms. See asked them to initroduce themselves and most of them were staff nurses and low-rank workers(Pekerja Rendah Awam). I thought ok, it’s not going to be that bad as they looked as if they could handle their emotions well!! But, they began to pour out their grievances and sadness after being prompted by Ms. See. One staffnurse started crying and telling her bitterness. Her stress and negative emotions that she had faced all through the past 1 and a half month. Honestly, I was lost and dumb-struck. I didnt know wat to do and since then i kept quiet cos i don know wat is the right thing to say. I’m scared that my words will hurt even more. I’m scared that my gesture will create bigger trouble. Even my facial expressions, I’ve to be careful of wat i put on my face. It makes difference as vulnerable beings are most sensitive…Then, I sat there quietly n observe wat Ms. See is going to do. Things started to pop up in my mind. Calmly, she did a lot of reflection, legitimation, all the skills where we learned in BS. Empathy and letting them know that we can understand is of utmost important. After the first one had cry, subsequently there were more who broke down when they began to tell what they had undergo during the flood. OMG, it was hell for me cos I really cant stand ppl crying. For ppl who know me well enough, u know that i’m a cry-baby.When i see ppl crying, i may cry and cry even worse than the ppl crying originally. So, I was there, sitting straight and try to "tahan"…All i could do was to give them the tissue i brought…
What was that that made them cry? I think what matters most was not the physical part but the mental and emotional part. They suffer from loss of place to stay, food to eat and damage of possessions. They were being called and forced to work too as the hospital was packed with warded patients. They felt pressurised and stressed. They were not able to handle both personal and work issues. Dilemma…!!!Yeah…I think that’s the word…Dilemma can kill a person.
Ms. See handled the group well. She let each member to express their feelings and this made them feel very much better after that. She also told them that watever things tat was revealed during the counselling were to remain confidential. She then ended the session with asking them to line up and massaging the front person. It made them laugh heartily tho… I was so happy to see that!!!=)=)
Joining the flood relief team, I thought i was able to help. But, now i guess all i could do was just helping physically. As for the emotional part, I still gotta learn a lot from the pro counsellors to do counselling. I can only listen to them and sometimes it needs energy to listen too especially listening tothe negative things. I have to keep on telling myself, be strong chia huan, be energetic!!so that u could spread the spirit to them and also let them feel that the future is bright!!There were times when i’m burnt out..But, after recharging i guess i can endure more in the future!!!
Salute to the healthcare workers…
I learnt a lot….
"Soften ur heart, so that u could learn…" quoted from Dr. Htin Aung (^.^)
