ASL Interpreting: Visual De-stressing for Interpreters – Part Three

American Sign Language Interpreters often face daily work-related stressors due to traumatic experiences, imagery, retelling, and events that may arise in any interpreting settings.

Since our emotional mind and physiological body are intimately intertwined and interdependent (a phenomenon called “Physiological Synchrony”), these stressors can lead to vicarious trauma, secondary traumatic stress, compassion fatigue and/or burnout.

In a previous blog, Secondary Traumatic Stress – The High Cost of Caring, we focused on the risk factors, symptoms, self-care and professional care with regard to these issues.

This blog series centers on the healing power of positive visual stimuli. Upon viewing images that are pleasing or uplifting, the human brain releases a chemical called Dopamine, which gives us a sense of pleasure and satisfaction. These chemical transmitters directly affect the reduction of stress and anxiety.

In Parts One and Two of this blog series, we focused on images of furry animals and waterfalls!

Please see the links below for Part One and Part Two:

https://interpreterresource.com/interpreter-education/asl-interpreting-visual-de-stressing-for-interpreters-part-one/

https://interpreterresource.com/interpreter-education/asl-interpreting-visual-de-stressing-for-interpreters-part-two/

For Part Three, the focus is shifting to images of flowers. Hopefully, the images to follow will be a welcome sight after a particularly stressful interpreting assignment, or at any time you may be experiencing a bit of extra stress.

Desert Rose