What is compassion fatigue? Caregivers explain.

Sandy Bruno, youth and family coordinator at Comfort Zone Camps, a national nonprofit bereavement camp for grieving families, experienced compassion fatigue after the death of her husband. She devoted all her emotional capacity to her children, synchronously trying to control whatever she could in her life.

“When your life partner dies unexpectedly in the prime of your life, controlling things becomes a higher priority,” she tells Mashable. “In theory, it works. In real life, it just left me exhausted and emotionally wiped out.”

For people whose roles, whether professional or personal, are closely related to empathy, empathy fatigue can be real and permanent.

What is Compassion Fatigue?

Compassion fatigue is a manifestation during the pandemic as caregivers of all kinds, from nurses and health care workers to parents, have faced increasing responsibilities, shrinking boundaries, exhaustion and recurrent trauma. Charles Figley, a prominent trauma expert, describes compassion fatigue as “the profound physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion that comes from working day in and day out in an intense caregiving environment” or, more simply, “the cost of caregiving.” expressed.

As licensed psychologist and mental health counselor Phyllis Kessler describes a range of symptoms, the term compassion fatigue covers the psychological and physical effects of helping others.

“The main symptoms of compassion fatigue are feelings of helplessness and helplessness in the face of the patient’s suffering, decreased empathy and sensitivity, and feeling overwhelmed and exhausted by the demands of the job,” says Kessler. says people with compassion fatigue “feel irritable, isolated, [and] Psychiatrist Dr. Julian Lagoi told Mashable. Other effects include numbness, hopelessness, insomnia, anger and isolation.

What is the difference between compassion fatigue and burnout?

These symptoms particularly reflect those associated with burnout, an ‘occupational phenomenon’ that is often closely associated with compassion fatigue. Burnout, another term often used in the larger mental health conversation, refers to intense work-related emotional turmoil that leads to chronic stress and dissatisfaction at work. According to the World Health Organization, the three main symptoms of burnout are “energy depletion or fatigue, increased mental distance from work, negative or cynical feelings associated with work, and occupational efficacy. ”.

Dr. Lauren Cook, a licensed psychologist, outlines similar effects of burnout and compassion fatigue, stating, “We start to lack empathy for others, get impatient when people reach out, and push everything on our calendars. I want to block.” Still, they are different. Compassion fatigue is a more tangible experience, often secondary, especially related to secondary traumatic stress and vicarious trauma.

How does compassion fatigue affect people’s work?

The nature of compassion fatigue means that many people working in traditional caregiving roles are likely to experience it. or lawyers specializing in criminal law.

Kelly Collins, a licensed marriage and family therapist, describes compassion fatigue as “shutdown.”

“Think about muscle fatigue. If you work out too hard, your muscles can get tired,” she tells Mashable. “Similarly, compassion fatigue means that our ability to provide compassion for others is dramatically affected.”

“Think about muscle fatigue. Exercising too hard can simply tire your muscles. Similarly, compassion fatigue can have a dramatic effect on your ability to show compassion to others. means to give

Collins herself experienced compassion fatigue when a young therapist worked at a community mental health facility. She “had a strong desire to help,” but quickly realized that there was something outside her “sphere of influence.” She felt irritated by the person she loved, had little sleep, and daydreamed about reorienting her career. It was an overwhelming time, during which she felt she was letting her clients down.

“I used to think that by giving my clients boundless compassion, I was ‘leaving everything to the field.’ In fact, taking responsibility for a client’s pain without considering my own needs and limitations would be a shame to me.” It was meant to be no special person, an effective therapist,” she says.

Bruno also says he didn’t take the time to attend to his emotional needs while he was grieving. Now, every day, she “listens to people’s stories of loss, trauma, and grief.” I learned to split.

Lynne Hughes, founder of Comfort Zone in 1999 and now CEO, lost her parents as a child and experienced firsthand the lack of resources and support for grieving children. Hughes expressed similar sentiments about her problem with compassion fatigue, and she emphasizes the importance of looking inward.

“Suffering from compassion fatigue doesn’t mean you’re bad at helping or caring for others. It just means you’re out of balance between caring for others and caring for yourself.” is,” she says. “If you are in a role of nurturing and caring for others, it is imperative that you extend that nurturing and caring to yourself so that your own ‘well’ does not run dry. “

“Suffering from compassion fatigue doesn’t mean you’re bad at helping or caring for others. It just means you’re out of balance between caring for others and caring for yourself.” am.”

But both Hughes and Collins emphasize that conventional caregivers aren’t the only ones who experience compassion fatigue. “This applies to anyone in a caring role,” says Hughes, but Collins believes it’s a uniquely human condition, whether professional or otherwise. .

“Seeing people on the street lacking basic supplies, being warned that the local animal shelter is overcrowded, or reading news articles about war or the suffering of other countries, can make other people’s lives easier. You feel pain, and you have a strong desire to act whether you intend to or can’t help.”

Our empathic capacity means that we are likely to experience some kind of empathy fatigue even from absorbing the daily news cycle. contribute to this effect. Anxiety and uncertainty about world affairs, such as attacks on reproductive rights, racial justice, and the impact of climate change, are real concerns for media users and those living today, and they can cause empathy fatigue. Emphasizes the importance of awareness. and know how to find support. And while some may choose to direct their concerns toward empowerment and activity, it’s important to support their own well-being throughout the process so as not to exacerbate compassion fatigue.

What kind of support is available for someone with compassion fatigue?

The commonality of being able to develop compassion fatigue means that many people from all walks of life need basic tools and support to manage it. Resources such as his Figley study on compassion fatigue may provide the insight you need. Meanwhile, organizations such as the Compassion Fatigue Awareness Project, Caregiver Action Network, and The Rosalynn Carter Institute for Caregivers host information, direct accounts, and programs for individuals in specific roles. There are also online support groups and forums such as The Caregiver Space and The Psychological PPE Community. Encourage an open conversation about “empathetic tension, burnout, and the effects of secondary trauma” on Facebook.

To combat compassion fatigue, you need to replenish your own supply of compassion. Because, as Collins puts it, it’s a “valuable resource” and you need to “accept and respect your limitations.” Therapists are encouraged to seek help to personalize your experience and support strategy.

Meanwhile, the act of setting personal and professional boundaries was overwhelmingly suggested by the caregivers and therapists we spoke with, including Kessler. You can keep your space simple, even if you’re reducing all kinds of noise,” agrees Cook. I suggest practicing the self-care route.

“It’s like a flight attendant telling you to put an oxygen mask on yourself before helping others during takeoff,” Hughes says. “Put the oxygen mask on yourself first.”