Compassion fatigue is a condition characterized by emotional and physical exhaustion leading to a diminished ability to empathize or feel compassion for others, often described as the NEGATIVE COST OF CARING. It is sometimes referred to as secondary traumatic stress and is mostly faced by caregivers.
Compassion fatigue is similar to burnout. But burnout usually stems from having too much work or too many responsibilities. Compassion fatigue comes from helping others—you want to keep helping, but you’re overwhelmed from being exposed to the trauma of others.
Like burnout, compassion fatigue is a process. It takes time to develop. It keeps building slowly, to a point where you start to not care about yourself or others in your life. You end up overusing your compassion skills and reserves.
The sooner you notice signs of compassion fatigue, the sooner you can care for yourself and replenish your stores of empathy. Be on the lookout for:
- Feeling exhausted physically and psychologically.
- Feeling helpless, hopeless or powerless.
- Feeling irritable, angry, sad or numb.
- A sense of being detached or having decreased pleasure in activities.
- Ruminating about the suffering of others and feeling anger towards the events or people causing the suffering.
- Blaming yourself and having thoughts of not having done enough to help the people who are suffering.
- A decreased sense of personal and professional accomplishment.
- A change in your worldview.
- Physical symptoms, including sleep and appetite disturbances, nausea and dizziness.
Prevent and treat compassion fatigue.
It’s important to take steps to reduce compassion fatigue. Untreated, the symptoms of compassion fatigue can lead to mental health conditions like depression, anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorders and substance use disorders.
“PUT YOUR OWN OXYGEN MASK ON BEFORE YOU HELP OTHERS WITH THEIRS”.
We need to make sure we are tending to our own emotional and physical well-being and needs while we are involved in providing care for others. Here are a few tips on how to prioritise yourself.
- Finding a balance between your professional and personal life and taking time off if you can.
- Following self-care routines—get enough sleep, choose healthy food, exercise regularly and nurture social relationships.
- Identifying your priorities and engaging in activities that replenish and rejuvenate you.
- Practicing gratitude and being in the present moment.
- Understanding that suffering and pain are a part of the collective human experience, and that you do not always have control over them.
- Focusing on areas that you have control over, including your thoughts and feelings, rather than having unrealistic expectations about changing things that might be beyond your control.
- Seeking professional help if you need it
The bottom line – Helping others without replenishing yourself can be overwhelming and can lead to compassion fatigue. As soon as you recognize some of the warning signs, take steps to care for yourself and stay a step ahead of compassion fatigue.
If you need professional help to cope with compassion fatigue, reach out or connect with us @9591279036.
-Alpa Dharamshi
Lead Volunteer Counsellor, Indian Cancer Society, Bangalore
Multilingual Counsellor, Pehechaan (A Mission To Help Identify Yourself)
