Combating Compassion Fatigue

Combating Compassion Fatigue

Introduction

Compassion fatigue is the fatigue that results from compassionate caregiving to help relieve the distress of others. This type of fatigue is caused by the built-up stress (compassion stress) from the memories and emotions of responding to suffering without having fully relieved the suffering. Compassion fatigue is synonymous with secondary traumatic stress and similar to the traumatic stress experienced by those who survive violent crimes; it is the stress that results from helping a traumatized or suffering person; it is the natural and consequent behaviors and emotions resulting from knowing about a traumatizing event experienced by a significant other.

Warning Signs for Five Major Concepts of Compassion Fatigue

The symptoms of compassion fatigue are similar to those of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, only instead of the symptoms being based upon a trauma that you directly experienced, they are due to the trauma that your clients have experienced five of the major concepts of Compassion Fatigue are as follows:

1. Having a feeling of being weak, tired and/or rundown as a result of my work as a helper.

Sometimes, with juggling so much in our lives, we can get carried away with our responsibilities to others and forget to take care of our own needs. I've seen people juggle multiple jobs, school, family, and religion, and in doing so, and they were so busy taking care of everyone else's needs that they never had time for their own needs or pleasure. They stopped reading for enjoyment, stopped spending time with friends, and didn't sleep as well, which resulted in a constant feeling of being tired.

2. Outbursts of anger or irritability with little provocation.

Being grumpy, or snappy, can cause a hardship between a caregiver and their loved ones. When a caregiver starts getting irritable and angry, it is usually their closest friends and family who get the brunt end of it. They may or may not recognize that this is from too much stress being put on the caregiver, inside and outside the home. Sometimes a caregiver simply needs to be taken care of a little themselves.

3. Being preoccupied with a client or their family, or losing sleep over a client and their family's traumatic experiences.

Not being able to leave work (mentally as well as physically) can be a sign that compassion fatigue may be starting to show up in your life. Sometimes we constantly want to keep trying to figure out a way to keep our patients happy and healthy in the best way possible, and that is okay. But when we decide to let our work follow us home, and take over our lives; when we even start to lose sleep or our dreams become part of our work as well, then we may be showing signs of compassion fatigue.

4. Felt a sense of hopelessness associated with working with clients and their families.

When we start feeling as if there is nothing we can do, or that we aren't doing enough for our clients and their ...