COMPASSION FATIGUE

Compassion Fatigue, Caregiver Burnout, and Related Issues

Compassion Fatigue: The tension of nurturing - Too Much

Professionals who hear to the tales of worry, agony, and pain of other ones may seem similar fear, agony, and pain because they care. Professionals particularly susceptible to Compassion Fatigue (CF) encompass crisis care employees, counselors, mental wellbeing professionals, medical professionals, clergy, support volunteers, and human service workers. If a caretaker feels as though he is losing his sense of self to the clients he serves, he may be suffering from CF. Compassion stress refers to the natural behaviors and emotions that arise from knowing about a traumatizing event experienced by a significant other - the stress resulting from helping or wanting to help a traumatized person. (Duncan, 1994)

The concept of Compassion Fatigue appeared only in the last some years in the expert literature. It represents the cost of nurturing about and for traumatized persons. CF is the emotional residue of exposure to working with the suffering, particularly those suffering from the consequences of traumatic

events. (Janik, 1995) Professionals who work with people, particularly people who are suffering, must contend with not only the normal stress or dissatisfaction of work, but also with the emotional and personal feelings for the suffering.

Another aspect of compassion fatigue is the disillusionment, or moral, dilemma. This refers to the stress experienced by a caretaker who realizes that he has not been able to make the difference he thought he could. CF sufferers get mysterious sentiments of tiredness and stress. He often feels overwhelmed, feels like he has no free time, and feels extremely depressed. This caregiver feels tired like he has never felt before. CF can actually take its toll on a person. It con leave a caregiver with the feeling that he will never

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