Compassion fatigue is considered mental, emotional and physical exhaustion commonly found with those in the helping professions or capacity. It may also be referred to or a part of secondary trauma. It leads to a slow downgrade of mental, emotional and physical energy. Further, it limits our capacity to remain empathetic and compassionate for those we care for (whether in a paid capacity or not). It may come over a short or longer period of time which negatively affects the well-being
and effectiveness of the helper (caregiver). Consequently, without realizing or wanting these affects, it impacts those we care for.
Providers generally identified in the helping professions are caregivers, first responders, social service workers, medical, and mental health professionals. Further, it may also apply to those in education, law enforcement, judges, representatives, or other areas in the service of others. It is seen in those who have a passion to care deeply for their work in the well-being, safety, and betterment of those they assist, serve, or educate.
However, let’s not confuse compassion fatigue with burnout. Burnout is an accumulation of an overexertion of energy to stay up with the demands, changes and skills necessary in the workplace and with those in it. Burnout may occur when you are not necessarily “cut out” for the line of work you are doing and thus lose interest, motivation or are bogged down with insecurity. The feeling, the drive is gone. There’s little to no retrieval of ambition, skill, learning or joy that will be sufficient to return to full capacity in the work. You may say, “I’m done…finished!” Fatigue is exhaustion while burnout is emptiness. Keep in mind, that burnout also deserves to be acknowledged and addressed with its impact on mental health.
Now, let’s take a look at a few causes that are significant contributors to compassion fatigue.
Causes of Compassion Fatigue
Vicarious trauma is associated with directly or indirectly absorbing the impact of the trauma experienced by those who are cared for by the caregiver (example: first responder and 9 1 1 operator)
Events or people who trigger one’s own past trauma, highly distressing past or current personal stress
Increased demands of the job
Stressful workplace environment
Lack of self-care
Poor emotional regulation
Bottling up trauma, stress, and/or grief
Lack of understanding or care by non-caregivers who influence policy at work
Over exuberance or lack of pacing one’s energy in the work
Drug or alcohol misuse (which may also be a symptom of)
Lack of needed work support (such as needed staff, tools, supplies, inadequate training, etc.)
Overtime (with or without just compensation)
Personal or relational distress
Untreated mental health issues (for example: anxiety, PTSD, bipolar, or depression)
While many causes of compassion fatigue are listed here, there may be more that you recognize in you (or others) that may be
added. One or a few of them occur on a day-to-day basis as an understood part of the job yet do bear weight on us. It’s when they stick, accumulate and agitate with us that add to the fatigue.
Warning Signs and symptoms: Be really honest about them
You may have heard of them or seen them in others. Now, it’s time for a moment to look “in the mirror” to see for yourself.
Taking on more and more work
Neglecting your own (also family) well-being…consistently
Overly tired
Loss of empathy
Irritableness, feeling edgy
Getting sick on your day/s off
Reduced or lost sense of career meaning or purpose
Dysregulated emotional expressions
Hypersensitive or insensitive to intense emotional or traumatic expressions
Isolating from others including those you live with
Mood swings (irritable, to happy, to sad, to suspiciousness, to apathy, etc.)
Slipping in the ability to handle or cope in the job
Random angry outbursts with co-workers, family or friends
Cynicism, and/or apathy
Requirements of the work seem like punishments
Insomnia or hypersomnia
Nagging or persistent illness
Substance misuse (drugs, alcohol, food, etc.) or other addictive behavior (gambling, affairs, porn, video games, etc.)
Poor or blurred boundaries (workplace romances, crossing the line in patient/provider relationship
Numb emotional responses to others
Becoming detached or anesthetized from others and even from your own emotions
Looking in the mirror is scary stuff. Helpers are some of the last ones to realize or choose to realize they are a real person in the mirror needing help for themselves. It’s time to get the help for you. You matter.
Taking a Dose of My Own Medicine
It’s my time now. But do I accept and acknowledge the need for my own help? Advocating for yourself seems foreign and is too common for those in the helping and service industries. This seems quite true especially when seeking counseling.
Here are some reasons (a.k.a. resistances) that are made to avoid counseling help
I don’t have time for counseling
It costs too much in time and resources
I don’t need help
Talking won’t solve anything
What will others think of me?
Am I too weak to not figure things out?
I’m okay, I’m feeling pretty good, just tired
Everybody’s got problems
I could lose my job
I’m too known to be seen in counseling
I’m not crazy
I just don’t want to think about it
I’ll just work it out on my own
Apprehension is normal in seeking help for compassion fatigue and vicarious trauma. Yet when it grinds you down, take notice. Ask those around you who you trust to give you an honest answer. What does your spouse or partner say? Don’t let the soul sucking milieu eat you up. We are here to help walk alongside of you to get through and overcome the compassion fatigue to
help you return to the joy you once had in helping others.
It’s Your Turn
When we give help to others, they need to accept the help. Sure in certain situations they may not be able to respond. For the most part however, there is choice. How many times do “recipients” of assistance fail to or lack follow through in their own self-care? You may say it is for their own good but they each must decide it for themselves. So true is it for us in the helping and service communities. Reach out to us for private and confidential counseling. Resolve, restore, regroup, and refresh yourself anew.
We are here for you. Fill out the form below or call us at 520-292-9750 to get started.
