Compassion Fatigue

It’s no secret that our world has been at the mercy of Mother Nature and all of her environmental power the past couple months. From hurricanes to earthquakes, hundreds of thousands of people (and animals!) have had their lives uprooted. All of this upheaval has left many feeling compelled to participate in relief efforts, whether that’s locally packaging food to send to areas in need, assisting with cleanup, or even helping people and animals get free from their homes. Helping others can be uplifting, some do it every day — police officers, counselors, doctors, teachers, but giving too much without caring for yourself can leave you experiencing compassion fatigue.

Compassion fatigue can present itself in a variety of ways — blaming, isolation, complaining, substance abuse, withdrawal, nightmares, apathy, difficulty concentrating — and tends to show up in those who spend a great deal of emotional energy investing in the livelihood of others. The first step to reduce compassion fatigue is awareness. If you feel that any of those symptoms describe yourself or someone you know, they may be experiencing this phenomenon. With awareness comes action. The best way to recuperate from compassion fatigue is to participate in self-care. Take breaks, set boundaries, ask for help, do the things in life that are important to you.

Compassion fatigue may sneak up on you, but there’s no shame in taking a step back. Learn to recognize within yourself when you are reaching the end of your rope and allow yourself the time and the space to recharge. Helping others is an incredible thing. Don’t be afraid to help yourself, too.

Written by Elise Browne, MS

References: Compassion Fatigue Awareness Project. (2017).  https://www.compassionfatigue.org/index.html

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