Are you experiencing compassion fatigue?

Are you experiencing compassion fatigue?

What is compassion fatigue?

Health and social care professionals experience suffering and trauma vicariously as they interact with patients and other professionals almost continuously throughout the working day. In addition, the people who are drawn to such job roles may be the type of people who take on the nurturing and caring roles within their own family and friendship groups.

Eventually this need to be compassionate and empathetic can get to be too much. Compassion fatigue is the burnout experienced when the continuous need for compassion can no longer be met. By continuously focusing on the needs of others, your own needs get pushed aside, until suddenly they can be ignored no longer. Signs of compassion fatigue include:

  • Feeling unable to cope with hearing about the suffering of others
  • Blaming people for their suffering
  • Seeking isolation
  • Avoiding work and exposure to situations that may require compassion and empathy
  • Feeling hopeless or powerless
  • Ignoring your own needs
  • Other people noticing your change in behaviour or attitude when interacting with people experiencing trauma
  • Exhaustion

 

It is not only health and social care professionals who can experience compassion fatigue. Everyone in the modern world is repeatedly exposed to second-hand traumas via social media and the news. People in the midlife stage may be particularly prone to compassion fatigue as they may have caring roles for their children, elderly parents, spouses and others as well as experiencing burnout from a long-established, and perhaps unrewarding, career.

 

How to reduce the risk of compassion fatigue

To reduce the risk of compassion fatigue:

  • Acknowledge how much compassion you are capable of at any given moment and accept that this may change by the hour
  • Be kind to yourself – do not punish yourself for struggling to be compassionate
  • Decide on boundaries to keep yourself safe and stick to them
    • Stay within your working hours
    • Stay within your designated tasks – say no if it is not your job
    • Keep your relationships with patients / clients professional
  • Ensure you have the support from your work colleagues and managers
  • Share the load amongst family and friends – you are not paid to hear their problems too!
  • Try not to watch or read too much news – it is not representative of the balance of good and bad in the world

 

When to seek help for compassion fatigue

If you are struggling with compassion fatigue, then it may be helpful to seek professional help. During sessions, your therapist may help you to:

  • Solidify the above strategies to ensure you are protecting yourself
  • Acknowledge the suffering in the world and our lack of control
  • Find hope and purpose again in your role
  • Learn self-compassion strategies
  • Develop a sense of identity separate from the ‘helper’ or ‘carer’ role

 

If you would like to discuss compassion fatigue or burnout call Dr Julie Hannan now on 07530 854530 or email her on [email protected].