Caring too much can hurt. When caregivers focus on others without practicing self-care, destructive behaviors can surface. Apathy, isolation, bottled up emotions and substance abuse head a long list of symptoms associated with the secondary traumatic stress disorder now labeled: Compassion Fatigue
Compassion fatigue, often referred to as secondary or vicarious trauma, is the emotional and physical exhaustion that results in a reduced ability to empathize or feel compassion for others. Healthcare workers, even the most dedicated, are prone to compassion fatigue.
Signs and symptoms of compassion fatigue include:
- Irritability, anger, anxiety
- Disturbances in sleep, such as insomnia or nightmares
- Feeling burdened by the suffering of others
- Reduced career fulfillment
- Isolation
- Physical and mental fatigue
- Loss of pleasure in life
- Difficulty concentrating
- Bottling up your emotions
- Dreading care for another and subsequent guilt
- Numbness, hopelessness or powerlessness
- Excessive use of drugs or alcohol
- Poor self-care
- Denial, which can prevent individuals from recognizing the condition and seeking help
Self Assessment:
Denial has been noted to be one of the most dangerous symptoms of compassion fatigue. Self assessments for Compassion Fatigue (ProQoL ), Life Stress and Empathy are available at: http://www.compassionfatigue.org/pages/selftest.html
What Can You Do to Manage or Prevent Compassion Fatigue:
- Be kind to yourself and recognize what you DO.
- Be proud of what you do and recognize limitations.
- Evaluate boundaries, when it is appropriate to say no or set limits and delegate. You don’t have to do it all!
- Access coworkers as supports.
- Use healthy coping strategies such as
- talking to others who are supportive of you expressing your feelings and experiences
- exercise
- eat healthy
- take breaks and get enough sleep
- Seek professional help for significant and/or persistent distress.
Resources That Can Help:
