Imagine caring for a patient with a terminal illness. You see them struggle; in immense pain. You want to help, yet there is not much that you can do. Imagine the hopelessness that you would feel. The everlasting exhaustion. The stress. All because of not being able to help someone through their trauma. Through their suffering.
For anyone in a similar situation, experiencing overwhelming emotions is pretty normal. Has always been. After all, it is not easy to care for someone who never gets better. It’s also not easy if you have a job where you see people in difficult situations on a daily basis. Whether they’re dealing with a medical, emotional, or social crisis, helping people through times of trouble can take an emotional toll on anyone.
If you have ever been a caregiver for someone, you know the struggle. The job comes with a long list of psychological and physiological consequences. Many of these are too often brushed away without any professional intervention. Without knowing why you are feeling so drained. So empty.
In the world of psychology, this phenomenon is known as compassion fatigue. If you are here, reading this article, you may have a lot of questions in your head. What is compassion fatigue? How is it different from burnout? What is compassion fatigue vs empathy fatigue? How to diagnose it? What can be done to make it better?
Well, we have the answers to all your questions!
What is Compassion Fatigue? According to Figley , compassion fatigue is a disturbed emotional state characterized by one's inability to continue providing care due to prolonged exposure to secondhand stress. We feel the distress and pain of others, so much so that their stress can become ours.
The condition impacts individuals working in a caregiver's capacity. The list includes but is not limited to the following:
Doctors Nurses First responders Counselors and therapists Family members In such professions, having repetitive exposure to vicarious trauma is common. This fosters emotional exhaustion where a caretaker's ability to generate and provide compassion diminishes. Because of ongoing stressors and this newly developed inability to feel compassionate towards others, feelings of hopelessness, irritability, and exhaustion take over. All of which are detrimental to a caregiver's health and emotional well-being.
Symptoms of Compassion Fatigue The signs of compassion fatigue manifest themselves in both psychological and physical ways .
Psychological Compassion Fatigue Symptoms Feelings of hopelessness and guilt Erratic mood swings Intensified emotional responses Impaired cognitive functioning, such as poor decision making Existential despair Emotional numbness Isolation from others Physical Compassion Fatigue Symptoms Sleep disturbances Migraines Gastrointestinal disorders Irritability Substance abuse Compassion fatigue is frequently misdiagnosed as depression or anxiety. Especially because of the overlapping symptoms that all three show. However, being specified to caretakers, compassion fatigue distinguishes itself from the others.
VIDEO Compassion Fatigue: What is it and do you have it? | Juliette Watt | TEDxFargo
Causes of Compassion Fatigue Continuous exposure to secondhand stress is the main determinant of compassion fatigue. An example of this would be providing care to someone struggling with clinical depression.
In such situations, caretakers become prone to experiencing emotional exhaustion and fatigue. This results in reduced levels of compassion and care towards the patient. When this happens, guilt starts to manifest. Especially because of the helplessness that comes with the inability to help the other. This, in turn, heightens stress and the emotional incapacity of a caregiver to provide quality care to their dependent.
With time, the road starts leading towards a complete psychological burnout. Though what exactly is the difference between burnout and compassion fatigue?
Compassion Fatigue vs Burnout Many people believe that compassion fatigue and burnout are the same thing. That is not the case. Though both have the tendency to coexist, they are separate entities. A person can have either condition without the other, or they can have both.
One of the most distinguishing features of compassion fatigue is the caregiving nature. If a person does not have a job or life situation where they are responsible for the care or nurturing of others, it is unlikely that they will develop compassion fatigue. This does not mean that people in other professions can’t develop a lack of compassion. As a matter of fact, this trait is often a symptom of burnout.
Burnout refers to a state of mental, physical, and emotional exhaustion reached by an overworked individual. But it’s not just having too much work to do; it’s being overworked on a regular basis, within a toxic environment or where an individual feels they have no sense of control. Because burnout can occur in any work setting, it impacts a wider audience than compassion fatigue does.
The main factor that distinguishes compassion fatigue from burnout is the absence of secondhand stress (yes, external stressors can exist, but not always). With compassion fatigue, the primary stress is connected to the nature of the caregiving situation.
Burnout syndrome is rather driven by prolonged exposure to firsthand, chronic stress. One example would be getting underpaid at a demanding job, especially if there is a poor relationship with management. This is a simplified version of what burnout syndrome is; for more information refer to our extensive guide to learn more .
One more difference between burnout and compassion fatigue is the time that it takes to manifest itself. Even though compassion fatigue is not acquired overnight, it still does not take as long as burnout does to develop. At the same time, treatment interventions work faster with cases of compassion fatigue as well.
Despite the presence of many differences between both, compassion fatigue and burnout are prone to co-exist when it comes to caregiving individuals. The process starts with one acquiring compassion fatigue. If left untreated, the chances of experiencing burnout increase. This is especially true if there is a lack of either emotional or systemic support.
It is extremely important to note that, when it comes to compassion fatigue vs burnout, even though the causes, environments, and individuals they both target may be different, the signs and symptoms can present themselves the same. This is because they are both stress reactions, which have a predictable pattern on the body, spirit, and mind.
Compassion Fatigue vs Empathy Fatigue Confusion between the terms compassion fatigue and empathy fatigue common. Especially because people tend to overlap the meanings of compassion and empathy.
Empathy means to put oneself in someone's shoes to feel their pain. Compassion, on the other hand, is understanding a person's situation and stepping up to help them. Therapists function with empathy, whereas a first responder is more likely to work through compassion.
It is important to note that both compassion and empathy fatigue involve being exposed to stress related to working with and caring for others. With compassion fatigue vs empathy fatigue, it is easy to understand that both occur due to repetitive exposure to stress. However, the nature of the relationship with others tends to be different, as does the nature of the stress. For compassion fatigue, it’s the overwhelming stress of taking care of others on a daily basis as compared to overwhelming empathetic pain.
Compassion Fatigue Prevention Timely diagnosis is crucial when it comes to the treatment of compassion fatigue. Especially if one wants to avoid the possibility of suffering from burnout. What is more important is to take the necessary steps to prevent its manifestation in the first place.
Taking care of others, especially during times of crisis and trauma, is going to be emotional and stressful. There is nothing that can be done to stop that from being true.
However, if you are a caregiver, there are many things you can do to help prevent compassion fatigue in the first place. Some of these include:
Avoid overworking as a caretaker Make sure you have a support system Take regular breaks to unwind Set a healthy diet and sleep pattern Create boundaries around the kind of caretaking services you can provide Acknowledge feeling uncomfortable or exhausted Have someone to talk to, preferably a therapist and/or a local support group If you are in a situation where you are responsible for caring for a family member or loved one, you may not have a choice in the matter. We do what we do for the people we love. However, if you are heading into or already in a career that requires you to care for others, it is important that it’s a job that matches your personality and interests .
There is not enough money in the world for you to take a job just to pay the bills if it means putting your health and well-being at risk. Another common reason for personality mismatches is choosing careers because that’s what family expects you to do. A common example is compassion fatigue among doctors who chose the career only because their parents pushed them towards it.
Treatment for Compassion Fatigue If you are feeling overwhelmed with your role as a caregiver, the first thing you should do is take an inventory of what’s going on in your life. It is essential that you assess the severity of your condition and also determine whether things have gotten to a point where you are heading towards burnout syndrome.
The best option for treating compassion fatigue is to consult a trained professional who can help with your struggle. Some of the best therapeutic interventions include:
Treatment of compassion fatigue is possible at any stage. However, if left untreated, the chances of undergoing burnout increase.
Do you think you or someone you care about is experiencing compassion fatigue? If yes, then know that it's time to get some help. After all, the caregiver needs to be healthy and happy before they can take care of someone else.
Learn more about professional burnout:
