People who go into caring professions are often very compassionate people. They were likely taught from a young age to care for others before caring for themselves. Caregivers are highly susceptible to experiencing compassion fatigue. A simple definition of compassion fatigue is when a caregiver feels deep emotional, physical, and spiritual exhaustion caused by repeated exposure to the suffering of others. Compassion fatigue is not a character weakness, but can be exacerbated by neglecting self-care.
Caregivers must continuously renew themselves through self-caring behaviors. When compassion fatigue is not addressed, the caregiver may become numb to nurturing, caring, and feeling empathy for others, and they may lose the ability to experience joy. Symptoms of compassion fatigue are irritability, sleep problems, intrusive thoughts, avoidance of those needing cared for, a decreased sense of personal satisfaction, anxiety, restlessness, depression, headaches, exhaustion, abuse of food, drugs, or alcohol, missed days at work, difficulty functioning at work or home, and mood swings. It is important to recognize compassion fatigue early so steps can be taken to minimize distress.
There are numerous strategies to help minimize the risk of experiencing compassion fatigue. The ART Model is an acronym for Acknowledge, Recognize, and Turn (Todaro-Franceschi, 2013). Acknowledge feelings through self-reflection so emotions are managed, instead of repressed. Recognizing choices you have, such as saying “no,” can help you rediscover your purpose. Turn outward to reconnect with oneself and others (Todaro-Franceschi, 2013). Seeking help from a support network of family, friends, coworkers, or a therapist can help minimize compassion fatigue. Taking a mini vacation, or staycation, can help you recharge. Find time for yourself each day, even if it is in short increments. Surround yourself with positive people who tell positive stories and avoid the news or watching videos that depict suffering. Sometimes, hearing about more suffering or turmoil can be overwhelming. Above all else, remember that your needs are important too. Avoid giving all your energy away.
Test yourself:
The Professional Quality of Life Scale can be found at the link below. This questionnaire can help you identify your level of compassion satisfaction or compassion fatigue.
https://proqol.org/uploads/ProQOL_5_English.pdf
The Life Stress Self-Test can be found at the link below. Oftentimes, we do not realize the stress we are under. Take this quick test to identify your level of stress.
http://www.compassionfatigue.org/pages/lifestress.html
Reference:
Todaro-Franceshi, V. (2019). The ART of reaffirming purpose. Retrieved from https://www.qualitycaring.org/art-model/
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