Compassion Fatigue

Compassion Fatigue is more common among caregivers, but other people can experience it as well. Why is it important to pay attention to it? What to do to overcome it? Find out!

Compassion fatigue has been studied by many authors due to its increasing number of cases. This type of fatigue, which can actually become serious, is difficult to diagnose because  it is not as well known as fatigue caused by stress, anxiety, or other emotions.

When we feel compassion for another person,  we want to do whatever we can to help them solve their problem and stop them in pain. We can pay a dear price for this.

What is compassion fatigue?

This term began to be used in the 1990s: it was during this period that psychologist Charles Figley observed a series of common symptoms in caregivers, as historical data on this subject point out.

Compassion is a type of response that arises when we see the suffering of other people. We want to relieve their discomfort. This is why Figley defined compassion fatigue as:

You may not be a health professional, but someone who cares for the elderly or someone who is sick. You may be in contact with someone who has experienced a traumatic event and this could affect you.

We know today that even those responsible for caring for animals can experience this compassion fatigue, which can lead to depression when left untreated.

In this regard, studies indicate that  when the context and emotions are strong, physical, mental and emotional wear and tear occurs,  and stress, tension and conflict predominate.

Why does compassion fatigue occur?

As we mentioned, this fatigue  occurs when we follow people who have been through trauma  or who are living with emotional pain. It is more likely to arise when we are not practicing self-care.

If there is no balance between helping other people who are suffering and our duty to maintain our mental and emotional health,  our compassion can lead us to suffering similar to that of suffering. person we are looking after.

Compassionate fatigue is also known as empathy fatigue syndrome – although it is not listed under that name in mental health textbooks – or emotional exhaustion.

What are the symptoms ?

Compassion fatigue behaves like post-traumatic stress disorder and can show the following signs:

• Re-experience: the caregiver feels that he is reliving the traumatic event, even if he was not the protagonist.
• Avoidance:  with emotional or physical isolation from other people.
• Hyperactivation:  voltage and constant alert.

The person affected by this fatigue can feel everything like the traumatized person,  and can even reach the extreme point of wanting to avoid places linked to the traumatic events.

This is why it is necessary to take measures to avoid it.

How can we avoid compassion fatigue?

Although some studies indicate that compassion fatigue cannot be prevented but only relieved,  there are certain mechanisms that can be put in place to prevent wear and tear.  Some suggestions to avoid falling into this framework are as follows:

• Work on your own strength so as not to fall.
• Eat healthy.
• Engage in leisure activities.
• Use breathing techniques.
• Practice mindfulness .
• Exercise or go for a walk.
• Being in contact with nature.
• Do meditation or yoga.
• Get enough rest.
• Avoid falling into the belief that you can solve everything, even the problems of people who have lived through trauma.
• When leaving work, avoid repeating these traumatic facts in conversations with loved ones. It could also negatively affect other family members.
• Seek support from your network of friends.
• Seek support from other health professionals.

To conclude

It is essential to keep in mind that  while an episode that other people have gone through can be very painful, we cannot offer them all of our resources to make them feel better. Each person must experience their processes at their own pace.

If you are watching over someone else, avoid taking on the role of “savior”. You are a human being and you can only do what is within your reach.  Your emotional well-being comes first and it is necessary in order to be able to continue to provide support to those who have gone through difficult times.