In February 2020, our lives were on the brink of immense change.
Two years later, many of our lives are unrecognizable.
Parents are experiencing psychological distress due to financial uncertainty, school closures, and distance learning.
What Have The Past Two Years Cost Us?
To date, COVID-19 has claimed 5.5 million lives,resulting in collective grief for each of us.
It feels that pain is present no matter where we turn, and ourempathyis rapidly depleting.
Simply put: It hurts to care.
Unfortunately, no one is immune to dwindling empathy.
As a clinician, I witness clients and colleagues alike lament over the state of our world.
I, too, feel the drain of my emotional resources at times.
“The pressures and uncertainty of the world affected my ability to show up for others.
Eventually, she left her job due to the constant dread, drain, and pressure she was experiencing.
Shardasia’s story is an increasingly common one.
We’re not only sharing a mass health crisis.
We’re also experiencing anempathy deficit.
Eager to get to the heart of our collective experience, Verywell Mind turned to psychotherapistSarah Callender, LCSW.
Eventually, that slow burn can turn into difficulty accessing compassion and care for those in pain.
You may be reading this and thinking,A lack of empathy?
Instead, it has the same symptoms that can feel as mundane as the fall-out from a stressful day.
Others may become uncharacteristically rigid and controlling with irritable tendencies.
If any of these scenarios feel familiar, you may be at risk for compassion fatigue.
Exposure to a tragic event creates sorrow and grief that extend to each of us.
Our current pandemic is unique because it highlights multiple pain points related to inequality.
We’re witnessing how systemic oppression continues to shape our nation, expanding our shared turmoil.
Replenishing Our Resources
Empathy is a finite resource.
It is natural to avoid anything that reminds you of our nation’s agony as a protective mechanism.
However, compassion fatigue isn’t a terminal diagnosis.
With some education and tools, we can begin to refill our well of empathy.
“In terms of healing, you have to be preemptive.
Lay the foundation for when things go wrong.
For example, develop a regular self-care plan and an emergency self-care plan.
Share it with others, so you have accountability,” Callender explains.
When so much feels out of our hands, having a self-determined plan provides solace.
A self-care plan focuses on day-to-day maintenance.
This plan is something you turn to when experiencing any crisis.
To start your emergency self-care plan, grab a 3x5 card and a pen.
Write down maladaptive coping tools you know you shouldn’t turn to, like drinking alcohol or isolating yourself.
Take a photo of the card so you might reference it anytime.
Tuck the physical card into your purse or wallet.
Don’t wait to use this until you’re at work.
Each of the circumstances above counts as a form of labor and can deplete empathy reserves.
Combating compassion fatigue also requires a shift towards a holistic way of living.
There’s research to back up her suggestions as well.
Healing from compassion fatigue is possible.
“Going through compassion fatigue made me realize that I cannot heal everybody.
I had to learn my limits,” LeDay shared.
However, healing isn’t without change, and in LeDay’s case, a significant career transition ensued.
Though the transition hasn’t been easy, she admits it has increased her quality of life.
“I made the right decision for my health,” she concludes.
Through slowing down, I reunited with my full reserves of empathy.
I began scheduling time to rest, set firm boundaries, and spent more time in nature.
The struggle may be far from over, but I am best armed with my spirit intact.
I promise you; you are too.
For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.
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