It is also sometimes referred to as secondary or vicarious trauma.
The ability to feel compassion andempathyfor others is essential forprosocial behaviorsand supportiveinterpersonal relationships.
Eric Zillmer, Professor of Neuropsychology at Drexel University.
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What Are the Signs of Compassion Fatigue?
They may question their beliefs and question whether there is any good in the world.
You may find yourself feeling generally annoyed, irritable, judgmental, or sad.
You may want to keep helping, but you feel like you have nothing left to offer.
What Are the Stages of Compassion Fatigue?
Compassion fatigue tends to happen gradually over time.
Researcher Charles Figley has suggested a causal model that described different factors that predict the onset of compassion fatigue.
Causes of Compassion Fatigue
Compassion fatigue is because of prolonged exposure to secondary trauma.
One of the key elements behind compassion fatigue is the constant demand for empathy.
Compassion is a meta-cognitive processthinking about ones own thinking.
You cant live there.
It would be cognitively exhausting, Dr. Zillmer explains.
When people engage in too much authentic compassion, fatigue sets in.
There are also factors that can increase a person’s risk of developing compassion fatigue in such situations.
People who experience compassion fatigue experience burnout that contributes to feelings of helplessness and hopelessness.
Compassion fatigue is also marked by experiencing secondary traumatic stress.
What distinguishes compassion fatigue from burnout is the source of these feelings.
Burnout can happen to anyone in any profession and is usually confined to work duties only.
However, these symptoms usually subside when not at work, Tomlinson says.
If it feels like work, it is probably too much.
It indicates that it is time for a break or to engage in more manageable acts of compassion.
Overcoming compassion fatigue can take time and requires people to focus on reducing their stress levels.
The ability to reduce exposure can vary depending on a person’s job, however.
In such cases, it is important to find other ways to cope with compassion stress.
Creating Emotional Boundaries
The first step is to set boundaries.
For example, a therapist might agree to arrange sessions during off-hours that interfere with their personal life.
Creating specific rules for sessions, services, and hours can help.
Espada-Campos recommends taking steps such as:
Preventing or overcoming compassion fatigue comes down to self-care.
If you recognize the signs of compassion fatigue, it is important to take steps to care for yourself.
Figley CR.Compassion fatigue: psychotherapists' chronic lack of self care.J Clin Psychol.
Seedat S, ed.PLoS ONE.
2015;10(8):e0136955.
