Human caregivers can be professional or natural. Professional caregivers are people like nurses, therapists, teachers, EMTs. Mothers, wives, daughter, sons, grandchildren, anyone providing care for an ill, disabled or dying loved one is a natural caregiver. Caregivers choose their profession or natural role because they have a natural tendency to give and care for others. When caregivers consistently put the needs of others before their own needs difficulties can arise. When caregivers continuously give of themselves to others in need and do not prioritize time for themselves, they are in danger of developing compassion fatigue; a condition that is like burnout but results from secondary trauma. It is the primary cause of burnout in professional caregivers. Burnout occurs gradually because of the cumulative effects of prolonged stress and can happen to anyone.
The 5 areas that are the very essence of our humanness include the physical, emotional, mental, spiritual, and social aspects of self can be negatively affected by compassion fatigue.
Physically: We may experience headaches, muscle aches, changes in appetite, disrupted sleep. Sleeping too little or too much.
Emotionally: There is a wide range of emotions one might experience when suffering from compassion fatigue. A permeating sense of sadness, irritability, guilt, self-doubt, increased feelings of helplessness, hopelessness, or powerlessness while feeling personally responsible for doing more, checking out emotionally, minimizing or dismissing suffering that is not extreme. A diminished ability to empathize or show compassion. Givers can experience anxiety and a sense of anger towards those we care about our jobs and ourselves.
Mentally: Compassion fatigue can affect our minds. Having difficulty concentrating, feeling like our mind is in a fog or not operating as clearly as it normally would. We can become forgetful or like our mind is running slower than normal or like we cannot slow our minds down.
Socially: There may be a tendency to withdraw from family and friends, as well as activities we have enjoyed in the past.
Spiritually: We may start to question elements of our faith, tradition and beliefs or our chosen profession/vocation.
So often, caregivers are the last to reach out for help either from friends or a professional. Talking to someone about what you are experiencing is a good first step in maintaining your own health and well being. Read the next article to learn more about what you can do to prevent or address compassion fatigue.
References CareNotes, Self-Care for Caregivers, Ralph P. Plumley, Th.M., C.T.
Wellness: Compassion Fatigue vs Burnout: What’s the Difference, Masterclass.com
