Compassion Fatigue: Wisdom in Giving

Compassion Fatigue: Wisdom in Giving

Said Doctor Charles Figley, “We have not been directly exposed to the trauma scene, but we hear the story told with such intensity, or we hear similar stories so often, or we have the gift and curse of extreme empathy and we suffer. We feel the feelings of our clients. We experience their fears. We dream their dreams. Eventually, we lose a certain spark of optimism, humor and hope. We tire. We aren’t sick, but we aren’t ourselves” (as cited in American Institute of Stress, 2012). Those who work in a ‘helping’ field are at increased risk of emotional exhaustion, also known as compassion fatigue, as a result of constantly giving support and empathy to others in need.

What is Compassion Fatigue?

“Compassion fatigue (CF) has been defined as a state of physical or psychological distress in caregivers, which occurs as a consequence of an ongoing and snowballing process in a demanding relationship with needy individuals” (Mol, Kompanje, Benoit, Bakker, & Nijkamp, 2015).

In much the same way that extended physical stress or exertion can lead to exhaustion, constant empathizing and emotional giving can result in emotional fatigue. Emotional, or compassion, fatigue decreases job performance and affects personal life (Sheppard, 2016). Caregivers suffering from negative effects in personal life as a result of a caregiver role is common; studies suggest that 17-39.5% of healthcare staff suffer negative effects including nightmares (Mol, Kompanje, Benoit, Bakker, & Nijkamp, 2015). Another survey showed that 86.9% of emergency response personnel experienced symptoms of compassion fatigue after a traumatic experience (Babbell, 2012). Compassion fatigue is very prevalent; sensing that it may be a problem means that it likely is (Compassion Fatigue Awareness Project, 2017).

What Does Compassion Fatigue Look Like?

Compassion fatigue often leads to a sense of depression and even hopelessness. Studies suggest that healthcare providers, like ICU nurses, working in close contact with traumatic, and often tragic, circumstances are at increased risk for experiencing such feelings and for suffering from a lack of compassion satisfaction (Sacco, Ciurzynksi, Harvey & Ingersoll, 2015). Other symptoms of compassion fatigue include blaming, bottled emotions, isolation, substance abuse used to mask feelings, nightmares and flashbacks, chronic tiredness, and apathy (Compassion Fatigue Awareness Project, 2017).

Feeling uneasy, queasy, stressed, irritable, or suffering from sleepless nights as a result of compassion fatigue often leads to rudeness, anger, lack of concentration, poor relationships, and poor job performance (Sheppard, 2016).

Empathizing with patients can even go so far as the caregiver suffering from pain or ailments in the same place as those that are being cared for (Babbell, 2012).

Treating Compassion Fatigue

Compassion fatigue is often associated with the caregiver dissociating from themselves in order to connect with others. Reconnecting with oneself can be an important mental cue in the control of compassion fatigue. Some caregivers use physical reminders like a wedding ring or grabbing the door handle on the way out of work as reminders to leave other’s problems behind and focus in on personal life (Bebbell, 2012).

Teaching the ability to balance intimacy and professional distance has been suggested to be an effective method for controlling compassion fatigue (Mol, Kompanje, Benoit, Bakker, & Nijkamp, 2015). Also recommended is self-care and mindfulness as drawing water from an empty well is impossible (Sheppard, 2017).

Care providers need to recognize that just like a patient with pneumonia needs to finish the full course of antibiotics, failing to treat oneself thoroughly results in delayed recovery and impaired function. When physically, mentally, and emotionally sharp, healthcare providers offer the safest and most effective care.

References:

American Institute of Stress. (2012). Compassion fatigue. Retrieved from: https://www.stress.org/military/for-practitionersleaders/compassion-fatigue/

Babbell, S. (2012). Compassion fatigue bodily symptoms of empathy. Psychology Today. Retrieved from: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/somatic-psychology/201207/compassion-fatigue

Compassion Fatigue Awareness Project. (2017). What is compassion fatigue? Retrieved from: http://www.compassionfatigue.org/pages/compassionfatigue.html

Mol. M., Kompanje. E., Benoit. D., Bakker. J., Nijkamp. M. (2015). The prevalence of compassion fatigue and burnout among healthcare professionals in intensive care units: a systematic review. National Institute of Health, 10(8). Retrieved from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4554995/

Sacco. T., Ciurzynksi S., Harvey. M., Ingersoll. G. (2015). Compassion satisfaction and compassion fatigue among critical care nurses. Critical Care Nurse, (35)4, 32-42. Retrieved from: http://ccn.aacnjournals.org/content/35/4/32.full

Sheppard, K. (2016). Compassion fatigue: are you at risk. American Nurse Today, (11)1. Retrieved from: https://www.americannursetoday.com/compassion-fatigue/