Who’s at Risk for Compassion Fatigue?
Compassion fatigue (secondary trauma) happens when someone in the “helping field” experiences emotional and physical exhaustion. This can put the individual at risk for feeling less compassion and empathy towards others. This can also lead to burn out. The professions most at risk for compassion fatigue include healthcare, first responders, therapists, chaplain, teachers, and social service workers.
Compassion fatigue will always be a risk that “helpers” face. I am not sure there is a way to annihilate compassion fatigue and vicarious trauma; especially given the nature of the work that helpers do. I believe the better question is what can we do to chronically manage compassion fatigue?
Therapy is extremely beneficial for those suffering from compassion fatigue. As a therapist, I may be biased, but I believe workers in the helping fields should be allotted a yearly amount of funds for therapy. The opportunity to process trauma with a trained third-party professional would be useful. Those who work in the medical field are often denied the opportunity to discuss work trauma due to HIPAA. They are not able to go home and discuss stressful cases with friends and family. Often, when people are not able to discuss trauma, it has a negative impact on both their mental and physical health. Traditional talk therapy and EMDR are advantageous for treating trauma.
4 Tips to Help Manage Compassion Fatigue
- Therapy is extremely beneficial for those suffering from compassion fatigue. As a therapist, I may be biased, but I believe workers in the helping fields should be allotted a yearly amount of funds for therapy. The opportunity to process trauma with a trained third-party professional would be useful. Those who work in the medical field are often denied the opportunity to discuss work trauma due to HIPAA. They are not able to go home and discuss stressful cases with friends and family. Often, when people are not able to discuss trauma, it has a negative impact on both their mental and physical health. Traditional talk therapy and EMDR are advantageous for treating trauma.
- Another way to manage compassion fatigue is self-care. Some studies have shown being in nature produces a reduction in blood pressure and cortisol levels. Other studies have shown that feelings of fear and stress are lowered. Exercise is another way to manage stress. Journaling and spending time with friends can also be helpful. Tapping into your creativity is one self-care technique that is often ignored. However, crafting, drawing, sewing, and gardening provides calming effects on the body and the brain. Bottom line, make self-care a priority.
- Learning to set boundaries is crucial in managing compassion fatigue. People in the helping fields are often the peacekeepers, the ones that friends and family will seek out in times of crisis. They are often considered the “strong ones”. The problem with always being the “strong one” is that “helpers” often feel that they can not burden others with their problems and fears. Therefore, setting boundaries is important. If helpers find themselves in situations and relationships that are emotionally draining, they need to limit their time with those individuals. They need to let their needs be known. Sometimes, “helpers” have trouble setting boundaries. Boundary work is something that many people work on in therapy and it is beneficial.
- Lastly, “helpers’ need to practice self-compassion. When you find yourself in a stressful situation or crisis at work, take a moment and just focus on your breathing. Put your hand on your heart, breath in and out. You can focus on your breath, or you can say a positive affirmation while having your hand over your heart, you could repeat, “I am doing the best I can and that is enough.”
Don’t Go it Alone!
If you work in the “helping field” (nurses, therapists, firefighters, teachers, EMTS), you will need to manage the high stress that comes with the work. Unfortunately, it is not something that can be eliminated due to the nature of your work. You can learn to chronically manage your work stress to prevent burn out and compassion fatigue. If you feel yourself struggling with compassion fatigue, please reach out to Blackbird Therapy. I offer convenient scheduling times, in person sessions in the Kansas City Metro including Overland Park, Olathe, Kansas City and Leawood or online Telehealth therapy services in the state of Kansas.
Who’s at Risk for Compassion Fatigue?
Compassion fatigue (secondary trauma) happens when someone in the “helping field” experiences emotional and physical exhaustion. This can put the individual at risk for feeling less compassion and empathy towards others. This can also lead to burn out. The professions most at risk for compassion fatigue include healthcare, first responders, therapists, chaplain, teachers, and social service workers.
Compassion fatigue will always be a risk that “helpers” face. I am not sure there is a way to annihilate compassion fatigue and vicarious trauma; especially given the nature of the work that helpers do. I believe the better question is what can we do to chronically manage compassion fatigue?
Therapy is extremely beneficial for those suffering from compassion fatigue. As a therapist, I may be biased, but I believe workers in the helping fields should be allotted a yearly amount of funds for therapy. The opportunity to process trauma with a trained third-party professional would be useful. Those who work in the medical field are often denied the opportunity to discuss work trauma due to HIPAA. They are not able to go home and discuss stressful cases with friends and family. Often, when people are not able to discuss trauma, it has a negative impact on both their mental and physical health. Traditional talk therapy and EMDR are advantageous for treating trauma.
4 Tips to Help Manage Compassion Fatigue
- Therapy is extremely beneficial for those suffering from compassion fatigue. As a therapist, I may be biased, but I believe workers in the helping fields should be allotted a yearly amount of funds for therapy. The opportunity to process trauma with a trained third-party professional would be useful. Those who work in the medical field are often denied the opportunity to discuss work trauma due to HIPAA. They are not able to go home and discuss stressful cases with friends and family. Often, when people are not able to discuss trauma, it has a negative impact on both their mental and physical health. Traditional talk therapy and EMDR are advantageous for treating trauma.
- Another way to manage compassion fatigue is self-care. Some studies have shown being in nature produces a reduction in blood pressure and cortisol levels. Other studies have shown that feelings of fear and stress are lowered. Exercise is another way to manage stress. Journaling and spending time with friends can also be helpful. Tapping into your creativity is one self-care technique that is often ignored. However, crafting, drawing, sewing, and gardening provides calming effects on the body and the brain. Bottom line, make self-care a priority.
- Learning to set boundaries is crucial in managing compassion fatigue. People in the helping fields are often the peacekeepers, the ones that friends and family will seek out in times of crisis. They are often considered the “strong ones”. The problem with always being the “strong one” is that “helpers” often feel that they can not burden others with their problems and fears. Therefore, setting boundaries is important. If helpers find themselves in situations and relationships that are emotionally draining, they need to limit their time with those individuals. They need to let their needs be known. Sometimes, “helpers” have trouble setting boundaries. Boundary work is something that many people work on in therapy and it is beneficial.
- Lastly, “helpers’ need to practice self-compassion. When you find yourself in a stressful situation or crisis at work, take a moment and just focus on your breathing. Put your hand on your heart, breath in and out. You can focus on your breath, or you can say a positive affirmation while having your hand over your heart, you could repeat, “I am doing the best I can and that is enough.”
Don’t Go it Alone!
If you work in the “helping field” (nurses, therapists, firefighters, teachers, EMTS), you will need to manage the high stress that comes with the work. Unfortunately, it is not something that can be eliminated due to the nature of your work. You can learn to chronically manage your work stress to prevent burn out and compassion fatigue. If you feel yourself struggling with compassion fatigue, please reach out to Blackbird Therapy. I offer convenient scheduling times, in person sessions in the Kansas City Metro including Overland Park, Olathe, Kansas City and Leawood or online Telehealth therapy services in the state of Kansas.
