Compassion Fatigue?

What is compassion fatigue?

a. Tired of feeling sorry for others.

b. Sick of being compassionate.

c. Giving up on caring.

d. Whatever.



According to Mathieu (2012), "Compassion fatigue is the profound emotional and physical exhaustion that helping professionals and caregivers can develop over the course of their career as helpers." Our ability to extend empathy, hope, and compassion erode, leading to a decline in professional and personal function (Mathieu, 2012).

Give me an "Amen" if you too have experience compassion fatigue.  Some of us are helping professionals or have demanding caretaking roles in our personal lives.  Or both.

With the guidance of experts in the field, let's unpack this topic and consider it's relationship to resilience, stress management, and wellness.


References:
Mathieu, F. (2012). The Compassion Fatigue Workbook.  Routledge: New York.