Caregiving, whether personally or professionally, can take a tremendous toll emotionally, physically and psychologically. Often mistaken as burnout, compassion fatigue in caregiving
can greatly affect your own quality of life as well as your loved ones'. Recognizing symptoms and signs of compassion fatigue, along with intervention strategies, can be critical for healing and managing the stresses of caring for others.
Compassion Fatigue
Compassion fatigue is a term that might be unfamiliar, but it affects more individuals and families than one may realize. The term refers to chronic stress resulting from caring for and helping traumatized or suffering people. It is a natural consequence of being empathetic and the continuous exposure to pain and suffering in those around you.
Compassion fatigue has been associated mainly with first responders, emergency personnel and police officers; however, teachers, health-care providers and those working in a stressful environment while caregiving for a loved one can easily be at risk for compassion fatigue.
Nikki Baker, LPC, BCBA, of Bethlehem's The Restoration Space is a licensed professional counselor and board-certified behavior analyst who specializes in expressive arts therapy for adults and young adults with stress-related symptoms connected to compassion fatigue or trauma-related issues. Baker says, “Initial symptoms of compassion fatigue show themselves when the little changes start to happen, like poor sleep, overscheduling, not being able to say no and not taking time for self-care.” The symptoms can progress and include irritability, not being able to detach and look at things from an objective standpoint, mental and physical fatigue, difficulty concentrating, feeling bored, not finding enjoyment in activities, sadness, grief, avoiding certain situations, feeling less empathy towards loved ones, isolation, more frequent sickness and aches and pains that don't seem to have a definitive medical diagnosis. Unchecked, compassion fatigue can progress to burnout, personally or professionally, causing one's behavior to be harmful to the person as well as others.
Self-care
“From a caregiving standpoint, generationally, families are less likely to be in the same neighborhoods, so the support network is no longer there,” Baker says. “Additionally, seeing only highlights of people's lives through social media sets up unrealistic expectations of what we can and are able to do.” These factors can help place a greater stress on the caregiver.
While it appears we are more connected through social media, there is a lack of meaningful, honest connection and the realization that others are experiencing this adversity as well, which often leaves us more isolated.
Addressing compassion fatigue is a multifaceted approach that is unique to each individual. Self-care is at the heart of helping to address the fatigue, but often as a caregiver it is viewed as indulgent, selfish or that there isn't time. Baker suggests recalibrating one's belief of what “taking time out” looks like, whether to exercise or meditate, or personal time. It can be the simple steps of a 10-minute walk outside, 10 minutes of quiet breathing or even a morning routine of writing five gratitudes. Personal time away to do something that is nourishing five days a week may not be realistic, but one or two times a week in which you are truly present and taking a real break for yourself can have great benefit.
Identifying Values
Baker shares that an important step is asking what your values are and what it is you value. When looking at caregiving for a family member, if you are focused solely on the tasks rather than what you value in the relationship together, finding ways to build those behaviors back into the relationship can help recalibrate what is important and meaningful.
If your caregiving is work related, ask yourself about your passion, and about the value you once found entering into the profession. If what you are doing isn't matching with those values, take a look at how you can validate your behaviors and actions with what you value.
Seeking professional counseling can be an invaluable resource in providing a safe, supportive environment, as well as gaining understanding and identifying strategies and tools to address the fatigue.
Systemic Fatigue
Compassion fatigue is not limited to individuals; it can be systemic in an organization, especially those dealing with supporting individuals and families in high levels of adversity. Baker notes the importance of organizations offering opportunities to have ongoing discussions about compassion fatigue and self-care. Having access to different types of practices, such as a designated quiet area for meditation or encouraging group opportunities for non-work-related connections and companionship, can also support healthy balance and self-care actions.
Caregiving can be incredibly rewarding personally and professionally. Recognizing and addressing signs of compassion fatigue early on and taking steps toward self-care is as vital for your own health as the health of those you care for and love.
Seeking Support
In addition to counseling, there are a host of organizations that can provide support. Below are just a few.
- The Caregiver Support Program in Lehigh and Northampton counties is an important resource to help families and unpaid caregivers with dependent older persons with chronic dementia. Some of the services include financial assistance for out-of-pocket expenses, home modifications to aid in quality of life and counseling benefits available to the family.
- St. Luke's University Health Network offers monthly support groups for caregivers in Center Valley and Lehighton.
- NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) Lehigh Valley offers support for the family members, caregivers and loved ones of individuals living with mental illness. Monthly meetings are held in Allentown, Bethlehem and Easton.
